Double Entendre

Epilogue Season One

Middleton High—Last Day of School

Chuckling as they watched their redheaded friend give her boyfriend a quick kiss, Tara and Hope joined her at her locker, "I see Josh has so far successfully avoided being launched on any deep space probes, Kimmie." Tara quipped with a sly grin as her housemate joined in the good-natured ribbing.

"More important…" Hope teased with a grin, "How are his skills coming along?"

A blush appearing on her cheeks, Kim responded to the bantering with a knowing smirk, "So far, Mom and Dad haven't caught on, but we did have a close call last weekend."

"Oh?" Tara grinned, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah…Mom and Dad took the Tweebs to see cousin Larry. I managed to get out of going by telling them the truth—that Josh had gotten us tickets to see the laser light show in Upperton. Anyway, we returned home after and…well…take three guesses what we were doing…"

"Uhhh Huh." Hope smirked, "Being naughty."

"Yup." Kim blushed.

"So…what happened? Did they come in while you two were in the middle?"

"No. Thank Heaven!" The lovely redhead replied with a chuckle, "We had just cleaned up and were on our way to the kitchen to grab something to eat when they came in. Mom kinda raised an eyebrow at the two of us being in the house alone and Dad went straight up to my room. Good thing we didn't mess up the bed that time at least."

"Heh." Tara snorted, "Plush rug for the win."

"You said it!" Kim laughed, "As for Josh's skills…let's just say that he's gotten more dexterous and cunning in the last few weeks…if you know what I mean."

"Practice makes perfect." Hope laughed, "And what about you? You blowing away the competition?"

Kim responded in a prim voice as she blushed, "Let's just say no more practice bananas for me."

"Hey!" Ron, accompanied by his girlfriend, waved, "Ready for summer."

"Hell yeah!" Hope exclaimed. "What about you two? Any special plans?"

"Yeah." Ron replied. "You remember Felix, don't you KP?"

"Felix Renton." The lovely redhead responded with a fond grin, "Felix from elementary school? Yeah. You two were friends until he moved out of state with his family as I remember…"

"Yep." Ron answered back with a smile, "His mother's taking a position at MIST, so they're moving back here this summer. Me and Zita are going to help him and his family move in to their new house."

"Well…" Tara offered, "If you need more muscle just let us know—we'll fetch Sergei…"

"And Josh." Kim added.

"And anyone else we can get, and be happy to pitch in." Hope finished.

"Thanks." Zita smiled back in response, "We will."

"Yeah…" Ron chimed in, "Soft drinks and pizza on us. Sorry…" The blond youth apologized with a grin, "No hard stuff."

"Not a problem." Tara replied as Hope and Kim both nodded their heads in agreement. "We better get to class. Wouldn't do to get detention on the last week of school."

As the group entered Mr. Barkin's class and took their seats, Kim whispered to her blonde fellow cheerleader, "Hear anything more on Shego?"

"No." The lovely Englishwoman sighed, "They're still waiting for her to come out of that bloody coma."

Middleton Medical Center

Looking down at her patient, Ann Possible entered in her latest observations on the dark-haired young woman's chart as her fellow surgeon, Dr. Guberman, entered.

"Any changes, Ann?" Dr. Guberman inquired as the redheaded neurosurgeon handed her colleague the patient's chart.

"Take a look at her EEG, MEG, and MRI readings." Ann prompted, pointing to the appropriate section of the chart they were both looking at. "What do you see?"

"Hmmm…" The other neurosurgeon vocalized as he perused the data, "That's odd. I'm sure we removed all those tendrils wrapped around her cerebrum and cerebellum."

"We did." Ann nodded her head. "But I'm wondering if there might be something else at work here. Maybe Drew did more than just implant that chip in her."

"Have you run another set of toxicology tests?" Phillip suggested, "Maybe he injected her with a substance to reinforce the effects of the chip that our initial tests didn't pick up on?"

"Could be." Ann replied, conceding the possibility. "I've already called for more extensive tests as well as scheduling another spinal tap for later today. Her earlier bloodwork didn't show anything, but, like you said, we just ran the standard tests because getting that chip out immediately took priority. I'm curious to see what these new readings will reveal."

"As am I." Phillip agreed. "Have the authorities gotten any information from that madman that might help us?"

"I don't know." Ann sighed, "I was informed by Global Justice that in between incoherent rants and rages, he let slip something about a plan B."

"Shit!" Dr. Guberman cursed as an unpleasant thought entered his head. "Have we done a full body MRI scan?"

"Yes, of course." Ann, the same thought crossing her mind, replied as she called up the results of the scan. As the two doctors carefully examined the data, the redheaded neurosurgeon gasped, "Phillip! Take a look at these hormone levels…"

"Yes." The other neurosurgeon nodded his head, "Do you see the cortisol levels? How they're fluctuating. And then the melatonin levels. Notice how they sync up for a few seconds and then…"

"The cortisol levels increase markedly." Ann nodded her head. "I'd say we're dealing with two…maybe even three more implants."

"The pineal and adrenal glands?" Dr. Guberman hypothesized.

Nodding her head, Ann agreed, "Yes. We need to do another MRI, this time concentrating on the pineal and adrenal glands. We might have to go back in to remove those implants." Letting out a breath of air, the frustrated neurosurgeon growled, "Drew might be a genius, but he's also a monster. Developing an implant that sophisticated that could do so much damage and doing it purely out of spite."

"Take another look, Ann." Phillip exclaimed, pointing at a graph on the chart. "See what's happening? See how the hormones are interacting with whatever was in that comet that gave her and her brothers their powers?"

"Yeah." Ann replied, her voice rising in alarm, "They're increasing her power levels to the point where if we don't remove them immediately, she'll literally burn herself up from the inside. We've got to remove those implants now."

"I'll alert the anesthesiologist and endocrinologist and reserve the room for immediate surgery." Phillip declared, springing into action

"I'll get ready." Ann responded, looking down on her patient. "Just hang on Ms. Go. We're not about to let you die."

Rockwaller Financial Consulting Office

Entering his office, Jack Rockwaller nodded his head perfunctorily at his receptionist. "Any messages or appointments, Janice?"

"You have a meeting with Mr. Templeton of the Benton Group this afternoon at two and you have three calls from your wife."

"Thank you, Janice." Mr. Rockwaller responded by rote. "Tell Gessler I want to meet him in my office in ten minutes and tell him to bring everything he has on our dealings with the Benton Group."

"Yes, Sir."

A few moments later, the accountant, a slender, brown haired man in his mid-thirties with a receding hairline, wearing a nondescript business suit and carrying a folio entered his employer's office. "Mr. Rockwaller?"

"Come in, Gessler. " Jack Rockwaller grinned as he gestured at a chair in front of his desk. "Have a seat." Inclining his head at the folio as his bookkeeper sat down in the chair, the businessman inquired, "Are those the Benton Group files?"

"Yes, Sir." The accountant said as he handed the folio to his boss who then, after opening it, carefully perused its contents. "I think you'll find everything is in order, Sir."

Nodding his head as he read, Jack Rockwaller responded with a grunt, "So it is. Any further word on the purchase of the Xanadu building? Any problems or issues?"

"None to speak of." Gessler responded. "There were problems with an overzealous code inspector, but a quick call to the superintendent of codes, accompanied by the usual inducement resolved the issue."

"Good." Jack acknowledged as she shuffled through the papers. "Refresh me…what sort of drugs will they be manufacturing at this new plant?"

"Generic over the counter medications." The accountant quickly replied. "Antacid medicines…aspirin…multivitamins…stuff like that. Nothing that requires a prescription."

"And our percentage of the profits?"

"The usual ten percent." The accountant answered back, "Plus one percent if sales figures go beyond their annual predictions."

"Excellent!" Jack smiled, pleased at his employee's responses, "Be sure that all the legal I's are dotted and T's crossed here. I don't want some minor technicality to derail this deal. Good work, Gessler. There'll be something extra in your paycheck once the deal is signed."

"Thank you, Sir." The bookkeeper responded as he rose to his feet, his lips turned up in an insincere grin. "I appreciate it."

Once his employee had exited the office, Jack signaled his receptionist. "Janice? Contact Mr. Templeton and firm up our appointment."

"Yes, Sir."

"Good job, Jack." The businessmen muttered to himself as he idly twirled a pencil in his hand. "This deal with the Benton Group will easily pay for that summer retreat in Capo San Lucia."

Middleton High

"Only two more classes to go and no more school!" Ron proclaimed to everyone in earshot as he emerged from his American History class into the hallway.

"Just think…" Kevin Guberman grinned as he was joined by his girlfriend, Liz. "No more Mr. Barkin for three whole months."

"No more looking over our shoulders when we want to hold hands." Liz concurred as Kim, Hope, Tara, Jessica, and their significant others joined the growing group hanging out by the lockers.

"So what's everyone's plans for the summer?" Jessica asked. "Steve and I are just planning on chilling."

"Yeah." Steve agreed. "Just taking it easy. What about you guys?"

"I know Mom wants to go to Florida to visit Nana Possible and Dad's talking about going out to Wyoming to see his brother." Kim sighed dejectedly. "So, I see at least two family trips this summer."

"I've heard about Nana Possible from Grandmama, Uncle John, and Auntie Emma." Tara mentioned with a conspiratorial wink, "Remind me before you go and I'll tell you some of the stories about her they told me."

Smiling, Kim answered back, "You bet I will." She then inquired, "So…are you still planning on going to England?"

"Yeah…after the Fourth of July picnic for a fortnight or so." Tara replied as she gave her housemate a playful punch on the shoulder, "And I'm dragging Hope along with me."

"I've been nagging her nonstop since before the dance to take me with her." Hope explained, "I'm dying to meet Tara's grandmother and uncle and aunt."

"Well…you already know what me and Zita are doing." Ron declared, "We're helping Felix move in."

"Right." Kim nodded her head. Turning to Kevin and Liz, the young redhead asked, "So…what are you two going to be up to during the break?"

"Pretty much what Jessica and Steve have planned." Kevin responded. We're just gonna lie back and chill out."

Five minutes before the last bell signifying the official end to the school year rang, Mr. Barkin's voice sounded through the school's PA system. "I want to remind all students that until you leave the school grounds you are still under the authority of the Middleton School District and any violation of school rules will be punished accordingly. If detentions or suspensions are issued, they will be served at the beginning of the next school year and if the violator or violators are seniors, transcripts and diplomas will be held until detention is served. Have a good summer."

A few minutes later, the final bell rang accompanied by the cheers of students as the young people raced to exit the building. Chuckling at the pandemonium surrounding her, Tara almost missed the beeping of her Kimmunicator. Answering it, she responded as Kim, her Kimmunicator also beeping, joined her. "Mrs. Possible?" Tara exclaimed as she saw the redheaded doctor on the screen instead of the young tech genius who usually called.

"Mom?" Kim uttered, "Is something wrong?"

"Tara? Kim?" Dr. Mrs. Possible uttered, "I've got some news for you about Shego that I thought you'd want to hear."

"What is it?" Tara asked with a hitch to her voice, "Is something wrong?"

"She'll be okay." Ann reported in a soothing voice. "We ran some more tests earlier this morning and discovered that Drew had implanted a couple of what I assume were fail safe devices in her adrenal and pineal glands…"

"The bugger wanted a backup in case she regained control." Tara muttered in an angry voice.

"That's probably what he had planned to do to you too, Kim." Hope said in a low voice to her redheaded friend.

"Yeah." Kim sighed, shaking her head, "I know."

"We removed the implants and she's resting now." Ann announced through everyone's Kimmunicator. "She's still in a coma—however it's looking like she'll be coming out of it soon. I just thought you'd like to know."

"Thanks, Mrs. P." Tara replied before asking, "Is it possible for us to…"

"To come in and see her?" Ann interrupted, "Yes. I've cleared it for you, Hope, and Kim. I'm afraid you can only see her one at a time though."

"Thanks, Mom." Kim responded, "You're the best."

"We're on our way."

Middleton Medical Center

As the gaggle of young people converged on her, Mrs. Dr. Possible smiled, "She's improving."

Sighing in relief, Tara responded with a mild quip, "Sheila's not going to let a few implants beat her."

Chuckling softly, Ann replied, "She's one tough woman…no doubt about that." Her demeanor now businesslike, she reported, "Whatever that comet did to her when it gave her and her brothers their powers also affected her healing abilities. Those implants were designed to suppress and turn that healing ability against her—essentially burning her up from the inside out."

"Drakken's gone completely round the bend." Tara commented in a grim voice before asking, "So…when the implants were removed…"

"Her healing abilities have returned with a vengeance." Ann declared with a smile. "I wouldn't be surprised if she wakes up in the very near future."

"Can I…"

"Of course." Ann replied as she ushered Tara and the others into a waiting room. "Come with me, Tara, and I'll take you to her. The rest of you can wait your turn here."

"Go on, Bestie." Hope grinned, "We'll hold down the fort here until you get back."

"Hey Cheeky." Tara said in a low voice to her slumbering friend barely making herself heard over the steady beeps from the medical instruments. "I don't know if you can hear me or if you'll remember what I say when you wake up, but I just wanted to let you know what I think of you. I think you're a gutsy and brave woman. You're strong and tough, but at the same time you can be so tender and compassionate—although you'll never admit it to anyone—especially yourself. Drakken threw his best at you and you beat him. I don't care what anyone else—including yourself—says, I know you're no villain. If you were truly a rotter, Drakken wouldn't have had to use those damn implants on you. Like it or not, babe, you're a hero."

Taking the comatose woman by her hand, the lovely blonde continued to speak, an imploring note in her voice as she uttered her words. "I need you to get better, luv, because we've still got some work to do and hell to raise. There's still those missing nukes and putting a stop to that damn drug ring. Hope, Kim, and I need your help here, so get better, get your arse out of hospital, and join us. We've got arses to kick and need you to help kick them."

Pausing for a moment, she bent down and kissed the other woman gently on her lips. "I also need you up and about, Cheeky so that I can…" Her lips turning up in a warm smile, she whispered the rest of her sentence in her friend's ear.

"Tara?"

Standing up, Tara turned to Mrs. Dr. Possible. "Thanks, Ann. I guess I really should let the others have some time with her."

"She's going to get better." The redheaded neurosurgeon declared as the pair walked out of the room, "And I'm betting she did hear what you said to her just now."

"I hope so." Tara responded with a wan smile.

Grinning at the young blonde as the pair entered the waiting room, Ann jokingly inquired, "I don't want to know what you whispered to her—do I?"

"Probably not." Tara laughed as she motioned her housemate and partner, "You're up next, Hope."

Waiting until everyone else had their turn, Kim entered the room last. Seeing the sleeping form of her sometime foe lying helpless on the bed, connected to IVs and monitors, the teen hero sighed, "I know we've fought each other a lot, Shego…Sheila…but seeing you like this. Get better…Believe it or not, your pushing has forced me to up my game. You don't cut me any slack…even though you've been pulling your punches. I know that if you ever decided to go all out, I'd be in a world of trouble and in a world of hurt—no matter which of us ended up winning. Get better. I need my number one sparring partner back."

A Global Justice Research Facility—Location Unknown

"Thank you, Madame Director." Dr. Cyrus Bortel exclaimed in a voice both fawning and effusive. "These lab facilities are even better than my previous ones." Activating the computer console on his new desk, his smile grew wider, "And thank you for saving my research notes on the neuro-compliance chip. I had thought them destroyed by those young mercenaries."

"We were able to download a copy of your notes before handing over the originals. Dr. Director explained as Will Du handed the scientist a data disk and a manila folder. "We want you to continue your research on the chip. But we want it improved. The folder Agent Du just gave you contains a listing of our requirements. Do you think you can meet them within a reasonable time frame?"

After carefully perusing the papers in the folder, Dr. Bortel nodded his head. "It'll be a challenge, but I can do it. But first…why did you save my notes? I get the impression that Kim Possible and her friends will not be very pleased if they find out about this deception. Why do you risk alienating them?"

"The neuro-compliance chip is just too useful a tool to be casually discarded on moral principles." Betty flatly stated, responding to the scientist's inquiry. "As for Kim Possible and the Dirty Pair—as the old saying goes—what they don't know won't hurt them. Don't worry about them. If they become a problem, I'll deal with it."

Dr. Bortel enthusiastically declared as he took the data disk and notes, "Then I'll begin work immediately."

Tara and Hope's Apartment

"Is everyone here?" Wade asked as his image appeared on the tv monitor.

"Yep." Hope replied as she took a sip of her white wine.

"What do you have for us, Wadesy?" Tara asked as she lit her cigarette and took a drag.

"What's the sitch?" Kim inquired as she took the margarita handed to her by Hope.

"The surveillance drone I placed on Mr. Rockwaller's accountant picked up on something interesting that I thought you'd like to see." The Team Possible technical genius responded, "I'm playing the footage now."

The foursome watched attentively as the images of Anton Krycheck, the accountant that Jack Rockwaller knew as Gessler, and the suspected Knight of Rodegan, Anton Mahler, working undercover as a businessman appeared on the screen, Mahler sitting behind a desk as the accountant entered what was obviously an office.

"You've done well, Krycheck." Mahler declared as he perused the document the accountant had just handed over to him. "You are sure Rockwaller does not suspect your ties to the Knights?"

"Quite sure." The accountant responded, "Nor has he inquired very deeply. He is content to not know the source of the Benton Group's funding so long as the payments are made and his own…indiscretions…remain concealed."

"Excellent. Maintain the fiction for now." Mahler ordered, "As long as he remains docile, there is no need to force compliance. Allow him to enjoy his mistress and pleasures." Taking out his cell phone, Mahler spoke, "Continue work on the Xanadu facility in Middleton. I want production commenced by the end of next month."

"Well…we have a name and location now." Tara declared as she put out her cigarette and took a sip of her gin and tonic. "All we have to do is find out where it is and then we hit it."

"Any ideas on that Wade?" Kim inquired as she got a refill for her margarita.

"I'm running searches through public records and I've got Krycheck's phone tapped." The child hacker responded. "I've also got surveillance drones keeping an eye on Mahler, but he's got countermeasures set up so I've got to be careful. He discovers he's being watched and it's…"

"Game over." Ron finished as he sipped his ginger ale.

"Right." Wade replied with a nod of his head. His smile returning, he added on an optimistic note, "However, we've got more than we had and with everything I've got going on this, we should find out something soon. I'll keep you updated on what I dig up."

"Thanks, Wade." Hope acknowledged as she made her way to a shelf containing dvds as the door knocked, "That would be the boys and Zita. In case everyone forgot, it is movie night. Pizza's on the way. You wanna put on the popcorn T while I get the dvd ready? I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm ready for some down time."

An Undisclosed Location Somewhere in the World

A group of men and women representing a diversity of races, creeds, cultures, and nationalities sat around a conference table. The individual sitting at the head of the table, on a raised dais and masked by shadows, spoke in a clear voice, the person's words carrying loudly, masked by a device that made it impossible to determine that person's origin or gender.

"Number Five, make your report."

"Our unwitting puppets are performing as expected, Number One. In fact, they are doing even better than we had initially hoped." A middle-aged Asian woman declared as she rose respectfully to her feet. As she touched the button on her table, Dr. Drakken's image appeared. "This individual, in particular, through his repeated vain and childish quests for personal vengeance and world domination, has proved an excellent distraction for us, allowing much of our real work to go unnoticed. Also, our mole in Global Justice has informed me that Dr. Bortel is now working on refining his neuro-compliance chip for them. The mole states that, when the order is given, the chip can be easily acquired."

"Very good, Number Five." The shadowed figure responded. "Number Four. Your report."

A brown-skinned man speaking with a Middle Eastern accent and wearing a well-tailored suit stood up. "While we have lost two of the nuclear bombs, the others are still in our possession. One of our front groups that cannot be connected to us now has possession of the nuclear device and anticipates being able to use it against its target in approximately two months."

"And the target?" The voice inquired.

"The G-8 Summit in London. Dr. Director, with most of the leadership of Global Justice, not to mention the leaders of the countries involved in the summit, will be there."

"I trust that this effort will enjoy greater success than the past two attempts. It would be…unfortunate…should there be another failure."

"I assure you, Number One." Number Four promised, sweat beading on his forehead, "We will succeed this time."

"I hope so." Number One replied, "For your sake. Thank you, you may be seated." After the now very nervous sycophant took his seat, the man in shadows spoke again. "Number Three…how are your plans developing?"

Conrad van Rodegan, looking much younger and with wavy black hair thanks to his recent plastic surgery, stood up and cleared his throat. "Our efforts to destabilize Rodegan are moving apace, Number One. News media that we control through dummy corporations have begun broadcasting propaganda calling for King Wallace to retire in favor of his son. Once he does so, they will shift to calling for Prince Wally to abdicate and hold free elections as he promised. These broadcasts will be accompanied by demonstrations led by our people."

"And if either the king or his son prove reluctant to abdicate?"

"Then our agent provocateurs embedded within the Rodegan security forces and various different political parties and clubs will be ready to act. They will present the image that the royal family is incapable of governing." van Rodegan replied. "Besides losing international support, the bad publicity will further alienate the royal family from the people, possibly leading to a violent revolution should the king or his son remain obdurate."

"Either event—free elections or violent uprisings—giving you the opening you need." The mysterious person in shadows only known as Number One concluded in a seemingly approving manner. "Very good. Proceed with your plans." After a momentary delay, Number One further inquired, "And your second operation?"

"The Xanadu plant will be opening within a month. We anticipate that it will be attacked. Should the mercenaries making the attack fail, that will work to our benefit, of course." The Count declared, "But even if their attack succeeds, the Xanadu operation will still have accomplished its goals as the data we are accumulating regarding the drug's effects is proving invaluable in developing the obedience drug we are seeking. That, along with the neuro-compliance chip, will facilitate our plans to bring about a more ordered…less chaotic…world.

"Excellent, Number Three." The mystery man replied, "Keep us informed as to your progress."

"Yes, Number One." Rodegan dutifully acknowledged as he took his seat.

"Number Two…" The man in shadows commanded, "How is Gotterdammerung progressing?"

"Very well, Number One." Baron Heinrich von Stossel declared in a thick Bavarian accent. "Following our setback at my schloss, we were able to regroup and our weapons development facilities have successfully tested the prototype device on a small scale. Our scientists have determined that the nuclear material we have obtained from some of the warheads we acquired will successfully initiate the chain reaction required. At the present time, we await the successful completion of Number Three's project. Once we secure the rare earths and other metals from Rodegan, we will be ready to proceed."

"Thank you, Number Two." The anonymous figure replied. Now, speaking to everyone at the conference table, Number One announced, "You all have your tasks and I look forward to hearing reports of your progress at our next gathering. This meeting of the board of MALUS is adjourned."