CHAPTER 26 – Prom Night Part 3

Steve Barkin's car

"Pick up, Wade," the teen hero muttered as she listened to the ringing tone on her Kimmunicator. This was the third time she had tried to call him since she and Steve Barkin had departed Middleton and each time there was no answer from Wade. She glanced at her watch. Just before 8. Her teacher had been driving faster than he felt comfortable with and they were now no more than four miles from their destination but Kim wanted to get to Bueno Nacho HQ ahead of the 8.15 deadline and take Dementor by surprise. The unavailability of her techie was an unwelcome and unprecedented set-back.

Kim sat back in her seat, her Kimmunicator in her hand, tapping her fingers against the windshield. Surely Wade would call her soon – he knew she was due to arrive shortly and she wanted his intel to guide her in undetected.

She was unaware that her Kimmunicator was being blocked and a fake ringing tone substituted.

Mr. Barkin drove in silence as his passenger tried to remain calm. He risked a glance sideways, seeing the signs of strain on her face. What little he knew of her extracurricular activities had led him to understand that she was the consummate professional: he had seen her put on her "mission face" in class when leaving abruptly.

But he was seeing a much less relaxed Kim Possible now. He put it down to the stress of her boyfriend's kidnapping on what was supposed to be a special night. She had almost left without her mission pack, now sitting on the rear seat of the car, until he had reminded her as they rushed through the school corridors past the lockers. He had turned his back as she stripped out of the impractical prom dress and shoes and slipped into her mission clothes before they drove away towards the highway.

Possible doesn't look like she's on her game tonight, he thought. I hope she's up to this rescue.

Turning off the freeway, Steve Barkin could see the arresting sight of the Bueno Nacho headquarters building standing separate from its neighbors, sombrero roof looming against the late-Spring twilight sky. The last of the sun caught what appeared to be a tall tower extending above the center of the sombrero. An instinct led him to drive in the shadows to avoid detection. As he followed Kim's instructions to head for the rear of the building, he could see no obvious access points. He could however see some very burly guards patrolling the exterior. From what he could see of them they looked almost simian.

Possible intends to take on these people? Is this what she does all the time? Even the Taliban weren't as intimidating as these guys!

Kim came to a decision. If Wade was unavailable for whatever reason, she would act alone. Her family motto came to mind. She was Kim Possible and she could do anything. She was reminded of Ron's comment the first time she said that. "It sounds a little braggy," was his response.

Well maybe it was but sometimes you just had to be honest with yourself about your abilities. And with Ron sleeping off a hangover and Wade unaccountably unresponsive, it would all be down to her. And she had a feeling that the two boys would be more than a little embarrassed when she came back with Eric in tow.

Mind you, it would have been nice to have had Rufus with her.

"Pull in," she instructed her teacher. He immediately stopped and reversed into a space in a parking lot just out of sight of the fast food company headquarters.

"Wait here," she instructed, waving away his objections as she walked to the street corner and peered round cautiously. She watched carefully as the guards patrolled. There was a spot about thirty yards away where for a short period a section of the wall was out of sight to any guard. And conveniently there was a ventilation shaft at the top of the wall. She would have enough time to use her grappler to mount the wall and get out of sight before her position was exposed.

Kim hesitated. Too obvious? Was it a trap? But then, if she was expecting a trap, it might be … what did Ron call it? … a trap-trap. She shrugged. There was no alternative way in anyway, so no point worrying. It's only Dementor after all. She had to hope that he hadn't done any serious harm to Eric.

Her eyes were drawn to the guards. From her vantage point they looked like Hench's standard issue: perhaps a little taller and burlier than usual but she didn't doubt her ability to deal with them if she was forced to confront them. She wasn't skilled in seventeen types of Kung Fu for nothing.

She slid back to the waiting car. Barkin wound down the window. "I've found a way in. If Dementor follows his normal pattern he will have crazy levels of security on his front door and nothing where I go in. I'll stay hidden till Dementor brings out Eric, then grab him and get us out. It shouldn't take more than ten minutes or so. If you have to move, I'll meet you along there." She indicated the road they had come from.

Now that she had a plan of action, Kim looked positive and determined, in contrast to her earlier mood. She opened the rear car door and reached in to grab her backpack, extracting the hairdryer before placing the pack over her shoulders.

Steve hesitated. "Don't you think you should wait for Wade to call back? There are some nasty-looking guards around."

"No time," Kim responded with determination. "I've got to be in there before Dementor expects me." Her watch showed 8.07.

"Gotta go," she exclaimed as she ran back to the street corner. Barkin watched her pause, then disappear from sight.

Good luck, he whispered.

Possible was good but a little extra help wouldn't go amiss. He pulled out his cell phone from his pocket and started to dial 911.

Until he was interrupted by the car door being ripped off its hinges by a monstrous-looking guard who leant in and grabbed his phone, crushing it in his outsized hand.

"Thank you for delivering Miss Possible to us, Mr. Barkin," the creature spoke. "Now you will please come with me. Emperor Drakken would like to meet you."

Emperor? This fellow must be a madman! And I thought Possible said his name was Dementor? Steve wondered as he was dragged towards a waiting posse of equally intimidating, indeed identical, man-monsters who cuffed him and escorted him through a side-door into the building.

What has Possible gotten herself into here?

If they knew about him, then she was probably walking into a trap.

And there was no-one out there to help her.

Junior Prom

After the shock of seeing Steve Foley stunned by the cattle prod of a creature Miss Goh had called a synthodrone, students had begun to fish their cell phones out from their pockets and handbags. Most were desperate to speak to their families after having heard Shego's threat, while the more enterprising had realized that they needed to alert the authorities to what was going on, and were calling 911.

It took only moments before the assembled pupils realized that all mobile and wi-fi signals were down. Shego and Drakken had anticipated this reaction and the synthodrones were wearing similar bracelets to the one worn by Kim.

As the realization that they really were cut off from the outside world dawned on the students, panic began to set in. In the hubbub, Bonnie's question to Jessica was ignored.

Until Bonnie grabbed the other girl by the arm and dragged her in front of Liz and Crystal who were sitting at the adjacent table staring fearfully at Steve Foley. As Jessica started to raise her voice in protest and Monique tried to intervene, the other girls looked daggers at the brunette who they saw as the architect of their misfortune. Taking a deep breath, Bonnie tried again.

"Do you remember the move that won us the Regionals?"

The other girls looked blank, until Liz responded haltingly. "You mean the pyramid? What about it?"

Bonnie nodded. "If we can make a pyramid, the girl on the top can jump off, land on one of these creature's shoulders, and be out of here to raise the alarm before they can react."

"That's insane," Jessica interjected. "What chance would they have? These things hurt Steve badly; those cattle prods would kill us. And besides who would be crazy enough to be up there risking their neck?"

There was silence. Then Bonnie spoke quietly. "I would."

Crystal stared at her. "But only Kim has ever been able to make that descent work without injuring herself!"

Bonnie looked straight ahead, a tear forming in her eye. "And it's my fault that Kim isn't here. So it's my responsibility to do this in her place."

Jessica objected. "With Kim and Tara gone, we're two short. And if Bonnie goes up top, who's going to fill her place on the base?"

"I can do that," came a male voice as Brick Flagg walked across. "I may not be a cheerleader but I can hold up a bunch of girls!"

"And I can fill in for Tara," added Monique. As the other girls stared at her, she said defensively, "I almost made the squad last year."

"You mean you agree with Bonnie?" Jessica was staggered.

"She's right, Jess." Steve Foley raised his head painfully from the tabletop and looked pleadingly at his girlfriend. "There's no other way to get out of here. Someone's got to tell the outside world what's going on."

The couple looked at each other, then Jessica nodded reluctantly.

"Okay." Bonnie was decisive. "Monique will have to join the base cos she's got no experience of being higher, so that means switching someone else from base to level two … Crystal are you okay with that?"

Crystal accepted the change. "I'll go and grab the rest of the squad."

"I'll come with you," added Liz and the two girls started across the floor towards the other tables, keeping well clear of the line of synthodrones.

Jessica, Monique and Bonnie watched them go. Monique turned to Bonnie. "You know, you'd have made a great cheer captain if only you weren't such a bitch."

Bonnie looked down in shame, acknowledging the truth of the comment.

Possible household

Anne snatched up the phone after the first ring. Thank god, she thought as she saw the caller ID.

"Ron, we were so worried about you. "

"Hey, Mrs. Doctor P, I'm okay. But I've got to get to Kim. She's been lured into Drakken's trap by Eric. Wade has explained to me what's been going on."

"We know. James will kit you out. Where are you?" she interrupted.

"Just coming into your street. Hey, those things outside your house. Are they the man-monsters?"

"Yes, we think they're Drakken's, but you need to get in here safely, then we can explain. Go around the back but keep out of sight of these things. The force field is up but it's programmed to let you through the rear door."

"Wait, you have a force field?"

"The tweebs' science project last semester."

Oh.

"How will the others get in?"

"We'll lower the force field briefly once you're in. Tell them to be ready to rush the door as soon as they feel the field vanish."

"Will do," Ron promised as Felix steered the car around the side of the house. One of the creatures guarding the house heard the vehicle and turned to look at them. Felix paled and hit the accelerator. To his surprise, the creature ignored him. He pulled up outside the back entrance as the others leapt out of their seats and Josh grabbed the wheelchair and handed it to Felix. Looking over his shoulder Josh gulped as three of the beasts stood watching silently.

Last to exit the car was Ron. Whereas the car and its other passengers had elicited zero interest from the man-monsters, the sight of Ron seemed to spur them to action. As the house door opened from the inside, Ron ran towards it as the creatures rushed towards him, paying no attention to the others. He threw himself through the doorway and fell into the room behind. Josh and Tara pressed themselves against the force field bubble, looking fearfully over their shoulders. The field dropped and they scrambled in, while Felix shot in over their heads.

The friends looked up to see the Possibles looking anxiously down at them. A joyful squeak followed as Rufus leapt from James' hand to Ron's shoulder. He purred as Ron scratched his head. "I'm okay little buddy."

"Is everyone all right?" James asked. There were nods of relief.

Junior Prom

As no-one had any idea of what the synthodrones would consider to be a threat, the group decided that the best policy was to pretend that the party was continuing and to treat the cheerleader display as part of the entertainment. While Liz and Crystal were getting the girls together, Brick and Monique were passing the word that people should act as normally as possible and not seem surprised when the display began.

Brick grabbed the microphone and announced that in a few minutes, the Mad Dog cheerleaders would be performing their special acrobatic display, the Pyramid. Prompted by Monique, he was greeted with scattered applause.

The line of man-monsters appeared to ignore the youngsters as they gathered in front of Bonnie's table and started to construct the pyramid. It seemed as though the creatures were indifferent to anything other than a blatant attempt to escape. But what exactly they defined as an escape attempt remained to be seen. So far the squad seemed to be getting away with it.

Keeping a wary eye on the nearest synthodrones Bonnie prepared to launch herself onto the top of the pyramid. Gonna have to do this without a springboard, she thought. Still, at least the synthodrones are ignoring me. It looks like they've never see a cheerleading routine before."

Crystal, waiting to catch her was having similar thoughts. "These creatures seem very Iiteral. I reckon that until we try to go past them, I don't think these creatures would actually recognize an escape attempt."

Liz signaled that the base was secure and Bonnie was good to go.

"You should be fine until you jump off. After that, you're on your own," Monique told her.

Kim, if we all get out of this in one piece, I promise you, things will be different in future. I'll be different in future, Bonnie said silently to herself.

Bonnie stepped back then ran full pelt towards the squad. She performed two handsprings before flinging herself into the air towards Crystal and Marcella. They grabbed her legs as she found her footing on their shoulders, the rest of the pyramid swaying slightly at the impact.

For a heart-stopping moment, it looked as though the center would not hold, but everyone heaved a sigh of relief as the pyramid steadied and Bonnie stood upright, arms held out to steady herself.

There was applause from the watching pupils, who knew that something was planned but not what it was.

Bonnie took a deep breath and focused on the nearest synthodrone.

"Good luck." Brick's voice was unexpected, but gave her a warm feeling.

The brunette estimated the distance to her target then signaled to Crystal and Marcella to let go of her legs. She bent her knees and catapulted herself off the pyramid.

The moment she flew into the air the nearest synthodrone reacted, turning to face the incoming girl and advancing towards her. Bonnie panicked as her stable landing point was suddenly in a different place. Instead of landing on the shoulders of the creature, she overshot and her feet hit the synthodrone's back. Off-balance, she pushed off and fell awkwardly to the ground, landing heavily on her left leg. She uttered a cry as her leg collapsed under her. Fighting the pain she grabbed the table she had landed adjacent to and tried to pull herself up.

There was a gasp of horror from the crowd as the synthodrone turned around and lifted its cattle prod, ready to strike. The cheerleaders watched appalled at the impending tragedy.

Possible household

"Ron, come with me. The rest of you stay with Anne." James led the way upstairs and into Kim's attic room. He opened her closet. Ron averted his eyes at this intimate view of his friend's clothing.

"Don't worry, Ron. It's only skirts and dresses."

James pressed a panel in the door and it slid back revealing a screen. Wade's face popped up.

"What's the sitch, Wade?" Ron looked contritely at James as the phrase slipped out.

"Ron, glad to see you in one piece! Turn the knob clockwise, the one on the inside left edge of the closet behind the door."

Ron reached in and found the knob. He turned it and a new enclosure revealed itself, with a blue and white striped all-in-one garment the only item hanging there. He looked at Wade's image expectantly.

"That's a battle-suit that I recently made for Kim. It's never been tried before. But it's based on Centurion technology so it should fit pretty much anyone. Including you. Oh, and there's a spare Kimmunicator on the shelf next to the battle-suit."

Ron held out the suit in front of him. It looked like a skin but he found it easy to step into it and slide it up his legs and body, then his arms. Magnetic catches secured it firmly but not uncomfortably around his neck and the rest of the suit shrank to fit snugly around him. He reached into the closet and withdrew the other item. "My own Ronnunicator. Boo-yah," he exclaimed as he hefted the newly-christened device before putting it in his battle-suit pocket. Wade winced at the clumsy name but kept silent.

"What does this battle-suit do then?" he asked of Wade.

Wade sighed. "I wish there were time to tell you everything it can do, but it will protect you from Shego's plasma and most any weapon. If you try any actions wearing the suit, it may enhance them. It's also got some built-in tools – curl your right-hand fingers into a ball and the glove will turn into a scoop. But don't switch it on until you really need it – the battery has a limited life. Once that's run down the suit will give you no more protection than cloth. So save it for when you need it. There's a button below your left pinky finger that switches it on and off."

Ron looked at James awkwardly. James guessed his concern.

"Kim would want you to wear this, Ron. I know you'll use it well to rescue her."

Wade looked shifty. "There's one other thing you need to know. Shego's plasma doesn't just sting any more. It can kill now. We don't know how and why but she killed Professor Dementor. You've got to protect Kim; she doesn't know."

James blanched. Wade had not shared this piece of information before. I can't tell Annie.

"The tweebs will help you get to Bueno Nacho HQ, Ron," added the teen genius. "You're about forty five minutes behind her but you should be able to make up half of that with what we're giving you. Good luck, we're all relying on you. And I'll be in Kimmun … er Ronnunicator contact at all times." The screen went dark.

ooOooOoo

The rest of the group had been waiting in the living room and comparing notes.

"What are those things out there anyway?" Josh asked.

Anne frowned. "We don't know, but it seems the same things are attacking Wade and Global Justice right now. Wade is certain they are something to do with Doctor Drakken. A much more dangerous foe than Professor Dementor because of his sidekick. But he's never done anything like this before."

"It's as if he wants to keep us pinned down while he launches something else," Vivian observed. The word launch triggered a nasty thought. Was James' sudden appearance at the Space Center this evening related to all this? She decided to say nothing for the moment to avoid spooking Anne further but resolved to keep a close watch on James' actions.

Felix looked thoughtful. "Those things outside seemed to ignore us until Ron got out of the car. As if they were programmed only to respond to him."

"Yes, and they didn't seem to care that we were driving up to the house even after they saw us," Tara added.

Josh considered. "Maybe they really are some sort of robot guard and their instructions were to stop anyone leaving the house but no-one told them to stop anyone entering."

Vivian responded. "So when they saw Ron, they assumed that he was trying to escape?"

"Exactly," Josh grinned.

"But that means the things will be waiting to stop us when we try to leave," Tara pointed out. "How are we going to get past them?"

"Leave that to us," came two high-pitched voices as James and Ron descended the stairs and were joined by the tweebs carrying a flask.

"Rocket fuel …" said Tim.

"… with our own special additive …" added Jim.

" … which will get my old Roth SL Coupe to Bueno Nacho in fifteen minutes without burning out the engine," finished James.

"What, that battered old wreck?" Anne was aghast.

"Don't worry dearest. It'll hold up for one journey, and that's all it needs to do. It's not as though I was going to give it to Kim or anything?" His wife rolled her eyes. Her husband had clearly forgotten that this was indeed his intention for Kim's birthday. But getting her back safely tonight trumped everything.

"Just don't get into fourth until you're on the freeway," Jim warned.

"And change down to third to slow down," Tim explained.

The others were more interested in Ron's attire.

"It's a battle-suit," he explained. "No time to explain now. I have to leave." There was a chitter from his pocket. "Yes I want you there too, Rufus." He looked at the others. "Something tells me I'm gonna need the little guy tonight."

Josh looked at Tara. "We'll go with you Ron. I can focus on driving while Tara helps you prepare for arrival."

Ron looked gratefully at the pair. "Thanks guys. But when we get there, you must stay out of sight. I can't risk anything happening to you guys too."

Tara had never heard Ron sounding so decisive and … adult … before. Memories of Lake Wannaweep came flooding back. Ron was risking his own life for her … again. She flushed.

James, Anne and Vivien hugged each other as they wished their daughter's friends good luck.

"Right, let's go," Ron added. "No time to lose." Jim had remotely steered the Roth around to the back door, next to Felix's vehicle. The three of them rushed through the door, hoping to get into the Roth and get away before the creatures realized what was happening.

Junior Prom

Bonnie looked around desperately for something to use to defend herself. Two untouched sodas sat on the table. Ignoring the agony in her leg she grabbed one of the sodas and flung it at the threatening synthodrone, then repeated with the second.

The first splash of liquid struck the synthodrone in the chest. The creature appeared not even to notice it.

The second struck the synthodrone in the face. It paused, then turned this way and that in confusion. She looked up and saw that the creature's eyes were drooping, as if they were melting.

Bonnie used the brief respite to crawl under the table as other synthodrones walked towards her, weapons aloft. "Soda blinds them," she screamed, looking up helplessly at the approaching assailants. "Help me someone!"

After a long moment of stunned silence, the juniors grabbed the nearest glasses of soda and started to fling the contents at the synthodrone's faces. Brick grabbed two half-full glasses from his table and ran over to Bonnie. He stood guard over her as he disabled two more synthodrones, narrowly avoiding being stunned.

By this time, half the synthodrones were out of action and students poured out of the gym fleeing the carnage. Some of those remaining had commandeered the bar and were providing a constant stream of sodas, while others deprived the blinded creatures of their cattle prods. Bonnie was hauled to her feet by Brick and Monique as Brick picked her up effortlessly and carried her out of the gym, accompanied by the rest of the cheer squad and Steve Foley.

"We need to get out of here before that green-skinned woman realized we've escaped," Jessica gasped, breathing heavily.

"Where do we go?" someone asked.

"Who lives nearest?"

Liz raised her hand. "Me I think. Brick, can you carry Bonnie three blocks?" He nodded.

"Okay, that's where we'll head."

Soon they saw the welcome sight of Liz's parents' home. She hammered on the door until it was opened by a dark-haired woman with a puzzled look on her face at her daughter's unexpectedly early return, looking even more confused as eleven students marched in, looking exhausted.

"What … what happened to everyone?"

"I'll explain in a moment Mum, but first we need to call the police. And Bonnie has sprained her leg badly."

"And I'll call Wade," insisted Monique. "He needs to know about the synthodrones. And the soda."

While Liz was calling the police, and Monique was speaking to Wade, Brick went over to Bonnie who was shivering with reaction after her near-disaster while Liz's mother strapped her leg.

"That was very brave what you did, Bonnie," he said quietly.

The combination of guilt, terror, pain and a kind word finally overcame the girl and she reached out for Brick, sobbing helplessly into his shoulder.

ooOooOoo

Wade disconnected the call from Monique, an expression of amazement on his face.

Soda dissolves their eyes? Can it really be that simple? Some weird side-effect of the stabilization of the synthoplasm they were undoubtedly made of?

No time to waste. He had to communicate this info to Global Justice and the Possibles. Then he could turn his attention to Ron.

Global Justice HQ

The defenders were struggling to hold back the tide of assailants. Though Will and his remaining team on Level One were doing a good job of destroying force field belts and even some of the creatures themselves, more were appearing by the minute, with new belts. It was only a matter of time before one of them phased their way into the lower levels. With dozens of civilian scientists including his sister down there, it would be a turkey shoot.

"Okay, we retreat down the hatch now," he ordered during a brief respite as the sheer mass of creatures meant that they were getting in each other's way. He waved his team past him as they entered the access hatch. He was last to enter, determined to prevent any intrusion by the creatures into the hatch while it was still open. Though he knew that sooner or later, they would phase in.

The hatch descended and an alarm indicated its arrival at Level Two. As the hatch opened he saw Candace pointing a button-covered box at him, then lowering it when she realized who it was. He stepped out of the hatch and they embraced briefly.

"Is this the prototype?" he asked.

"Yes. We haven't tested it yet but …"

Her words were interrupted by a cry of fear as a creature climbed through the wall of the access hatch and raised its gun at the small group. Will flung himself in front of his sister, eyes staring as the creature prepared to shoot.

Can pointed the box at the intruder and pressed a button.

For a heart-stopping moment nothing happened. Then the creature hesitated and looked confusedly at the group, weapon lowered.

It's just like when their heads were blown off, Will thought. Can's device works!

He quickly disarmed the creature and removed its belt. None too soon as a second creature started to enter via the hatch. Can's device made short work of the second one too.

But we've only got one of these devices, she thought.

"What are we going to do when they start dropping through the ceiling?" she asked her brother.

Pray, he thought.

Can turned to see her boss walk towards her with a handful of soda cans, followed by a dozen others with the same burden.

She indicated the cans. "Wade called me. It's hard to believe but this stuff apparently blinds the bastards."

The chance to test the theory came almost immediately as the first of several creatures appeared through the ceiling. Elizabeth popped a can and sprayed it at the creature's face. It immediately became disoriented. There was a ragged cheer from the defenders.

"Will, organize the defense. Can, stay back and pick off any that get through using that prototype of yours. Grab some force field belts. We'll counter-attack once this lot are dealt with."

For the first time that evening, Elizabeth was feeling a little optimistic. But she still had a nagging feeling that the worst was yet to come

In the Roth

Josh drove the Roth screaming onto the street and around the corner, leaving the lumbering pursuers behind. Only when they were out of sight of the Possible residence could they relax a little.

"How far behind Kim are we," Tara asked.

"From what Wade was saying, she should be arriving just about now."

"Wouldn't she have realized that her communicator was being blocked, and looked for another phone or something? Or called off the rescue until she knew she was secure?" Josh asked.

Ron grimaced. "You don't know Kim like I do. Once she gets into mission mode, nothing would persuade her to call off the rescue. Not when it's hottie Eric in trouble and she thinks that all she's got to deal with is Professor Dementor."

Tara spoke. "So Kim is out there not knowing about Drakken and about these creatures either? And we can't contact her?"

The resulting silence was her answer.

Broken by cries of pure terror from Ron and Tara as, now on the freeway, Josh changed up and the Roth accelerated like a Formula 1 racing car until the speed had topped one hundred and forty miles per hour within seconds. He sat on the horn as the other road-users desperately swung out of their way.

"This would be cool if it weren't capable of flattening us," Ron managed queasily.

They were minutes from their destination when the Rommunicator rang.

"What is it, Wade?"

The threesome listened as Wade explained what had been happening at the gym.

"Man-monsters? Yes, we know about them… The Prom … Synthodrones? … how many? … Sheila Goh?"

Tara and Josh gasped in horror at the realization that the Prom had been targeted after the friends had left.

The call ended and Ron looked across at the anxious faces, an incongruous grin on his face.

"Soda blinds them! Boo-yah! There'll be plenty of that at Bueno Nacho HQ."

ooOooOoo

As the Possibles had promised, their destination was reached in barely twenty minutes after leaving the house. Now in low gear, they were making their way slowly towards the imposing building. Josh was still shaking from the terrifying experience of driving at more than twice the speed limit. Had the freeway been any busier …

"Isn't that Mr. Barkin's car?" Tara shouted and pointed as they approached a parking lot a hundred yards or so from their target.

"What happened to the door?" Josh exclaimed.

They pulled up next to the stricken vehicle. "I think we can safely assume that Kim and Mr. Barkin are in there" – Ron gestured to the huge sombrero-topped building ahead of them. "And by the looks of the car, they've met the synthodrones already."

And Kim has been captured?

Ron told the others to wait while he reconnoitered and came back having identified the same entry route that Kim had done twenty minutes earlier. He was pretty quick at shimmying up a wastepipe. He wouldn't be as fast as Kim's grapple-gun but he should still have enough time to get out of sight before being spotted.

"You need to wait here guys. Unless you've got soda you've got no protection against those synthodrones, and Shego's plasma is deadly. You'd be sitting ducks in there. If anything comes after you, just turn and drive away. I'll figure out how to get back."

"I don't think the car will start again", Josh said wistfully.

"Then hotwire Barkin's car or something. Just get out of here if things go pear-shaped. I can do this on my own. No, not on my own," he hastily corrected as his mole-rat hissed angrily. "They hopefully think I'm dead and won't be expecting me."

He picked up his Ronnunicator from Tara and pressed the call button.

"Wade, they found Kim and Mr. Barkin. I'm going in. I'll leave the Ronnunicator on so you can hear everything."

As he ran from them and towards the building Tara and Josh looked back at Barkin's mangled car then at each other. Both shared the same thought.

I had no idea just how dangerous Kim and Ron's missions were.

While Tara's silent thought continued with, Ron is amazing!

Authors note: This Chapter was in danger of breaching ten thousand words so I have split it and am posting this half a week early. The next instalment will follow next weekend. In which Kim finally encounters Drakken and Eric. I hope my description of the cheerleading pyramid sounds credible – I have no idea how it might work in reality if at all.