Double Entendre
Chapter 18
Middleton High—Chess club, Mr. Amberson's classroom
"You're improving Hope." Dave Ponder grinned as he shook the raven-haired cheerleader's hand. "You almost had me with that knight sacrifice."
"Never thought I'd get into this game." Hope said with a crooked grin. "But…I gotta admit, since I've started playing, my math scores have improved and I'm learning how to think ahead better."
"Good skill to have in our line of work, luv." Tara remarked as she and Sergei joined the other two players. Smiling at Dave, the blonde teenager inquired, "How's it going with the judo team, Dave?"
"Made varsity." The young man grinned. "Lightweight and since I'm near the top end of the category, I've got to watch my weight."
"Guess that means no more blueberry pies at Edna's for you." Kevin grinned as he joined the discussion. Turning to Hope, he remarked, "I noticed you like playing King's Gambit and Danish Gambit…aggressive."
"Fits with my personality." Hope smirked, "Better to act than react."
"While that's normally a very good approach." Mr. Amberson interjected, "Sometimes you have to take the long view and play for position."
"Kinda like what Dave did with me." Hope noted as both the faculty advisor and chess team captain nodded their heads.
"Right, luv." Tara affirmed, "I also prefer aggressive openings—although I lean more towards Queen pawn openings as white, and I like the Sicilian as black. But, when I play Sergei, I go with more positional openings like Queens Indian or even the Caro-Kann."
"Da." Sergei nodded his head, "And I avoid playing King's pawn openings when I play Tara because I know I will get a Sicilian or even a Benko's Gambit if she's feeling especially aggressive."
"You love it when we get aggressive, Sergei." Hope leered as both she and Tara slapped their Russian paramour on his rump, earning chuckles in return from the other members of the chess club and Liz, another cheerleader who had also joined the club.
"Are we all still on for Jordan's next week?" Liz asked her fellow cheerleaders. Seeing the look of confusion on Mr. Amberson's face, the other redheaded cheerleader explained, "A bunch of us: Tara, Hope, Crystal, Jessica, Kim, and I, are planning on going by Jordan's house next week to cheer him up. His parents said that he should be able to receive visitors then. Even Bonnie and Marcella are joining us."
"Yeah." Hope smiled, "We're bringing him flowers, candy, pom-poms, and get-well cards, and we're gonna ask him to be our special date at the Spirit Dance next semester."
"Special date?" Mr. Amberson inquired, the happy smile on his face showing his warm feelings toward the cheerleaders rallying around his poor chess team member who had so recently been severely beaten by bullies.
"That means he's guaranteed a dance from one of us whenever he wants one and one of us will always be around to keep him company." Tara grinned.
"That's very sweet of you, girls." The calculus teacher and chess team advisor said as he brushed away the tears forming in his eyes.
"Is there any more word on how he's doing?" Hope inquired as Dave set up the pieces for another game.
"Yeah." Jermaine, the heavyset African-American member of the team who was currently playing a game with Paul Gertz answered. "He's getting stronger and doing okay in therapy. His family's hoping he can come back to school before the end of the semester."
"So…they're not transferring him out?" Tara surmised.
"No." Jermaine replied. "They read about the anti-bullying campaign and they've been surprised and happy about all the support they've gotten from you guys and the students from the baseball team and other clubs. Those things, along with Jordan telling them that he wanted to stay, convinced them to keep him here."
"What about the work he's missing?" Hope asked.
"Mr. Barkin said that he could make up any missing work." Kevin interjected with his girlfriend quickly chiming in.
"Believe it or not…" Liz grinned, "Mr. Barkin also said that once Jordan was strong enough, he was going to go over and tutor him so he doesn't fall too far behind. The doctors say that he should be ready next week, so Jordan better get ready for all Barkin…all the time."
"Score another one for the Barkin is secretly a giant teddy-bear theory." Tara quipped as the room filled with laughter. Then, turning to Sergei, she smirked, "How's about a game studmuffin? Usual stakes."
"Da, lyubov." Sergei quickly replied as Hope called out, joining her best friend and the handsome Russian at their table.
"Uh...Uh…" The lovely olive-skinned cheerleader grinned, "Not without me."
"But of course, lyubov."
Smirking, Dave signaled Kevin to join him, "Think you can tear yourself away from your redhead for a while to play a game with me, G-Man?"
"Go ahead, Kevin." Liz smirked, "I'll play a game with Mr. Amberson."
"White or Black, Ms. Magnusson?" The faculty advisor smiled.
Bueno Nachos
"Kim…I'm sorry I made a mess of things." Ron moaned as he picked up a nacho from his platter and then dropped it.
"Ron!" Kim sighed and shook her head as she reached across the table and grabbed both her friend's hands in hers. "I'm not going to lie and tell you that you didn't hurt me. You did…a lot. That story came close to causing me and Josh to break up before we even got started. Not to mention having to deal with Bonnie and Monique's bullshit and all the jokes and snide comments." Her eyes moistening as she saw the boy across from her visibly flinch, Kim lowered her voice to a gentle coo. "But Ron…we've been friends for over twelve years now. I'm not going to let us throw all that away…the hugs when one or the other of us was down…the sleepovers when we were kids…hanging out in the treehouse…playing and running in the park…walking to school together…hanging out and doing stuff with each other…all that's too much to junk over a lapse in judgment."
"I guess you'll be spending more time with Josh." Ron commented, heaving a forlorn sigh.
"Probably." Kim affirmed, "If things keep going the way I hope they do. But that doesn't mean that I'm just going to cut my best friend out of my life. I guess I have been kinda taking you for granted recently and yeah, I have been spending more time with Tara and Hope as well as going out with Josh and maybe not enough time with you." Kim further acknowledged, adding, "I've widened my circle of friends and have a boyfriend now. But you're still my best friend. You're gonna be the one I come to first when I get good news or when I need a shoulder to cry on. I still plan on walking to school with you and I wish you'd start showing up more for breakfast before school like you used to. Mom and the Tweebs miss you. And, Friday nights are still Ron-nights unless something big comes up and then we'll make it up—I promise."
"But you still don't trust me enough to take on missions yet." Ron noted sourly.
Sighing, Kim answered back, "Why don't we take the missions as they come—okay? Some missions I might need to do with Tara and Hope because we may have to do certain things like go undercover. Stuff they're good at, but you're not so good at doing. Most times though, I'm gonna want my best friend with me. Okay? I mean, you're my partner as well as my best friend."
Barely suppressing his initial impulse to protest, Ron acquiesced with a sigh, "All right. I guess, after everything that's happened, that's only fair."
"So…Ron…" Kim forced a smile to her face as she regarded her old friend, "You gonna eat that naco or let Rufus eat it all?"
Tara and Hope's house—that evening
"Dammit! I can't get the phrasing right for this essay!" Hope growled as she poured herself a glass of wine before returning to her computer.
Looking over her shoulder, Tara took a drag from her cigarette before turning her head and exhaling. "What are you trying to say?" The lovely blonde asked as she pointed to the screen.
"I'm trying to figure out whether 'The Man with No Name' in the spaghetti Westerns is a hero or an anti-hero."
"Okay…" Tara pulled up a seat next to her best friend, "Let's take a look at the movies. In 'The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, I'd say he was more anti-hero than hero, right?"
"Yeah." Hope nodded her head, "He was after the money, but he did split it with Tuco at the end."
"Right." Tara nodded her head, "But in 'For a Few Dollars More', he was probably was still more anti-hero than hero—although his motivations were more heroic. Remember, he partnered with Lee van Cleef's character get revenge for the murder of his sister, but he also did it for the bounty."
"I see." Hope smiled, "Even though his actions might have heroic effects, he's really more an anti-hero."
"You got it." Tara grinned as her cell phone beeped. "Hullo? Hi Cheeky! You do? Kitty-Kat Club tonight?" Seeing Hope nodding her head, Tara replied, "Yeah, she'll be with me. I'll call Kim and see if she wants to join the party. No…we're not inviting Stoppable. Yeah. That's what I figured it would be. I agree. See ya!"
"Missing nuke?" Hope asked as she powered down her computer.
"Yep." Tara responded as she put out her cigarette and dialed Kim's number. "You know, luv, I'm hoping Kim can't make it for this one."
"Yeah." Hope sighed as she made for her room to get dressed. "I do too…but you know she's gonna want to come." Pausing for a moment, she took out her cell phone. "I'm gonna call Sergei and let him know what's going on."
Nodding her head, Tara replied, "Good idea. Tell him if he's a good boy when we get back he'll get a nice surprise."
Possible Home
"How did things go with Ron, honey?" Ann Possible asked as her daughter entered through the front door.
"I don't know, Mom." Kim sighed as she plopped down on the sofa. "I believe he is really sorry about what happened and I told him that I forgave him…"
"But…"
"But I can't get rid of that nagging doubt in the back of my mind that he tried to break me and Josh up." Kim said through clenched teeth, "And I'm ashamed of it."
"You just need to give it time, dear." Ann advised.
"You're right." Kim nodded her head as her Kimmunicator beeped. "Yeah Tara? You're sure? Yeah…I know…but you know I'm coming anyway. I'll get dressed. Do I need to bring mission gear? Yeah…just in case. Okay. I'll be ready when you get here." Turning to her mother, Kim explained, "Tara got a lead on one of those missing nukes. We're meeting to plan out our mission. She also said that we might have to go immediately so to bring my mission gear with me—just in case."
"Will you be taking Ron along?" Ann inquired.
"Not on this one." Kim shook her head. Seeing the look of concern on her mother's face, she explained, "It's not because I don't trust him on a mission. It's because this mission could involve…"
Making sure that her husband and the twins weren't in the room before speaking, Ann lowered her voice, "It's because it might involve killing—right?"
Nodding her head, Kim replied, "Yeah. Tara says the opposition will be armed with guns at a minimum. She doesn't see a way around it and Global Justice doesn't possess jurisdiction there and the government doesn't want to send a commando team because it might be taken as an act of war…"
"But a group of expendable mercenaries that can be disavowed in the event of failure…"
"Can be sent." Kim nodded her head. "Mom…I know you can tell me no and you know I'll obey you…I won't like it, but I'll do as you say. But, I'm asking you…I'm begging you…not to. I can't stand aside and let Tara and Hope go in and risk their lives alone and we can't risk that nuke being used against thousands or millions of people."
"I know dear." Ann sobbed as she wiped away her tears, "It's just…" She shook her head, "Remember what I said about it being difficult for parents to let go? Well…this is one of those times. No parent wants to watch while their child marches off to war. A part of me is screaming for me to tell you that you can't go, but the other part of me is telling me that if you don't and something bad happens to Tara and Hope you'll never forgive yourself or me. So please…please…promise me that you'll be careful and come back home to us. And make sure Tara and Hope come home with you too."
"I will, Mom." Kim hugged her mother. "I promise. Now…I gotta go get dressed. The place we're meeting at has a dress code and Tara and Hope are gonna pick me up as soon as they get ready."
Kitty-Kat Club
"Hey Max!" Tara called out to the bartender who smiled at the three girls entering his area, "Sheila in back?"
"Yeah. You girls want your usual?"
"Thanks, Max. You're a dear."
Looking up from the map she had been studying, Shego grinned as the three young women entered the back office. "Hey Cutie…Cheerleader…Princess. Ready to get to work?"
"What have you got, Cheeky?" Tara asked as she lit a cigarette and then passed her cigarette case and lighter to the raven-haired villainess who took a cigarette and, after lighting it and exhaling a plume of smoke, pointed to the map.
"My source was right. Good news is that the nuke is there. Bad news is that it's being installed on a missile. We've got to take it out before it launches." Shego grimly announced as she sipped her bourbon and coke.
"Who are they and why are they doing this?" Kim asked as Max came in with a tray bearing drinks and bottles of liquor.
"Good questions." Shego replied. "I know it's none of the usual crew. Dr. D's got something else cooking up and before you ask, Princess, I don't know and if I did, I wouldn't tell you. It's a professional thing."
"When you're working for someone on contract or with a partner, Kim…" Tara clarified, "You don't betray them. Not without good reason. In this business, reputation is everything. It's what gets you employed and plays a big part in how much you can demand for a job."
"Screwing over your boss is also a good way to get a contract put out on you." Shego added.
"And what we say or do here…"
"Don't worry, Pumpkin." Shego laughed, "Nothing said or done here by any of us goes to Dr. D or anyone else on my side of the tracks. We're contracting with each other as an independent operation."
"Welcome to the big leagues, Kim." Tara quipped as she took a drag from her cigarette. "If you're going to continue playing in it, you're going to have to start thinking in terms of gray. Not all of the bad guys are always bad and not all of the good guys are always good."
"We're teaming up because stuff like these nukes is bad for everyone." Sheila explained, "I don't want to see my playground turned into a smoking crater. Capisce?"
"I understand." Kim replied with a single nod of her head.
"So…what are we dealing with?" Hope asked as she sipped her white wine.
"The satellite has picked up the missile on a launcher here." She pointed to a structure on a photograph, grinning as Kim raised her eyebrows in silent inquiry, "You're better off not knowing, Kimmie."
"Looks like gun emplacements here…here…and here." Hope pointed out.
"Good catch." Sheila confirmed. "Phalanx weapons systems purchased on the black market. Murder for anyone dumb enough to get into their field of fire."
"Tell me those aren't what I think they are." Tara grimaced as she pointed at a cluster of armored vehicles.
"Yep." Shego snickered, "Aren't you glad you've got your very own mobile anti-tank weapon?" Getting serious again, she clarified, "We're dealing with several armored vehicles. Old Soviet equipment dumped by the old Warsaw Pact nations several years ago. Including at least two tanks. T-72s by the looks of them. With the other AFVs being at least a pair of BMP-2s and a BRDM scout car. It's the T-72s I'm worried about, although those BMPs can cause us grief."
"There'll be at least a platoon or more of infantry to support those tanks too." Tara surmised as Shego nodded her head in agreement.
"They belong to the government that owns the island." Turning to Kim, she quipped, "That particular government is not a nice one. It likes to execute 'Enemies of the State' and all you have to do to become an enemy of the state is say the wrong thing at the wrong time to the wrong person."
"It also harbors several anti-Western terrorist groups." Tara added.
"Right." Sheila nodded her head.
"So…" Hope inquired, "What's our plan?"
"We land here…" Shego pointed to an isolated cove on the map. "At night. I can get one of Dr. D's hover discs to take us—they're stealth capable. It'll also be able to carry the hardware we're gonna need."
"What sort of hardware?" Kim asked.
"At least two man-portable anti-tank rocket launchers, a couple of grenade launchers, assault rifles, pistols, grenades, and ammo for all of us as well as medical supplies—just in case." Shego replied, adding with a crooked grin, "Not too late for you to back out, Princess. It'd be the smart play."
"No." Kim shook her head, "I'm in all the way."
"We're gonna need to move fast." Tara commented as she pointed at a wooded area on the map. "If we can get through here, we could flank those tanks. Hit them before they have a chance to spot us and warm up those engines."
"Good idea." Sheila nodded her head.
"Looks like some good ground over there…" Hope pointed to a hilltop. "It overlooks the launch pad for that missile and those other structures. If I can set up there, I can snipe down at anyone who pops their heads up."
Nodding her head, the green-skinned supervillainess agreed, "If you can get there, go for it. If not, look for a secondary spot."
"We'll go in sneaky as long as we can." Sheila directed, "But once the balloon goes up, we're gonna have to strike hard and fast. Any questions?"
"When do we go?" Kim inquired as she sipped her cola.
"Tomorrow morning." Sheila responded. "Meet at Middleton Park at dawn. I'll be there with Dr. D's hover disc. Get a good night's sleep. You'll need it."
Possible Home
"Thanks girls! I'll see you tomorrow morning." Kim waved goodbye as she entered her home. Seeing her mother waiting up for her, the young redhead managed a slight grin, "It's on for tomorrow morning…dawn. I have to be at Middleton Park."
"Are Hope and Tara picking you up here?" Ann inquired in a soft voice.
"Yeah." Kim responded. "It's going to be a rough one, Mom." The teen hero confessed. "But we've got to do it. I looked at the satellite photos Sheila got. They've got a rocket ready to launch. All they have to do is put the warhead in—if they haven't already done so. If we don't do this…"
"A lot of people are going to die." Ann finished grimly as she hugged her daughter close. "I know. You better go on up and get some sleep. I'll wake you up early enough for you to get some breakfast." The worried mother laughed through her tears, "You know how important a good breakfast is to start the day."
"Yeah, Mom." Kim replied as laughter mixed with sobs. "I'm gonna call Josh first and then turn in. Good night. I love you."
"I love you too, Dear."
After going up to her room and changing, Kim first wrote a letter and slipped it into an envelope, writing a simple message on the envelope for her mother: Please give to Ron…Love, Kim. Then she wrote other letters to her mother, father, Josh, and the Tweebs. After she'd finished that chore, the young teen dialed a number on her speed dial.
"Hi Josh. I just wanted to call to let you know that I'm going off on a mission tomorrow. Yeah…it's gonna be a big one. No, I'm not taking Ron on this one. No…it's not because of what happened with the misquote—it's…well…I don't want Ron along on this one. Yeah. It could get ugly. I promise. I'll be careful. I've got good backup and I want to be sure you get to see me in my Halloween costume in a couple of weeks. Do me a favor? Save a kiss for me when I get home. You're so sweet. Bye."
Slipping into bed, the young redhead set her alarm. After a great deal of tossing and turning, she eventually managed to fall into a fitful sleep until she heard her mother's voice.
"Honey…It's time."
Middleton Park—Dawn
Already dressed in their mission clothes and carrying their gear, the three young women were met by the other member of their team. "The hover disc is over there." Shego pointed a device at an empty space in the parking lot and pressed a button, revealing one of Dr. Drakken's flying discs. "Everything's loaded on board and we're ready to go. If you girls need to go to the bathroom you better go now, cause if you gotta go en route, you're gonna have to pee in a bottle."
"We're ready." Kim replied as the other two girls nodded their heads in agreement.
"Let's get this party started, Cheeky." Tara said as the trio walked towards the disc.
"All right…" Shego directed as she entered the hover disc, "Load up. Time to move out."
Possible Home—later that morning
"Hi Doctors Mr. and Mrs. P!" Ron called out as he entered the Possible home after being let in by the Tweebs. "Hey Jim…Tim…you two build any more rockets?"
"Yeah." Jim grinned
"It's ready to launch." Tim laughed.
"Hicka-bicka-boo"
"Hoosha!"
Both boys charged out of the house as James, a worried look on his face, poured a cup of coffee before sitting down at the breakfast table. "Kim's not here, Ron." The rocket scientist said as he glared at his wife. "She's off on a mission and I didn't even know she had gone."
"We talked about this already, Dear." Ann replied in an edged voice. Turning her attention to their guest, Ann gentled her voice, "Kim had to leave on a mission this morning."
"She didn't call me…" Ron sighed, "I guess she still doesn't trust me enough to take me with her."
"That's not true, Ron." Ann said with a sad smile, "Here…she gave me an envelope with a letter explaining everything in it." The neurosurgeon then handed the envelope to Ron who quietly opened it and slowly read the letter.
"It says she didn't want to take me because she didn't want my having to kill someone to be on my conscience." Ron exclaimed, "What gives her the right to make that call for me?"
"She was only thinking of you…" Ann interjected only to have Ron steamroller over her.
"How does she think I'm gonna feel if she doesn't come home knowing I should have been there to watch her back? She had no right making that decision for me!" Ron shouted. "This is just like with the haircut and everything else. She thinks she knows what's best for me. Don't I get a say in anything involving my life or the two of us?" Calming down, the young man apologized, "I'm sorry, Drs. Mr. and Mrs. P. I shouldn't yell in your house like that."
"It's all right, Ronald." James said in a paternal tone of voice as he again glared at his wife, "I wasn't told either until this morning after Kim had already left."
"You know whoever's got those nuclear warheads has to be stopped." Ann argued defensively. "Kim had to go. You would have tried to stop her."
"Maybe." James allowed, "Maybe not. The thing is, I didn't get any say in the matter." The irate father declared. "She's my daughter too. I should at least have a say in what goes on in her life—especially when it's something as important—and dangerous—as this. But…Ann…what hurts the worst here…is that you didn't trust me enough to let me be a part of this even though I am her father and your husband." Putting on his lab coat, James made his way to the front door. "Ron? I can give you a lift to school if you want. On the way, I'll buy you some breakfast."
"Thanks Dr. Mr. P." Ron replied as he picked up his book bag. "I'll see you later Dr. Mrs. P."
Middleton High
"Hey, Ron! You're looking down." Oscar commented as he spotted his friend moseying down the halls, shuffling his feet as he walked. "Everything all right?"
"Yeah…No" Ron mumbled his response as the two boys walked down the hall together. "Kim's on a mission with Tara and Hope."
"She's still not taking you on missions?" Oscar queried. "Is she still upset over what happened with the paper?"
"She's still feeling a little bad about it, but that's not the reason." Ron said as he handed Oscar Kim's note. Seeing the questioning look on the wrestler's face, the blond youth's lips turned up in a slight smile. "Go ahead and read it, Oscar. It's okay."
After reading the note, Oscar handed it back to his friend. "She cares an awful lot about you, Ron. My Dad saw some fighting while he was in the service. He doesn't talk too much about it, but I know he saw and did some pretty bad stuff. Looks to me like she didn't want you to have to go through that."
"I know." Ron nodded his head, "And I know she meant well. But Oscar, she should have given me the choice whether to go with her or not. She made the decision for me like she made the decision about the haircut and when we were in middle school she made me wear those ugly tight pants. She says I'm her partner, but she treats me like I'm just her sidekick."
"Maybe you should tell her that." Oscar commented as the pair approached their classroom.
"Yeah." Ron nodded his head, "Maybe I should."
"Hey, Sergei!" Josh Mankey, spotting the Russian boy coming out of the restroom, called out.
"Josh, tovarisch! How are you?"
"Did Hope and Tara tell you?"
"That they were going off on a mission ? Da." Sergei nodded his head as the pair walked together. "Have you heard from Kim?"
"Yeah." Josh replied. "She said that they think it's going to be a rough one this time. She told me that before it was over they…she…might have to…"
"Kill. Da." The Russian boy nodded his head. "Tara and Hope have told me what they do and some of the things they've had to do and they have told me that they will be going on a very dangerous mission where they might have to take lives. Tovarisch…I've held one or both of them in my arms when they cry at night. You will have to be ready to do the same for Kim."
"But we're not…" Josh sputtered. "I mean…yeah…I think she's attractive and I like being with her and yeah…I'm a normal teenage boy, dammit! I hope one day she will want to…but I'm not in a hurry to…I mean…I know what the word no means."
"Nyet, tovarisch." Sergei gently chuckled, "I am not speaking of you being with Kim in that way. I mean that she will call you late at night on the phone wanting to talk to you or you will be sitting together on a park bench or on her couch and she will want you to hug her close."
"I think I understand what you mean." Josh nodded his head.
"My friend…" The Russian grinned, "It is our very good fortune to be involved with three extraordinary women who possess in equal measures beauty, charm, wit, intelligence, and strength. Our lyubovniki can do remarkable things, but at the end of the day, they, like all the rest of us are human beings. Just as they are strong for us all, we must be just as strong for them and be there when they need us."
"Thanks, Sergei." Josh smiled as he entered the art room. "Guess all we can do now is wait for our girls to come home and be there to welcome them."
"Da, tovarisch. And we shall welcome them with open arms and plenty of vodka."
"I can give Kim the open arms." Josh quipped, "But I'm afraid she's going to have to settle for Slurpity Cola."
"Do not worry, tovarisch!" Sergei exclaimed as he slapped Josh on the back, "I will supply the vodka."
A Small Island in the Tropics—dawn
Kim, used to taking the lead rather than accepting orders, had to force herself to remain silent as she slipped the tiny ear communications unit Drakken had invented into her ear while Shego went over the plan of attack. "Okay, Princess…you remember your part?"
"Yeah…I'm heavy weapons." She scowled as she felt the weight of the rocket launcher on her back as well as the holstered pistol and grenades strapped to her waist and the assault weapon cradled in her arms.
"Right." Shego nodded her head, "Along with me. Our job is to take out any tanks or fortifications and when we have to, lay down fire. Hope?"
"Sniper and markswoman." The raven-haired cheerleader responded. "My job is find a good perch and be ready to pinpoint snipe anyone who looks like a leader or scientist first. Also stealth recon and silent kills."
"Cutie?"
"Sneaky-sneak and close in work." The blonde adventuress replied.
"Princess…" Shego commented, this time without her usual sarcasm and edge, "You're like me…you don't like it when you're not in charge. Also, the two of us like to go in straight and hard. I'm betting we'll have to do that later, but right now; we need to take it sneaky. That's why Cutie's going to be calling the shots. She's the expert at doing the sneak bit. Got it?"
"Yeah." Kim, still not liking the idea of taking on a subordinate role, reluctantly conceded, "I understand." Turning to her blonde friend, the young redhead smiled, "Sorry, I'm used to being in charge, but I'll do my best."
"We're not in the army, Kimmie." Tara grinned, "You see something I might have missed, holler." As Shego landed the hover disc in a safe spot near the beach, the blonde adventuress took a deep breath. "Okay…let's get this party started. Hope and I'll scout out ahead and on the flanks. Cheeky, you and Kimmie lag a bit behind and be ready to lay down the boom when it's time." Turning to her roommate, Tara's lips turned up in a smirk, "Ready, luv?"
"Let's do it, bestie."
Scouting ahead, Tara heard voices coming towards them. Almost immediately after, she recognized two human forms walking down the dirt path leading towards the beach they had just come from. Raising her hand in a signal to halt, she motioned for her roommate to flank one way, using the dense foliage as cover while she flanked the other. Once Hope was in position, the blonde adventuress signaled for her to be ready to strike.
Waiting until the two-man patrol had just passed them by, Tara gave the signal. The two girls struck simultaneously as bullet and poisoned shuriken both struck their targets. One guard, his back stained red with blood from the bullet fired from Hope's silenced pistol, fell face first onto the path as the second, letting out a single gurgle as the quick acting neurotoxin on the shuriken took effect, crumpled to the path next to his fallen comrade.
"Path clear." Tara said, her signal at once picked up by the other two women.
"Okay, Kimmie." Shego whispered, "That's our cue."
Seeing the two bodies lying on the path, Kim barely fought down the nausea as she quickly averted her vision away from the corpses.
"Better get used to it, Princess." The raven-haired villainess cautioned, "There's gonna be more to come."
Catching up with their friends, Kim whispered, "I have a feeling that's not the only patrol we're gonna run into."
"Probably not." Tara grimly replied. Spotting the hill they had seen on the aerial photograph, the lovely blonde asked her roommate, "You think you can get up there, luv?"
Surveying the terrain, the raven-haired cheerleader answered back, "Yeah, but it'll be slow going through all this bush. Spotting a tall tree, she pointed, "Might be a better position. Easier to get to and it looks sturdy enough. Be harder to reach me too."
"Good idea." Shego nodded her head as she pointed to a position to their left. There's a hill there. If I were defending this turf, I'd have at least one armored vehicle in a hull down position and a good squad of infantry dug in."
"Makes sense, Cheeky." Tara nodded her head. "I'll scout it out and report back to you."
"Hurry up. I don't like our asses hanging out here."
Advancing to the edge of the tree line, Tara smiled as she spotted a pair of BMPs and the scout car along with two squads of men set up in an entrenched position. Radioing her companions, she made her report.
"That's our cue, Princess. Time to move up and get ready to lay down some boom." Shego grinned as the two temporary allies made their way to Tara's position.
"Sitting ducks." The blonde adventuress grinned as she pointed to the BMPs. "Take them and that scout car out and we can rout out the infantry."
Moving to her assigned positions, Hope, reaching her tree, climbed it until she found a branch high enough and sturdy enough to serve as a sniper perch. Fixing the night scope on to her Blaser K93 Tactical sniper rifle, she scanned the area for targets, at once spotting two BMPs and a T-72, their engines running and crews ready, in a flanking position. In a flash of memory, she recalled her recent chess game with Dave Porter. "Knight sacrifice…" She murmured, then, as she realized the enemy's plan, she quickly radioed, "Hold! The knight sacrifice!"
"What's she talking about?" Kim whispered.
At once recalling her housemate's game that she nearly won with a knight's sacrifice, Tara radioed back, "What did you spot?"
Reporting her findings, Hope suggested, "If you guys can circle about, you can hit that tank in its ass. Knock it out first and then the others."
"Then we're gonna have to move hard and fast on the other position." Shego commented, "They won't waste much time reinforcing their pals."
"Right." Tara nodded her head. "But unless someone can think of something else, that's our best play."
Her lips turning up in a sly grin, Kim offered a suggestion. "I think there's a way we might be able to do both."
"Open to suggestions, luv." Tara replied.
Kneeling down, Kim drew a rough map. "Tara, You and I go after that tank and the other armored vehicle that Hope spotted. Shego, you go after those guys that are supposed to be bait. Try to take out those vehicles and rout out the infantry. We time it right; we can knock them both out."
"Cheeky?" Tara turned to her sometime lover, "It's risky, but doable and it beats being blindsided if we don't take those other blokes out fast enough."
"Should work." Sheila nodded her head, "Okay…let's do it."
"Right, Kimmie." Tara grinned as she took a spare rocket launcher from Shego, "Let's make some noise."
Moving into position, Tara grinned as she and her redheaded friend snuck up into position behind the armored vehicles that were laying in ambush. "We're in position. You ready, Cheeky? Hope?"
"Ready." Shego smirked as she began to gather her strength.
"Ready." Hope whispered as she set her sights on one of the BMP commanders whose head was now vulnerable.
Remembering her quick training course while on the flight over, Kim readied her rocket launcher and sighted it on the rear of the T-72. Her finger hovering over the trigger, the young redhead took a deep breath as she whispered, "Three…two…one…NOW!" pulling the trigger to her rocket launcher, Kim held her breath as she saw the missile speed down towards its target, impacting the rear of the tank, causing the armored vehicle to explode as the impact hit the gas tank to the rear of the vehicle.
Firing her rocket launcher simultaneously, Tara's missile struck one of the BMPs also triggering a loud explosion as her housemate fired; the other BMP commander's head exploding in a red mist.
"Fun time!" Shego grinned as she let loose a large plasma ball, hitting a BMP, instantly destroying it. She then followed up her attack with a second at the scout car and then a series of rapid throws at the entrenched infantry, receiving as return fire only scattered gunfire from panicked soldiers.
"Shego…we need you here now!" Kim called out as she opened fire with her assault rifle, cringing inwardly as she witnessed one of those firing at her, a young man barely older than her, go down in a hail of bullets fired from her rifle.
"On my way, Princess!" Shego called back as she sent one more plasma ball down to the entrenched troops, her superheated plasma eradicating the last of those who hadn't fled, before quickly double timed it to where her friends were engaged in a fierce firefight with the remaining soldiers.
"FIRE IN THE HOLE!" The villainess shouted as she unleased a series of plasma balls scorching anyone in their path as the other girls laid down a torrent of fire on the enemy troops until the sound of gunshots at last ceased.
"We gotta move fast before they launch that missile!" Kim urged as the foursome dashed towards the main encampment where they found the last T-72 ready and standing guard flanked by the surviving soldiers while technicians and scientists stood at their stations.
"Damn." Tara cursed. "We don't have much time."
"Yeah." Shego growled, "That missile looks ready to launch."
Spotting high ground where she could remain concealed, Hope pointed. "I'll set up there."
"How many rockets do we have?" Shego asked.
"Enough for one attack on that tank and the gun emplacements." Tara replied. "How are you holding up, Cheeky?"
"I've still got some juice in me." The green-skinned beauty answered back. "What about the grenade launcher? Still have ammo for that?"
Checking, Kim nodded her head. "Yeah. Enough to get off a few shots."
"Right." Tara took a deep breath. "We go in hard and fast. If it's standing and moving…it's dead."
As Shego and Hope both grimly nodded their heads, Kim pleaded, "Can't we give them a chance to surrender?"
"I'm sorry, luv." Tara shook her head as she spoke in a soft, mournful voice, "I wish we could. That missile is armed and ready to go. We can't take the risk that they won't launch it if we don't take them out in a first strike."
"I…" Kim cried as she spoke her next words, "I…guess I understand. Keeping that missile from launching has to come first. Let's just make it as quick as possible."
Moments later, Hope radioed in. "I'm in position and have what looks to be the leader in my sights."
"On three…" Tara radioed to everyone. "One…Two…Three!" As she finished her count, the four young women unleashed a torrent of fire, lead, and explosions on the terrorists and their allies. "Back off now!" The blonde adventuress ordered as she saw sparks coming from the missile. "That thing's about to blow!' Quickly retreated, all four girls were knocked off their feet by a massive explosion, rendering each of them temporarily deaf.
Slowly recovering, Hope staggered over to the others in the group, her injuries, mostly cuts and abrasions, quickly tended to.
"So far…just minor injuries." Kim reported as she checked everyone over.
"Right." Tara nodded her head, "I'll pop over and check the condition of that launch area."
Returning moments later, she shook her head. "It's a mess. I did a quick radiological…thankfully, it's clean."
"Why didn't the nuke go off?" Kim inquired.
"You've got to want to set those bad boys off." Shego smirked. "They have multiple fail safes and redundancies to make sure an accidental detonation doesn't happen. The big danger is radiological leakage. What we need to do now though…" she declared as she took out a device that Dr. Drakken had invented, "… is go down there and make sure that nuke's deactivated. Can we do that, Cutie?"
"Yeah." The blonde adventuress replied. "There are still some fires, but we should be able to get in, do what we need to do, and get out."
"We better hurry." Hope cautioned. "It won't take long until they send an army here."
As she picked her way through the wreckage that was left of the camp and the vehicles guarding it, an overpowering stench filled Kim's nostrils. A sickly sweet odor. Glancing to her left, the young redhead saw a charred human corpse lying twisted on a piece of twisted metal as her nostrils filled with that same sickly sweet odor. The sights, sounds, and smells of what they had just done finally overpowering her senses, She collapsed to her knees as waves of nausea overcame her.
"It's all right, luv." She heard a soft British accent cooing at her as hands held her hair back while she puked, "Let it all out."
"We've all done it, Kim." Hope said in a soft voice.
"I've found something!" Shego called out, attracting everyone's attention.
"You gonna be okay, Kim?" Tara asked as she helped her friend up to her feet.
"Yeah." Kim moaned as she wiped the tears from her eyes with a piece of cloth that Hope had handed her. "I'll be fine…eventually."
"What is it, Cheeky?" Tara asked as the three friends reached the other member of their team.
"Look." Shego directed, pointing to the tattered remains of a flag.
"Red Surge." Tara murmured. "Never heard of them. I'll run them through Grandmama, Uncle John, and Auntie Emma. See if they know anything."
"I'll check with Wade." Kim volunteered. "He might know something."
"And I'll keep my eyes and ears open for anything from my side of the fence." Shego declared, adding, "The bomb's also been deactivated. It's just a giant paperweight now." Taking out a disc, she smirked, "Found this. Might be interesting to see what's on it when we get back to the hover disc."
"Looks like we've gotten everything we've come for here…" Tara proclaimed, "Time for us to scarper."
Tara and Hope's House—after mission wind down
"Come on, Kimmie!" Hope and Tara cheered as Shego looked on amused, "You can do it!"
Taking a deep breath and exhaling, Kim raised the shot glass full of tequila to her lips and swallowed, following up quickly by licking a line of salt from the bar and then squeezing lime juice on to her tongue.
Slamming the shot glass on the bar, Kim slurred, "Broke my record!" Staring first at the empty shot glass and then forlornly at her BFFs and old foe, she asked in a haunted voice, "Does it ever get better?"
"Define better, Kim." Tara replied. "Does the pain dull over time? Yeah, it does. Do you ever really forget? No, you don't. What you have to do is learn to accept that you did what you had to do because if you didn't a whole lot more people would have died."
"I'm gonna have to burn my mission clothes." Kim, now dressed only in her panties and a t-shirt loaned to her by Tara, moaned as she sniffed. "I could still smell it on them."
"I know, Kitten." Shego said in a rare compassionate voice. "I've burned several outfits because I could never get rid of the smell. That sickly-sweet odor…"
"It stays with you." Hope whispered as she gulped down a shooter.
"That's why a lot of cultures have purification rituals like victory parades for soldiers returning from war." Shego muttered in a low voice. "It allows the returning soldiers to come to grips with what they had to do to keep themselves and the people they love safe and it gives the people a chance to tell those who went away and had to do those things that they still love them and are glad they're home."
"It's a little tougher for us, luv." Tara said kindly as she hugged her friend, "Because we work in the shadows the people we fight for often will never know what we do for them. They just watch or read the news." Turning the television on to the news channel, the four young women saw a man in a green uniform standing up before microphones speaking.
"The government of Nuevo Brazos condemns the recent act of terrorism carried out against a peaceful research facility located at Little Stellar Island. Rest assured the perpetrators of this act of barbarism will be found and brought to justice."
"Congratulations, Pumpkin…" Shego smirked ironically, "You've just been declared a wanted criminal in your first country."
"How many of those countries you're wanted in were because of stuff like what we just did?" Kim asked in soft voice as she refilled her shot glass, sloshing some of the tequila she was pouring on to the bar.
"Some." Shego admitted, "Not all. Most of those are because I did do something naughty like steal something shiny. But enough shop talk for now. I'm in the mood for something else." Turning to her blonde occasional playmate, she gestured seductively, "Come here, Cutie…I'm hungry."
"I think I have just what you need, but you're gonna have to open the wrapping to get at what's inside." Tara growled playfully as she sauntered over to the dark-haired woman's side, and, after giving her a sloppy kiss on the lips and slipping an arm around her waist, escorted her towards her bedroom. "See you girls later."
"Later, Kimmie!" Shego smirked as she raised her shot glass and gulped down the tequila before entering the bedroom. "Next time we meet, it'll be business as usual."
"Looking forward to it!" Kim lifted her shot glass in a toast before chugging the contents down her throat.
"You two have fun." Hope smirked as the bedroom door closed. Looking down at her now thoroughly drunk redheaded friend, the raven-haired cheerleader chuckled, "Come on, Kimmie. Let's get you on the couch so you can get some sleep. You are gonna be so hungover in the morning, girlfriend."
Possible Home—much later
As she entered her home with her two best friends and saw her parents waiting for her, Kim dropped her carry bag and, dashing to them, hugged them closely. "Mom! Dad!" She sobbed as she clung to her loved ones as Tara and Hope quietly looked on, giving the reunited family their time together.
"Kimmie-cub." James said softly as he held his daughter closely.
"My baby." Ann cried as she embraced her daughter, refusing to let go.
Much…much…later, after parents and daughter had finished their tearful reunion, they all sat down at the kitchen table over cups of coffee as Kim unburdened herself, telling her mother and father everything that happened and what she had to do with occasional interjections by the other two girls who went on the mission.
"Kimmie-cub…" James declared, "I don't want you to…"
"Dad." Kim interrupted, "Like it or not, I'm gonna have to." Looking her parents in the eyes, she grimly stated, "There are more nukes missing and we found a computer disc. When we ran the disc through a computer, we discovered that it was a set of targeting coordinates. The missile's target was Middleton."
"Oh my." Ann gasped, "Why would we be the target for a missile strike?"
"This is the actually the second time someone has tried to blow Middleton up with a nuke." Tara pondered, referring to the nuke that they had earlier neutralized at the space center. "Makes you wonder what is going on here that has Red Surge or whoever they're working for so intent on blowing this place up?"
"There are a lot of military bases and scientific installations in the area where a great deal of top secret work is being done." James noted.
"Not to mention the fact that Global Justice has at least one facility here." Hope commented thoughtfully.
"A nuclear strike taking out all the facilities and research here…and more importantly, the scientists and specialists…would be crippling to this country." Tara commented. "Sounds like a move MALUS would make."
"You really think so?" Kim inquired as she sipped her coffee, "Do you think MALUS is behind this Red Surge—whatever it is?"
"Maybe." The lovely blonde nodded her head, "We know MALUS is tied in to the Knights of Rodegan, so it has no problems working through proxies.
"Mom…Dad…" Kim looked up at her parents, "You see now why I have to see this through…don't you?"
Taking a deep breath and exhaling, Mrs. Dr. Possible answered back in a somber tone, "Yes, Kimmie…we do. We wish you didn't have to, but…"
"We do understand." James interjected. "But no more leaving me out of the loop like you two did this time." He declared in a firm tone of voice, addressing his remarks to his wife and daughter. "I want to know when you go on missions—especially dangerous and hard missions like this one. We're a family…" He stated, his eyes drifting from his daughter to his wife and back again to his little girl as he took their hands in his and gave them a gentle squeeze, "…and part of being a family is that we are there for each other. Don't ever cut me out again."
"We promise, honey." Ann vowed as Kim nodded her head in agreement, "I'll…"
"We'll…" Kim quickly interjected, then let her mother finish.
"…never leave you out again."
"You have another problem, Kim…" James pointed out somberly.
"Ron." Kim nodded her head once.
"He was very upset when he read your note." Ann remarked.
"Mom…" Kim said in a soft voice. "Open my mission bag and smell my mission clothes." Doing as her daughter asked, the older redhead at once recoiled on smelling a familiar odor. "Yeah…it's what you think it is." Kim sighed. "I'm going to have to burn those clothes and that bag and buy a new set. I can't get rid of the smell. I don't want Ron to ever have to go through that."
"While that's a very compassionate thought, darling, Ron should have the right to make that decision for himself—especially if he's your partner as you claim he is and not just your sidekick." Ann pointed out.
"I know, Mom." Kim sobbed as her mother held her close, "I just don't want him to have to…to have to…he's too kind and gentle a soul."
"We know, dear." Ann cooed gently, "But…you have to let him make that choice for himself."
Rising to their feet, Tara and Hope said their goodbyes. "We'll see you at school tomorrow, Kim."
"I'll see you out." James said as he walked the two girls to the door. Before the girls could leave, he spoke in a calm and sad voice, "Thank you for looking after my little girl. I just wish she didn't have to grow up so soon."
Middleton High—the next day
"The girls said they'd be here." Josh worried as he paced.
"They will be, tovarisch." Sergei replied. "Just be ready for them when they do. They will need us, my friend."
"Josh!" Kim shouted as the redheaded girl raced to her boyfriend.
"Lyubovniki!" Sergei cried out as he saw his two lovers dashing towards him, arms outstretched, "Come here!" He grinned as he embraced the two girls, showering them with kisses heedless of Mr. Barkin and the PDA rule. "You are back!"
"Better believe we are, studmuffin." Tara grinned as she planted a wet kiss on the handsome Russian. "Hope your batteries are charged." She purred in a low voice.
"Hmmm…my turn honey bunny." Hope smirked as she gave the young man a long lingering kiss. "Better make sure those batteries are long lasting."
"Missed you, Josh!" Kim exclaimed as she leaped in the young musician's arms and kissed him full on the mouth for the first time. "Wow…" She exclaimed after the couple had enjoyed their first long lingering kiss. "That was…"
"Yeah…" Josh smiled, breathless from the kiss. "It was."
"Dirty Pair! Possible!" Mr. Barkin growled, "My office—now!"
"Sir, Yes Sir!" All three girls answered back, giving the gruff teacher cheeky grins as they mock saluted him.
As the three girls filed into the permanent-substitute teacher's office, he gestured for them to take their seats in front of his desk. Closing the door, he went behind the desk and opened a drawer. Taking four glasses out of the drawer, he wordlessly set the glasses down, one in front of each girl and the last glass in front of him. Reaching again into the drawer, he took out a flask and poured its contents into each of the glasses.
"Drink." He commanded as he sat down and took a drink, followed soon after by the three girls seated before him.
"Good scotch." Tara noted approvingly as she took another sip.
"Single malt." The ex-Marine replied with a grin, "Gift from an old friend after the last Army-Navy game. I've been on enough special ops during my time in the Marines to know when someone has just come back from a hard mission. Tell me about it. Start at the beginning. Don't leave anything out and don't worry about divulging anything classified. Anyone who would be concerned about that already knows we're having this meeting and the fact that we're having it means they don't object. I still have my security clearance and believe me…it's high enough."
As the three girls described their experiences on the island, the grizzled ex-Marine listened quietly, interrupting occasionally to ask a clarifying question. Then, once they had finished, he refilled everyone's glasses. "Sounds like a successful operation. Excellent use of tactics Possible." The burly substitute growled, "You also King…you definitely take after your grandparents. And Ms. Rossi…very good use of terrain and good eye spotting that ambush. I'm also pleased to see that your participation in the chess club is bearing fruit." Taking a deep breath, he came to a decision, "Ms. King…Ms. Rossi…I've talked to the principal and she agrees to put you in the same status as Ms. Possible and Stoppable. You can leave school when an emergency happens, but I will expect you to report to me upon mission completion—Possible…same goes for you. Do we understand each other?"
"Yes, sir." Both girls crisply replied as they finished their drinks.
"Good." The permanent-substitute nodded his head in satisfaction. "Now…" His lips turned up in a wicked grin, "There's a little matter of detention for the PDA display you three put on with your boyfriends just now. I'd say one day's fair enough." His grin now replaced by a serious expression, he declared, "Big Mike and the others were worried about you. They'll be glad to see you." He then handed Kim a platinum Kitty-Kat Club card. "Max told me to give this to you. Sorry you had to get it this way, Possible." His lips turning up in sly grin, he remarked to the Dirty Pair, "It seems we keep missing each other at the club for some reason. If you see Zoe and Clea before I do, give them my regards."
"We will, Mr. Barkin."
"Thank you, Mr. Barkin." Kim said in a soft voice.
"Okay…we're done here." Barkin declared, bringing the meeting to an end, "Get out of my office and haul your butts to class before I add to that detention."
"How much does Barkin know about what's going on here?" Kim whispered as the three girls walked down the hall to their class.
"Apparently more than he's letting on." Tara replied with a chuckle. Then, spotting Ron waiting in the corridor, she nudged her housemate. "We'll go on ahead, Kim, and let you and Ron talk."
"Thanks, girls." Kim answered back with a sigh, "I'll see you in class." Giving her best friend a tentative wave hello as she approached, she said apologetically, "Ron? We have a lot to talk about and since I don't want to add any more time to my detention, now's not the best time. How's about us getting together at Bueno Nachos after school. We can talk then and maybe clear some of the air between us."
"Okay, KP. It can wait until later." Ron responded with a single nod of his head. "For now, I'm just happy you're back safe."
Bueno Nacho
Sitting down at their usual booth, Kim picked at her taco salad for a few moments until her best friend broke her reverie.
"Well? Why did you? Why did you go without even asking me if I wanted to come with you?" Ron demanded as he sipped his cola through a bendy straw.
Heaving a grief-stricken sigh, Kim replied, "I didn't want you to see or do what I saw and did."
"What do you mean?" Ron queried, insisting, "Tell me."
Slowly…haltingly…Kim described everything that happened from the moment her and the others hit shore until they dusted off the island, pausing only when Ron's face paled and it looked like he was going to get sick. Her tale done; the young redhead gazed at her ashen-faced friend. "Now do you understand why I left you behind, Ron? I didn't want you to have to see or do any of that. I didn't want you to have to burn your clothes because you can't get the smell of charred human flesh out of them. I didn't want you to have to deal with that. Ron…that soldier…he couldn't have been older than eighteen or nineteen. He could have easily been going to school here with us. And I put three bullets in his chest."
"KP…" Ron stammered as he tried to phrase his words, "I guess we've…I've…been lucky so far. I…I don't think I can kill anyone. But…that's not the point. Just answer one question…and please…tell me the truth. Am I your partner or your sidekick?"
Taking a deep breath and exhaling, Kim replied, "You're my partner and my best friend. It's just that sometimes…the best friend part gets in the way of the partner part. Like this time. I didn't want someone's death on my best friend's conscience like that boy's and those other soldiers are on mine."
"I understand, Kim." Ron said as he looked down at his food, suddenly finding himself not very hungry. "But please…in the future…give me the choice. If I really am your best friend and partner…"
"You are Ron!"
"Then I have the right to make that choice for myself."
Nodding her head gravely at her friend's words, Kim sorrowfully replied, "You're right, Ron. You do. But I'm not going to say I'm sorry I didn't take you on this mission because I'm not. I don't want you to deal with what I'm dealing with now. Tara told me the pain dulls over time but it never completely goes away, and yeah…today's not as bad as yesterday. I'm slowly learning how to put it in perspective. Ron…you're too good a person to have something like this on your conscience. In the future…I will let you know so that you will have that choice. But I'm going to do my damnest to try to get you to not go with me."
"That's all I'm asking for, Kim." Ron said solemnly as he stood up. "I hope you don't mind, but I'm not too hungry right now."
"You want to go home?" Kim asked as she got up off her seat.
"Yeah…" Ron nodded his head, "But let's take the long way through the playground, okay. I want to pretend we're eight again. Play tag and hide and seek with each other, slide down the slide, play on the see-saw, and swing on the swings. Would that be all right?"
"I think that would be spankin'!"
A/N: This story brings us back to the missing nukes and the MALUS plot. It also shows Ron beginning to assert himself more as he calls Kim out on her decision to exclude him from this mission without giving him any say in the matter. Kim also reveals that she does have a darker side while Ron refuses to shed his child-like innocence, using it, in many ways, as a shield against the harshness of the world. Next part will see a heavy focus on relationships as Kim, Tara, and Hope help out with the Middleton Medical Center's haunted house and then host their party while Ron, still clinging stubbornly to his childhood, goes trick or treating; and, oh yes, Dr. Drakken returns with a new scheme. I hope everyone enjoyed this part and, as always, I look forward to your comments.