Double-Crossed


Shego lay in bed at the Villains Inn, she'd been counting the holes in the ceiling and trying to figure out what had caused them. She'd managed to figure out several lasers, a couple of bullet holes, and judging by the scorch marks... Pyro Pete had stayed in this room. She was fixating on one long gash in particular when her own voice screamed in her head. What the HELL am I doing? She sat up and rubbed her face, what was she doing here. She was just wasting her funds and time, that's what. She had enough money to get her own lair... Then what? What's the point, what on earth am I going to do? Steal a laser...blackmail someone powerful? Well the last one was extremely possible, but every starter Villain did that. I could take a page out of Brotherson's book and hire people. She scoffed at her own idea, the first thing she needed to do is try and regain her image. She'd put a few lines in the water, but no one was biting. She took a deep sigh and grabbed the half empty bottle of wine on her nightstand, it looked like she might have to start over. She grumbled to herself, it meant taking jobs that were actually in Villains Weekly. It was with great reluctance she got dressed and headed down to the bar to grab the latest issue.

She remembered how much she disliked this place, while it was the Villains Inn, all sorts of people stayed here, though, she mused, it wasn't as bad as the Hotel she'd stayed at in California. She shook her head at the memory, navigating the dark ill lit hallways. She rolled her eyes, of coarse it was busy, it was a coming holiday weekend after all. Shego was tempted by prices to indulge in a night of debauchery and chaos, but she forced herself to focus on other things. Shego waved to Lida, whom now wore a name tag. The bartender gave a half wave as she poured several shots and sprayed someone with a hose who'd been trying to snatch a seemingly unattended bottle.

"Can I get a copy of Villains Weekly?" asked Shego over the noise.

"Sorry Shego, there was a small fire last night," said Lida with an eyeroll, "Bunch of yahoo's decided to shoot a few ray guns... there's a few by the pool table of last weeks thought."

Shego shrugged and navigated her way through the maze of idiots and lunatics. She only had to punch one person for putting an arm around her and drunkenly hitting on her. She was not in the mood to deal with that, though she had stolen his wallet... for personal measure. It was a little more quiter near the pool tables, just a small amount, but it gave her some relief. Drinks littered the table where a single moist copy of Villains Weekly sat among others. She clicked her tongue as she shook it off. You could just go grab a new one in the next city. It was a long way to travel for a magazine and the spare Hover Car wasn't exactly working it's best at the moment. It wasn't used to being driven that much. Should have take the good one. She pondered the ramifications of just switching them. If our lair was in Canada, legally I could. She snorted at her own thoughts, pondering what Drakken's expression would be if she tried telling him she could claim common-law marriage. Her smile fell as the memory of his eyes came back to her and she glared.

"Shaychel!" came a loud female laugh from the pool table to her right.

Shego looked to see a blonde haired woman looking over her shoulder at her with a grin. It took Shego several seconds to put a name to the face. The black leather jacket with the neon green skull on the back of it clicked. Miss-Trusting... Misty. Shego felt a wave of confusion at what the women was doing here of all places instead of Vegas where she'd last known her to be. It then tangoed with the overwhelming mental strain that was the whole drug induced chaos. Shego shook it off and dropped the Villains Weekly back on the table and gave her a casual smirk.

"Misty? What the hell are you doing here?" asked Shego as the blonde walked over from the table, "I still want that jacket."

"Never gonna happen, Shego," smirked Misty, she shrugged, "I took a Merch job that led me here. That's about it."

"Getting back into Mercenary work?" said Shego, she felt a twinge of annoyance at having another competitor in the area, You're the one who suggested it on the ship, "Particular type?"

"Well, sort of... you know what. Let me finish this game and we can catch up," said Misty, Shego was about to decline, "My treat."

"Well then, how I could I say no," smirked Shego.


"So your tailing this doctor...?" Shego raised a brow as the fog of her fourth shot clouded the name.

"Dr. Taxley, " said Misty as she drank her second beer, "Apparently he botched the wrong surgery with his experimental concoction. So a delivery message is in order."

"I never pegged you as that kind of mercenary," said Shego with a raised brow.

"I don't revel in it, but it pays the bills and it beats my last job," said Misty with a shrug, she raised a brow at Shego, "So, why are you back in the game?"

"I need to get my head in the game if I'm ever planning on getting a decent Villainess title," said Shego casually, "Same as you?"

"No, it's too much work. I'd rather collect my paychecks and go home, not worry about the next step in my plans to keep my title or something," said Misty with an eye roll, they shot open, "I mean, it's not for me... but if it's for you. Go for it. Speaking of Villains, have you seen my fourth ex husband, lately?"

"Fourth?" asked Shego with a snort of laughter.

"I worked in Vegas, Eddie was hardly my first drunk induced marriage... certainly was my last," said Misty with an eye roll.

"If I'd accidentally married Motor Ed, I would move and find a different career as well," said Shego, Misty choked on her beer and raised a brow at Shego, "Last I saw him was when I shot him into a cop car."

"What?" asked Misty with wide eyes, Shego rolled her and indicated it was a long story, "So, how about you and Dra.." Shego cut Misty off.

"So this Dr. Taxley, how come you haven't completed your mission?" asked Shego quickly, Misty froze halfway to her drink but the quark in her brow made it known she wasn't going to ask further.

"Well, if it wasn't for his bodyguards, I would have... though his last one is out of commission as of yesterday," said Misty with a shrug, she smirked, "You should never try and out ride a Suzuki GS with an Aprilla. Poor bastard."

"Hmm, so this Dr. Taxley would be looking for a new bodyguard immediately," said Shego, an idea struck her, "Say Misty, how would you feel about conspiring?"

"I'd say... two more shots and a round of pool and we can talk business," said Misty, and Shego felt the devious grin spread across her face.


2 Days Later


It was a cake walk if ever there was one. Shego had barely had to show her credentials before Taxley hired her, the man looked in fear. Well, if he could. Dr. Boa Taxley was a man in his late sixties, maybe. Shego really couldn't tell, the man had so much plastic surgery and injections, his face showed very little emotions of wrinkles. In certain lights, it looked almost like a wax mask even, Shego cringed at the thought. Whoever was stupid enough to let a face like that so any type of surgery was a complete idiot. So was he, in her opinion. For all he knew, she was the Mercenary hired to get some revenge on him, I am working with her? Shego thought of it as an easy payday from both sides. She was getting paid heavily for being his bodyguard, plus a cut from Misty's fee. Shego had trouble not smiling, she was back.

"Is it really necessary to accompany me to my office?" asked Taxley stiffly as Shego walked behind him into the upscale surgical facility, "None of the other's did."

"That was there mistake and why their currently on medical leave," said Shego smugly, she indicated to the door, "After you Doctor."

"It wont look right if I let a women not go a head of me," said Taxley, he glanced through the doors.

"It figures your all about the image," smirked Shego as he opened the door for her.

She followed him into the elevator after that with a slight shake to her head. He was making himself an easy target by wanting to keep up appearances. It was shocking how stupid someone could be just for the sake of an image. What's your excuse? Shego glared at her own thought and shook it off. Her image was more important than this ill-gotten surgeon's staff. She was dealing with moving up the Villain Social latter, which was already laden with barbed wires and bombs. Being seen as weak or easy was not going to aid her in anyway. Surgeons had threats against them all the time. If she was a big tough looking guy he'd flaunt her like guard dog. She really wondered how bad he'd botched the surgery he'd done to warrant a beat down, but it was none of her business. I should ask Misty who the client is though. Shego's musings took an abrupt halt as the receptionist froze in front of her.

"Ms. Gold, this is my new... ohm," Taxley look confused at the word choice.

"Bodyguard," finished Shego, but she was still looking at Ms. Gold.

"Ah... yes," Taxley sounded uncomfortable, "This is Shego."

"Please," said Ms. Gold, with a shakey breath.

"Shego, do you need to check out my private bathroom... or," Taxley asked, Shego shook her head and he exited.

"What the hell are you playing at, Cleopatra," growled Shego, apparently her rage at the women had not let up in the passed few weeks, "Playing a receptionist now?"

"Me?" asked Cleopatra, her eyes narrowed, "Since when are you moonlighting as a bodyguard?"

"Since..." Shego caught herself from ranting, You need to keep face, "I and Drakken no longer had use for one another."

"Separate ways?" asked Cleopatra, her eyes shot open, "You two broke up..."

"To be clear, there has never and will never be anything between Drakken and I," said Shego shortly, "We're both going in different directions."

"Really?" asked Cleopatra, her brow narrowed and Shego shot her a look that made her statement ever so clear, "Huh... it doesn't explain this though?"

"Sometimes, things aren't what they seem," said Shego with a smirk, she indicated to the orange blouse and pencil skirt Cleopatra wore, "Thought you said you hated orange."

"It's his favorite color," said Cleopatra, as Taxley returned into the room.

"Our you ladies getting acquainted," said Taxley, he looked around the empty office and gave Shego a half smile, "Ms. Gold will be accompany us to my mountain home this weekend."

"Will she," said Shego, Cleopatra's expression showed exactly what Shego thought, There's more than one villain trying to swindle this guy, "Well then, perhaps we should talk some more..."

"Chloe," said Cleopatra, and Shego had another devious idea.


Later That Night


"So, what are you doing?" asked Misty as she sat on Shego's desk, she had a private suite next to Taxley's for surveillance.

"Cleopatra is meeting us here under the guise of spending some alone time with Taxley. If we can plan this right, this weekend you can collect your paycheck and all of us leave with what we want. Cleopatra is clearly scheming and if we can make sure to stay clear of each other, it will run like a well oiled machine," said Shego, this amount of planning and detail was getting her excited again, she'd gotten so used to quick fire plans that she forgot how delicious the feeling could be.

"I'm not giving her a cut," said Misty with narrowed eyes, "Besides, didn't you call her a gossipy bitch like an hour ago."

"She is, and we're not," said Shego, "We're just going to get her to turn a blind eye as we turn one for her... it's not working together, is agreeing to avoid each other."

"Well put, Shego," came a voice near the window, Shego felt her stomach knot as she glared over her shoulder to see Pandora sitting in it.

"Now, whose she?" asked Misty, Shego could see her agitation, and she couldn't blame her.

"Pandora, what the hell are you doing here?" asked Shego, her eyes narrowed even further as Pandora practically sashayed over towards them.

"Cleo called and told me to meet her here," said Pandora, "She said it was essential to our job."

"Your job?" asked Shego, she was confused, "Since when are you and the Pharaoh working together."

"Since Dementor hired Hermes and I to swipe a priceless painting from Taxley. It has a rough history and Cleopatra specializes in hazardous artifacts and antiquities. Since Hermes is working for Brotherson at the moment. I made a call."

"Dementor?" asked Misty, jumping up and walking over, "Wait, Professor Dementor? He hired me to rough Taxley up."

"I'm sorry, I think I walked in on the wrong moment," said Cleopatra with a disturbed look, "Are we all working for Lu?"

"Lu?" asked Shego, Pandora, and Misty at the same time.

"It's shot for Ludwig," shrugged Cleopatra, she rolled her eyes, "Well, are we?"

"I'm not," said Shego, she glared, why did it have to be Dementor, "I'm just technically working for Taxley. Why would Dementor hire separate people for what one mercenary could do?"

"Roughing a person up and swiping a painting all in one go, no one could do that for someone with such high security as Taxley," said Cleopatra, there was a nod.

"I could... I have," said Shego with an eye roll, she fought the cocky smirk that wanted to spread across her face but it fell at her thought, "But I would have never willingly work for Dementor."

"Afraid it would sully your image, Shego," said Pandora, "Working with someone with a better reputation than Drakken?"

"That depends on the reputation you value," said Shego, she wanted to slap the smug look off Pandora's face, I'd rather work for a scatterbrained failure than a semi-successful leech.

"Who are you?" asked Pandora, looking at Misty.

"Phantom," said Misty and she glanced at Shego to indicate that she didn't want the other's to know her name.

"Listen, I have to be at dinner in less then five, so what's happening here?" asked Cleopatra with a deep sigh.


"Just to go over this," said Misty as the other's had left, "You're going to be a distraction at this fancy event to insure no one stops me, Cleopatra is going to isolate him, while you aid Pandora in getting the painting."

"If everything goes smoothly, it will work like a well oiled machine," said Shego confidently.

"And if it doesn't?" asked Misty as she tossed her bag over her shoulder, "What's the plan then?"

"We bail," said Shego with a shrug, "You do what you need to do and then we high tail it out of there. Queenie and Pan can handle themselves. There big girls."

"But..." Misty raised a brow and Shego felt a smile on her face, her confusion reminded Shego of Junior, "But shouldn't we help them so..."

"No," said Shego with a sigh, "Listen, you can never trust other Villainess' because they will always screw you over in some way. It's hard being a female Mercenary, but even harder being a Villainess... I wouldn't put it passed Pandora if she's already figuring out something to doublecross me... I mean, I would if I was her."

"I thought they were your friends?" asked Misty, her foot on the ledge.

"Them? Definitely not," scoffed Shego, and she felt a small curl of coldness as she smirked, "You can't have friends in this life... only semi-allies."

"Good to know," said Misty with a shrug, and she was gone out the window.


One Week Later (July)


Shego walked around the elaborate Mountain Manor sipping her drink gingerly. The event Dr. Taxley was hosting was a small and private surgeons brunch. Top surgeons from around the country, all talking about their years accomplishments and trying to one up each of them. Shego hadn't been to keen on getting dressed up, but Dr. Taxley wanted everyone to think she was a guest. Besides, Shego had been itching to break out her favorite heels again. She looked down at the green heels with the metal serpents on them and smiled. I should call her...Shego's smile fell away, she wasn't about to call Drakken's Mother for an idle conversation. I should have never got that close to begin with. Shego's chest hurt and she didn't like the feelings swimming around her head. She put the drink down, apparently she'd already had enough.

"Dr. Taxley," said Shego as she saw the man about to wonder off, while he was in no danger, she needed to play the part, "I haven't secured the balcony yet."

"I'm sure its safe for me to talk with collogues, but if you must accompany me," sighed Taxley, he looked down and his brows narrowed, "Such... interesting shoes you have there."

"I... ohm," Shego gave a slight smile, "They were a gift."

"...I suspect so," said Taxley, something in his expression confused Shego as he took a step back from her and cleared his throat, "Close friend?"

Shego didn't know how to respond to that, or why it was even a question. They were shoes, unusual yes, but shoes. There was nothing intimate about shoes, even the design... Shego looked at them herself for a second, as if looking at them differently then she had. The intricate metal serpents, the subtle wing like design on the back of the heel. Shego's eyes flared but she said nothing, the hairs on her neck stood up as she assessed Taxley's questions. She forced a casual expression on her face.

"Friend of a friend who was cleaning out an old closet, that's all," said Shego with a shrug, she watched as Taxley seemed a little more relaxed, "Shall we."

"Yes," said Taxley as they walked onto the balcony where Cleopatra chatted with a few surgeons waiting for the host to arrive, her eyes glanced at Shego and she gave a forced delighted smile at Taxley.

"O, Boa, there you are. This is Dr. Anne Possible and her colleges Pence, Dowels, and Hubbers," said Cleopatra, and Shego's blood ran cold.

"It's so nice to meet you Dr. Taxley, I've heard... Shego?" asked Anne with wide eyes ad she looked at her, "What? Wait... what?"

"Ah, so you've met my guest," said Taxley, he looked concerned, but not as much as Anne did.

"I'm his bodyguard," said Shego, and Taxley looked panicked but Anne looked less so.

"Oh, so... your working," said Anne, her expression held suspicion as she glanced around.

"I am working," said Shego, she could feel the searching and the questions Anne had, which seemed to fade, "Just me. Branching out. How's Kimmy, you should say Hello for me."

Shego watched Cleopatra choke on her drink and shoot her a look, apparently she'd put it together. Shego internally rolled her eyes, honestly sometimes it was like working along side children. Possible. Red Hair. Middleton. Come on, do I have to spell it out to everyone! Shego looked at Anne, she seemed to relax, apparently that had done the trick. The last thing she wanted was for Possible to come busting in here and see she and Cleopatra, ask way to many questions, cause her to scuff her heels kicking her Teen Scene rear end, and blow the plan. It was a chance, but giving Anne to option to call her daughter seemed to ensure, that she wouldn't. Shego hoped. She glanced at Taxley who again, she noticed, had glanced at her heels and she saw his jaw stiffen.

"I do think it's clear out here," said Taxley and Shego knew he wanted her to excuse herself, and quite frankly, Shego did too. Shego barely made it into the house when Cleopatra was at her heels, a look of concern easily read on her face.

"Is that Kim Possible's mother?" asked Cleopatra, her brows knitted, "Why did you tell her to call her? Are you..."

"Take a chill pill, Chloe," said Shego, emphasizing on the name, Cleopatra grimaced, "I'm playing it neutral. If she doesn't view me as a threat, she's not going to bother Princess. Just stick to the plan."

"If she does show up?" asked Cleopatra, her brows narrowed.

"We wing it," said Shego with a shrug, she looked around the room, "Which painting are you after."

"It's in his office," said Cleopatra, she glanced out the window and indicated for Shego to follow her.

The two mad their way through the party and casually walked down the long hall to the stairs. Taxley's office was on the second floor and Shego realized she'd never been in there yet, in fact she didn't remember Taxley ever indicating he was in there in the passed week. When they entered the room was dark, save for faint glow from trophy lights on the book shelves behind a gigantic dark desk. Apart from a few awards, Shego's hair prickled, something felt off about this place. Cleopatra seemed not to notice much, but indicated to a large painting of a red screaming figure with a blue background. Something about it caused Shego's skin to crawl.

"Yeah I know," Shego looked to see Pandora leaning against the wall, biding her time until she could sneak the painting out.

"It's..." Shego began.

"Magnificat," said Cleopatra and Shego saw her eyes lit, "This painting has such a dark history... It's believed to have been the cause of death, destruction, chaos. They have fakes on display... but this is the real thing. The Screamer. It's made of the artist blood, his last painting."

"And Dementor wants this?" asked Shego, perhaps he was more crazy than she thought.

"Oh no, he's paying us for it," said Cleopatra, she smirked, "But he's not getting it. I am."

"Really?" asked Shego, she felt the smirk on her lips, "Thought you two were friendly."

"We are," said Cleopatra, she glanced at Shego and then back at the painting, "But, and I think you'll agree, in our world friends is just a word for allies."

"Umhmm," said Shego, she felt that cold twist again, the same she'd said while saying similar to Misty, "I suppose, he is a surgeon, plastic, but a surgeon. The thing looks like muscles... interesting décor."

"Yeah," said Cleopatra with an eye roll, she indicated to the clock, "We should get back."

"Leave me all alone again," scoffed Pandora, she shrugged, "How long until we're clear and I can get out of this creep-fest."

"Creep-fest," said Cleopatra, she shrugged, "The photos are a bit unsettling, but patience Pandora. Shego, it's about time, right. Phantom should be here?"

"We do have a... what's that?" asked Shego, more to herself as her eye caught sight of a large black and white photo with a large group of people.

"Old picture," shrugged Cleopatra with an eyeroll, "I do admit, he was quite the looker in his youth. He's the one in all white, only reason I knew it was him was because he has the same haircut. I mean, after forty some years, one should try something new... Shego?"

Shego wasn't listening because her mind was racing as she looked at the large photo, There were easily over two dozen men and women in the group, the photo looked over forty years old, perhaps the late forties or early fifties even. The attire worn by the people would fit that, Taxley definitely stood out, all in white. Most wore black or gray color tones in the photo. Taxley looked to be in his twenties, a white lab coat neatly adorned with a broach on it, very clean cut, thinner though, long hair slicked back, and face taught and slightly feminine. Her eyes darted around, faces stood out, more than they should have. It was like a montage of images flashing at once, as if her mind were pairing them with data files. These weren't just friends, and Taxley wasn't just Taxley. Her memories of researching Villains in Team Go flooded back. Her eyes darted to the group, especially two young men in the front, all in black, and the one every bit as intimidating as the first time she'd seen him. Theo and Bart Lipsky stood front and center, and Shego breathed; The Company. She looked back at Taxley and a file of the first Mad Scientist she'd ever remembered reading about came back. Experiments. Plastic Surgeries to change the faces of wanted people. Injections that would render a person unable to talk or move. One of her old Go Villains has used them even, Dollmaker... but this.. this was the source. Taxley.

"Dr. Botox," said Shego with a shakey breath.

"Well, I guess my secrets out," they all turned to see Taxley standing in the doorway and for the first time, his expressionless face showed an emotion, his brow furrowed and a sadistic grin spread across his face, his arm slipping around an unphased Cleopatra's waist.


Well then... let's enjoy some more... Khaos, shall we →

Also, yet another nod to the original KP concept featuring The Company and Dr. Botox.