Hi everyone, it's time again for another chapter in our irregularly updated tale: 'Storm Chaser'. Real life still intrudes and the upcoming months should prove interesting as this year winds down and the new one cranks up, but we'll keep this one coming as best we can.
Now before starting on the recap, here's our thanks to those who have Reviewed, Faved, Alerted or Followed us or this tale: Mahler Avatar, levi200a1, pbow, readerjunkie, Jimmy1201, Sentinel103, Slohndify, Stephy-Lou Clark-Weasley, temporaryinsanity91 and Cabriel; thank you so very much. We hope you continue to enjoy the tale as it continues to unfold.
Last time, Kim met with her College Dean to catch her up with life as the red head had been living it up to then. From that discussion Kim finally learned who was footing her bills since her arrival in England, no questions asked, just send the receipts. Maybe that dog will hunt…buuttt to give you a hint on that topic…we ain't writing that kind story here ya'll, ya hear? LOL! Miles to go before that puppy sleeps is all I'll say. Kim's doing well and she's making her way, but she still reflects on what she let slip away in her isolation and madness from back then.
Meanwhile GJ's finding out just how big of a hole there is in the Asian Theatre of Intel and Ops as a big problem came up in one of the most closed societies on Earth. Lucky for them they'd know where to look to solve the problem if a certain relative of their Boss wasn't so good at lying about his status since the Lowardian Invasion…
And as has become the norm in that part of the world, Yamanouchi is about to intervene and do what they have done best since the Chosen One has been hitting on all cylinders these last few years. But there's still that little 'clinker' at the spark plug where the fire was so much hotter before his exodus…
But before we go we still have to keep this tale from becoming a Lawyer Magnet: Kim Possible, the characters from the show and all from it are the exclusive property of Disney and we get no money from their inclusion in our tale. Just carpal tunnel and squinty eyes from letting them play in our word processor and this internet site.
Storm Chaser
Chapter 11
Possible Home. Middleton, Colorado:
Anne Possible picked up the phone on the second ring, "Hello…"
"Hi Mom, I'm calling in for my semi-weekly check-in.", Kim announced over the GJ provided connection she used to make international calls.
"Hi Kimmie, it's so good to hear from you! Even though you call frequently, we still miss you.", Anne said in motherly gratitude. "In fact with the boys living away from home at college these days, it's been pretty quiet around here.", Anne Possible replied, leaving out that since all three have 'flown the coop' for college, she and James no longer have to reserve the occasional hotel room in order get some 'alone time'.
Kim sighed thinking for a moment of how her life changed before she responded, "Well I can't call home often enough Mom, but remember I'll be home in six weeks. I'm one of the Bridesmaids in Tara's and Josh's wedding.
"I remember honey, I took your dress in to be cleaned and it's in a plastic cover hanging in your closet waiting for you like I promised. Oh, and your shoes are in a box beneath the dress so they won't get dusty.", Anne remembered. "And your winter dress coat is also in fine shape, so you can take it back to England if you need."
"Sounds great Mom, thanks for doing all that for me, I really appreciate it.", Kim replied gratefully.
"Think nothing of it Kimmie, it was no problem doing this so you'll be ready for the final preparations for the wedding.", she said. "Now when you get back, what do you want for dinner the night you get home?…..Your choice honey."
Blurting, "Anything but bangers and mash, Mom.", Kim deadpanned, "I've had my fill of them, but I have developed a taste though, for stovies. They're not as greasy."
"Bangers and Mash? Stovies? What are they?"
"Well bangers and mash are mashed potatoes and these greasy sausages, it's sort of a pub food, but stovies are made with boiled potatoes and onions, with either lamb or beef, and a little seasoning. You sorta heat it all up after you boil the potatoes….I even tried making it and it wasn't too bad. In fact one of the girls here had some lamb leftover from Sunday dinner with her boyfriend, and she showed me how to make it.", Kim crowed as she described one end of the spectrum of the 'delicacies' she partook while back in England.
"Mary isn't as good of cook as Ron was, but she has helped me some.", Kim said, while Anne wondered if her daughter's bad cholesterol numbers had gone up since her return to Oxford.
Bragging a bit more, "It was edible, if I say so myself. And no Mom, no kitchens burned down and no one had to go to the hospital after eating my cooking.", she said in mock exasperation to her Mother's relieved breath release and giggles from the Middleton end of the line, followed by eye rolls on both sides of the Atlantic.
"Ok Kimmie, I'll make sure that we won't have those sausage things, but maybe you can show us how to make the stovie thing though. It sounds like something for a cold wet day.", she said to the groan which came from the mention of the weather. "Now if you have been going to pubs, are you meeting any boys?", Anne asked hesitantly, her emotions split at the prospect.
"I go with some of the other girls Mom, but I'm off the market, remember? There have been some guys who've tried to hit on me to see if they could get lucky….but I just turn them down flat.", Kim said in frustration.
"In fact,", she huffed, "over here I'm getting a reputation of being a cold bitch from all the rejections…They know so little about Ron and me and how I screwed it all up between us."
"Honey, I don't think you can classify yourself as being off the market until you have a ring on your finger….", Anne sighed in relief and slight disappointment at the self-imposed conditions Kim placed on her social life.
"Well at least you are getting out a little…But Kim, all of that wasn't your fault...you don't have to lead a celibate life…"
"Mom, My life wasn't celibate till I so screwed it up. Ronnie and I musta done it fifty times, well fifty different days….", Kim stopped as she just realized what she confessed to her Mother, "I uh…well I'm not going to apologize for that Mom, I wanted to do it with Ronnie and we felt it was time…."
Anne smiled to herself sadly as she thought about what those two had before the split, "Kimmie that is your business and none of ours unless someone tries to hurt you.", she reassured Kim. "And you be sure to remember your Father misses his daughter and her somewhat goofy boyfriend.", Anne assured Kim. "Maybe things will turn around in time and you can get back what each of you deserves."
Brightly Kim replied, "Thanks Mom, you've always rocked. Now how is everyone doing these days?"
With a voice both knew so well, "Well your brothers got into trouble in college…", Anne trailed off.
Kim snorted, she had been the only 'Canary-in-the-coal-mine' in her family that persistently warned them that it was only be a matter of time before their luck ran out, "What did they do this time?", she sighed.
"Well they made some rocket fuel and forgot to ground one of the beakers like your father always made them do, and they blew up the lab they were working in…" Kim's gasp came in reply, before her Mom continued, "Well they didn't take the building all the way down, but you catch my drift."
Matter-of-factly, Anne followed up, "Some of their money that they had made off some of their inventions had to be used to rebuild part of it. Now their professors know why I sent them an email before classes started this term."
Kim snorted, "Maybe they should take some of the money and build an explosion-proof bunker for the Tweebs to do the experiments in.", and giggled at the prospect. "But, I guess it's about time they started to learn that there are consequences for their actions Mom. Dad sometimes let them get away with too much. And speaking of Dad, what did he say about that."
"He only said that they were going to pay for their damages if they continued to be careless in this field", Anne replied. "But remember Kim, sometimes we let you get away with a lot too. It's all part of growing up and when you have children of your own, you'll find this out as well.", Anne said as she gave her daughter a little nugget of Motherly advice.
Then she added, "And don't forget Kim, 'boys will be boys' is the official motto of the Y-chromosome gang. Of course that was James' mantra until he saw the damage and how much it was going to cost to repair it.", Kim snorted her 'I told you so' back through the phone.
Until Anne knowingly cut in, "Don't get too high and mighty there young lady, I seem to remember that you were quite the handful until you got to be ten years old before you calmed down..We did sit on you pretty hard back then when you messed up."
Kim sighed as she remembered some of the things she was guilty of when she was a child, "Maybe a little Mom, but you guys sure came down on me hard for lying that one Halloween, remember?"
A sigh preceded the reply, "That was because everyone looked up to you already Kimmie…at that point in your life you needed to be grounded. You had to be held to a higher standard then because of who you were to so many back then.", Anne said in earnest.
As Kim took this in, "If people saw you getting away with something like that then, and all the other kids found out…well, you know the media would have made a big deal about it. Then you would have just been another 'spoiled' celebrity teen like so many others. So we had to make an example out of you as a result."
"Yeah Mom, ya did but it made me better. I guess sometimes the 'burnt hand' teaches best." Sigh, "And the guy that I skipped a night out with Ron and the hospital T and T thing for is now getting married to a really nice girl."
"Yes honey, sometimes experience is the best teacher and that is what the boys are finding out now. And from now on, I think they will check the compounds they mix up a little more thoroughly beforehand.", Anne said in parental relief to Kim's snort.
"Yeah and let's hope that Jim and Tim learned something from this Mom. I mean they, or somebody else, could have gotten badly hurt from their mistake, and they would have been second-guessing themselves after that. That could have lead to more problems with them and their experiments.", Kim said in relief. "Lord knows what would have happened if something like this took place during my breakdown."
"I know Kimmie; we've been concerned about this all the while they've been growing up. But now that this has happened, we believe Jim and Tim will be more careful when they go out and perform those experiments of theirs.", Anne replied with relief of her own.
Then shifting topics, "And Kim, you know that many of your classmates are getting on with their lives, some of them will marry and keep connections with you, others will drift off. Maybe they will find employment somewhere else and make things work where they find jobs.", Anne said as she imparted more wisdom to her daughter.
"In fact, your Father was very lucky to go to college close by to his home in Middleton..And as a result, the O'Shea's and the Possibles were very lucky families in that regard."
Kim took this all in and sat back, mulling over where she was at this point in her life. What lead to it, where it came from, where she was and potentially…could go, when her Mom's voice came back over the phone.
"That reminds me Kimmie, just how are you feeling these days…I mean emotionally?", Anne asked hesitantly.
"I'm doing fine right now Mom, the courses I'm taking this term are very interesting and they keep me busy with all the studying I have to do. And because of that I really don't have much time to think about anything else right now.", Kim replied in hopes of avoiding having to give her Mom an answer she was looking for.
"Are you lonely Kimmie?", Anne asked, cutting to the chase. 'Well so much for that approach.', Kim mentally sighed.
Sigh, "…Yeah Mom, I am…I still miss him. I sorta confessed that to the Dean of Students the other day when I was in her office.", Kim said, resigned that there was no way she was going to avoid talking to her Mom about Ron.
"Did this lead to any problems for you, honey?", slight apprehension in Anne's voice.
"No! No Mom, I requested the meeting with Mrs. Blokes...", Kim paused for a moment before she explained to her Mother the highlights of what she brought up in detail with her Dean of Students; relieved that she wouldn't have to go through it again.
"But why did she need to know all that?", Anne asked.
"Mom, she was part of my recovery group and I owe her and the faculty here a lot for helping me. But there was something I wanted to talk to her about and it coincided with a request I received from her for me to meet with her when I had the time after the term started.", Kim explained.
"I see...but otherwise everything else is going alright?"
"Yeah except for the missing Ron thing…", Kim trailed off, then rallied, "When I got back to England before the term started, I decided to get a rail pass, and for a couple of weeks did some sightseeing..", she said, then faded, "something Ronnie and I never got to do when we globe trotted in the past..."
"I see.", Anne said to help keep Kim from dwelling too long in her regrets.
"Yeah, well I enjoyed it and had a good time, and took in some of the sights Ron would have liked to have seen…to honor him in some small way.", Kim said with a tinge of sorrow in her voice.
"Oh, that's very nice honey since you were there and had the time, it sounds like it was a good thing for you to do.", Anne did her best to rally Kim's spirits here. "Have any interesting adventures while on the trip, or meet anyone we should know about?"
"Well I was on a train up to Edinburgh, Scotland and this cute buff guy came up, sat next to me and started a conversation with me.", Kim paused for a moment which gave Anne an idea of where this was going, "At first it was all well and good, except that he had ulterior motives."
"So you have a boyfriend now?", Anne teased Kim, her voice climbing into a squeak of anticipation.
"Hmph, I had a boyfriend Mom, I have his class ring around my neck remember?…Anyway this cute French guy musta thought that he was God's gift to the fairer sex and thought for some reason that he could just put his arm around me and then asked if I wanted to travel with him…", Kim began.
"And..?"
"Well..I sorta convinced him that that wasn't that good of an idea.", Kim chuckled lightly, before she continued, "He sorta reminded me of Junior a little…But I think he was more interested in having someone to help keep him warm at night then anything else."
"Uh, and just how did you 'convince' this young man that your affections lay elsewhere, honey?"
Kim airily replied, "Well there's all these pressure points on the hands and arms, and if you had never studied about them you'd never know that they were there or how they get your attention when they are pressed…"
"I do remember a few classes in anatomy where we learned about nerve clusters honey, but we never did anything like what you are talking about…"
"Mom I learned where they were in Kung Fu class, but I never really saw someone use them until I saw Ronnie do that to a Henchman® once when we were infiltrating a lair of Dementor's…I think we were in our Junior year…", Kim trailed off in her reply, before it got very quiet on her end of the phone.
"Kim? Are y..", Anne asked, concerned about Kim's sudden fade.
"Wait a minute! How did Ron ever learn to do that? If I remember that move it was fast and brutal, and not really like him at all. I was going to ask him about it but we were sorta busy at the time, the diminutive twerp had swiped the PDVI again and GJ sent us in to get it back."
"I don't know honey he might have seen that in one of those campy Kung Fu movies I remember he and the boys used to watch on cable years ago…and then afterwards try to emulate in the living room…", Anne said distractedly before giggling. "Sometimes to comical ends, if memory serves."
Giggling at those memories as well, "Yeah they did, but Mom, if you do it right it works…It's just that I don't remember Ron ever getting that kind of training..except maybe at that Japanese school he went to on an exchange about five years ago.", Kim frowned over her recollections that Ron never did tell her what went on when he was over there, except for his stilted explanations about that cute Japanese girl from there she met later who seemed to appreciate him a bit too much for her comfort.
"Well I really don't…"
Cutting in quickly, "Mom, I just got an idea, do we know where Ron's flight went when he left Middleton?"
"Honey I never checked on it, maybe Wade could do it for you…I mean he has more resources than I do."
"He's already doing a little project for me Mom; I don't want to push the limits of friendship."
"What's he doing honey?"
"Besides helping me find Ron?...Do you remember that we don't know who is paying for my education? I checked with the university they had nothing to do with it either."
"Yes it was a surprise, a nice one…"
Kim cut in again, "Well that's the main reason I went to see Mrs. Blokes, Mom. She tracked down a law firm over here in the US that is handling the Trust for my education and all they would say is that the Trust is well funded. But otherwise they won't give out any information either over the phone or over the internet."
"Where are they located honey?"
Sighing in frustration, "They're in Chicago Mom. If they were close I'd have you or Dad check into it…but it's too far away. So, I thought about flying in there to talk to them about it when I coming home at Christmas, but Mrs. Blokes suggested that I wait until after school gets out for the summer instead.", Kim said. "She said it would be too much to do with so little time to accomplish it during the Christmas Holidays, so I'm going to wait until summer when I have more time to focus just on this."
"Very good Kimmie, it looks like you will find out who your benefactor is and then you can properly thank them."
"As long as the thank you doesn't include a roll in the sack, I'm fine with that…I'm sorta spoken for you know."
"I know honey, you've made that very clear to all of us…but what will you do if Ronald has settled down with someone else?"
Sighing again, "I'll cross that bridge when I come to it Mom."
"Honey you have to remember that Ronald is Jewish and they feel a responsibility to continue their family line, so you have to keep that in mind. And since we abruptly cut off all contact with him and his family there is a chance that he's moved on."
"I know Mom…Heck, if I had him with me right now I'd probably be in the family way myself.", Kim blurted, then paused to take a breath before revealing her next bombshell, "And you know what, I wouldn't mind it at all even if we hadn't tied the knot yet."
"Honey whatever you do keep that information to yourself and away from your Father.", Anne advised, "He may not appreciate that kind of news."
"Mom even though it sounds like I'm in lust with Ronnie, I'm not…well I am, but what I'm trying to say is that I still love him even after all this time."
"Honey, you don't even know if Ronald is still alive out there…"
Her voice direct, "Mom I just know he is…somehow I feel it...in here.", holding a hand over her heart.
Sagely, "Or if he's found someone.", Anne replied.
Snorting, "Yeah like Yori, somebody who liked Ron for being Ron.", Kim said with an edge in her voice. "In fact, think I might also travel to Yamanouchi this summer and talk to her if she's there, and if Ron's there, maybe we can talk about what happened after high school.", Kim said sadly.
Before Anne could try to console Kim, "Mom, it's really bothering me, I so should have begged him to come get me when I had all those dreams…"
"I suppose you could try that Kimmie, but remember Ronald was shut out by all of us. He may not be so easy to win over, even if he hasn't found anyone.", Anne said, also very sadly. "I just wish we could get a hold of the Stoppables, wherever they are. Dean and Barb might give us insight into what we are facing."
"Yeah I have so much begging to do that it isn't even funny.", the younger red head lamented to her Mom.
"Ronald has always been forgiving, but I don't know how he will take this honey."
Sighing forlornly, "Yeah Mom, me neither…"
Now intent on changing the subject from something that was bringing her daughter down, "So…what other..events do you have to report before you get back to school business?", Anne offered to Kim.
"Oh! Mom I almost forgot, I've started Kung Fu classes again. It's good to be able to learn some new things and polish up what I have."
"Well Kimmie, if anyone can get back into the swing of it, I'm sure it's you."
"Yeah I hope so..But that's all I have to report. Oh, and I need to call Nana, I'm overdue checking in with her, and I'll bet that she's worried about me. And I forgot her number…could you do me a favor and get it for me?"
XXX
Ron (aka Dean Kaminsky) Stoppable's, apartment, Sapporo, Japan:
(Nutumo-san the instructions on the care and feeding of Rufus are inside the folder I just gave to you. Nooni-sama has fed my friend before so this should be easy for her and you.), the young blond instructed as he handed his best friend in the whole wide world, and a famous friend of Yamanouchi, to the ninja student charged with rat sitting the aging mole rat.
(It will be my honor to care for Rufus-san Master; I will carry him in my jacket pocket if that is acceptable?)
"What do you say Rufus, do you want to ride in his coat pocket?"
"Hnk guess so.", Rufus shrugged to Ron.
Then turning a big smile to his sitter, "Cheese!", the rodent squeaked, hoping to squeeze a treat out of the rookie.
Smugly rebuffing him, "Ok Rufus, now behave yourself while I am gone. I'll bet Nooni will fix the sushi that you like and since I won't be around for a bit, you can have as much as you can stuff into your face.", he said to Rufus' chagrin, then joy at the news.
Ron then switched to Japanese, (Remember to keep him warm…My little friend has no fur and he gets cold easily. And upon your arrival to Yamanouchi you are to turn him over to Master Sensei…they are great friends.)
Bowing slightly, (I understand and it will be done.), Nutumo stated, (I also have cheese in my rucksack as well…..Sensei suggested the treat.)
(Thank you my friend…Now when will the others be here to pick me up? My gear is packed and ready, as I am, to go.), Ron informed the young man.
(Master the team will be here tonight. Hirotaka and Yorishi are leading them until you take charge.)
Looking off for a moment before continuing, (Tell Sensei that I will be the 'wild card' this time and will play the 'bad boy'.), Ron/Dean said. (I somehow feel this will lead to greater success and an earlier completion of the mission.)
(That is not what a detail of the plan that I was informed of Master, are you sure that you want to do this?)
(Of course I am sure my friend, now please go to the station with my best friend. I will return to the Sacred Mountain after we are done to pick him back up.), Ron instructed.
(Yes Master…)
After they left Ron rechecked the bag packed with the gear he knew he would need to accomplish the task at hand. Once satisfied, he then walked to the dojo he had been attending.
There were no classes at this time of day so when the blond American got there he called out, (Master are you here. I need to speak to you.)
A few moments later Master Initu Hakkuri appeared, (What is it Kaminsky-san?)
(Master it is as I feared My Father has taken a turn for the worse, I must leave the country for a time to make sure he is properly cared for.)
After musing a bit before answering, (That is an honorable cause for you to undertake. You are hereby released from class until you have fulfilled your family obligations…However it does not bar you from practicing what you have learned so far. I expect to see improvement when you return.)
Bowing lowly, (Master I will have time to continue my practice in private, so I do not think I will fall too far behind.), Ron told the Sensei of the school, continuing to keep his true skills and the real purpose of his absence from the dojo from his 'Master'.
(Very good, give your Father my best wishes.)
(Thank you Master. Now if you will excuse me, I must be going.)
XX
It was another hour before Hiro and Yori arrived at Ron's apartment. When they arrived Ron met them with a bow, (May I offer you tea my friends?)
(It would be our honor Kaminsky-san.), Yori replied with a small smile as she looked to the packed bags by the door, (I see you are packed and ready to go.)
(Of course, when I received notification of the parameters of our trip, I made sure all my things were in order then sealed everything else away under standard protocols.), Ron smiled tightly not mentioning that the rest of his gear was in a specially designed safe, their contents to be consumed within it in a raging and intense fire if someone tried to force it open. The safe designed to burn only what was inside, the heat to be vented safely so as to not endanger the rest of the building.
Ron then turned the television on and went into his kitchen to heat up the water and open up a box of cookies. The blond knew that he might be out of his apartment for some time and made sure there would be no traces of any foodstuffs around that could attract vermin, Rufus wasn't here to cleanup as he liked to do when there was a mess on the counters.
Twenty minutes later the three ninja sat sipping their cups of tea when Hirotaka looked at his watch, (You know it is almost time Ron-sama…)
(Please finish my friends, I will clean up quickly. I wanted to spend time with you in this way in case this is the last time we are together.), Ron said as he informed them of his reasons for sharing tea with them.
Yori placed her hand on Ron's, (We appreciate your sentimentality Ron-sama, but you are not really made for this…life, are you?)
Bowing slightly to her honor, Ron said, (No, but we can't always have everything we want. Life didn't turn out the way I expected, but it is not all that bad either.)
(I still say you should have confronted her with her choices. What she did was wrong.), Hiro said as he brought up his old argument.
(No matter, it is over with. Maybe mistakes were made, but this is the path which we are on Husband. For good or ill.), Yori frowned, displeased this discussion was taking place again at this moment.
(Please Yori-kun, Hiro is right at least to some extent…), Ron stopped when he could see he had the attention of both, (Maybe I should have traveled to her and asked why she didn't at least tell me that she didn't want to see me again…but I was afraid of being hurt more than I already was.), he sadly shrugged.
Then after a heavy sigh, (So I ran away..and sought a different life. Maybe mine was not as good as Kim's may have turned out, but it's not that bad either.), he said to his friends. (In the end, I have learned the comfort of being in the shadows and out of view.)
(It is our way Ron-sama.)
Ron continued as if he didn't hear the lithe Shinobi, (I was always paranoid of people looking at me, I guess that is why I acted the way I did…it worked in most cases. And except for my friend Rufus I really only had three friends that I could count on, well two anyway.), Ron paused to take a breath, (Monique, I'm not really sure of; she was more of Kim's friend than mine anyway.)
Hiro snorted, (When I traveled to Middleton they were almost at each other's throats to get my attention. So at that time they were rivals.)
Yori punched her husband on the arm lightly, (You did that on purpose too.)
(As you remember my mission was to ascertain the 'support' that Stoppable-sama had around his person to help him with his further immersion with the power.), Hiro reminded his wife.
Then turning to Ron, (I am sorry Master but it was of vital importance or so we thought at the time. I had to make sure your lifelong friend would be able to support you as you matured.)
Ron thought back to the time and smiled weakly knowing this was difficult for his Japanese friend to tell him, (Hiro my friend you had orders, so the council had to know. I have no ill will toward you for this nor do I wish this upon anyone else, let alone Kim, for what happened later.), he said, shaking his head sadly. (I just wasn't right for her and she took it upon herself to end the relationship...At least it happened before we did anything stupid like get married and had kids.)
(I know you have come to this understanding now Ron-sama, but when you arrived back at Yamanouchi you were so broken and had lost your way…..)
(And I found it again with the Monks and Yamanouchi, though I'm not sure that I ever want to go through all that again…standing under a glacier stream at night in a snowstorm is not the way that most would find understanding and enlightenment.), Ron chuckled at how out of it he was for over six months after his arrival from America.
Then rising from his seat, he began to collect the cups and placed them on the small tray to begin the cleanup process.
As he cleaned the dishes, (Are we going by cab or what?), Ron asked from the kitchen.
(One of the school's autos will be by in a few minutes.), Hiro replied as he walked into the kitchen as Ron was finishing up.
Ron heard the call bell and began to head for the intercom, but Yori beat him to it.
(We must go, it is time.)
XX
Cruising at forty thousand feet, the executive jet carried the elite elements of the ninja surveillance and strike forces. Gathered around the conference table with Yori, Hiro and Ron were six other members of the team as they looked over the detailed pictures of their objective and its location.
(We will meet the other elements of Team Orange here at Mianning. Then we will breakdown into three person sub-teams and make our way into the remote area colored in orange on the map.), Himatora Sakusi informed them.
Noting the breakdown in assignments, (Where do you want me?), Ron asked.
(We have your identification papers, cards and passport Stoppable-sama; you are traveling as a student who has taken a year off from university work to travel in order to expand your horizons. You will travel the area with a guide the Chinese Government will provide you when we land at the airfield. Please do not do anything in front of him to give him any suspicions of what you really are.), Sakausi warned the American blond.
(Or at least until we identify what the target is and can figure out how best to make the threat go away you mean.), Ron clarified, (Anyway what's my cover name this time.)
(Bobo Mankey, I made it short this time so that you would remember it.)
Ron frowned and his apparent displeasure at the name brought the 'insiders' of the team gathered to the brink of chuckles, (Thanks a lot Sakausi..I can dig the Mankey part, but you just weirded me out with Bobo. Just for that I ought to do something unnatural to you when we spar again.)
Sakausi grinned and merely replied, (And as always..Bobo, I await your flavor of 'unnatural'.), he said to the chuckles of the others.
Then after clearing his throat and taking a more serious tone, (Ok, on to the rest of the mission briefing…This is a team effort, Chosen One…remember that at all times. And also foremost in your assignment is that you are to help gather information. Also remember your true identity must not be revealed to anyone outside of Yamanouchi. This is paramount in our relations with the Chinese Government.)
At Ron's nod Sakausi continued, (We have worked long and hard over many years to regain a level of trust with the Chinese, and though you have been involved in such activities these last two years, we believe their learning your true identity and nature could undo much trust building if they knew, without a doubt, such a person existed within Japan's borders.)
Once he was assured of Ron's understanding of the issue, (So to further your remaining an unknown entity to the Chinese Government, all we can do is ask you to help establish the location of the threat, call that information in to the proper personnel and await orders from our superiors as to our next course of action.)
(I understand.), Ron gravely said. (I also understand that our primary goal is information gathering so others may act, but we might have to move quickly outside those parameters to stop the threat my friend.)
(This is not like the last several missions you were on Stoppable-sama, if these people are able to spirit those weapons out of China, there could be war over the resulting repercussions. To that end, we need to know who acquired them and who they are to be provided to…If you kill off all involved we may never know who is behind all of this, and we would have to start all over again, with a more wary criminal element that will better cover their tracks in the future. )
Nodding solemnly, (I will follow your direction my friend, but be aware that if we are recognized I will end the threat myself if I consider it dire enough.)
(You must not act alone.)
(I will only act if there are no other choices. I have the authority from Sensei himself.), Ron frowned unhappy to be playing this card with the representative.
Shaken, (I un…understand, but only as a last resort then.), was the reply.
XXX
Global Justice Headquarters:
"Will this is a very disturbing situation developing in western China. Do we have any assets in place to deal with it?", the one-eyed leader of the UN's International Law Enforcement arm asked of her Number One Agent.
"Ma'am since the problem is in China we must wait for them to invite our assistance.", he sighed. "Of all the nations in Asia, they are the most unyielding at holding us at arm's length when it comes to internal business.", Agent Du replied in frustration.
"You know the culture over there Will, are you saying we should just barge in and tell them we are trying to stop the purchase of a stolen weapon of mass destruction or its delivery system? Or better yet, should we sneak in and ask forgiveness afterward?", Dr. Director asked, equally in frustration at the dilemma.
"Ma'am, as China is a superpower whose society is so closed to outside scrutiny or intervention, I suggest we go to New York and speak with their delegate to the UN and show him the information we have and our concerns. Then we can make the offer to help if they wish us to."
"I suppose that is best Will, it's not like the old days where we could just send in Team Possible. They had credibility and they didn't have an agenda. Too bad we don't have anyone like that right now…"
"We could send Possible in…"
"No, that's one thing we can't do, Will.", Dr. Director said as she shook her head. "If Kim had kept up on her training we might have been able to pull it off if we had another 'operator' with decent skills to send in with her,", she sighed, "but we are three years past that."
Gathering the Intel she had on the case and placing it in a secure binder, "Well I don't think anything is going to blow up overnight so I will take a hover jet and fly there in the morning.", Betty said as she placed the binder in a briefcase.
"Ma'am the Chinese are very good at stalling.", Will reminded her.
Rubbing her temples, "I know, but we have some concerns tied directly to their country and we can't just let this go down without some oversight from here.", she said. "And it seems that someone else, who we just don't know yet, is just as deliberate at keeping our noses out Asian Affairs.", she said as she closed her eye.
Opening it and affixing it on her Agent, "But there is something going on over there that could take the entire world down with it if China doesn't get on board and work with us on this."
Shrugging, "I suppose I could also bring in the other Asian countries into my presentation to the Chinese Ambassador if they resist our requests to assist them. They could help persuade the Chinese to accept our proposal, if they realize they too, are also threatened by this dilemma.", Betty said.
"I hope it helps Ma'am, but I won't hold my breath. The Chinese are not only good at stalling anyone not familiar with their culture, but they can also be very stubborn as well. We will probably have to offer them something in return for their accepting our assistance on this."
"What could we possibly offer them other than our help in trying to keep nuclear weapons from falling into the wrong hands? Outside of the threat of terrorists using them in China themselves, we have essentially nothing to offer them.", she said in frustration.
Then looking at her briefcase, "But I do wonder what their response will be when I show them what we have from our sources."
"Maybe they will listen to reason Ma'am, but don't count on it."
"Yes I know Will, but we have to try.", Dr. Director said as she straightened her desk and her uniform. "Now send Dr. Load into my office when you head out to get some lunch, I'll have him cross check this data and run it through a few filters to make sure that our 'friends' only get a sanitized version. There is no way I want to compromise my assets for this."
Nodding in reply, Will turned and strode from her office.
X
Nearly two hours later, Doctor Wade Load PhD exited the office of the Director of Global Justice with a stack of papers; actually it was more like a grocery cart full of paper.
The African-American teen's grumbling could be heard as he made his way down the hall at the task he had been given by his Boss to sift through all this data in the short timetable he was also given and to make it presentable for Dr. Director and her meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to the UN the next day.
But for all his grumblings he was now back in his element; he had something tangible he could literally sink his teeth into besides Ron Stoppable's 'Legacies' in the Agency Cafeteria. Something he begrudgingly did grumble about, since those tasty delicacies inevitably lead to the never ending fight of working off the 'Stoppable Goodness' he and others took to with such a passion at mealtime.
Which lead workouts, that at times rivaled those of Olympic or Triathlon Athletes, to keep the inevitable weight gain down to manageable levels in the ranks.
XXXX
Well while Betty's going to White Paper the Chinese at the UN, the Pride of Yamanouchi is about to take care of the problem GJ was pressing to deal with. Gotta love politics, debating world ending conditions while the clock's ticking…
But in the interim, Kim's brought her Mom up to speed at school and what she's got planned for summer vacation, while learning the Tweebs almost sent a College Building into orbit. Heh, that's some family there alright. And Ron's about to cut loose in China when he gets the chance and that will be interesting to see.
Shortly.