Chapter 4
A/N: I do not own the characters of Kim Possible or Star Wars. They are the sole property of Disney.
I.
The Mandalorians in the stadium stood and cheered as Ron fell to the dirt. Everything moved so slowly, the cheers and taunts morphed into a low rumble. The hot humid air mixed with the thin dirt, caking his face with unbearable grainy mud. His breathing grew ragged. He slowly pushed himself up back onto his feet. The whole arena spun around him. His opponent closed the gap between them once again.
Beta's words still ran cold in his blood. I will not help you. Beta had informed him that his first lesson would be self-efficiency. If you cannot preserve yourself, you are not worthy of training.
Ron took a step back as the man approached. Jaw sore and face battered, he was sure that his right eye was swelling shut. Bloodied and trapped, he had spent the first three minutes running laps in the arena from his opponent. It was his only strategy until OM-2 stopped him with blaster fire. Beta was serious, he was going to fight whether he win or lose.
Ron didn't take his eyes off his opponent. The last time he made that mistake he paid for it with an uppercut to his jaw. The warrior was now within striking range. He assailed Ron with a series of jabs and kicks. Adrenaline began to flow through Ron's blood. For the first time in a long time, he felt the need to defend himself. He wanted to fight back, but how? What was the best way to fight an experienced Mandalorian warrior?
Thinking about a strategy, Ron let his guard down receiving a kick to his abdomen. Ron's knees hit the dirt, the air in his lungs knocked out of him. He tried to stand back up only to be knocked down by another kick to the face. Before he had time to catch his breath, his opponent picked him up by his collar and threw him.
That's why Kim never liked me like that he thought. I'm pathetic he landed face down in the dirt. He grimaced forcing himself back on his feet. He turned around bringing up his fists. The Mandalorian threw another jab that Ron deflected but wasn't so lucky with the kick that followed to his gut.
"It's time to finish this!" The warrior lifted his hands to his adoring fans who roared in excitement.
"FINISH HIM! FINISH HIM! FINISH HIM!"
Ron remembered what Beta had said. The Mandalorians didn't take kindly to outsiders. Fighting was bred into their culture and they would often fight to the death, especially if it was an outsider. His opponent pulled out a blade, twirling it in his hands before getting into a stance to strike out.
Ron didn't know what to do. At this point usually, Kim would have intervened and miraculously saved him. But there was no Kim to save him this time. Kim wasn't here she was back home on Earth probably hanging out with Eric and Monique. If it was night, he was at the house having pizza with Mr. and Mrs. Dr. P. She probably missed him and was hurt but she had Eric to fill in the shoes he had left. She wasn't here to help and she wasn't going to be. She wouldn't be swooping down off her modified hair dryer taking a stance to defend her best friend. No, he was alone.
He turned to Beta who stood in the crowd with Dementor. He couldn't see his face but he knew he was resolute. He wouldn't help. He had said as much himself before the fight had even started. He wouldn't intervene. He wouldn't stop the fight. He wouldn't end the fight. This was all on Ron.
The warrior charged, his dagger thrusting out from his hip aimed at Ron's abdomen. A dagger wasn't something Ron had ever come upon. Fear overtook Ron's instinct and his will to live took charge of his body's actions. Without thinking, Ron let the warrior's blade slip past his defense acting as if he was taking a direct hit from the weapon. He felt a strange sensation take over his body, almost as if he could tell the blade's exact location and direction.
With the warriors reach far enough in, Ron acted. He quickly snatched his enemy's forearm and wrist into a lock, sidestepping the stab, wrenching the blade free. The weapon fell to the floor and Ron quickly kicked it away. It happened so fast the Mandalorian had no time to react to Ron's actions. Ron quickly took the initiative kneeing his opponent in the gut sending him to the floor.
Then the unthinkable happened, his belt had been cut away by the warrior's dagger. Ah man, even here! Ron quickly ripped off his pants, hopping as he did, before his opponent could recover. The Mandalorian had now let his anger take control of the battle as he stood back up, began to swing at Ron relentlessly. The punches had no pattern and they were mostly aimed at Ron's face which made them easier to dodge.
Ron recognized his opportunity as his opponent continued his volley of rage. With his pants in hand, he sidestepped the next punch and quickly captured his opponent's arm in his khakis. Turning, he threw the Mandalorian over his shoulder slamming him into the ground.
His opponent tried to get up but Ron had already used his pants to interlock his other arm. He pushed them tightly behind his back pinning him to the ground. Twisting the man over onto his back, he reached his hands down to his neck, squeezing down on his throat. The man desperately tried to free himself, but with his arms trapped behind him, he could do nothing.
Struggling with the last air he had, the man finally went limp. The crowd cheered with Ron's victory. Ron had a hard time believing it himself, letting go of his grip over the warrior's neck. He stood up and stumbled back and away from the fallen Mandalorian, the crowd still cheering. His breathing was ragged and coarse. Is this what Kim feels like after fighting Shego? Ron had never seen Kim in the state he was now. Was he just this out of shape? No, this was just one of the few times he had ever fought to such an extent.
Ron looked down at the unconscious man in front of him. He wasn't as bloodied or bruised as Ron was, but all the same, Ron didn't like either result of the fight. He might have come out on top in the end, but it took him getting beaten to a pulp and a couple of misfortunes to turn the tide. Ron also didn't like how far he had to go either. Ron had never seen Kim choke out an opponent. Usually, a punch or a kick was all that was needed. Here he needed to take the fight to the ground and get close and personal. Ron knew it wasn't ideal. If it had been a scenario where more than one henchmen had been involved, then being on the ground with one opponent would have meant an entirely different outcome. At least the way Ron had dealt with it.
Ron looked around the crowd searching for the general. The same general of a droid army that said if he chose a path that was aligned with him, he would become someone who could change fate. Yet this man's first lesson to Ron seemed to be one that was hypocritical, one where Ron learned that he couldn't rely on help for any problem. He might be taught skills and how to fight. But when it came down to an actual fight, Ron would have to rely on himself to secure his own life.
He found the general standing under the main stands, Dementor and OM-2 standing on either side of him. He was hidden from view from the other Mandalorians. It was not that Beta didn't blend in. His Mandalorian armor wasn't much different from any of the armor the natives wore. His T-shaped visor was outlined in crimson red instead of the more traditional blue Ron had seen.
Beta smirked as Ron came through the dispersing crowds. He looked over at Dementor whose eyes seemed still agape at the fact Ron had won his fight. Beta snickered, "Well, there goes your first week's salary."
Dementor's face contorted, "No! Iz unfair. The probability of the sidekick winning is a thousand to one!" Dementor shook his fists in the air.
"Ah, ah, ah. I'm not the one that bet on it," Beta crossed his arms.
"I can't believe you all bet on me!" Ron who was still dirtied from the mud walked under the stands, still only wearing his black mission shirt and boxers.
"I never bet anything. However, your scientist friend here was insistent on betting on my position. He was so sure you were going to lose the fight that he even bet OM-2," Beta replied.
Ron turned to Dementor with a dumbfounded look, "You bet a robot on me that I would lose."
Professor Dementor rolled his eyes, "Can you blame me! Sidekick, you lose almost every fight. Fraulein Possible has to save you every time you are in the pickle."
Dementor's last line seemed to deflate Ron's confidence even more than the fact the evil scientist had bet against him. His shoulders slumped more than from before. Beta took notice, "So who is this 'Fraulein Possible'?"
Ron perked up at Beta's question but before he could answer, Dementor stole the tale. "Fraulein Possible is this buffoon's overlord. She is the real hero who gets in the way of genius's like myself," the professor said matter-of-factly. "She's more of a nuisance than the buffoon."
Beta looked to Ron who seemed ready to defend this named heroine, Kim Possible. So Beta understood, this was why the professor referred to Ron Stoppable as a sidekick and various other names. He was the understudy of this heroine at least that was how he took it. "So this Ms. Possible was your teacher?"
Ron's eyes grew wide at Beta's implications. The thought of Kim being his teacher brought up many conflicting emotions, some good, others bad, and some that turned his cheeks a bright red. "No, no, no. No, Kim was more of my friend. More like she was my best friend since pre-k," Ron's spirits were down once more.
Now it clicked, like a wall of bricks. The letters KP were the initials of his best friend, not just any girl he had fallen for. KP was Kim Possible and he was her heroic bard in a sense that went into battle with him, saving the world from treachery or rogue scientists. Kim was more than just any friend too, she was a friend from far back when he was just a young child. What has become of Earth since I've left? Teen heroes? "So were you the one to help her put a dent into nefarious plans like those of the so-called Professor Dementor here?"
"Pretty much. Wasn't much of a challenge for her to do it. She can do anything," Ron replied with a weak smile.
"And you can't?" Beta asked trying to figure out where the young towheaded man was heading with his own thoughts.
"I- I don't know. I mean I'd like to think that I've done something. Or that I play some part or role in helping save the world. That would have been badical. Then again G.J. did consider me the Ron Factor," Ron puffed out his chest, thumbing at it.
Beta looked to Dementor, who just replied with the shrug of his shoulder as if he didn't know what Ron was talking about. He turned back to Ron, "So this is what's been bothering you, being in someone else's shadow for the majority of your life even though you're their best friend." Beta's first assumption was that KP had been a girl Ron had liked. Now he believed that Ron was jealous of someone else's talent or upset at his lack thereof. Either that or his best friend was the very reason that Ron hadn't been trained to his full potential.
That had to be it. The very reason Ron wasn't trained, the reason he wasn't well versed in any martial arts or combat was because of this Kim Possible. This left Beta with two conclusions and either of them he didn't like. Either Kim Possible was Ron's best friend for many years and it was coincidental that Ron had been robbed of any proper training because of her success or he had no need to with the protection she afforded him. Or the alternative was far darker. Kim as a child was unwittingly placed as Ron's guardian to keep him stunted. If the latter was the case, that would make Ron's friend, Kim Possible an enemy that one day he would have to overcome.
Ron rubbed the back of his neck, averting his eyes away from Beta's unrelenting mask, "I wouldn't say that's exactly it. I don't have a problem with KP being all that. That isn't what bothers me."
"Then what does bother you?" Ron now realized that he had piqued Beta's interest. He wasn't sure if he was comfortable with Beta knowing everything about his life, especially what was so tenderly close to his heart at the moment. It was a touchy subject that he had really only let Rufus and Kim in on and he wasn't exactly keen on letting everyone else know. He didn't want to let Beta know about the blossoming crush, maybe even love he felt for his best friend. They had been friends for over a decade after all, and the love of friendship was still there, even if it was under stress at the time Ron left.
Choosing to keep exactly what bothered him a secret from Beta was his best course. "Maybe you can say that. Yea, it does bother me that she always thinks she better than the Ron-man! I mean, G.J. did see me as the Ron-Factor for her success. And I saved the world on a couple of occasions," Ron boasted. Even if it was a deviation away from the real reason he was upset, there was still some truth. Besides, he didn't fully trust Beta yet. So a little fib couldn't hurt. At least that was Ron's thought. I mean it's not like he'll ever meet Kim. She couldn't ever come and find me, not with the Pan Dimensional Vortex Inducer here. I'm trapped until there is a way back.
On the other side of the coin, however, Beta drew a different picture from Ron's painting of his and Kim's relationship. As Beta raised a suspicious eyebrow to Ron's answer, one that neither Ron nor Dementor could see, he drew a different conclusion. Now, he leaned more on his latter idea that Kim Possible was more than just a best friend to Ron Stoppable, she was a threat. One that might come after Ron Stoppable and try to either lure him back or worse, kill him off if she deemed him a threat to her own abilities and the Sith.
"You won't have to worry about that. Given time, you'll find out just how much potential you really have, and just how few limits you and the Force have once you become in tune with it," Beta replied taking Ron under his arm as they began a walk away from the stands and back to the shop where they had first stopped on Mandalore.
In Ron's eyes, he had learned that he didn't have to share everything with Beta. It was up to him on the pace he would relinquish his personal life to his new teacher. The way Ron saw his life now, it would be a long time until he would be reunited with his best friends, Kim and Rufus. During that time he would train hard to become Kim's equal. He didn't foresee Kim letting up on her skills just because he was strong. Even though in Ron's eyes it was futile for her to try and search for him, he saw Kim doubling her efforts to find him and that meant improving on her own skills. The only way she wouldn't is if Eric replaced him and his role. Then Ron imagined his fate as being dumped into the back of Kim's memories.
However, darker undertones rang in his new teacher's mind. Beta continued to ponder on Kim. Kim had been escalated from Ron's childhood best friend to possibly Ron's greatest adversary. It all made sense. Why Ron had no concept of the raw power that flowed through him. The fact that he was graced by an ancient talisman or nexus from the Simian race that predated humans, yet he had no clue how to call upon it. Ron's growth had been stunted at a young age by a girl who must have been planted in his life to at best distract him and at worst subvert him.
Beta couldn't ascertain Kim's threat to Ron at this point. But there was one thing he was sure of as the two walked away. One day Ron would have to confront his former best friend. In fact, he was certain that day was closer than he would like. He didn't know when Kim would come or in what way and what side she would present herself as, but he was certain. With the knowledge he held of Earth many years ago when he had left and how Ron had shown up on his doorstep randomly, he was more certain with every thought. Ron was sent to be saved from a fate of death and that fate was going to follow him.
Kim Possible was that fate in Beta's eyes. She was coming. It was just a matter of how long it would take her.
II.
The Second Fleet of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, also known as the C.I.S. or simply the Separatists by anyone who was a staunch Republic loyalist or ally, was headquartered on Ord Canfre's third and largest moon that orbited the farthest from the planet. Ord Canfre had once been a regional depot when the Republic had spread into the northern slice of the galaxy and into the Outer Rim thousands of years ago. Up until four years before the outbreak of the Clone Wars, Ord Canfre secretly switched sides to the Confederacy.
It was never paid any attention to by the Republic, as it had never been more than a small depot and an agricultural planet. The Republic only ever took what they needed to feed the Core and Inner Republic worlds and paid little attention to the citizens that lived there. Little attention was paid to their problems on the world and in the local space around them, including the occasional raider. It was up to the local government of Ord Canfre to defend itself and solve its problems on its own. To the Republic, Ord Canfre was dispensable amidst the backdrop of hundreds of other agricultural worlds in the New Territories.
So when General Beta was sent as Count Dooku's envoy to see if the planet would join the Separatist cause, the citizens and government of Ord Canfre didn't look back at the Republic. Within weeks of their pact and change of allegiance, Ord Canfre was transformed from a back-water agricultural world to a small industrial power-house. Its second and first moons were quickly covered and surrounded by massive ship-yards churning out ships for the confederacy at a rate that rivaled Kuat or Pac. Its secession was one of the reasons years later that a massive chunk of agricultural worlds in the vicinity, including Agamar, seceded from the Republic.
Fortunately for Ord Canfre and its citizens, the fighting between the Republic and Separatists had never reached their doorstep. The closest the fighting had come to the system was in the early days of the war when fighting reached Agamar and Muunilinst. The fighting had remained parsecs away, while victims of the war fleeing the fighting that wound up in Separatist Space would find themselves reaching the now untouched, fortified world of Ord Canfre.
With its ship-yards working endlessly for the better part of five years, the system had assembled enough battle droids and ships to spring out and conquer the northern quadrant of the galaxy itself. At least that's what the admiral of the second fleet, Admiral Rain Norith, thought of it. "We have so many ships here it's beginning to look like we're preparing to start our own government separate from both powers," Admiral Norith stated to Captain Myri Vaal and Captain Fama Ginn.
Admiral Norith was the commander of the Second and Seventh Fleets of the Confederacy. She was chosen and promoted by General Beta to be the leader of the two fleets that housed and transported his droid armies across the galaxy. She was also responsible for the organization and building of ships on the shipyards of Ord Canfre's two moons which had swelled their ranks.
She was a tall strong, middle-aged Hapan woman whose hair was shoulder length and silverish-white in color. Her eyes were a light speckled blue and visible now that the bandages from her surgery had been removed. Her cheeks were well defined and narrow. Even though she was climbing in age she had retained her beauty and athletic build. She had been unwittingly recruited by General Beta when he won a bet with her now former matriarch of the Hapan Star Cluster.
"It isn't our fault. We've been prepping for war for almost six years. Yet most of the fleets haven't been used in the war because our leader has a different approach when it comes to the acquisition of territory," Captain Myri Vaal, another tall young woman with short silver hair similar to that of Admiral Norith. She wore a dark blue flight suit as she was the Captain of the Grim Squadron that was assigned to the Lucid Voice to compliment the droid starfighter squadrons.
"We're lucky we haven't faced the horrors of this war. If you ask me I wouldn't mind if we stayed this way the entire war. With Admiral Hollis commanding the Sixth Fleet and in charge of defending the Outer Rim, our job has been pretty riskless," Captain of the Lucid Voice itself, Fama Ginn, a shorter blond young Hapan woman in a blue confederate uniform added.
"That's my point. Admiral Hollis is in charge of the defense of our territory. We're an offensive force, and quite frankly I'm tired of sitting on the sidelines while the general takes his time being diplomatic with Senator Volkov," Captain Vaal was ready for battle and she had waited years since Beta had also brought her into his fold.
They reached a door guarded by two BX commando droids. "Soon one of your wishes will be granted and the others wish not so much." The doors parted and the commando droids stepped aside as they entered the busy command room. "If you haven't been briefed, consider this it. In less than three months' time, we'll all be part of a main offensive into the Republic."
"I've already skimmed over the preliminary reports and targets put out by the Supreme Commander. I'll be sure to read more into it later," Captain Ginn replied as they surrounded a holo-table that visualized the space around Ord Canfre and its moons.
"Funny, I was never briefed on the offensive. You think it'd be important to the flight commander in charge of your organic and droid fighter squadrons," Captain Vaal crossed her arms.
"If I remember correctly, General Beta and Commander Naltos had instructed you to train Commander Campbell in fighter squadron tactics and flight skills. How did those go?" Captain Ginn smirked.
Before Captain Vaal could reply, Admiral Norith stopped them both before any banter could occur, "I just stated that this was your brief on the matter. There will be a full in-depth briefing from the Supreme Commander himself at around four-hundred hours Raxus time."
"The Supreme Commander is coming here?" Captain Ginn was in disbelief.
Captain Vaal smirked, "You know the war always seems to follow the Supreme Commander, I wonder if he'll bring it here."
"I highly doubt it. Even if the Republic manages to get here, I don't think they're prepared for the thousands of ships we have," Captain Ginn remarked.
"You would hope. If I read General Beta's brief to me correctly, Captain Vaal is possibly in the line-up to train a new commander. And this time it looks like you'll only have a week or so to train them," Admiral Norith glanced at the now nuanced squadron leader.
"What does he think I am, a miracle worker?" Captain Vaal peeved, eliciting a chuckle from Ginn and Norith.
A command B-1 battle droid strode up to the group with a tactical droid. "Ma'am. General Grievous's shuttle has just made contact with headquarters on Ord Canfre. They've just exited hyperspace and will be entering our zone of control in under five minutes."
"Good. Inform General Beta we're already here and waiting," Admiral Norith said dismissing the droid.
"Um. About that ma'am. General Beta isn't exactly here," the battle droid responded.
"What do you mean?"
"General Beta's shuttle departed almost a day ago in our logs. By our calculations, he was en-route to the Agamar System," the battle droid replied.
Admiral Norith looked up to the captains and back at the droid. "You mean the general isn't here for the Supreme Commander's visit!?"
"Not to worry, ma'am, I've informed the shuttle that General Beta might be planet-side. I wasn't sure if it was just his shuttle that might have departed-"
"You idiot!" the B-1 battle droid backed up in fear. "The base isn't ready to receive the Supreme Commander! Contact the ground commander down there and tell them I'll be on my way and to keep the commander occupied!" Admiral Norith shouted aggravated, turning on her heel walking back out of the room followed by the two captains. She left a confused battle droid behind wondering what it had done wrong.
III.
Planet-side, panic had ensued on the base Beta resided in. General Grievous had been expected to dock on the Lucid Voice, not land, and visit the base on the ground. Unfortunately, the officer to receive the information that the Supreme Commander would be landing soon, was the political officer Kushro. Kushro was a panic-prone Neimoidian who had somehow made it to be one of General Beta's most trusted officials.
He burst through the doors to the command center where the commander of the base, Colonel Coryn was residing.
"What is it Kushro?" the colonel asked the troubled Neimoidian.
"The Supreme Commander has arrived and will be docking at the base's hanger in ten minutes!" Kushro explained.
"What? The Supreme Commander!" Colonel Coryn was taken off guard jolting from his seat. "His visitation isn't scheduled for a tour of our base!"
"He has ordered General Beta's presence immediately!" Kushro added.
"But General Beta isn't here you moron! Didn't you tell him?" Coryn shook his head frustrated. "Get hold of General Beta! Admiral Norith! Someone!" Coryn shouted at the battle droids.
"Where do you think I got the information from! Admiral Norith is on her way. And even if we manage to contact General Beta, he will not arrive in time. He left to the Mandalore System," Kushro reminded him.
"Then we will have to greet him alone. Come!" Coryn ordered Kushro, walking through the exit. They hurried down the halls of the base to the main hangar. This unexpected visit didn't come at the best of times. The Supreme Commander wasn't known for his kindness or generosity to his subordinates. No. He was known rather for his cunning yet ruthless oppressive nature.
The Colonel had only met him once and on that occasion, he was nearly killed for an intelligence error. If General Beta hadn't intervened he wouldn't be walking to meet him again today. Kushro had even more of a reason to be terrified. The Supreme Commander had an extreme distaste for Neimoidians due to Nute Gunray.
They rounded a corner and entered the main hangar where a Neimoidian shuttle was touching down. Hundreds of battle droids had gathered in formation around the landing pad. Colonel Coryn and Kushro stopped in front of the lowering ramp. Mechanical footsteps approached from the shadowy interior. The hunching, caped Supreme Commander stopped in front of them both.
"Where is General Beta?" he glanced around, irritated. The Supreme Commander wasn't fond of either of them.
"He is currently away preparing for our next offensive," Coryn responded.
"That is what I came here for! Has Beta forgotten his place? Is that why he is neglecting our meeting? Has he forgotten that I helped him get to his position!" the Supreme Commander was growing impatient.
"Not at all, my Lord! He merely… had an error in his schedule. I must have made an adjustment to his schedule that I didn't catch," Kushro uttered.
"Contact him now! Inform him that he has twenty-four hours to return…" he reached out his six-fingered clawed hand picking up Coryn by his neck. He stood up fully revealing his true height and his cyborg body, "...Or he will have to find a new executive officer for his base here."
Coryn struggled for air grabbing the General's robotic arm. The Supreme Commander dropped him and walked away. "Yes… sir."
IV.
Here she was again in this dream-like world. And here was the same towheaded girl she had seen before. This time she was staring at her with a purely blank expression in a white void. This had been going on for quite a while now since her dream started. Kim thought it funny that she knew she was in a dream. She stared at the girl baffled, still clueless as to who this person was. Anytime that Kim tried to speak to the girl, she either looked away and didn't answer or opened her mouth and no sound would come out.
Kim lost track of time and what had seemed like hours, finally the void began to shake. Like the other dream she had, colors and shapes morphed until she was in the place that the girl had desired they be in. That was Kim's best guess at least. Kim wasn't sure exactly if it was the girl who was in control of the dreams, herself, or something else that she had yet to find. The final picture that appeared was a plain of grass and a lone tree. It was hot. The hot summer air rising braised her skin. The girl across from her pointed at the tree and closed her eyes. Kim looked at the tree in the distance and also closed her eyes.
She took in the strong scent of the grass that rose with the summer heat. Kim smiled, the grass smelled closer than it should have. She opened her eyes. To her amusement, the blond girl had disappeared and been replaced by the sweet-smelling grass, the shade of the tree, and a sleeping boy. A sleeping towheaded boy that was quite familiar. Kim recognized his soft freckled cheeks and gentle features. This time he was more or less how her Ron was. He didn't don the strange armor from the previous nightmare nor was he more masculine like the hero she had seen on TV. This was her Ron.
He wore the same red sports jersey and khakis. This was her Ron, and it was a nice change in scenery. Kim felt uncomfortable with the young Ron that had seemed absent from her preschool years and the heroic, serious version of Ron. Kim closed her eyes sighing, relaxing next to her childhood friend. Kim didn't know why but Ron brought her so much comfort. Her eyes opened again and she found herself staring directly into his.
Her heart fluttered. She had no idea why but it did and when it fluttered she blushed. She could feel her cheeks flush. Why they flushed and why she felt this way? Kim couldn't draw up a reason for it. She felt confused again as more butterflies wrested free from their confines within her. The Ron in her dreams must have seen her blush as he offered a gentle smile. To Kim's surprise, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer to him.
This act set had her cheeks flush three shades darker, her eyes shooting open as she elicited a soft 'oh'. She gazed into Ron's soft chocolate eyes, surprised that he had made such a move. It wasn't a move of friendship, his touch was as if they were in something deeper. This Ron wasn't shy about it either, he looked confident in his choice of where he placed his hands. Kim's heart raced at the thought of her best friend being confident like this. The bravado had always been there. It was one of the peculiarities of Ron. This confidence was different, he was calmer and more relaxed as if he knew exactly what he was doing.
Shivers went up and down her spine as he touched the small of her backside. "Ron," she whispered his name like it was the only word she knew as her eyes closed in his comfort.
Kim waited those agonizing seconds for him to say her name. "Stoppable-san."
Kim smiled until realization hit her, "Yea- What!?" Kim screamed as her eyes shot open in fury. In front of her, in her arms was Yori, who had her arms wrapped around Kim. Kim shrieked and pushed her away. In a heartbeat, both Kim and Yori were on their feet staring each other down. A battle was all but imminent as they got into their stances.
"So what were you dreaming about?" Kim growled rhetorically. She couldn't believe it. The ninja was dreaming of her best friend. Does she have no shame!?
Yori relaxed and smiled, replying smugly, "Nothing of your concern, Possible-san."
Kim didn't reply, only letting out a low growl of disapproval. Yori relaxed her stance turning away and began packing her bag. Kim had the immense desire to pummel Yori into the ground, but she couldn't. She didn't come here for that, she had come here to find Ron and bring him back. This wasn't the time to pick a fight with one of Yamanuchi's best.
Kim calmly relaxed her own kung fu stance taking a deep breath. She gazed up through the trees at the radiant pink and orange morning sky wiping away the starry night. Around her, the forest was waking up from its quiet night as she saw strange critters scamper across the forest floor.
Kim turned to find Wade just waking up. "Mornin' guys," he yawned stretching, looking at Kim and Yori. "So what's goin' on?"
Kim didn't really want to tell him about what had just happened if he didn't know. "Nothing much, just getting up," she told him stretching her arms and the truth.
Wade threw the covers off of him and looked at Kim. "So, want me to start looking for Ron," he said with that hopeful smirk.
Kim smiled back as hope started to ebb within her. "Please and thank you," she smirked back, packing her rucksack back up. As she gathered her stuff, something came up missing. But what? she asked herself puzzled, scratching her head.
It hit her hard. "Hey, have you seen Rufus?" Wade shrugged his shoulders. He had no knowledge of where Ron's naked mole-rat had gone.
"It looks as if Rufus-san just washed up," Yori said pointing off in the direction of some brush. Kim turned around to see a content Rufus sauntering into the camp with a small towel draped around his shoulders.
"Hello," he said waving his little paw in the air to Kim.
Kim gazed down on him disapprovingly that he had wandered off alone on this strange yet reminiscent world. But since there was no harm done, she shrugged it off. Then again she didn't get the point of a naked mole-rat needing a towel since he was already naked.
"There you are Rufus," she said picking him up. "Want some breakfast," she said with a playful smirk.
"Oh yea," he nodded his head up and down.
"I got some cheese for you. It's in the back," she thumbed at a random pouch on the rucksack. She didn't have to tell him as he sniffed it out and began to rummage through the bag.
Kim smiled. "Don't eat all of it. We don't know how long it'll take to find Ron and get out." Rufus, about to chomp on a piece of cheddar, frowned and nodded sadly in understanding.
While Rufus munched on his cheese, Kim leaned over Wade as he searched the area for Ron. "Just a sec, it may take a while to get- what the?" Wade shook his head in disbelief as a globe of a planet suddenly appeared on the monitor.
"What is it?" Kim gleaned over his shoulder at the monitor.
"The computer… it's getting a signal."
"From Ron?" Kim asked gleaming with hope.
"No," Kim's spirits fell, Wade knew his answer was bad news, so he gave her the good news. "What I got is the whole map of this world we're on. It makes finding Ron a whole lot easier," Wade looked back and smiled.
"But how did you get a map of this place so fast?" Kim asked skeptically.
Wade scratched his head, "That's the weird part, it would mean there would have to be sentient beings out there. The conditions are perfect for humans, there has to be intelligent life," Wade told himself and Kim. "I'm getting a signal which is stranger still."
While Kim and Wade continued their conversation on how a map of a planet had appeared, and Yori was occupied with her belongings, Rufus ventured off to some bushes. While finishing off his rationed snack, the bushes in front of him rustled.
"It's just a rodent," a high pitched mechanical voice whispered from the bushes, hidden from sight.
"Tell Unit C-Four-X Five to aim at the one with the dark hair," another responded. Rufus listened in confusion as whoever spoke paid no attention to Rufus.
"I don't know, hit the redhead first…" Rufus didn't need to hear another word as he knew exactly whatever, whoever, was planning to do. Hurt Kim. He had made a promise to Ron and he wasn't about to mess it up now as he quickly scampered back to the camp.
"…No sign of Ron so far," Wade told an anxiety-filled Kim.
"Keep looking…" Kim looked down as soon as Rufus began to tug on her pants. His face was full of fear as he pointed over at the bushes with the mechanical voices.
Kim looked up to see nothing but the large forest, not paying any mind to Rufus's specific pointing. "What is it Rufus?" she looked down at him again.
Rufus smacked his head in frustration as he continued to squeak and chatter jumping up and down frantically. He formed a gun shape out of his tiny paws.
"A gun?" Kim guessed correctly but still confused at what he meant.
Rufus nodded his head up and down frantically. He then pointed at her and then himself. He didn't have time to though as the ground near them exploded. Mud rained down on them.
"Get down!" Yori shouted. No one wasted any time to duck, Kim bringing down Wade with her before he had a chance to react. Another projectile ripped through the air over their heads creating another crater near the last explosion.
"Get behind me!" Kim shouted as she stood up. Both Wade and Rufus took refuge as her normal mission clothes were blown off by the super battle suits shield. Another shell pinged off the shield as Yori quickly took refuge behind a nearby tree.
Charge!
Kim stared at the bushes in disbelief as robots - she had no idea their proper names were battle droids and super battle droids - rushed out from the cover of the brush. With them came a volley of blaster fire that headed straight for Kim. She smirked placing her hands on her hips as the lasers bounced off. Some of the blaster fire ricocheted off and back to the shooters, destroying them. But there were so many and the super suit's shield wasn't limitless.
Kim turned to Yori was still backed up against a tree, "We need a distraction."
Yori bore a confused expression and then simpered back, "I think Stoppable-san retired from that position."
Yori's remark had a double effect on Kim. It made her cringe that Yori even seemed to know Ron's place in Team Possible. His place wasn't a bad thing, but in Yori's eyes, Kim delegated him to that role and she wasn't entirely wrong. Kim had at times doubted Ron's own intuition and skill. On the other hand, Yori's smirk caused Kim to glower back.
Yori rolled her eyes and looked at Kim, "Do not fear Possible-san, I will give you some cover, just get your weapon."
Kim raised her eyebrow confused as the blaster bolts continued to pelt her shield futilely.
"Your gun!" Yori shouted as she jumped from her cover with a fan in her hand charging the battle droids. Kim looked down at the rucksack laying on the ground. She noticed the butt of a weapon was sticking out of the top. Those sneaky soldiers! They slipped weapons into our packs! Kim reached down and pulled on the butt of the weapon. She pulled out what looked to be some kind of rifle. The Russians had given them weapons as if they knew they were going to run into trouble. Or maybe it was a precaution. Either way, the rifle she now held in her hand was concerning but she didn't have time to think of that at the moment. She had to figure out what kind of weapon it was.
"It's an AK-L02!" Wade shouted.
Kim looked at him surprised, "You know what it is?"
"They already linked your biometrics to the weapon. All you have to do is aim at your target and pull the trigger," Wade added.
Kim had multiple questions for Wade. For one, how did the Russian military have her biometrics imprinted on a military-grade weapon? How did they obtain them? She would have to talk to Wade about all of this when they were dealing with more peaceful circumstances.
She didn't like the thought of using a weapon, especially one that was meant for killing people, but robots. That was a totally different matter, especially when they came in between her and finding Ron. She turned back to Wade, "Get the laptop and head for cover. Now!" Wade wasted no time doing what he was told and gathering his equipment and dashing for the nearest trees.
Kim took aim as Yori tackled a battle droid to the ground. Another battle droid charged her and she fired. Its head flew off as it fell to the ground as a useless heap of junk. She was surprised it wasn't a normal military firearm. It didn't use bullets it used plasma. Kim smiled as she fired and more and more battle droids fell to the ground, rendering them useless.
Yori used her fan to help her fight. A battle droid ran towards her, "Hands up!" She swept her fan up with an uppercut, forcing the droids gun out of its hand. She twirled around and caught it in the air turning the droids weapon on it.
"Uh-oh," the droid muttered as she shot and it to fell to the ground. Another droid attacked her. She stepped to the side and flipped it on its back, shooting it. But soon they were becoming overwhelmed as there were just so many.
Wade watched the scene helpless, "I wish we could help." Rufus jumped up and down pointing at the scene before them and then scampered off into the fray. "No wait…" Wade sighed as there was no point in calling Rufus back.
Wade stared out only to watch in horror as one of the massive silver robots tackled Kim to the ground, and she struggled to free herself from its grip. "What can I do?" Wade asked himself in disgust. Then the glimmer of an object caught his eye. "Of course!"
Kim fought with all her might to push the super off. Finally, she managed to push it off and shoot it square in between its red sensors, ending it. She turned to the hopeless sight of two other supers and other battle droids surrounding her. Their weapons aimed at her. There was no escape. Even if she started shooting, she had no doubt one of them might get a lucky hit. It was a situation she rarely found herself in but they had won this round. Then a flicker of movement caught her eye.
Kim watched Rufus quickly scamper across the ground in and between the droids feet. Kim knew Rufus had taken in the situation and had a plan, at least she hoped. He quickly crawled up one of the battle droids legs and up on its shoulder.
"Hey! Get off me," the battle droid protested as it tried to grab him.
This distracted the supers away from Kim as they looked over to see Rufus perched on top of the battle droids thin head. Rufus looked at the supers and stuck his tongue out. "Haha, neener," he laughed giving them a raspberry.
This vexed the super battle droids and they extended their weapon laden arms out. "No. No!" the battle droid protested waving its arms in the air trying to stop them, but it was no use as they fired trying to eliminate the Naked Mole Rat. Rufus continued the chain of destruction, hopping from one battle droid to the next. The super battle droids followed his every move destroying every droid he landed on.
As they shot down the last of their surrounding friends, Rufus jumped in between them. They quickly refocused on the space between one another as Rufus fell to the ground between them. They fired, pulverizing each other into oblivion.
"Way to go Rufus!" Kim shouted. Rufus took a thankful bow to show his appreciation and then climbed onto Kim's shoulder. "I'm afraid there's too many," Kim said as Yori began to struggle for her own life and more battle droids poured out of the thicket.
"Not anymore!" Kim looked back to see Wade holding his own homemade gun, the same one that had taken out the Diablos. He fired it into the air and as soon as it was high enough, it exploded.
All of the sudden the battle droids fell silent and fell to the ground. "You did it Wade!" Kim pumped her fist into the air. An electromagnetic pulse was exactly what they needed. She watched Yori push off a super battle droid that had collapsed on her. "It's over," Kim lowered her fist sighing, the fight had taken a toll. They looked at the sight around them. The useless bodies of robots littered the ground.
"Well, we know that we aren't alone," Yori pushed herself up, dusting herself off.
"Right," Kim looked down at her feet. She couldn't agree more with Yori. "And whoever is here, they obviously don't like us."
Kim stared at the gun she had just used. It had saved her life and the search for Ron. She had questioned why the Russians had put one in her rucksack and what else they had given her. The gun wasn't the same as the ones the Russian soldiers carried. It fired a laser bolt instead of bullets. That lead Kim to wonder whether the bullets would have even harmed the drones and did the Russians know what she would be up against. If they knew… She shook her head, she didn't have time to think about ulterior motives. She needed to find Ron. She noticed that the rifle had a sling attached so she swung it over her shoulder.
"You think they got to Ron first," Wade surveyed the aftermath around him.
Kim thought about it for a moment. "If they did, do you think they would cart Ron away or just kill him?" Her own question scared her. What if Ron had stumbled upon a similar situation and these robots had just opened fire?
Yori looked around at the battle scene. "If he were as badly outnumbered as we were, I think he and Dementor would have surrendered." Yori walked over to one of the craters caused by the shells.
"I don't know. What if Dementor shot at them?" Wade replied. "That would give them a reason to shoot."
"No…" Kim didn't want to think of any of those possibilities. "He had to, he had nothing. And if it wasn't for you Wade, we'd still be fighting a losing battle." Kim could only hope that Dementor wasn't reckless.
"I think we're in the middle of war-zone or something. Explains why they attacked us," Wade kneeled by one of the battle droids. He picked up a leg examining it.
"I can't say that these robots had ill-intention toward us," Yori ran dirt from the small crater through her hand. She lifted her fingers to her nose taking a sniff. "I can't say for certain, but I think these robots were trying to apprehend us."
"What brings you to that conclusion?" Kim crossed her arms.
"I have not come to one yet," Yori said walking back to what was left of her own sack. "I'll let you know when I come to one though."
Kim uttered a low growl. She wasn't liking that Yori was acting low-key like Bonnie.
"Perhaps we should do a little more research on what or who these robots are. Maybe then we can figure out what happened to Ron," Wade didn't want the two, who were both experts in fighting to get into a fight.
"I agree," Yori replied looking through a pair of binoculars that she had dug from her bag. "I say we follow whatever are left of them.
"What do you mean?" Kim inquired. From what she could see, all the droids had been destroyed. She turned to see Yori looking through her binoculars.
"Load-san's binoculars are very good."
"Let me see those," Kim demanded. Yori handed them to her. When did Wade start handing over his tech to Yamanuchi School? Kim looked through them in the direction where Yori had before. The binoculars were set on infrared. About a mile or so away were what seemed like three robots, running alongside a tank of some sort.
Anger began to rise in Kim that some had escaped. She turned to the others, "Let's move!" She could only hope that these robots hadn't done anything to Ron. If even a hair on his cowlick was harmed, Kim would make sure that the robots, or whoever controlled them would pay. She was going to find Ron, and she had an irking feeling these robots would lead her to him.
V.
OM-1 and the other droid commandos had observed them from behind the thicket. The platoon of battle droids sent in after the teens were being destroyed one by one. Once the redheaded girl had pulled out the AK-L02, OM-1 realized the teenagers weren't your above-average kids from Ord Canfre, they were from Earth. Being Jedi was out of the question. Their skills, however, suggested to OM-1 they were highly trained.
The young boy seemed to be a tech genius. The two young women were highly trained in combative arts. And the rodent seemed to be an anomaly as it helped the others distract the droids. They seemed like their own commando unit. With no insignia, OM-1 couldn't figure out who they were affiliated with on Earth. However, the AK-02L had given it away. Someone from Earth was helping them. It was the only way they could have destroyed the droids so successfully.
"Three, contact the General immediately," he ordered OM-3. "Five. Prepare to withdraw."
"Roger sir," OM-5 responded while repacking some equipment.
"Our communications have been disrupted. I can only contact headquarters but we need to be in range," OM-3 informed OM-1.
Communication disruption could only mean one thing. OM-1 knew exactly what it meant. "We're being jammed. Let's move out and return to headquarters! Three, contact them as soon as you get a signal," OM-1 ordered as they withdrew near to an AAT tank stationed behind them. Their battle droid platoon had been destroyed and although he was confident they could turn the situation around, they had more concerning matters.
VI.
Colonel Coryn and Kushro stood by General Grievous's side in the communications room. After landing he changed his mind and hadn't left their side. His intimidating stature made the colonel feel uneasy. They had managed to contact Beta who was already en route to Ord Canfre.
A hologram of OM-3 running appeared.
"OM-3 report!" Colonel Coryn ordered.
"The group we found destroyed the battle droid patrol you sent us," Kushro didn't seem surprised by the news. Teens destroying a patrol of battle droids. The colonel knew that battle droids weren't the best, but to be ousted by children? "They have proven very capable and we would apprehend them but we have a different problem. We're be-" OM-3's transmission cut out.
"I want that transmission back on!" Colonel Coryn shouted at one of the battle droids at its station.
The battle droid looked back, "We can't sir. We're being jammed."
"Colonel! An enemy fleet has just exited hyperspace. They'll be within range of our fleet in less than two minutes," another droid alerted.
"Put all SAM's and AAB's on alert. I want coordinates of enemy positions and begin rocket barrages on any enemy contingent that lands!" Coryn yelled out. "Deplo-" Coryn grunted as Grievous held him high above.
"I want the last coordinates of those teens! I smell a Jedi plot," Grievous growled.
"Sector… 425. The... Usurri Mountains..." Coryn mouthed trying to breathe. Grievous dropped the colonel and walked out. Coryn rubbed his throat watching the doors close behind the General. Although the teens had destroyed a droid platoon, he still wasn't sure it was the Jedi or the Republic. Rubbing his throat, he knew it didn't matter. Whether the teens were local, foreign, or from the Jedi temple, Grievous was going after them. They were dead either way.
VII.
"Are you kidding me! How does this happen? The general is gone. Grievous is planet-side and the Republic armada just appears out of thin air a few minutes later!" Admiral Norith ranted from the bridge of the Lucid Voice. She turned to Captain Myri Vaal, "This is all your fault. You wished for this!" Admiral Norith snapped. They had been en route to board a shuttle to meet General Grievous when she was informed of unidentified ships entering the system.
Captain Vaal raised her hands, "Whoa there! This isn't my fault, I didn't think this was actually going to happen."
"What are you waiting for? Orders? Get out there and help the blockade! This is what you wanted!" Captain Fama Ginn, the captain of the Lucid Voice shouted at the silver-haired pilot.
"Don't you worry, I will. It's about damn time we get a chance at battle," Captain Vaal rebutted. "Why don't you start the action by firing at those Republic cruisers!"
Captain Ginn fumed, "I would give the order if we weren't docked and under construction. Or have you forgotten!"
Before Captain Vaal could shout back and keep the attention of the mixed Hapan and battle droid crew, Admiral Norith intervened on a calmer note. "I'm sorry for my outburst earlier captain. However, even if the ship was combat-ready, we're still out of range. Right now captain, you, Grim Squadron, and any droid fighters we have in our hangar are our only way of contributing."
Captain Vaal raised a fist to her chest. "I won't fail you ma'am. We'll repel the enemy whatever it takes."
"Ma'am!" A Hapan officer from the deck below shouted. "We've lost over fourteen frigates and two light destroyers. We have reports and visuals incoming on the enemy formation. It's the Open Circle Fleet!"
"How have we lost that many ships! We have thousands of ships!" Captain Ginn pointed out of the view-port at the mass of their fleet around them.
"Yes but most of our ships protect the shipyards on the moons. Ord Canfre is only protected by around a hundred, and it looks like they've split our forces right down the middle." Admiral Norith turned to Captain Vaal. "I'll send reinforcements to aid the ships over Ord Canfre. Take your squadron and droid Tri-fighters to-"
"We have an incoming encrypted message. It's from General Beta. He'll be entering the system within the hour," a pilot droid interrupted the officers above him
Admiral Norith paused to think. If General Beta was in his shuttle, then he would be minced meat when he arrived on the battlefield. "Captain. Take every fighter in the hangar to support the line. When General Beta exits hyperspace, your squadron will escort him to this ship."
"I'm sure the general has more than enough skill to get through the battle," Captain Vaal could tell the Admiral wasn't amused in the slightest. "Don't worry. I'll ensure he gets back in one piece," Captain Vaal turned to walk off the bridge.
"Be careful captain. They've identified the ships as being part of the Open Circle Fleet," Captain Ginn informed.
Captain Vaal paused looking back, "And why should that worry me?"
"The Fleet is usually commanded by General Kenobi. And where General Kenobi is, Anakin Skywalker is usually close by. Be wary, he is one of the best pilots in the galaxy," Admiral Norith placed her arms behind her back.
Captain Vaal smirked turning back to exit the bridge, "That remains to be seen."
VIII.
Obi-wan and Anakin watched from the Republic star destroyer Resolute. They had commanded a fleet of over twenty Venator-class star destroyers from Coruscant to Ord Canfre, using secret hyperspace lanes obtained from the Wookies on Kashyyyk. But they hadn't come here to attack Ord Canfre because of intelligence of its sizable separatist presence or that they wanted to take the planet. No, they were here on the whim of Grand Master Yoda.
"You know, I never expected to catch a separatist blockade off guard like this," Obi-wan stroked his beard.
"You're not the only one. I never imagined catching a whole separatist fleet with their shields down," Anakin smiled smugly.
"They must have been recycling the shields for inspection. Unfortunate timing," Obi-wan crossed his arms.
"Sir! We destroyed another separatist frigate," a clone officer reported from the lower deck.
"A new record general. That would be our seventeenth enemy ship routed and destroyed," Admiral Yularen chimed walking up behind the two. "I do say, when we first exited hyperspace I was certain this was the last system we'd see together."
"Admiral, when have we ever led you into danger," Anakin glanced back at him.
"Oh, I can name a few. Christophsis and Bothawui come to mind," Admiral Yularen narrowed his eyes, his smile turning sour at the thought of his reckless counterparts.
"But you're still here. Would you look at that," Anakin let out a chortle before turning back out to the battle ahead.
"Come now Anakin. There is some truth in the Admiral's response. Your tactics make even me question my own life choices now and again," Obi-wan stated vacantly.
The ship shook and rocked. "It looks like the Seps are finally taking this seriously," Anakin smirked. Red turbo-lasers streaked across space toward them and the rest of the Republic fleet.
"Here to take out the separatist fleet, we are not. A different task, we have," Yoda walked through the bridge doors.
Anakin and Obi-wan both turned to the grandmaster of the Jedi Order. "Yes master, I do believe you have yet to tell us why exactly we are here. I hope you weren't planning an invasion because that would take many more ships than we could afford," Obi-wan said noting the massive Separatist presence.
"Hmm. Hurry we must. On the surface, our help someone needs," Yoda used his cane to point at Ord Canfre.
"I was afraid you were going to say something like that," Obi-wan crossed his arms looking back out at the battle in space. "Do you really think we can land an army? With the number of ships they have, they could ensnare us and traps us."
"Invade we will not. A small force you, Skywalker, and young Tano you shall take. Follow the Force and find the ones we seek, you will," Yoda answered.
"So it's a rescue mission. That seems pretty straightforward," Anakin smiled at his own former Master.
"If only it was straightforward for you my old padawan. You tend to make a mess of things when there needs to be none," Obi-wan quirked his eye-brow at his former apprentice.
"So, destroying a few more Separatist ships along the way gives us a better chance of escaping," Anakin said slyly as they began a brisk walk toward the exit.
"We'll see, we'll see. How about we round up your apprentice and Rex and any other help we can find, then we can discuss your reckless tactics," Obi-wan smirked back.
IX.
It had taken a while for Kim and the other to gather what they needed and run after the droids that had survived. However, that small amount of time had proven to act counter to what their goals were. They had lost the robots they were looking for and were now lost in the forest. Kim and Yori both tried looking for hints, footprints in the dirt or broken twigs, or other telltale signs that the droids had passed. But the forest had thinned significantly and now there weren't even signs of the tank the droids had been running by.
"I never imagined robots being this smart. Did you Wade?" Kim asked observing her surroundings, looking out for any hints of where the droids had gone.
"It's not impossible," Wade leaned onto his knees panting.
"You okay Wade?" Kim turned back concerned.
Wade leaned back against a tree before slumping down, "Yea, I- I just haven't- whew, done this in a while."
"I think we're lost anyway. Take a small break," Kim offered a reassuring smile.
"Thanks," Wade smiled back wiping away some sweat.
"Do you hear that?" Yori stopped. Something was watching them and she could feel it. She quickly turned. Her eyes snapped to tree branches up and to the right about hundred feet behind them. Nothing. There was nothing there. Yori swore she had heard something creaking but now there was nothing.
"I don't hear anything," Kim replied gazing in the direction Yori was. Her eyes slowly panned over the scenery trying to make out any abnormality.
"Hmm. Something is following us," Yori slowly turned back to the direction they were traveling.
Kim looked at Yori skeptically. "You think we are being followed?"
Yori looked up at the trees. "It's too quiet. Much too quiet."
"Hey!" Wade jumped up as a screeching wild animal ran across his feet. It looked like a monkey-squirrel crossbreed. It ran out in terror and past the group.
Kim looked at Wade who had his back pushed against the tree. She smiled nervously back at Wade, "You okay?" Wade smiled weakly back nodding his head. She hadn't seen any critters in the forest since the droids attacked. Kim thought they must have scared it. She turned to Yori, "See, we probably just spooked it."
"Not quite." Kim looked to where Yori's gaze was fixed. She pointed up to the treetops that were rustling with movement. Suddenly, a metal figure crashed through the canopy and down to the forest floor in between Kim and Yori. Kim covered her eyes as the leaves were kicked up.
When Kim opened them she didn't like what she saw. A giant cyborg landed perfectly on its clawed feet and stood up to its full height. Kim was frozen in fright. Never before had she felt such fear inside herself. The cyborg looked down on her. She saw a robot, but its eyes were alive and real. Its arms were hidden beneath a white cape until he brought them out and ignited blue and green swords. The cyborg spoke no words as he stalked towards Kim.
Yori didn't know what he was but he was a threat to Kim and she had to stop him. She didn't hesitate as she rushed the cyborg from behind. It was futile. Yori's eyes shot open and winced in pain. She looked down as the cyborg's clawed foot squeezed around her waist. She gazed into the cyborgs yellow, loath filled eyes. Yori saw more hate in the cyborg's eyes than she had ever encountered before. She averted her gaze to Kim, as a tear trickled down her cheeks.
She wanted to scream in pain as her mouth gaped open, but the cyborg's claw had already forced out all the air in her lungs. All Yori could do was stare at Kim, her romantic rival, mouth agape and eyes in shock from the sheer pain as talons pierced her scream. He's… torturing me! Finally, in what seemed more out of boredom than an act of mercy, the cyborg used his leg to throw Yori into a nearby tree.
Kim watched in horror as Yori's back slammed into the tree. The Yamanuchi student let out a short, ghastly shriek before slumping onto the ground unconscious. Kim turned back to find his sick yellow eyes were now upon her. Her eyes darted to where Wade had been. She was relieved to know that the cyborg hadn't noticed Wade and Rufus hiding in the bush.
The cyborg's snicker rattled Kim's nerves. She had never felt this way before. Kim reached for the gun strapped to her should and repositioned to aim at the cyborg. She let out three shots as fast as she could. He might have glowing swords, but that won't stop this— To Kim's terror and dismay, the cyborg deflected each shot, the last one coming straight back at her and knocking the gun from her hands.
Little did Kim know who she was actually up against. Before she could react, the cyborg kicked her in the side sending her reeling into a tree. Kim groaned in pain as she rolled onto her back. The cyborg laughed maniacally as it stood over Kim.
Kim was now more than scared, she was peeved as will. She tried to sweep him off his feet, but as her shins and his cybernetic leg came in contact, she found herself reeling back. She shrieked in pain, her legs felt as if they had been kicked themselves. She held onto her legs in pain while the cyborg grasped her collar and raised her above him. She was helpless. There was nowhere to go, no one to help her. She felt as if she were tied to a railroad and a freight train was barreling toward her. Yori was unconscious, and Wade was watching in terror from a bush. Even Rufus seemed unsure of what to do.
She looked back up at the general who was glaring into her eyes. She held onto this mechanical six-fingered hand as she vainly tried to release his grip. She squirmed and wriggled until the cyborg had enough and threw her into the ground. The wind knocked out of her, she struggled to get up. She winced, the pain from her bruised legs was overcoming any adrenaline. Her ears perked at screams for help. She looked to find Rufus, Wade, and Yori being dragged away by other robots. She reached out with her hand trying to reach them, but it was all for naught as the cyborg stepped on her left arm.
The pain was too much. She tried to hold it back. She tried to be strong for her friends, even as they were dragged away. She couldn't. The cyborg's dark gray talon pierced through her own flesh, slowly and agonizingly. Kim shrieked out in pain, the cyborg still pinning her down. She had never been hurt this bad before. The pain was unbearable as she watched her own blood ooze from the fresh wound.
She turned still crying out in pain, watching as the cyborg lifted his other saber and began to bring it down upon Kim. Her eyes widened in terror, tears still running down her cheeks. She was paralyzed. She would never get to see Ron again. She wouldn't be able to sort things out. She couldn't save him. She was about to face death. Is this the end? Did Ron meet the same fate? Have I come this far for nothing? Kim asked herself these questions as the blue blade came rushing down. She closed her eyes.
Goodbye, Ron.