Author's Notes: Thanks to Rebelrsr again for their help in betaing this story. Hopefully this chapter will answer some of your questions, but also leave you with more.
As the sun rose over the horizon, the cloaked hoverpad descended into the Possible's backyard. Before Ron left the craft, he asked, "Truce till we get Kim and Shego back?"
The blue scientist nodded his head and said, "Yes, buffoon, we have a truce." Rummaging through the glove box, Draken tossed a strange device to the blonde sidekick. "If you need to get in contact with me you can use that."
"Thanks, Dr. D." Sneaking away from the hoverpad, Ron felt the air blast of the craft lifting off. Gently knocking on the Possible's back door, the sidekick waited with Rufus. After five minutes, Ron whispered to the small mole-rat to find a way in. Rufus quickly scurried off and was out of sight.
Another two minutes passed and the backdoor opened to reveal a blurry eyed Anne Possible in a robe. Rufus perched on her shoulder saying 'Ta-da!' "Ronald, what are you doing here?" Mrs. Possible asked.
Not wanting to alert Kim's mother quite, yet Ron answered with, "I need to use KP's computer so I can talk with Wade."
"Why not just have Kim use her Kimmunicator? Where is she anyway?"
"Um, we got separated." Growing increasingly uncomfortable, Ron decided to just work on getting in and explaining to Mrs. P later. "Look I really need to get inside and talk with Wade."
Looking at him with an eyebrow raised, Anne moved to the side of the doorway letting Kim's childhood friend in. "Alright, but after I get cup of coffee were talking about this."
Nodding his head, Ron ran to Kim's room and turned on the computer. As soon as it was up and running, Wade's face appeared. "Kim!?" His voice sounded frantic and he looked haggard.
"No, Wade, it's Ron. Kim hasn't contacted you yet?" Ron asked worriedly.
Shaking his head, he said, "Her Kimmunicator is busted, and the last vital signs I read from the battle suit were bad."
"How bad?"
"If what I read is right, her left arm was se-severed above the elbow and she-she was shot in the center of her chest," the younger teenager shakily answered.
Ron's face had gone to an ashen white at the news. The knowledge of the wounds was taking up the majority of his brain function, but the fact that Wade had been talking in past tense trickled into his mind. "Wait, why are you reading past tense?"
"Because I'm no longer getting live feed from the battle suit. There aren't many thi- …my God. Ron, are you near a TV.?" Seeing him faintly shake his head no, Wade popped open another window on the computer showing Ron the 'Worldly News'
A female reporter was just handed a new stack of paper. Shock showed on her face as she began to read, "This just in: the world famous teen-hero, Kim Possible, is dead. On a routine mission against the super villains Doctor Draken and Shego, Miss Possible's life came to a tragic end at the hands of Global Justice's number one threat, Shego. Kim Possible's heroism will be missed by people around the world." Tears actually formed in the reporter's eyes. "More details will be released at-" Ron closed the window before it could go on.
A sickening coldness settled in the bottom of Ron's stomach. Something about all this didn't make sense. Blaming Shego for Kim's death made no sense. The last the blonde teen had seen of the two they had been fighting feverishly to protect one another, not to kill each other. Another thing that didn't fit were the death wounds. Ron shuddered as the wounds crossed his mind. They didn't match with how Shego would have killed Kim. There were still more pieces of this that didn't add up such as the news coming too soon. No one else even knew about the mission, so how was it already known world wide? No, wait. Someone else did know. Global Justice
A new calmness took over Ron as he sat in front of the computer, "Wade, get me in contact with Betty Director, directly." His voice was cold as steel as he spoke.
"On it," was Wade's only response.
A moment later Betty Director, head of GJ, showed up on Kim's computer. "Ronald, I assume this is in regards to Team Possible's most recent mission? I assure you I had nothing to do with the order for there to be any Global Justice soldiers deployed, much less the go-ahead to use lethal force," Dr. Director began in a calm voice. "Things are far worse then you know. I no longer have time to tell you everything but concise to say my time in GJ is much shorter than expected. My control over this organization is being undermined. An important bit of information I was able to find was a set of liquidation orders. Kim and Shego were listed first; the rest were encrypted." Betty's one eye was constantly roving, looking for possible threats. "Mr. Stoppable, I'm afraid you must find a safe haven soon."
The sudden explosion in information left Ron staggering. If what Dr. Director was saying was true, then things were infinitely worse than he ever expected. Still having his doubt's, he asked, "How do I know you're telling the truth?"
"You don't. I'm already taking an even larger risk by warning you, but I feel it's for the best that you and Mr. Load know," Betty responded in her normal calm and collected tone.
Thinking on it Ron decided to trust Betty Director. In the past they may have had their small differences yet he knew she was always working for the good of all and not willing to sacrifice others to do it. Nodding he said, "Where will you go?"
"I think it will be best if neither of us know the location of the other. I'll contact you again if it becomes safe enough. Until then, Mr. Stoppable." Doctor Director winked off the screen.
"Hey, Ron," Wade's voice kicked in. "Satellite imagery shows a black sedan heading for the Possible's place. I think it's GJ. Ron, it's probably better they don't know you're there. Go tell Mrs. P."
Nodding his head dumbly, it took a moment for everything to settle for Ron. Realizing what Wade said, Ron thanked him and ran for the door. Before the blonde left the room he turned around and asked, "Did you hear what Dr. Director said?"
"Yeah, and I believe her. I'll start looking for some rides for you that no one can trace," the computer wizard said.
"You might also want to think about leaving," Ron cautioned.
"I would if someone outside of Team Possible knew where I lived," Wade argued with a grin. "Go on to Mrs. Possible, quickly. The car's pulling up into the driveway!"
Ron nodded and went speeding down the stairs. Spotting Mrs. Possible leaning over a cup of coffee at the dining table, the blonde sidekick went over to her nervously. "Hey, Mrs. P, um, things look like they're getting really bad." Seeing she was about to say something, Ron went on. "GJ might not be everything we thought it was. I can't tell you everything right now, but some GJ guys are on their way, and I'd really appreciate it if you didn't let them know I was here. I promise once they're gone I'll tell you everything I can."
Anne had a skeptical look on her face at Ron's little request. She was about to say something, again, when the doorbell rang. Turning her head to look at the door in surprise, she glanced back at where Ron had been and found him gone. Shaking her head, Anne went and answered the door.
Standing in the door way were two men in black suits looking somewhat similar to secret service agents. "Hello, Mrs. Possible. Is Mr. Possible home? What we have to say will be important to both of you." The agent's tone sounded cold, robotic even.
Looking at them strangely, Anne answered, "No, I'm afraid my husband is still at his lab. I'm sure I can tell John what ever you tell me."
"Very well, ma'am. You may wish to take a seat. The information we have just came in, and Global Justice saw fit to inform you as soon as possible," the agent continued on in his impersonal voice.
"Alright. Please come in." Moving into the living room Anne still couldn't spot where Ron had disappeared to.
Once everyone was seated the agent that spoke before started up again. "Mrs. Possible, Global Justice regrets to inform you that Kimberly Anne Possible was killed in action. During her last mission against the villains Shego and Doctor Draken, Miss Possible's life was ended by Shego. Global Justice also regrets to inform you that Kimberly's body was unable to be recovered in whole; only her left arm was retrieved."
Anne could only sit in shock as she was told of her daughter's death. Ron's voice began filtering though her mind, 'We got separated', 'GJ might not be everything we thought it was'. They were lying; they had to be. Kim couldn't be dead. "Wa.. why… how?" The broken words fell from Anne's mouth as she tried to form coherent sentences. "How do you know?"
"Global Justice has always monitored Kimberly's missions. Even with observing Miss Possible on her last operation, we were unable to come to her aid before the lair she was operating in collapsed," the agent continued in his monotone voice. "That is the reason why we were only able to recover her severed arm. It appears to be sealed within her battle su-"
Anne cut the agent off before he could continue with his gruesome description. "That is enough. Th-thank you for telling me so quickly." Mrs. Possible slumped back in the chair.
Standing up, the agents gave one last parting comment, "Global Justice offers their condolences. We're sorry for your loss. Kimberly's arm will be delivered to the Middleton morgue." With that the GJ men left and a dazed Ron appeared near Anne. After hearing the agents say they found Kim's arm, everything Wade told him about his best friend's wounds finally hit. Kim might really be dead.
"Mrs. P, they're lying. They were there when Kim… when Kim was fighting Shego," Ron said softly. "GJ was actually fighting both of them together."
"Then my baby's alright?" Anne asked, suddenly sitting up.
"Um… I don't think so." Running his hand through his unruly hair, Ron went on, "Wade's last reading from KP's suit said she lost her arm… and was shot in the chest."
A glazed look came into the redhead's eyes. "She's really gone this time." Tears began to spill down Anne's face. "My baby's dead."
Ron uncomfortably went over to Mrs. Possible and gave her a hug. "I'm so sorry, Mrs. P. I-I should have been there with her."
Shaking her head, she said, "No, Ron. Kimmie-cub would have wanted you to live, not die with her."
Breaking the hug, Ron scooted away from Anna a little bit. "I don't know very much, but I think I'm going to have to leave and go into hiding, Mrs. P. I think GJ had Kim killed and tried to get Shego with her but failed. I'm going to avenge KP, I promise," Ron said solemnly. Rufus scampered up onto his shoulder and nodded with Ron's promise saying "'Venge!" Looking out the window to his own house, the teen-hero asked, "Could you tell my parent's I'll be fine?"
"Of course, Ronald," Mrs. P said as she wiped the tears from her eyes. "How do you plan on leaving?"
"Getting Wade to ask for a ride to Japan. I have some friends there that'll be able to hide me," Ron stated as he stood up.
"If you're going to need Wade's help, I have something for you." Anne stood and went up stairs. A few minutes later she was back with something in her hands. "This was Ki-Kimmie's spare," she said, handing Ron the Kimmunicator. "Take care of it."
"I will Mrs. P," Ron said as he took the device, "Thank you."