I do not own any Disney characters named herein and am only borrowing them to tell a nonprofit tale meant for entertainment purposes only.
Kim Possible: Gifted
By LJ58
15
"Ladies," Betty said as she and one agent stayed with them as the others took the prisoners down another hall. "Welcome to Global Justice," she said as they walked into a huge room filled with computers, monitors, and lots of communication equipment.
"Wow," Kim murmured, looking around owlishly. "This is something, isn't it, Shego," she asked as Shego kept her eyes on Betty.
"Yeah. Super," the dour woman said blandly, her expression far from impressed.
Kim turned to the woman that had helped save her, or so she felt, and asked, "What's wrong, Shego?"
"I just don't like, or trust outfits like this," Shego told her bluntly, not bothering to lower her voice. "They're like the same ones that grabbed you, and I don't trust them," she said, eyeing Betty coolly as she spoke.
"I believe you will find Global Justice somewhat more just than the usual agencies, Shego," Betty Director told her. "I know why you left, and my own reasons weren't much different. Only where you took your fight to the street level, I chose to build my own organization to meet, or stop those threats most of the Brass won't even admit exist," she told her. "Now, my office? I'll let you know all about one of those threats you two now face while we debrief you."
"Whatever," Shego muttered, following the one-eyed woman in blue as Kim just kept looking around owlishly, trying to take in everything at once.
After several turns down identical corridors, and more than a few scowling guards that eyed Shego and Kim suspiciously, they walked into a rather Spartan office with only a desk, a few monitors, and a single chair.
"All right, ladies," Dr. Director declared, eyeing them from where she sat in the single chair, and steepled her fingers before regarding them. "Let's cut to the chase. As I said, I know or know of both of you. Kimberly, I hope you know I am sorry you had to face what you did, but so long as you don't present yourself an active threat to our world, you have nothing to fear from Global Justice. All right?"
"All right," Kim murmured, frowning at her now as she took in the office, and looked back to the woman in a single glance.
"Right. So, let's start with you, Shego. Tell me what happened, and how you managed it. From the top, if you will."
Shego snorted, eyed the woman, and then declared, "I think you already know. How many dogs do you have on our trail," she asked bluntly.
"One. Until recently, when I learned Gemini had learned of Kimberly's power and decided to try to conscript her for his own plans. We were, in fact, about to assign a new team to you for protection when we arrived to find Gemini had already made his first move."
"Convenient. If this loon is so connected, why wasn't he involved sooner? It's been quiet since I managed to get Kimmie home."
"I will admit that I belatedly learned we had a mole in our own communications department who tipped him off. Said mole is no longer with us," Dr. Director said with a grim scowl. "That doesn't change the fact that Gemini is now a direct threat to your charge, and our world were he to manage to grab her."
"Like I'd just do what he says," Kim huffed now, though her expression was troubled by the thought.
"What she said," Shego smirked.
"This is all above top secret, but the fact is, ladies, that Gemini has been trying to commission, or build mind-controlling technology that would have the world marching to his commands. Or just one special agent he imagines could help him achieve his goals."
"Mind-Control," Kim shuddered. "Glad those loons back there didn't have that stuff."
"It would have been their next step. If they could have perfected it. In fact, I happen to know that General Hastings was trying to develop just such a technology himself during the lull you've given him by containing Project Rainbow, as they called Kimberly."
"That's a stupid name," Kim muttered.
"I'll say," Shego agreed. "Boys and their games," she added. "It's like none of them ever really grew up."
"Well, one of the worst is now targeting Kimberly, Shego. Trust me on that one. He'll stop at nothing, and eliminate anything, or anyone in his way to try to take her, too. Ladies," she said, tapping on a keyboard below her desk level that changed a monitor's view to that of a data file. "Meet Sheldon Director, AKA Gemini. Head of the WEE cult."
"WEE," Kim smirked now. "That's a real name?"
"Quite real. The Worldwide Evil Empire as Gemini fashions it already has fingers in a lot of nations and businesses worldwide. Sometimes people don't even realize that what they are doing is helping a genuine psychopath gain even more power."
"Wait one minute," Shego murmured. "Director? Sheldon Director…?"
"Yes, he's my fraternal twin. Obviously, that particular apple fell very far from the family tree. A more twisted, vicious, and monstrous man you will never meet. If you see his people, run. After today, they won't take chances. They'll have plans within plans, and if you try to face him head-on, he'll level the battlefield to win his game. He's that kind of person. And when I say battlefield…."
"You're saying he's not afraid of collateral damage," Shego said quietly.
"He revels in it," Betty admitted. "He once tried to kill our own parents when they wouldn't give him what he wanted at the time," she told them.
"That is so ferociously wrong," Kim gasped. "Why hasn't anyone just….arrested him. Shego said those police are supposed to arrest bad people, so…."
"First, we have to find him, Kimberly. Believe me, we are looking," Dr. Director told her. "Only Sheldon is very good at hiding. Or hiding behind others. If you think you know where he is, it's only because he let you think it so he can mislead you again. Trust me, we are looking, though. Hopefully, we can find a clue from his men that we…."
"Sorry to interrupt, ma'am," Agent Will Du said, stepping into the office after a curt knock.
"Report, Du."
"The prisoners, Dr. Director. They all just died to the last man," he informed her.
Kimberly gasped again as Shego just eyed him.
"How," the sardonic woman demanded before Dr. Director could say a word.
Will Du eyed his superior, and she nodded.
"Talk, Will. They need to know how serious a threat Gemini can be here."
"Apparently, ma'am, he's learned about our new security procedures. His men had a cranial implant that was receiving some kind of signal nonstop. The moment they went into our holding cells, which now naturally blocks all outside signals or tech, the device somehow activated and….exploded. Every man, ah, literally lost their heads. We're going over their bodies now for any other potential clues."
"What of their transport?"
"Self-destructed before our recovery team could reach it," he admitted.
Dr. Director made a dismissing gesture, and then eyed Kimberly and Shego.
"Any other doubts about the nature of this madman," she asked them blandly.
"Just one question," Shego asked.
"Shoot," Betty told her.
"How good is this team of yours?"
"They're highly trained, and highly skilled experts. The best in their fields."
"Oy. So they probably don't have a chance against this clown either," Shego muttered.
"I think they might surprise you. Have you heard of Team Impossible?"
"Yeah. Those clowns were all over the news a while back after they took out a terror cell aiming at the entire national capital. Then they vanish….. You hired them," Shego guessed.
"I did. And amped their training, resources, and hopefully motivated them to operate beyond a simple mercenary scale. They're the core of the six-man team I'll now be assigning to monitor Middleton, and Kimberly until we can find and undermine Gemini."
"I guess they'll make good cannon fodder anyway," Shego muttered.
Dr. Director merely lifted one brow over her good eye, and then looked back to Kim.
"Naturally, we do not put all our eggs into one basket. We'd like you to carry this with you at all times from here on," she told the redhead as she slid the small digital device with a small screen in its center across the desk to her.
"Uh, okay. And it does what….exactly?"
"Press the center button to power it on," Dr. Director smiled. "And say hello to Dr. Wade Lode, your new liaison for GJ security," she told the young teen.
"Wade," Shego and Kim said at the same time as they both saw the familiar, dark round visage glaring up at them.
"So. Still making a mess, Miss Possible," the man drawled. "I heard about the mall."
"Let me guess," Shego turned on Betty. "You handpicked him for Kimmie's exams, too."
"It did help us understand how your own efforts were going, and just how intelligent Kimberly could be. You have a surprisingly high IQ, and are apparently quite gifted," Dr. Director informed the redhead. "Oh, and you passed all your exams with perfect, or near perfect scores," she added. "You may need a little more aid with your history, though."
"That stuff is boring," Kim muttered sourly.
Shego sniggered and eyed the redhead as she said, "I could have told you that much, Cyclops. Red's more of a here and now type, and doesn't waste time with….boring things."
"Indeed. That sums up where we are, Kimberly. However, I would like you to allow us one more exam. Of sorts," the woman said with a bland expression.
"I'll just leave you to it. Call if you have legitimate concerns, or needs, Miss Possible," Wade drawled, and the picture went dark.
"What kind of exam," Kim asked, barely noting the rude little man who only seemed to scowl at her.
"You obviously managed those men easily enough. We have heard of your….abilities since you broke free, and made your own way home. I would like you to allow us to test us on our own obstacle/training course all GJ agents use to ensure they are field ready. I'll tell you now, it's for your own good as much as our admitted curiosity," Betty pointed out.
"Want to explain that one," Shego demanded as Kim cringed as if she had not been growing in confidence and ability as someone in authority asked her to once more jump even more hoops.
"I can, and will. First of all, I do want to see firsthand what you can do, and how well you can now control yourself, Kimberly. That's for your own good since I won't deny someone clever could set up a scenario where they could claim you did something, and then blame you for something….bad. If we know how you operate, as it were, and just how well you do manage, we can ascertain if it is a copycat trying to frame you, or not. As well as showing you yourself just how well you're developing, we'd know you, too. So, would you like to try our training course?"
Kimberly grimaced but looked to Shego.
"I can't deny it might be a good idea," Shego told her. "Even I know you still hold back a lot when we're sparring."
"I don't want to really hurt anyone," she protested as she eyed both women.
"I assure you, Kimberly, you don't have to hold back. Our course is made to take a lot of damage, and the synthodrones we use for personal combat are not human. So you can go all out, and they'll tell us just how well you do, or don't pull punches. So, ready to try?"
"Ready," Kim finally nodded. "Uh, no one will get hurt?"
"Only you if you're aren't careful," Dr. Director told her honestly. "Our course can be tough."
"Tough, you said," Shego smirked forty-three minutes later as the barely panting redhead stood in the middle of a smoldering wasteland covered in rubble, and broken synthodrones. "Still think Gemini can take her?"
Kim drew a deep breath, dismissing the last of her plasma, and looked around with a faint smirk that suggested she had enjoyed cutting loose. Shego considered that one as she grinned at the girl wearing a GJ training uniform for the test, and waved her over.
"I think we can definitely say she can manage anything Gemini may have to take her on head-on. Just remember, he can be clever, and might try using others against you," Betty told them. "Oh, and Kimberly, your overall test score puts you just behind the course champion."
"Really? That high?"
"Yes. Only I ever scored higher, but then, I designed this course."
"Cool," Kim grinned at the woman and eyed the PDA she held with the test assessments. "We should spare someday," she suggested as Shego smirked, and Will Du, having been present to watch, only gaped all the more at her daring.
"I'll consider that when we both have time. Meanwhile, I'll let you clean up and change before we take you back. Just remember all I've said, Kimberly. Keep an eye on your family, and friends. Gemini isn't above using them against you."
"It'll be the last thing he ever does," Kim told her bluntly.
"Right. Will, let the girl clean up and take them home. I'll get maintenance in here to rebuild for our next classes."
Will was still gaping as Kim headed for the locker rooms.
"How could even she…?"
"Recall her strength has yet to be fully charted, and that plasma she radiates is virtually as hot as the sun if she wants to let it go," Dr. Director pointed out. "That we even have rubble left suggests she does still have a very good instinctive control of her abilities."
"I could have told you that much," Shego smirked.
"Well, it also told me she's still not letting herself go as much as she likely could. She has a lot of untapped potential, and unless I miss my guess, something is still feeding her power, keeping it and her strong on a near-constant basis. Something to consider," she told Shego.
Shego, not being a complete idiot with all she had seen in her own time, nodded, and remarked, "I might have an idea."
"So do I. Let's keep that NTK for now in case the wrong ears might be listening. Agreed?"
"I can't deny that one. Even the best ships have leaks," Shego remarked irreverently.
"No argument. I'll be in touch, only through Wade, or in person. Anyone else shows up claiming our authority, feel free to question them," she told Shego.
"And your team?"
"Will be surveillance and backup as needed. Until needed, they'll be out of sight, and operate on their own recognizance. You won't have to worry about them."
"Good," Shego nodded. "I don't care how good they are, idiots tripping over each other is usually the first clue that things are about to go belly-up.
"I won't argue that one either. I'll leave you to Commander Du, and he'll get you back to Middleton in time for supper. Good luck, Shego," she told her.
"Anyone coming after us is going to be needing that luck more than us," Shego huffed.
"Don't discount what I've told you. We've shut down two different researchers in the past year working on that mind-control tech. I doubt we stopped them all. Unfortunately, Gemini also has deep pockets, and some are just greedy enough not to care who sponsors them."
"Point taken. And officially?"
"Officially, Hastings is still sitting on his hands, even while envisioning you handing over a trained asset he can somehow command at will himself."
"Boy did he blow that one from the start," Shego snorted.
"Obviously. Kimberly does strike me as….willful."
"Bets, you don't know the half of it," she grinned.
"I'll leave you to Du now. And, Shego, don't call me Bets," she growled again. "Or Cyclops," she added when Shego started to speak again.
Shego only sniggered as the woman stalked out of the training area.
Will just glared at her with a dour expression, not saying a word.
To Be Continued…..