Kim Potential…
Summary: A desperate Dr. Drakken has sensibly reviewed his Files of Past Plots to find the most effective weapon yet used on KP and improve it with unexpected results. Ron and company find they have a new partner.
Disclaimer: No infringement intended.
Part XXIV…
"Kim?!" call from kitchen.
"Kimberly! You're going to be late!"
"What the frack?!"
"Kimberly Ann!" Dr. Ms. Possible, stern call. "Get up and get dressed! Now!"
The twins, currently at the kitchen table eating cereal eyed each other…
"Kimberly? Are you…?"
" #$#! I'm up already!"
"Kimberly?!"
"Yeah, yeah…Sorry…" vague call.
Door bell buzzing …
"Ronald?" Dr. Ms. Possible stared at a somewhat nervous Ron on doorstep. "What are you doing here? You know Dr. Possible and I don't like Kim being involved in any of her 'extracurricular activities' before school."
"Uh…Kim called me, Mrs P." he explained, sheepishly. "She said it was important."
"Is that Ron?!" call. "Hey, Ronnie!"
"Come in, Ronald. Just a moment. Kimberly?!" Dr. Ms. Possible stepped to the stairs, grim look. "I need to speak to you…I'm coming up!" she looked back at a nervous Ron.
"Go have some juice with the boys, Ronald. I'll need to speak to Kim for a moment."
"Right…I do think it was important, Mrs. P."
"Uh-huh…Just a minute, Ronald." Dr. Ms. Possible went up the stairs.
"Hey…" Ron waved to the twins…Each eyeing him coolly…
"Sorry to interrupt breakfast…"
Should we torment him or just a little mild humiliation?...The twins eyed each other.
"Kim?" Dr. Ms. Possible had reached and stood at the entrance to Kim's room…Despite newly posted warning signs "Kim's Room…Keep the Heck Out!" "This Means You!"
"Hey!" Potential had come to the door, stepping into the hall and shutting door with a slam… "Can't you read?!" she glared.
"Yes, I can…And the mortgage documents still say your father and I are the owners of this place. What is going on with you, Kim?" hard stare. "And why is Ronald here at this hour?"
"He loves me…" Potential beamed, archly. "You probably can't understand that."
"Kim…You're trying my patience. He says you sent for him."
"And he came like a lapdog…" grin, then frown at Dr. Ms. Possible's stare. "Fine…I got some info from Wade we should check out immediately and I called my sidekick to provide my distraction. If you object, I can go get myself killed alone."
"Kim…We have a solemn rule. No heroics before or during breakfast at home. I don't want you starting the day battling some foe before you're ready."
"Please…All I need is to grab my stuff and I'm…"
"You'll go save the world when I say you can, Kimberly." Dr. Ms. Possible, firmly.
"Oh?" glare… "You suddenly such an expert? You expect me to believe you have crystal insight into when the world needs me?"
"Kimberly… " Dr. Ms. Possible was exceptionally grim now.
The twins, in the kitchen, listening to what could be heard, in considerable unease…
Ron, more so…
Geesh, Kim…
And…Lapdog?
Lapdog…The twins eyed each other, grinning…
"Kimberly." Dr. Ms. Possible said to her, quietly. But in a tone that brook no denial.
"First, you're going to apologize for speaking so rudely to me. Then, you're going to carefully and fully explain why you had to summon Ronald here before you're allowed to. Then, I'll decide what's to be done this morning. Now, shut the door and sit down."
At the sound of the door closing, Ron eyed the twins, they him…
"Maybe I should be…"
"Leaving…Good idea…" the twins nodded in unison.
Mmmnn….Pout…
Unyielding return stare…
Hmmn…Ok, shrug…Not bad, Potential noted…
"Ok, fine…I have important information from Wade on some robberies and Ron and I have to go see if there's anything to it."
"At 7:30am on a school day?"
"Eh…" Airy wave… "I think we'll have to blow school off this morning. I'll go in the afternoon."
Uh-boy…Ron sighed to Rufus.
"I can't hear it all, but I hear enough, Ruf…Kim's either got something new from Wade that's so devastating her mind is blown to gobbly little bits and this behavior is the result…Or, she's terrified of some new fellow facing her and wants to hide it under a mask of bravado."
"Right, option one is more likely…She's not that good an actress."
"Kim, what is wrong?" Dr. Ms. Possible sat on the bed, Potential grimly sitting next to her.
"I tole you…I have important things to do. World-saving level…Hello…"
"Right now the only important thing you have to do is to sit and talk to me. Kim, I'm worried about you…You've been getting upset so easily and you're so moody these last days. And quitting the cheerleading squad? Is there something going on I should know about? Do you need to talk to me?"
Hmmn…Potential considered…Such neat "Possibilities" for Potential Kim to freak dear ole Mom Possible…
Oh, Mom…Ron and I…Last night we…Oh…I think…Oh, Mom…I think I'm pregnant…
Oh, Mom…I was exposed to (name deadly substance) and I'm going to die…
Oh, blow it, Mom. I'm a world-saving heroine and what are you, loser? Brain slicer/dicer, big one…
Or, the safe route… Oh, Mom…Tears…Incoherent mumblings of teen angst.
Yeah, option four…For now…Dad would prefer I take the safe route.
"Oh, Mom…" sob…Grabbing hug…
"Kim?" gentle stroke of hair… "Can't you tell me what's wrong?"
Hmmn…This is kind of nice…
And I have so much wrong to tell…
There really being a good deal of teen angst involved here…
I love my dad…I mean, you know…Love him.
I hate but kinda…My real…My Estep M…
No…No, I don't love her…I want her dead. Quick. But, oh…She involuntarily put hands to her head.
Sobbing becoming real…
Dad, why did you make me like this? Why couldn't I just be some sort of synthoclone without feelings?
Why do I have to love…Anyone…?
And now there's Ron…Who'll probably hate me when he figures out his lil' Kim has crossed over.
And even these stiffs…She sighed inwardly as Dr. Ms. Possible hugged her, stroking hair.
"Kim, Kim…It's ok…"
But I don't care…I'm strong…I'm Evil…I don't need anyone…Except Daddy…
Who'll hate me too when I…
'Cause however I do it…However carefully I stage her "disappearance"…He'll know.
And he loves her…
And I…I…
But there's no other way…It's her…Or…Me…No other alternative.
It's the way I am.
Mommie!...Mommie! Help me, save me!
"Mom!" she gasped, aloud…
"Oh, Kim…" Dr. Ms. Possible sighed. "You know you can tell me anything."
The Hell I can, lady…Potential sighed. Looking up at her.
You're pretty but…My real mother has such beautiful black hair…
Pasting wan smile, nodding…
"Thanks, Mom."
Still, just for a minute…It was…Nice.
Almost as if my real Mom were holding me…
"I'll be ok." She smiled at Dr. Ms. Possible. "Just bear with me? I'm kinda going through things these days?"
"We've been there, honey…Your dad and me. You can always talk to us."
That's sweet…But somehow…I don't think so…Potential maintained her wan smile.
"Is it ok if Ron and I do a little investigating on this stuff this morning? It really is a big deal, Wade says."
"Well…If it's that important…You can let the principal know and take the morning." nod. "But you'll need to get any notes you miss and your homework."
"Sure. I'll just get dressed and get rollin'. Thanks, Mom." Pat.
It really was nice…For a mo…Sucker.
A grim Shego led (dragged) Drakken along in the same seedy neighborhood of Middleton where they'd received the Attitudinator technology from Jack Hench. Several nervous henchthugs following, doing their best to look properly "henchthuggish".
Lord, even early in the am this neighborhood scares the bewillys out of me, Walter sighed.
"C'mon, c'mon…" Shego insisted.
"But…" Drakken protested… "Are you sure we couldn't get more info on the robberies by doing some clever Net searching?"
I'd be up for that…Henchthug Sally nudged Walther.
"We can't beat or threaten…Properly, with visual images…Anyone with info on the robberies…Over the Net." Shego noted. "This is just common sense…Go direct to the potential sources."
Grim looks from rather tough-looking types in various corners as they walked…The henchthugs clustered together for support.
"Nobody go off on their own without orders." Walter hissed. "And keep a close eye on our stuff…"
"Hey! You, there! Yeah, you!" Shego yelled at one elusive fellow dodging back behind a fence. "I saw you following us, come out here! Guys?!" she waved in the henchthugs.
"Carefully, Sally. We don't know what these guys may have on them." Walter hissed as the henchthugs hurried, cautiously, after the fugitive.
"He must be one of our copycat's boys!" Shego noted to Drakken. "I'll get him, stay here!" she raced over…
"Drew…I told you to stay!" she frowned at Drakken who'd hurried along with her.
"Don't be ridiculous." He frowned.
Arrgghhh…She hurried along…
Great…Gotta keep one eye on my honey on top of duking it out with whomever.
That's so sweet…Inward beam. But I will have to knock you unconscious if things get hairy…
"There he is!" Sally pointed. Shego racing in, plasma at the ready.
"Stop right there, pal! Or I'll fry you to deep crisp, crackly!" she cried.
The figure halting…A tall, dour-looking fellow in somewhat shabby street clothes.
"I ain't doin' nothing…What you want with me?" he frowned as Shego and Walter reached him, Drakken and the others just behind.
"We want to know who you're workin' for…Wait?" Shego eyed him. "Do I know you?"
Drakken sighing… "You ought to…He's an old friend of yours…And nearly stole your powers a few years ago."
"Aviarius?" she blinked…Grinning… "Really taken a fall on that Evil corporate ladder, haven't we?"
"I'm out of that racket, Team Go junior member, female. Just an honest citizen walking down the street." He glared. "Unhand me before I call the police."
"In this neighborhood? Good luck." Shego grinned. "So, since you were never the type to befoul your nest or hands with the dirty work, you've clearly fallen to supporting cast. Well, who is it? Who's your boss?"
"You got me all wrong, Go girl…"
"Shego." She frowned. "And you know my name. Though it's She Go-Drakken now."
Grin to Drew…Neat, huh…Go-Drakken?!
"Congratulations…Another compliance chip, Drakken?" sneer.
"Yeah." Shego beamed. "And when you don't answer Dr. Drakken's questions, it forces me to cheerily vaporize you. So…?" she fired up as he stared. Uh-oh….Been on the receiving end of that before…
"Look, I tole you people…I'm strictly flying straight and narrow now." Aviarius insisted.
"Like The Penguin on the old 'Batman' show." Shego, drily. "Come on, birdman of Go City."
"Go City. Team Go. I always hated how your rich family dominated our town. First with money and connections, then superpowers." He glared.
"Team Go saved that miserable city a zillion times…For free, thanks to my idiot brothers." She noted, sourly. "As for our family history…We built that town."
"And kept it in your hands. I tried to make it as free as my avian friends…" Aviarius ranted, waving and spreading arms.
"And now…Here you are, bottom of the Evil food chain. A miserable junior nobody thug…No offense, guys." Shego eyed the henchthugs.
"What? I happen to be essential to…!"
"Uh-huh?"
"I'm sayin' nothing more!" Aviarius looked away, grim.
"It's Dementor." Drakken nodded thoughtful.
"I never said that!" Aviarius frowned.
"So much for sayin' nothing…" Shego smiled. "Good one, honey." She patted Drakken.
"Eh…Only Dementor would keep tabs on us…DNAmy wouldn't care, Monkeyfist is too arrogant. Walter, would you search our friend? I'm sure you'll find a communicator employing Dementor's style on him."
"Whoa!" Shego and the others fell back as Aviarius suddenly leapt up, revealing concealed wings…And a small jet pack…On his back…Soaring up before any of them could grab him…
"Hah, ha!" Aviarius chortled, hovering. "Not quite so degraded as you assumed, Go girl! Drakken! You'll soon find yourself at our mercy, as will your little Kim Possible, whatever you've done to her with the Attitudinator technology! Fairwell, till we…Hey!" he dodged Shego's rapid firing of plasma bolts.
He hastily jetted off…The henchthugs, Drakken, Shego staring after him…
"Dementor knows about Kimmy?" Shego eyed Drakken.
"He must have been watching us for some time. I think he thinks though I simply adjusted her to Evil." Drew noted, nodding.
"Should we try and chase after him in the van, Doc?" Sally asked.
"No need." Drakken shrugged.
Shego eyeing his smile…Drew? She gave him a sidelong glance.
"Homing device…Had Walt slap it on him when he started searching. I figured he'd have some kind of getaway system."
You…She beamed…. "And well done, Walter." Walter giving sheepish beam.
"We'd better get to following him…From a distance."
"And warn Kimberly…" Shego insisted. "Dementor will surely come after her soon."
"Probably try to wean her away from me…Believing she's merely gone Evil." Drakken nodded. "We could use that."
"No using our girl for bait!" Shego insisted.
"Only to lure him in while we're there." he noted. "We don't want him catching her alone without us."
Point there…The henchthugs, and after a reluctant moment, Shego…Nodded.
"He's sure to move quickly now. I'd guess we'll want to be close by her." Drakken suggested. "It might be best to head for her school and set up surveillance there while I send the drones and synthodroids to track Aviarius."
"Yeah…Boy… I can't believe Dementor's that hard up for help…That birdman is bats." Shego grinned.
"Kim?"
She put up a hand…Don't…Do not talk to me…
"Kim, your mom…" Ron began…
"I don't wanna hear it, Ron." She fumed. "Lets just go…"
"Ok." He sighed.
Nothing like stirring up a little teen/mom conflict to pave that way to Evil…
"Who does she think she is anyhow…?" glare…Stamp of foot. "She's nobody, that's who! I'm the world-saving heroine."
"Kim, she's your mother…She's concerned about you."
"Oh?" halt, intense stare…
Uh…
"So why isn't she here? Where's the bodyguard for lil' Kimmy who's so precious to her? She doesn't mind if I go fight some nutcase and get killed but not followin' some dumb rule of hers…That's beyond the pale."
"I'm sure she minds, Kim….And she just likes you to have a good start to the day."
"Yeah, take her side…Nice boyfriend you are." she frowned at him.
"Kim, I gotta say…I think she's…"
"Don't…Say…It…" dark look. Hands on hips. "If you love me and want to go on being my so, don't speak another word in that lady's favor."
"Kim?..."
"Niict…Don't…" she waged a finger. "And…Say something nice…About me…Quick." Hard stare.
"You look good…" he noted.
"I didn't have time to put on my new look. What are you sayin'? You don't like my Goth look?"
"No, I didn't say that…"
"Darned good for you, you didn't…"
Sigh… "I just meant…You look beautiful and you looked beautiful yesterday."
"Ok…Apology accepted." Sudden smile. "Now come on…" she pulled him…
"Kim?" he looked around…Sighing… "We're not going to school? You promised…"
"It's for her own good…The principal might say no and besides, we can be done and at school before he ever catches on. As for Mom…Better a little white lie than dead, right?"
"Kim…"
"Who knows how high stakes might be here, Ronny…" high-minded stare. "As a superheroine, I'm sometimes called upon to use my best judgment…Superior to ordinary mortal moms…"
"She's gonna be so pissed when she finds out…"
We can but hope. Though she is hard to tick off…
"Who says she's gonna find out, Ron?" grin…Followed by grim glare… "Unless someone plans to betray the woman they claim to love and tell her. Do you know anyone like that, Ronald?"
"Kim…I'd never 'betray' you."
"I know you wouldn't." warm smile…Pat… "That's why you the one for me, Ron Stoppable. The one and only…The numero uno…"
"Kim?..."
"Ron…" intense kiss…Backing him up against the nearest wall…Rufus barely hopping out in time to escape crushing against said wall…
"Kim…Wait…"
Hey…Rufus, annoyed look…
Bwwwwhhh… Potential turned and released this morning's good breakfast…
"Kim? Are you still sick?" Ron stared…
Ah, an explanation at last…She's ill…Probably Drakken-poisoned…
"Yeah…Sick of seeing that little hairless…" Bwwwwwwwhhhhhhh…She bent over the low curbside wall on her side.
"Rufus? Ruf is making you ill? Kim?"
"Look…" she gasped… "I'm sorry. I luv the little pink…Eehew…too…But there are limits, Ron. And I've done my best to conceal what I feel…Literally…In the pit of my stomach every time we have him along. Today my tummy just can't conceal the truth, Ron. "
"I can't believe it…Rufus, making you ill? This never happened before…"
"I never let you see it before, boyfriend. My sweet love." She gave winsome smile…Blinking eyes, slight tearing… "I knew I couldn't force you to choose between us…But…"
"Choose?…Between you?..." Ron gulped…
"Ron. I know how much lil' Rufus means to you…" she sighed. "I've done all I could to cover my…Disquiet…Over Rufus…Usually we're too busy for it to get to me."
Not entirely untrue, really…
"Rufus?...Choose…?"
Well…At least it's sinkin' in…She thought.
"If we could just…Temporarily?...Have him stay at home or something?"
"Something " involving selling him to a government lab, releasing him next time we go to the Amazon rain forest , or dropping him off in the Antarctic…Or, maybe over water from a great height? She thought.
"At least until I'm over…Whatever illness I've got that…Combined with recent stress and constant exposure to him…Is making him so much harder to take these days. Then, later, we can discuss it."
As in…Maybe a nice cat?...Or a bird? The kind that eat molerats, like say, a falcon?
They're cool. A really suitable pet for the new Kimberly.