Hi all, those who have been following along, or just pass through from time to time, it's time for the next chapter of 'Storm Chaser'.

We'll get to the recap and launch in a moment, but before we do that, Larry and I'd like to thank those who've chimed in as they have since the last posting: Mahler Avatar, Randamwriter, Robot Wolf 26Z, the ever elusive 'Guest', ajw1970, Jimmy1201, eckles, Delilah88, math123 and DarthManwe, thank you all for your support!

Previously, Kim was catching up with friends in Middleton and learning of another of Ron's friends who has a bone to pick with her about that fateful summer/fall right after she left for England. That ought to be quite the cheery encounter…Drakken's, once again, gone 'Mad Scientist' at home and is facing the wrath of the Mother of their child, the subject of his experiment and their 'benefactor'. Boy just don't learn, on either side of the law, do he? And Ron's back out in the wild black-and-blue with his acquaintances in Storm Chaser One, while Sensei and his clandestine crew make their reports on their recent forays to wipe any trace of Ronald Dean Stoppable from agencies which have such records of their undercover Chosen One. Side-shots about Dean/Ron and his dojo riot on the airbase also were recounted; much to Suzie's and Wanda's dismay at not being on hand to either take part in or play peanut gallery to the festivities.

We finished last chapter with Felix ready to chew on some Possible butt about Ron, and we lead off this one with what went down. All the rest, hopefully, is gravy?

Enjoy!

Storm Chaser

Chapter 34

Campy's Café, Middleton:

The three now sober young women stood as they watched a wheelchair bound young man roll into the restaurant, followed by a young Hispanic woman. Kim took the initiative, walked to meet them and gave them each a warm hug, "Felix, Zita it's good to see you again."

Surprised at first, the young man regrouped and seemed about to continue the tirade he began earlier on the phone with the red head, but the greetings from the two other women, one blonde, the other African-American intruded.

The Hispanic woman whispered into Monique's ear, "Felix is still pissed, but I think Possible will be able to defend herself."

Glancing at her friends, "Don't worry she can, but Justine will referee to keep it PG.", the fashionista replied.

Zita then pulled Monique off into a corner while the other three went back to the table. Felix just stared at Kim for a moment. And then slowly and quietly, "Kim? W…why did you shut Ron out?" His voice growing louder with each word. "Why did you abandon him?", his face red and in a severe grimace as Kim's jaw tensed.

Stunned, Kim could only stare. Before she could reply, he bit out, "You broke him!" She flinched. "You deserted him!", his eyes hardened, he drew out the words. Rubbing his face in anguish as she tensed, "I tried to help him,", he paused, then his eyes locked on hers, "but I was too far away." He exhaled a harsh breath, "He called me…a few times…but I had no idea!", his hands went up in exasperation before he stopped and just shook his head and settled in his chair.

While Felix simmered, the tension at the table increased. Kim looked down at the table, thinking of what she wanted to say to him. She knew, that eventually, she was going to have to face harsh questions from Felix, Ron's best male friend.

Looking up, "You aren't saying anything to me that I didn't say to myself every day after I realized what I had done to Ron…my family, my friends…", Kim started. Taking a breath, "This isn't an excuse,", she said as his eyebrows rose, "but when this went down I was in the middle of a nervous breakdown…I was having nightmares, daymares, you name it, I was having a full-on freaking mental and emotional collapse just after I got to school in England.", Kim recounted as Felix's jaw dropped.

Before he could reply, "I locked everybody out Felix, not just Ron…But, I just…couldn't let Ron see…me that way." Kim's eyes a little frantic while she explained this. Drawing a hand through her hair, "In my…panic, I felt that Ron shouldn't see me this way…that this man who loves me as much as he does…", she drew out in contemplation, while she briefly debated in her mind whether or not this was still true, or not, "didn't deserve a girlfriend who was a mental case. So I had my folks cut off all contact with him, and everybody else, while I did the same from England."

A few seconds went by as Felix took this in, before Kim prepared to continue.

Looking Felix dead in the eyes, "I tried to fix all of that myself and…I couldn't do it…I failed.", Kim flatly declared. "I failed Ron,", she sniffled, "and me…our friends and 'rents. I was soooo wrong trying to do it all by myself.", she said bitterly. "I alienated nearly everybody I knew, and drove away the only man I'll ever love.", her eyes haunted with regret.

Looking neutrally to her, "Then why aren't you crying Kim?", Felix quietly asked her. "How come after your confession of your Kimness, as Ron used to call it,", she flinched, "running amuck, and its resulting loss of your boyfriend, that, years later, I don't find you shedding any tears over this train wreck of your own making.", his eyes hardening.

Staring back at him, "How does crying, now, help find Ron and tell him that I screwed up?", Kim shot back, "How does it help me in a search I undertook to find Ron right after I was able to get help and end my self-imposed exile from everything, or everyone I ever knew or loved?", her voice rising before Justine cleared her throat.

Her eyes flashing to the concerned blonde 'referee' and back to Felix, "Tears? I shed plenty of them once I got a handle on what had happened to me, what I realized I had done and what I had lost in all of this.", Kim pushed back. "But tears now won't help me find the man I…hope to marry someday, and be the mother of his children.", her voice caught. "Even if he doesn't want to marry me, I at least want to find him and explain what happened…And beg his forgiveness.", Kim's eyes saddened, yet carrying determination in them.

"But instead of continuing to host a pity party for one, like I'd done four years ago, I got help, regrouped, decided enough was enough and took care of the problem I was having and started looking for the one person who completes me.", she looked him dead in the eyes. "Tears? I've shed plenty of them over this; there'll probably be more tears to come, but right now, I've moved from there, to taking care of me, building my future…and moving forward in my search for him.", Kim finished.

Then quietly, "Whether he'll have me in his life…or not.", as she let out a long breath and collapsed in her chair.

A little stunned, and some of the fire now gone out of his intended tirade, "I hadn't heard a thing…other than there was a complete blackout from you or your family,", Felix replied, "with Ron…" Breathing deeply for a while, "Sorry for going off on you…but after only getting one part of a side…", he rambled.

Then looking to her, "You…you said you had a breakdown…Are you better?", he asked.

Nodding, "Yeah, I did. I had and still have a lot of support.", Kim said. "Things have gotten better for me, with the help I've received, and I've got a handle on things, and can deal with what happened to me.", she relaxed in her chair.

Before he could say anything to that, "But you may be the key to getting one thing resolved.", Kim said to his surprise.

Totally in the dark, "Me?", Felix squeaked. "How?"

"You could tell me what college Ron may be attending, for starters.", Kim said to his blossoming confusion.

"Ron's going to college?", Felix blurted out. Scratching his head, "I know that fall he was in junior college here in Middleton…but had no idea he had gone on to college…I wasn't around here much after going east and kind of lost track of…", he said as he wracked his brain. Then in realization, "But how would you know that he's in college? I've done extensive online searches and I couldn't find anything about him, anywhere."

"Yeah, well I learned that he somehow evaded notice and secretly traveled to that school in Japan. The one he went to for that student exchange from back in high school?", she reminded him. At his nod she sighed, "Well after my blackout, he went there and got some kind of support for some things he needed help with, some of them related to me,", Kim blushed in embarrassment, "and from there he went off to college. Somewhere."

"I was only able to track Ron to that school, a few months ago.", she explained but left out the secrets she learned of the school and its ties to the Japanese government. "But nothing more."

Catching the stare from someone she had been jealous of back when he and Ron first met, "Dammit Kim, that can't be all you've found! People just don't disappear! There has to be some kind of record.", Felix challenged her. "I mean with all the resources you've had at your disposal all these years …"

Cutting him off, "I…I don't know Felix…Ron didn't tell them where he was going…"

Cutting her off, "Kim…Do you actually expect me to believe that? Just how stu…"

From the side, "Watch it Renton.", Justine Flanner's icy voice kept him from saying something which would probably do nothing more than aggravate the situation between the two.

Flippantly growling, "Mind your own business Flanner…"

"This is my business, Renton.", Justine shot back. Keeping him focused on her, "Listen, she screwed up…She admits that." Before he could reply, "So what? We've all done that at one time or another…and I'll put money down that you have too."

While he took that in, "Tara just happened to be with Kim one time and watched what Kim was going through, something she had been going through, for years.", she said to the flabbergasted young man. "In fact it freaked out Miss Bubbly enough talk to us about it. And no matter who you are, if something like this comes at you out of the blue, and keeps coming at you at all hours of the day or night, for years, it's going to do a number on you, too."

While he thought on this, "And you'd better tone it down Renton, because if you screw her back up, I'm gonna kick your scrawny butt and then mess up your van so bad you'll have to sell it for scrap!" When his eyes cut over. "Don't think I won't.", Justine warned before she waved Monique back to her discussion with Zita. Felix's outbursts, though not too loud, had caught his girlfriend's attention, she was about to come over to calm him down.

Waving an accusatory hand at Kim, "But…"

Riding over him, "What happened wasn't all her fault you idiot. Cut her some slack!", Justine bit back. Though he seemed to be constantly primed to chew Kim out, he had to be reined in to have an adult discussion about what happened with Ron, and what they could do to fix that problem.

Breaking the silence that followed Justine's outburst, "This isn't an excuse Felix.", Kim shook her head. "Something was giving me nightmares when I got over to England…I tried to hide them and cope with them on my own…but I couldn't do it.", her mouth quirked. "Some of them were the images of those aliens being killed by Ron…"

Interrupting, "What do you mean 'killed by Ron'?", Felix blurted. "It was you that scared them off, right?"

Snorting, "Me? Not a chance.", Kim shook her head. Looking him in the eyes, "I was out of it at the time.", she said to Felix's eyebrows shooting upwards. "Ron killed them, Felix. Not me, not Shego, and definitely not Drakken. Ron did what aalllll the militaries in the world couldn't do, he stopped the alien invasion, killed the invaders and destroyed all their equipment."

After she let this sink in, "Now some of the people I talked to believe that Ron was also suffering some form of PTSD at the same time I was having those nightmares.", she paused again. "And since he and I are more than a little in tune with each other mentally, I might have been getting flashes of what he was going through at the time…"

Shaking his head, "Pfffttttt! That's absurd Possible…"

"Is it?", Kim's voice rose, "We shared dreams or 'visions' before we were lovers and it seems to be the case since.", she quirked an eyebrow, "Anyway the 'visions' I received after moving to England were very traumatic and quite horrific. If you want I can describe them to you in great detail or you can talk to Tara, about a little session I had when I was on the flight back with her and Josh from Bonnie's wedding. My throat had swollen closed and I was foaming at the mouth."

Disbelief in his voice, "I don't believe you Kim."

Snorting, "Maybe you should go and talk to Tara.", Kim's eyes haunted from that memory. "But the point here is that there was more to Ron than him being the goofball everyone thought he was. You could feel it too, couldn't you?"

"Yeah…"

"Well, I made my second trip to that school Ron went to on that exchange trip. Remember that one?", Kim asked. At his nod, "Good, while I was there I learned some things."

Felix frowned, "Such as?"

Peering intently at him, "Do you remember Ron and me sharing a dream during that museum field trip back in high school?"

Shrugging, "Yeah, but what's that got to do with anything?"

"Ron and I were somehow in tune psychologically, we dreamed the exact same dream.", Kim let sink in for a moment. "And from what the headmaster of that school said I must have been channeling Ron's nightmares and by that extension, experiencing them.", she said to Felix's suddenly rising eyebrows. "From what he said he believes that those nightmares, unannounced, and with me completely unaware of their source, drove me over the deep end…And then it got to the point where I couldn't even function for over a year."

Skeptically, "You can document all this?", Felix's tone matched the look on his face.

Kim's eyes narrowing, "Do you want to talk to the GJ shrinks?", she shot back. Holding her hands apart, "I have a file about six inches thick." Then dropping them, "If you can get clearance they might let you go through it. Or better yet, you can ask Wade for his opinion of what's in there.", Kim suggested, "I have the contact information to get a hold of the school,", she said with a gleam in her eyes, "if you ask nicely I'll give it to you and then you can ask them."

Waving her off, "I'll just talk to Wade, I can only that hope he can give me an unbiased assessment of what's in your dossier."

"He might balk Felix, but if I give my consent, he should have no problems giving you unclassified data."

Exhaling slowly, "OK, I guess I'll have to do that.", he agreed. "I still have questions to ask, Possible, but that'll have to do for now…", Then his stomach rumbled, "It's late and my fiancée and I are hungry.", he said sheepishly. "My fiancée,", Kim twitched slightly, "and I have been driving all day, with nothing to eat but the snacks we packed for the trip. We'll be here for a few days before I have to head back to school."

Nodding, "OK.", Kim said before she looked over to Monique and Zita. Noticing her glance, they came over when the red head motioned to them.

Seated, Kim looked to Zita, "Felix and I still have some things to cover, but not right now. You've had a long day, so why don't you guys order and we can finish after you eat?"

Zita glanced at her fiancée out of the corner of her eye, "Well Kim…", she paused somewhat melodramatically, "did he give you a piece of his mind?", as she looked tentatively to her, "You know…we would have been married two years ago if…"

A tired smirk, "Yeah I know, being a bitch isn't what it's cracked up to be.", Kim mockingly replied as their waiter eagerly returned. There were two new customers to serve…and to potentially receive tips from.

Justine snorted, "I beg to differ dear Miss Possible.", and smirked. "It most certainly is what it's cracked up to be."

All looked to her in surprise, and after several seconds of dead-air, the table's occupants cracked up in laughter.

XXX

Global Justice Headquarters:

Seated across from each another in her office, "So how is Samantha doing with the treatments?", Betty Director asked the young girl's parents.

Sighing, "She's being released tomorrow Betty.", Shego said, rubbing her temples. "After that, we'll be heading back home…finally.", said a mother looking gratefully to someone who could empathize, "I just want to thank you for keeping our presence here a secret while your Docs checked out our daughter.", she coldly gazed to the now-shrinking-in-his-seat-father.

Satisfied with the results of her message, she looked back to their host, "And to keep this visit 'on the books', as it were. We're still holding up our end of the pact we made back in '07.", she replied to satisfy those skeptical factions that were sticklers for the terms of their pardon set out back then.

Smiling to her, "I know you are.", Betty replied. Then frowning, "And Drew, you really pissed me off there. How many times did Shego tell you not to experiment on humans?", she glowered further to someone who seemed desperate to disappear into the chair's upholstery.

Whining, "I know, I've learned my lesson and it won't happen again.", Drew replied, quite wide-eyed in fright. "I am surprised more than you are with what happened to Sam.", he offered to two of his major detractors throughout their visit to GJ. That's not to say those at the facility familiar with this didn't go out of their way to bust his chops about experimenting on a child, much less his daughter.

Staring him down, "Just don't do it again Lipsky…or I'll have Possible visit your lair.", Betty inwardly smirked when he began to freak out.

Hands up in alarm, "Don't do that Betty, we've done our best to stay under the radar and Dr. D is making things for your organization.", Shego protested. "If you send her, she's probably going to have her boyfriend tag along and together they, more likely he, will break things when they show up. We'd prefer for this to not happen, with Sam and all that."

Then after contemplating just how little she had heard about her and Drew's former nemeses, "By the way, since it was you who brought them up for the first time, in, oh I don't know, since forever…how are the Princess and her boy toy?"

Slowly shaking her head, "She doesn't know where you guys live,", then frowning, "and Ronald Stoppable still eludes our abilities to find him."

Eyebrows up in disbelief, "Still?", Shego sank back in her chair. "Damn, I thought that was a joke you guys were playing on the villains, and us…", she rolled her eyes, "and you were just going to surprise us with him in the doorway holding Kimmie's twins or something."

Pursing her lips, "Not at this point.", Betty sighed.

Before Shego or Drew could reply, "But what we do have, is Dr. Wade Load assigned to Kimberly as her partner in the interim.", Betty related to Shego's raising eyebrow, "Nerdlinger? Working with the Princess?"

Nodding, "Yes, but please don't refer to him in that way outside this room, he might retaliate in ways we can't foresee." Betty cautioned. "He really does have the world wired, on his own time, if you catch my drift. Embarrassing videos long thought lost, of either of you, may suddenly appear over the internet, or things not as prosaic…", she left hanging.

When they caught her meaning, "And just this summer, she and Dr. Load have spoken with people that Ronald Stoppable lived with after his disappearance from Middleton. It is our hope that he will reappear in the future and with Miss Possible working with him they will be enough to shut down whatever is left of the villains from before the Lowardians invaded."

Taking it all in, "So you have no idea where the buffoon is?", Shego asked in complete surprise, "Even with Wade working for you? I thought your Intel was better than that…"

Bristling a little, "According to what we have been informed…he's lived in Japan for a number of years, somehow, completely off the radar. And what we have recently been informed of is that Stoppable has enrolled at a college or university, somewhere, under an assumed name."

Whistling, "Man, how the hell did the Sidekick get so good at disappearing?", Shego asked in newfound respect for the former Sidekick. "So where did he go? And how do you know he's using an 'assumed name', Betts? I thought your Intel is better than that…"

Frustration lacing her voice, "Believe me, we've done an extensive, thorough, worldwide search for the name of one Ronald. Stoppable, or variations we could think of. And to date…nothing has come up.", Betty growled. "What leads we thought we had on him and his movements has been one big goose egg for us." Running a hand through her hair, "With the finances he had at hand, he could be anywhere and we'd never have a clue of his whereabouts."

Perking up, "Finances? What finances are you talking about?", a confused Drakken jumped in. "We got all the Buffoon's money back when he was in high school."

Dr. Director's eye lit up, "You didn't even get a tenth of it back then Drew.", she said to two jaws dropping. "And he had been receiving money throughout his time in high school." Summing up what all but a very few knew of his royalties and investments, "Considering what his accounts and shares of Bueno Nacho stock were worth he may be one of the world's richest men."

To their obvious questions, "But he did such a good job of covering his tracks and moving his money around that even Wade Load can't determine where Ron or his family are. Period.", Betty lamented as her guests were suddenly at the edge of their seats.

Sitting back in her chair again, Shego whistled, "It sounds like someone with the intellect of Zorpox…", she paused when Betty's eye twitched, "has vanished with a tidy sum of money, and a way to cover his tracks with all that money."

Leaning forward, "Sooo Betty,", Shego's eyebrows suggestively rose, "is there anybody trying to take over the world right now?", she snarked. "If there is, it just might be the Sidekick.", she teased.

Realizing the underlying sarcasm buried in the comment, "Well played Shego…", Betty snorted. "But according to what we are monitoring, there's nothing of the sort going on. However we have learned of some unrest in Asia, but other than that, we can't determine anything else."

To Shego's raised eyebrow, Drew's too, "We've been blocked from the entire Asian block of nations for some time, so we are unable to search for him there.", Dr. Director replied. "We've made some strides in accessing the region to help with crime there, but it's been slow.", she lamented.

"Well, that area aside,", Shego said, "there's still a very big world out there for him to hide in…He could be in one of the world's militaries, or incarcerated somewhere…", she spitballed.

Frustrated, "I can get into nearly any database in the world, even the French Foreign Legion's…my hacker is one of the best there is,", Betty peered to her guests, "and I can say without contradiction that Ronald Stoppable is not in any system we can access.", she blew out a breath, "So until Ron decides to tell us where he is, we have to wait for him to pop out from whatever Hobbit© hole he is in at that moment."

"We've got a pretty good hacker working for us, maybe he could work with yours.", Drew offered.

Smirking, "Information Compiler Specialist, Drew.", Shego corrected him. "Remember?"

Paling slightly, "Thank you for reminding me dear, I forgot his title.", Drew gulped.

Smiling, Betty paused at the thought that some of what information gleaned by her hackers sometimes strayed into gray areas, doing just enough to not be considered illegal, "Possible's current partner, Wade Load…"

A snarky interruption, "Name's familiar, Betty.", Shego rolled her eyes.

"Yes…he should be, after all those times he directed Kim and Ron at you two.", Betty smirked, as her guests groaned. "Wade will continue to be Kim's partner after they return from their outing in Japan."

"Ah, I see…So he's the Buffoon's replacement?", Drakken asked.

Cocking an eyebrow at him, "Ask your wife if anyone could stand up to your 'Buffoon', Drakken.", Betty drawled, Nodding to Shego, "She remembers the events of that day." Drakken paled again after catching the look in his wife's eyes.

Turning back to Betty, "If Stoppable is on his game he can defeat whole armies.", Shego replied. Shaking her head after a moment's thought, "You know Betty, that guy has shown some pretty good moves over the years, it's a wonder how his recent smarts never showed with him earlier on while doing the super hero, slash, super smart guy with Kimmie.", the former villainess pondered.

Frowning, "I don't know Shego,", Betty replied, "maybe it's better that he didn't stay that way." To Shego's and Drakken's raised eyebrows, "To have a teenager like that one…back then, all uber…", she flailed for the word, "Well that might be more trouble that having a bunch of techno villains trying to take over the world.", the head of GJ mused.

After thinking further on the subject, "Yes I am pretty sure we wouldn't have wanted that. There was a point, if we had to, where we would have had to use the lethal option.", Betty informed her guests.

Shego whistled in astonishment, "And once you allow that genie out of the bottle there really isn't a way to put it back."

"Too true, so we do not want to go there unless we have to."

The green skinned woman nodded, "I know Possible has been here,", she frowned, "and I want to thank you for keeping us separate. It could have gotten ugly if we'd have met up, even here…I'm really not her friend."

Casually looking to her, "I am very aware of your past with Kimberly, Shego, but eventually you are going to have to deal with her."

Warily, "Why would we have do that?", Shego asked.

Hands clasped on her desk, "I am narrowing down my choices as to who I am going to turn your contact information over to…", Betty caught the open mouthed stare, "She is better qualified than I am for this task and it would be good experience for her too."

Stunned, Shego sat in silence for a few moments as she took all this in. Finally, glowering, "Shit!", she muttered, "I hate you."

Smiling slightly, "Now Shego, she isn't your liaison with GJ, yet, and won't be for a while.", Betty assured the formerly villainous couple, "She is still in school in England for another year.", her smile widened. "But I expect it to come about, eventually,", she looked off in amusement before smirking, "say in a couple to three years."

Frowning, "Still don't have to like it Betts.", Shego grumped. Fuming, "This sucks having the Princess bust our chops in case we mess up, even a little."

Her hands flat on the desk, "But you will have to deal with it eventually.", Betty reminded her. Then with a mischievous grin, "I expect she'll take the news just like you did, so cut her some slack.", she giggled. Then sincerely, "But really, she is that good and I for one am glad that we have her onboard. She may not be able to fully return to the field except for special circumstances, but when she's with us full time in the next few years, we expect her to be the best of the best.", she said proudly of her future agent.

"By then she will not only have the experiences she's gained from her years in the field, she will have the topflight schooling needed to help make the agency run smoother than it has before.", Betty said happily. "Her name alone gets her the recognition we need from the various governments that we have to deal with to smooth things over with them."

Waving a hand between him and Shego, "Why her…and why us?", a perplexed Drakken asked Betty.

Looking to him, then Shego, "Because she is used to dealing with you guys, and you, her.", Betty replied. Then sighing and rubbing her temples, "I'm even going to turn Sheldon over to her when the time comes…", she said with a look that said 'rue the day', to her guests.

Shego snorted, "Oh I'd just love to be a fly on the wall when you tell her."

A mischievous gleam, "I'll record it for posterity Shego.", Betty replied. "And I'm sure that GJ will love to keep those files for entertainment to watch at office parties."

Frowning, "We're still not happy about it…", Shego continued to protest.

Cutting them off, "Sheldon is going to be much more of a problem since he's my brother.", Betty shook her head.

Nonchalantly, "And she and Stoppable were once his picks to be his number one agent too.", Shego reminded her hostess.

Smirking, "Just be glad I don't assign Du for this.", Betty replied to her guests' suddenly nervous looks. "Sometimes he's got a bigger cob up his butt than portrayed by that Fan Fiction writer in his Mardi Gras tale.", Betty chuckled.

Drew looked confused, "Which one was that?"

"'Throw Me Something Mister' or something like that.", Betty replied, "I remember it called for two SEAL Teams involved in a force-on-force training exercise nearby to be inserted into a fracas to make sure things didn't get out of hand…which, according to the base storyline, it did.", she smirked, looking to Shego with a quirked eyebrow.

Nervously, "He's going to finish that one?", Shego coughed as she vaguely remembered events from another part of the fandom and how out of control it had become. Deadpanning, "I'll have you know, I'm a respectable woman now…But do you know if he plans on finishing that tale?", she asked in some morbid curiosity.

Betty smiled, "You were just showing Kimberly a good time in a city known for cutting loose…at a time of barely-controlled carousing.", she said to Shego's growing unease, "It was mostly innocent, I assure you." Then, somewhat mysteriously, "And I've learned he plans on completing that tale…someday."

Tapping her chin at the memories, both literary and literal, "From what I can recall, the hangovers were pretty bad, both on paper and on the street…maybe the worst ones I have ever had.", she grimaced.

Smugly, "Good…just remember that when working with Kimberly, but I assure you it won't be that painful.", Betty retorted.

Now in a better mood, Shego settled down, but tensed briefly, "OK, you've half-convinced me…but if she drives us nuts with that perky sense of right and wrong of hers, I'm going to go postal on you.", the plasma throwing former villainess warned with a mock-glint in her eyes.

Playing along, "OK I stand forewarned, and will make a note to alert you of her taking on this task.", Betty replied in amusement before shuffling some papers she placed in a stack to the side of her desk.

Sitting back in her chair, a more relaxed air about her, "So, with our business at an end for the day, how would you like to join me for dinner in our cafeteria?", Betty asked her guests.

Looking to Drakken, she turned to Betty when he nodded, "Sure. We'd love to.", Shego replied. Then pausing, as something familiar tugged at her memories about the GJ Cafeteria, "But since when did GJ get such good grub?", she asked. "From what I can recall of the food we got while prisoners here, it was never this good."

Smirking, "Since we purloined some of Stoppable's recipes, that's when.", Betty triumphantly replied. Then in irony, "However, my agents have had to get extra physical training because of all the extra weight they gained…", she sighed, before contentedly, "The upside is that they have never been happier."

Puzzled, "But Betty, how did you get the buffoon's recipes?", the blue scientist asked, as he was as familiar with Stoppable's prowess in the kitchen as was his wife.

Smirking gleefully, "We just happened to crack his online blog.", she said to their looks of surprise at the resources GJ spent on this endeavor. "Well, after we noted a considerable lack of activity on his blog…", Betty lightly commented, "We decided to incorporate them into our menus here, figuring he wouldn't mind…"

She paused at their curious looks, "Well, when he ate here in the past, Ron always maintained that even on his worst days, or Kim's best days, for which he received a shoulder punch from her, he could do better than what we were serving to our Agents."

At their looks of growing interest, "So I had our hackers break into his blog and download all of his hidden recipe postings.", Betty shrugged.

Trying not to drool, "Well lead the way Betty.", the mint-hued former villainess said. As she rose from her chair, "So…what's the special tonight?"

Leading the way to one of the many cafeterias in the massive complex, Dr. Director recited the evening menu to her guests, "Country fried steak, mashed potatoes smothered in white sausage gravy, green beans annnnndd blueberry cobbler to finish it off."

By the time she finished, the trio's pace had noticeably picked up.

After musing on the coming eats, Shego whistled, "How long do your PT hours go every day?"

Smirking, "Most of our guys go an hour in the morning and an hour in the late afternoon with another hour of marital arts if they feel they need it.", Betty informed them.

After a little thought, "That's more than I would have thought…"

Slowing her stride, "We want to maintain better readiness, Shego.", Dr. Director's tone changed. "The aliens caught a lot of us flatfooted and if it hadn't been for you guys, Possible and Stoppable we would either be slaves or dead by now.", she said to them as they paused in their steps, too.

Sighing, "The problem is that after Stoppable did all the heavy lifting on that one.", Betty let sink in with the former villains. "He might have had some emotional issues which somehow affected Possible, and in turn it may have had something to with Stoppable leaving Middleton, to parts yet to be determined."

Looking to each other, "How do you know that?", Shego and Drakken asked in unison when they turned to Betty.

Quietly, "It's something we learned from Kimberly after she returned from Japan.", Betty replied. Looking doubtful, "I'm not sure if I buy into it, but it seems to be a reason all that drama between them went down."

Shrugging, "We're still not privy to that information Betty…", Shego related how little she and Drakken knew of the immediate events after that traumatic June afternoon a few short years ago.

Raising an eyebrow, "And until we know for sure all we can do is just classify it as a theory and nothing more.", Betty said. "But once we get our hands on Ronald Stoppable we'll be able to ask him for his side of the post-Graduation events and see if he's had the same problems…then we should know for sure."

XXX

Aboard the C-130J:

"Drop, drop, drop.", Kaminsky ordered as the sturdy turboprop aircraft bounced along in the storm turbulence.

Captain Evens, one of the 'core' USAF Meteorologists, leaned over from his seat and nodded as he scanned the radar, "Nice call Kaminsky. You should get some fantastic data on this one."

Dean smiled, "I might be getting the hang of this a little."

"Yeah you might.", he smiled. Then pointing, "There, switch modes."

A little sheepishly, "Thanks.", as he made the change, "Still have to think my way through things."

Grinning, "You're better than I was after two years and a degree under my belt, too."

"Really?"

"Yeah, really.", the Captain assured the intern. Looking at Dean's screens, "You're recording the sonde right?"

Nodding, "Yeah, on 'D' channel.", Dean replied. "I figure at this altitude we are going to get two or three minutes of good data, but I need to figure out a way to get more channels in play so we can get more data from them."

"But the sondes only give so much data…", Evens started to point out.

Cutting him off, "I know, I want to figure a way to get more out of them.", Dean suggested

Snorting, "If you can do that you might just find yourself in a very expensive home from the cash that idea would earn for you.", Captain Evens shot back in amusement. "I heard you had an idea to reuse sondes. From what I've heard of that, I'd like to sit with you and a beer when we get back."

A shrug and a smile, "Always ready to hash something out sir, but plans are cheap…", Dean replied. "And I think I can find a way to save most of the sondes we use in training and make them easy to recover. Then we can have other guys who are electrical types…engineers I mean, maintain them so that we can get more use. The ones we use for actual missions we can keep them the way they are."

Furrowing his eyes with a raised eyebrow, "You mean we'd have two types instead of one?"

"Yeah, disposable and reusable.", Dean clarified, "I mean we could save money…"

Stopping him, "You'd have to justify the cost for the change Kaminsky.", said someone well versed in the realm of Government and Military bureaucracy and budgeting.

Shrugging a shoulder, "Yeah I know, but if I had someone pay for the reusable ones.", Dean replied before pausing to think on this for as he worked through the idea in his head, "Maybe…maybe a private company could be found that would have the funds for that, and it would be a tax write-off for them…"

Any further commentary was interrupted by the plane's sudden bucking in storm turbulence.

"Shit! What was that?", Captain Evens exclaimed once the cargo plane settled to less violent shuddering.

Unbuckling his seatbelt, he rose from his seat and walked as best he could over to a window while the aircraft's buffeting made the term 'BB-in-a-boxcar' tame in comparison; grasping the handholds built into the airframe for this kind of situation. In the available light he could see smoke coming from the outer Rolls-Royce engine on his side of the plane, while the high tech Dowty composite scimitar propeller slowed to a stop when the engine had been shut off.

The Air Force officer made his way back to his station where he pressed the intercom button, "Sir, Meteorology…we have smoke coming from the outer port engine."

Crackling back, "I know Captain, I just shut off the Number One Engine.", the Colonel's voice sounding strained over the speakers. "Well, this is our last run…With three engines in this soup, we're officially RTB (Return To Base), and heading home. Support crew's been notified at Base, so they'll get an engine for us to get us back out here for the next cycle.", Colonel Warmarster broadcast to the crew.

"Nothing fazes the boss.", Rodney Evens said before he turned to the intern, "We still have three more engines…", he trailed off as he noted the blond was completely focused on his scope, and appeared to have completely missed the conversation regarding their 'ride' losing an engine. "Shit Kaminsky! Do you have ice water in your veins?"

Startled, "Huh? Wha?", Dean looked up. "Oh, got focused on my scope…and this data makes my case.", he said to Evens' amazement. Then waving to the side, "Anyway, too bad about the engine. I'd hate to have to swim back to Japan.", he said offhandedly.

Grinning, "At least we'd get some fresh sushi.", Dean said, before looking thoughtful, "Maybe even some shark…But ya gotta have good bait to get one of them.", he smirked.

Looking both worried and doubtful, "Sharks?", Evens replied, not sure how serious his Intern was about the subject.

Shrugging, "Yeah they live in salt water, too, so there's probably some of them down there right now. If we crashed we could end up swimming with some of them."

A crooked smirk, "You know I hate you right now just about like I hate sharks…"

Smirking back, "Have you ever tried any?"

Startled, "Uh no…", Evens paused at this change of pace.

"Then don't knock it.", Dean replied. "Listen when we get back to the field I know this little place about five kilometers off base, they have great seafood…all kinds of seafood.", he pointed out as he took his eyes off the screen for a moment…and they don't speak much English.

Considering his potential menu choices, "Well…I like tuna steak…"

"Then you'll love shark.", Dean shot back.

Fixing him with a stare, "Sharks have teeth."

"So do tuna."

A resigned grin, "I'm not going to win this am I?"

A broad smirk, "No sir, not this one.", Dean shook his head. "Especially when everything in the ocean, except for plankton, are predators.", he pointed out. "Even those cute little penguins.", his voice going sugary and small.

"What do they eat?"

"Fish."

"OK smart guy, then what eats those cute little penguins?", the Captain's voice just as sugary.

Snorting, "Bigger fish, seals and Orca."

"What's an…orca?"

"A killer whale."

"Shit I hate you."

XXX

Norway:

Standing back from the calendar, the mole rat marked off another date until his Master returned and sighed.

Sure he missed the red head, his Mistress. Sure the raven haired Asian girl was his 'Sister', but he longed for his Mistress and his Master and knew deep down inside that they were meant to be together. Just like the usual, once or twice a week, familiar tickling sensation he felt in the back of his mind.

Rufus knew this feeling. He had felt Ron reach out for him just the other day to remind him that he would be back in Japan with Ron in less than two weeks, after the summer internship came to an end. As a way of apology for leaving the mole rat in Norway for the summer, Ron also promised to pick up some rare cheese for his only, as far as the blond lunkhead knew, remaining childhood friend.

Quietly, and naked mole rats have a knack for that, Rufus scanned through one of his favorite sites, where he had long-ago taken to the process of giving himself new avatars and player names each time he logged into a game site 'anew'. Mindful of certain 'parties' scanning the web for gamer tendencies associated with Rufus, or Tunnel Lord, he was smart about how he played online games. To throw off data miners like Wade Load, Rufus always included some flaw in his character which would lead to his defeat, but not before succumbing to 'superior forces'…after advancing four or five levels in the game.

Quietly chittering after being 'killed off' from a game in a very imaginative way, Rufus pondered the next name and avatar he would use upon his 'return' to this game, when he heard some scratching on the window beside the computer set aside by Ron's 'rents to entertain him while in Norway for the summer.

Turning to the glass, he spied one of the rat-denizens of the neighborhood he made friends with beckoning to the mole rat. Scampering over, he pried the window open and squeaked, "Neral? Where's the rest of the guys?"

The large black Norwegian Rat chittered back, "Playin' with the new cat…" And affecting a smirk, as best as a Norwegian Black Rat could, "And he's a mean one, too."

Somewhat pleased that the rats here gleefully played 'chase' with the local predators to stay sharp, Rufus was concerned that they could, and on occasion would, lose the game and end up lunch for some furry or feathery creature of the region.

Earlier this summer, a hawk had gotten a hold of Rufus and the bird quickly found he was no match for a Master of Mystical Monkey Power, the Mole Rat Package, and was more than a little worse off for wear after Ron's 'pet' had broken a stout limb from a tree and smacked the stuffing out of it.

The word had gotten around to the other birds in the area and for the most part they avoided the modest house with three humans and a naked mole rat living in it, or they would get the thumping of their feathered lives by a rat that seemed to know no fear, and had a very bad temper to go with its sharp teeth.

Cocking an eyebrow, "Hnk, you better be careful or you won't get more cheese.", Rufus chittered a warning to the larger mammal.

Snorting, "Cheese good, but cats are challenge.", Neral replied.

Fuming, "Neral you and the rest of friends not play with cats…too dangerous.", Rufus lectured to one of his friends, again.

"Yeah we know.", he casually replied. Then looking back where he came from, "Got to get back to messin' with that cat, see ya.", the black rat squeaked before he jumped down off the sill and scampered across the lawn towards the tree line.

Shaking his head, Rufus watched him go and then turned back to the monitor, 'No news of Mom. Miss Mom.', the highly intelligent mole rat mused before he shut down the computer. Never online as long as he used to be before leaving Middleton, Rufus paid heed to Ron's warnings to stay under the radar and thwart even inadvertent discovery by any of the prying eyes from their past.

Sighing as he watched the computer shut down, the mole rat headed for his nest in Hanna's room. Happily noting the door opened just enough for him to squeeze through, he darted into her room and took a nap.

XXX

Back with Storm Chaser One:

Jostling in his seat when the main gear hit the tarmac, Dean sat in wait for the C-130J to slow down before the pilots applied the brakes. Being down to three engines called for such methods with the lumbering heavyweight of an aircraft.

Relaxing, he thought back to their mission, a long and successful one in which they had gathered a massive amount of data that still needed to be downloaded and studied.

Andy Reed made his way to Dean's station, "Well, we survived another one.", he made light of something that lived in the back the minds of all who flew in manmade aircraft.

Laughing, "Yup from what I've heard any landing you can walk away from is a success.", Captain Evens recited the long ago adage regarding such things.

Dean chuckled at the familiar morbid humor, "I'm alive…meh, no wonder I feel so shitty.", he grinned. After checking his pockets, "And I have enough on me to buy the first round…"

XX

In the cockpit:

Colonel Warmarster chuckled as the C-130's engines spooled down to a halt, "She brought us home again Captain. To celebrate I'm buying at the 'O' Club, we deserve this one."

The co-pilot laughed, "I was worried when we realized we were on three engines.", he shook his head. Looking to his Superior Officer, "I mean we've done it before but as I always say…'The more engines, the better'."

Half-smirking, "Sometimes I feel the same way Captain,", the Colonel replied. Then patting the wheel, "but we can only have so many on this bird.", he agreed before he pushed the switch for the intercom. "One hour after debriefing the crew is to meet in the 'O' Club for refreshments. Attendance is mandatory."

Wryly, "You can't make them drink sir.", he replied.

"You're right about that, but they can have iced tea or a soda or something else if they don't want to partake in the adult beverages and light up a cigar or something."

XXXX

Well there ya go. Hope the confrontation between Kim and Felix didn't disappoint. He's still ticked off, but until Ron ever comes back, the pieces of this puzzle will remain out in the wild blue. Shego and Betty are bonding over Samantha, and though neither could inflict physical retaliation upon Drew, they got their shots in that were probably even more painful to the former villain. And they all got to learn the source of such great grub at GJ, too.

Ron's bouncing along with his crew and for once, he got a glimpse of something else that can happen in his chosen field, when he's focusing on 3-engines, over a big body of water…