Note from Author:

I have now decided to post my episodes as several parts as reading over 10k words might seem very overwhelming for some people. There an average episode will probably have 2-3 posts. This will be very interesting later because my story actually has a "Dual Episode" and a "Quintuple Episode", so they contain of 2 and 5 episodes, which, as you can imagine, will be like 6 posts for one and then about 10-15 posts for the other with the new posting system that I have thought of. Still I feel this might be a solution that I should at least try out because I know that me posting everything at once can be a bit too much for people.

IV-1. Unboxing A Shooting Star

"Come on, Kim, now don't be so boring!" Monique said. Kim was walking inbetween Monique and Charlotte. The redhead looked really cornered right now.

"Monique! I have already told you I can't!"

Kim replied. Charlotte just giggled while looking at Kim.

"Yeah, you have but you won't get away this easy, sweetheart," Monique gave her back a sarcastic answer with an impish look. "I know this is not what you normally do but come on! Why not?" Kim's best friend asked her.

"I never made a big fuss of it since I became a teen. That is all!" Kim answered.

"You don't really like parties, huh?" Charlie questioned to only get back an answer from Monique instead, "Oh, its not like she never was at a party but you can hardly count that."

"Wha - why can't you count that? I have been there before!" Kim complained.

"Hah, nice try, Kimmie," Monique said. "Most of them were school parties. The reasons were completely different."

Kim tried to counter, "Hey now! What about that one time at -"

"My house on Halloween?" Monique asked. "Also not the same thing. You were there because of Josh Mankey. And you have just given me a great example for why I am right."

Kim looked puzzled. "What do you mean with that now, Monique?" she wanted to know.

"Please, Kim. That night you had a really hard time to decide what to do because of your parents and Ron. Sure, you actually went to the party then but, girl - remember how freaked out you were?! It even gave you a cybertronic armor! Face it, you are the nice type of girl who does not want to disappoint and make everyone think of yourself in a good way."

"Huh?! You act like that is something bad!" Kim responded.

"I don't think Monique wants to tell you that you should actually change or that how you are is something bad, Kim," Charlie said, "I guess she just wants to tell you it is no big to try out something different."

"'No big', huh?" Kim said.

Monique just gave Charlie a confirming nod as it was exactly what she meant.

"Look, Kim. Nobody wants you to join the dark side or anything. It is a harmless party and you decide how it should be," Monique then continued to explain. Kim had to really struggle with herself now more than with the two other women.

"It is nothing special though," she said.

"It is special, Kim!" she got a reply from Charlotte this time. "It is your birthday!"

Kim knew that at times she was very much aware of what kind of person she was and was proud of herself. But on the other hand she could be very modest and her birthday was something that was normally celebrated on a very small scale.

"Give it a try, Kim! Normally you just have your family, Ron and me, why not invite a few more?" Monique asked. "Are you so afraid of your parents thinking different from you?"

The redhead looked caught by surprise.

"I think you should not worry about that", Charlie said. "You are acting so honest right now, I don't think you would act in any way that would really shock them."

Kim thought about those words.

Maybe she is right ..., the thought passed her mind. She really was the kind girl and never would have wanted for that to change. Another reason indeed was that she once lied to Ron and her parents exactly because of a party, and even though the circumstances were not the same, it just made her feel so bad that time and the faces of disappointment of those she lied to and also how mad they were, were something that she better not wanted to see again if she could prevent it from happening.

"I'll think about it, " Kim said hesitant to get back a relieved "Finally, girl - that's all we want!" from Monique.

When they actually were about to stop before a red traffic light, Kim spotted a way too familiar person on the other side. "Ron?" she asked herself as she saw her boyfriend's backside vanishing through a café entrance they never even bothered visiting. #"Wanna go say hi?" Charlie asked.

Kim however did not want to bother them, as they were on their way to the mall.

"Ah, never mind," she said though nonetheless she actually was curious. Whether it was him maybe meeting someone from Smarty Mart or an old acquaintance or him just randomly trying out something new, she would have liked to know.

Can ask him later, was her thought then when she remembered he would be with the Possibles for dinner the same night. Then they went the rest of the way with Kim trying to get a peek from the other side through the window - in vain though as she could not see him.

"Kim!" Monique then shouted.

The girl did not realize how she stood there, being left behind by her friends for a few seconds. Then she followed them to the mall. She had no clue that Monique and Charlie were already grining at each other for a moment as they found Kim's curiosity so amusing.

Meanwhile ...

Ron already had found his place in a back corner of the café. It was the second time now that he had a meeting with a certain somone. Same person let him wait this time. Nervously he was sitting there. He could have sworn to have seen Kim outside. He also did not want to have such secrets from her and knew that eventually he would tell her but her knowing about it now might just gave gotten complicated in his eyes. So he really hoped that she would not suddenly stand before him. The waitress approached him, asking for what he wanted.

When he ordered their ice cream special, a bowl of vanilla and chocolate ice cream with slices of strawberries and bananas, she answered, "Oh, good choice. I haven't had that one myself in a while."

And Ron would also not have that one that day. He knew the one that he was waiting for, wanted it. As the girl came back and was about to place it in front of Ron, the both of them could hear a squeaking "For me?! Oh, Ronnie, you know how to spoil a woman!"

The waitress turned around and stepped aside to let through a portly woman with relatively short hair and glasses. Ron immediately recognized the genetic scientist known as DNAmy.

"Oh, I guess I don't need to ask you then what you want, miss?"

"No, darling, I have everything I need," DNAmy said to the waitress when she grabbed the bowl from Ron's side.

The girl, though looking a bit confused by how happy DNAmy was about the special that she so eagerly feasted on, still wanted to be polite and ask Ron if he actually still wanted something. When he just shook his head, she went on to the next ones, leaving them alone.

Ron felt really awkward. This was one of their former enemies but he knew that DNAmy at least could be rational in a way and it also was a long time ago since he last heard of any of her crimes. He could only stare impressed when the woman emptied the bowl like it was nothing.

"So," he wanted to get her attention while she was still having her last few bites. "I was where you told me."

The first time they met, DNAmy actually sent him on a mission to an underground lab to fetch something she was asking for. This led Ron to a trip across the country just to find a sheet in front of a monitor that told him "Too late, too bad - Get stopped less next time" Ron could not have cared any less, as long as he would also get what he wanted.

"Hey~ do you even listen to me?" he asked her.

"Yes, a real pity, " she spoke into the bowl. Then she was done. Slightly pushing away what no longer contained her ice cream, she folded her hands that now were resting on top of the table.

"But you did a very good job," she said.

Ron was skeptical as he saw that a bit different.

"At what? Going there? I couldn't do a thing!"

DNAmy seemed very pleased through and for some reason also somewhat entertained. She then giggled, "Well, yes. That's not your fault. My Global Justice contact found out that Reece was finished there just an hour before you arrived."

"And why did you want to see me then and not tell me on phone? Maybe I could have followed him!" Ron responded.

"At that time I did not know he was not that far ahead," the scientist explained. "Also you told me that indeed you did find something, right? I wanted to know more about it from you while actually meeting."

"You mean the inside of the lab and the crap that was lying around, right?" Ron wanted to know.

Amy just nodded. "Indeed," she said. "You confirmed the lab consisted of Lorwardian technology. The walls and devices contained parts of it and you said a few items were still lying around there. That actually confirms what I told you about him planning to use them. Reece loves to re-use stuff and make it work for his purposes."

Ron looked worried. He knew this Reece guy even though he had yet to personally meet him, seemed pretty dangerous.

"You said, he worked with you, right? And then he suddenly decided to go a different route?" the boy wanted to know more about it.

"That's correct, "Amy replied. "A while ago we worked together on a few projects. My knowledge of genetics and his originality and talent of re-utilizing together were very promising. When I started collaborating with Global Justice a bit more though he was strictly against it and left."

Ron did only know a few things about this until now. So even more he wanted to ask what all of this about, as this to him sounded like another scientist who did not want to use his own knowledge to help the good guys.

"You said he might get what you want before you actually do?" the boy continued his little flow of questions.

"Right. I was hoping to get an actual genetic sample of the Lorwardians that you have fought so bravely," Amy told him. "But as of now anything that I have found was either corrupted or simply not useful enough for satisfying results."

Ron already knew that it was about the Lorwardians but hearing about them again made his blood boil a bit. He was very calm as a person but that day months ago was the day that he would always remember because of Kim lying close to him, unconscious and hurt by the aliens. He wanted a deal with Amy and she knew that this was something that he would help her with - he was the right person skill-wise and for personal reasons.

"Well, Ronnie. You have not found any actual DNA in the underground lab that Reece has used until recently. But from what I have heard, if he does not have some already and just fled with it, he is about to appear where we would have sent you next anyway."

Ron now was very interested. "Oh yeah?" he questioned. "Where is that?"

DNAmy did not let him wait long for a response - with an ominous grin she gave him the reply that should tell him the next location,"The wreckage of the Lorwardian space ship that you have destroyed. There the chances are pretty high to actually find something."

The boy remembered this ship too well. Also how he threw the Lorwardians into it so it got destroyed in the sky far above them.

"If there was a good chance to find something then why haven't you sent me there in the first place?" Ron wanted to know.

"I am surprised, Ron. I did not know you could care for such calculations," he got back an answer that he did not really know what to see as - insult or compliment. But he did not care as he knew that he actually really was very spontaneous often. "You must understand," Amy then said, "it is not just important to get a possible DNA sample. We also need to get sure that Reece is caught. And if he actually gets his hands on that stuff as well this might be very troublesome. So I have sent you to the last provisorical laboratory I have heard he had made and where he hid."

Ron already expected that he pretty much had to catch this guy.

"And your friends at Global Justice were not able to get him, I taught those people are pretty good?" he wondered intrigued by how serious this must be.

"They are good, that's true. But let's just say Reece knows how to use what he has to his advantage. And from what I have heard your talent is exceptional."

Ron felt a bit flattered.

"Ha, yeah, well," he said shyly. He still had trouble using his powers properly but he felt for this mission because of what happened in the past, it was something else. Also he could not forget why he agreed in the first place.

"Besides," Amy then explained, "you were approaching me to help you getting that little thing you wanted, right? It would only be half the fun if what you would have to do would be done with a lot more help from Global Justice. I am sure you can earn this all by yourself."

And Ron had no problem with that. In any other situation he would have thought of Amy's words as a bit mean but in his eyes he had a very good reason to do this job for her so he was not complaining about the lack of help.

"Okay, so where to?" the boy then asked. Amy did not give him a concrete answer.

"We'll met at the airport tomorrow at 9AM. Take some warm clothes with you - and be sure you have nothing to do for the next two days. It is unknown how long this is going to take us."

She then stood up. Ron was shocked.

"Wait, what?! The next two days?" he answered loudly and with this also got up, not believing what he just heard.

"I can't be out of Middleton in two days! That's when Kim's birthday is!"

DNAmy just smiled amused.

"I know the time frame seems a bit narrow but I am sure you can make it. And immediately after we'll send you back."

Before walking away all she had left to say was, "Thanks for the ice cream! It was really delicious."

Now Ron was left alone, grumbling, "Raah! I was hoping we would be done with this earlier!"

But he knew he had no choice.

Meanwhile in another café ...

Sitting at a round table in one of the many mall cafés, Kim really considered listening to her friends to have that party.

"Even if I'd say yes, I don't even know how many I should invite ... I don't want it too be too big but I don't want anyone to feel cut out either," Kim then said.

"Kim!" Monique then said. "You are worrying about this way too much!"

Charlie was having a look inside one of the bags containing her newly bought clothes.

"She's right, Kim," she then meant, re-joining the conversation. "It is good to plan things ahead but you should be way more relaxed."

"Yeah!" Monique agreed. "Also no one will feel cut out! Once again that's just you fearing how people could think different about you!"

Kim knew a lot of this actually had to do with it. Her wish to please people as well as them not having a bad opinion about her was very strong in so many situations. On the other hand she also could not help but think that this moment now also then was some sort of attempt to please others. She did not mind as Monique and Charlie were good friends but it was something that made her think. With that in mind, she knew she would always be influenced by others. So when making a decision she should at least be aware of what she herself also really was interested in, even if she could not fully rule out the other factor.

Still pondering, the teenage heroine and her friends' chat was interrupted when another female voice from just a few steps away called them,"Kim, Monique!"

The women immediately looked at where the voice came from. Two other girls, two blondes their age, came closer.

"Tara and Jessica! Hi!" Kim answered. The voice of Tara calling them out was easily recognized by them, for they spent so much time together as highschoolers. "

What are you doing here?" Jessica asked when they casually joined the others by taking two chairs from another table.

"Uhm, we were thinking about a having a party for my birthday. I actually wanted to call you anyway. Would you two want to come?"

"Sure thing!" Jessica then answered with Tara nodding and confirming with her own "Ahah!"

Monique just observed the new talk her best friend had with the others, grining and telling Charlie, "Well, she has made up her mind far quicker than I thought."

Charlie could just smile. She envied the others a bit for knowing Kim for years but she had a very good feeling about what Kim as a person was like so she could easily imagine what Monique was talking about. So she could also see how much Kim enjoyed talking to the others. From the few bits and pieces that she caught of their chat she realized they had not seen each other in a while. Watching her like this it was clear to Charlotte how much Kim's friends meant to her, so she also understood that Kim seeing them was enough for her to decide.

Kim knew she still had to ask her parents if they were actually okay about this but she imagined it would not really take more time than to convince herself. When she'd be home she could ask them and also see what Ron would think of it. Also a few more people she would really have liked to see came to her mind – she knew it all was a bit too sudden considering her birthday actually was in the very near future already but she just hoped that more of them could come.

In the evening …

Kim's parents, sitting with her in the living room, were surprised to hear the plan from their daughter. They did not really mind that at all though it did not take them more than a minute to get it out from her that it was not originally Kim's idea.

"Hah, yeah well – I really want to see them all though," Kim giggled.

"Kimmie, if that's what you want, then of course you can have that party here," her mother told her.

Even her father who was sad about his child growing faster than he wanted, agreed, "We thought you would want it like every year but you decide that. But it's only two days until then, maybe you want to celebrate another day?"

"No, Dad. It's fine, I can handle it!" she said. "Thank you!" she told the two of them and gave them a cheek kiss. Then when they went for having dinner, the doorbell rang. Kim opened it to greet her boyfriend. "Ron!" she said and let him in. Taking him by his hand they followed the others into the dining room. She still wanted to ask him about the afternoon but she thought now would have been a weird time. Also she still would have to tell him about the celebration.

While having dinner, Ann announced it, so Kim's brothers and Ron would also know what's to come.

"Boys, Kim wants to tell you something," she said, then let her daughter proceed. Kim explained what she had in mind for the event in two days but what she did not expect was Ron's reaction. He did look surprised but someting felt off to her. At first she thought that maybe it was because he thought she would invite some people he was not really getting along with at Middleton High but then she remembered that, as the others said, she really was probably just thinking too much. Also, he had no objections and was totally in for it, though she also did not know if he only said that for her.

After dinner her boyfriend was about to leave. Kim went with him to the door. "Do you really have to go already?" she asked.

"Yeah, sorry KP," the boy meant.

Kim sighed.

"Would you want to do something tomorrow together then? Or come over for dinner again?" she wanted to know.

"Actually I can't, sorry. I'll be busy the entire day," he told his girlfriend. That was odd for Kim. Being busy the entire day normally meant for Ron to spend his time with video games or something like that. "Is really everything alright, Ron?" she asked worried. Ron could not yet tell her and also was a bit afraid that his mission would not be over in time but he knew he had to try his best. "It's nothing, KP!" he meant smiling and gave her a kiss.

"See ya!" he said.

Kim did not want him to go. But she also wanted to know what this all was about.

So she thought, she might find it out for herself the next day.