Author's Notes: Fucking sonofabitch! Writing this took more than I thought it would, both in the physical length of it and in time of completing it. I apologize for not getting this out when I said I would. I'm getting painfully close to starting the real bit of this fic, so bear with me as I get there. (Hell, it might even be next chapter) Anyways, here's the chapter. Hope it was worth the wait. Oh and really really big thanks to Rebelrsr. She's been have a somewhat hectic time, so for her to make room and check this for me is a big thing.

Shego continued to smirk at the shocked expressions the two ninja were sporting before turning her attention to the ex-Global Justice Director. "They're here now, Bets. Think we can get to the maiming and killing of the Council, now?"

Doctor Director just looked blandly at the villainess. "We have to find them first, Shego." When the plasma wielder began to growl, Betty just ignored her off. "Our first order of business is to bring our new allies up to speed on the current situation." Looking at the two sitting, she continued, "As I'm certain you're aware, Global Justice is under new management. We don't know who they are, where they are, or what their true goal is. What we do know is they go by the title of The Council, and after the assignation of Ms. Possible, they went silent. This does include all of Global Justice, meaning no one is policing the planet."

Yori had since managed to regain her composure, but Ron was still helplessly lost. Looking between Betty and Shego, he scratched his head. "Ooookkkaayy. I get why you're here," pointing at the one eyed woman, "But you make no sense." He eyed the pale green woman suspiciously. "Don't get me wrong, you being here is a good thing, but you teaming up with Doctor Director is a shock."

"Well, Ronald, it seems that Shego had been seeking me out since Kimberly's murder." Catching sight of the dangerous glare Shego was aiming at her, the ex-director decided to change the focus of the conversation. "Why were you looking for Shego, though? When I received a message from the head of the Yamanouchi, I became quite curious."

Again Ron was shocked. That his Sensei had ways of contacting such a woman as Betty Director wasn't that unexpected, but that he had also known where Shego was came as a major surprise. He knew he couldn't do anything about this other than make a choice: either roll with it or continue gawking like an idiot. So he made his choice. He closed his eyes and schooled his face into that of a calm state, using one of the meditation techniques he had learned at Yamanouchi. (Come on Ron, no more being the slacker. You could do that when KP was around, but now you have to grow up for her.)

Opening his eyes he met Betty's single one. "I've been training, working at becoming strong enough to do something about KP's death." Taking a breath, he continued, "But it seems like something has been holding me back - I haven't come to terms with Kim being dead."

There was silence for a moment then Shego spoke in a quiet voice. "Trust me, Stoppable, she's gone."

"I know that," he said in an exasperated tone. "I mean, they came to Mrs. P's home and told her that all they could find of Kim was her arm! They told her mother the only thing left of her daughter was her arm!" Shaking his head to calm down again, Ron said in a more controlled voice, "I came looking for you because you were with her last - when she died. I want to know," Ron said pleadingly as he looked at Shego.

Images of a red head kneeling on the ground with a river of blood flowing between her breasts and a trickle out of the corner of her mouth flashed through the thief's mind. Turning a deeper shade of green, Shego shook her head. "No, buffoon, you don't want to know."

The blond's pleading look changed to one of righteous fury as he stood up. "Damn it, Shego! She was my best friend since we were kids and now she's dead! I wasn't even there. I did nothing to help her." Tears began to spill down his face as grief began to overpower anger, "I just ran like the coward I've always been."

"Ron-kun, that is not true," Yori denied vehemently. "What kind of coward goes with their (1)shinyuu into life threatening places for no other reason than being their friend? You followed where Possible-san led without question, and no one could ask for a more honorable person than that."

"She's right, Stoppable. Plus, there really was nothing you could've done," Shego said, not meeting Ron's eyes.

Ron just hung his head, "Can't you at least tell me what happened?" he asked with his face hidden. Silence hung in a thick cloud around the small group.

A certain pair of emerald eyes continued to stare at Shego through her memories as she sat before the blond. Suddenly, she let out a long sigh breaking the quiet. "Alright, I'll tell you. Everyone else, out," she said, pointing toward the door with a slender finger. "This is between Stoppable and me."

Vladimir, who had been sitting quietly as the drama unfolded before him, stood and walked through the doorway to wait patiently outside. He was rapidly followed by Yori and Betty. When the old man started heading off, the women stepped in behind him.

Leading them to what appeared to be a blank wall, he reached over and pulled on an antique candle holder. It shifted forward, and a grinding sound was heard by the three. Slowly, the wall in front of them slid into the ground, exposing a stone stairwell that led down into an inky blackness. A damp and musty smell filled the air when the passage was revealed. Ignoring the odor, the three descended in silence.

Ron sat back down across from Shego so that they were on opposite sides of the fireplace. "Ok, Stoppable, what do you want to know?" the thief asked in a sarcastic tone.

"I-I'm not sure," he started uncertainty. Looking anywhere that wasn't Shego, he asked, "I guess: did she say anything?"

Once again, memories played through Shego's mind. This time of the redhead begging with her, pleading with her to run. Placing her elbows on her knees and her face in her hands, she mumbled out, "Yeah, Princess said something. Run, that was it."

(Run? That's all she said? That doesn't even make sense,) Ron thought in confusion. Staring blankly at the wall behind Shego, he continued with his questions. "How'd it happen?"

The thief was silent again as the fateful battle replayed itself in her head. "I got sloppy. I wasn't fast enough and caught a bullet in my leg. Pumpkin flew across the room to save me," (Why'd she do that? We were enemies. Right?) "Doing that cost her her arm." Shego just kept her head in her hands as her voice choked up. "I tried. I really did. I did everything I could to protect her, but it wasn't enough." Looking up, she met Ron's eyes; he saw they were filled with self loathing. "You never had a chance to help her. I did… and I failed." Disgust choked her words.

Anger gripped Ron. Shego was acting like it had been so horrible for her, and she wasn't even Kim's friend. Hell, she was her freaking arch-nemesis; she was probably just sad that it wasn't her that killed Kim. "That's it?" he asked heatedly. "Woe is you for watching Kim die!?" (How could Kim have given her life for this filth!)

Shego's eyes widened in shock at the blond's insult, but that emotion was quickly overcome by anger as she stood up. "What? You think I'm looking for pity? You're the one who wanted to know about Kimmie's death," she practically growled. Then understanding flashed through her eyes, but that, too, was rapidly replaced by rage. Her hands ignited as she continued to let her fury build. "You wanted to know that she died for something greater than me. Like something to believe in!? Well, here – Live a hero, be betrayed a hero, and die a hero!" The glow on her hands grew brighter to punctuate each hero. "There's your fucking greater reason!" she screamed at Ron.

Ron stood up and was about to yell a retort at the pale thief when there was a discreet knock at the door. It opened a crack to reveal a short, young man peering nervously into the room. His tonsure gave him the appearance of being older than he was, but his lack of experience, and age, was obvious. Hiding his twitching hands in the large sleeves of his robes, he stuttered out, "Umm… Car-cardinal Augustus wish-wishes to meet with bo-oth of you in the S-ssaint George Meeting Hall. He re-requests your presence as-as soon as possible." He waited quietly, practically shaking from hearing the raised voices.

Shego calmed down considerably with the interruption of the young priest as she remembed who she was yelling at. (Princess wouldn't be very happy with me if I flash fried her sidekick.) She snuffed out the fires on her fists, but she did keep up a death glare on the blond. Ron opened his mouth, but Shego cut him off. "Shove it, buffoon. I told you what you wanted." Moving her glare from Ron to the young priest, she saw him flinch at the look. Not bothering to change her expression in the least, she motioned for him to move, "Come on, kid. Where's the stupid George Hall?"

Seeing that Shego wasn't going to be saying anything more about Kim's death right now, Ron nodded his head to the young man and crossed his arms over his chest. The priest let out his breath, glad nothing had gone badly. Turning around he started to leave the room but then remembered his manners. "Pl-please, follow me."

As the two began to follow the priest, Shego started to think on what she said to Ron. "Live a hero, be betrayed a hero, and die a hero! There's your fucking greater reason!" (Why did I tell him that? It's not like he had a right to know.) Then an old wizened voice from just a few months ago sounded in her mind (You'll need to open to someone. Or you'll lose yourself.) Shego just shook her head at the memory. (Stupid old hag. Even halfway across the world and she's still telling me what to do.) Letting her mind wander over the past few months she remembered her search to find Betty, and those she met along the way.

-----

Her memory picked up right after she got on her motorcycle. Riding at speeds that would be suicidal, Shego headed for Go City. She was reluctant to go to her home city, but her fevered mind was already working on a plan. She needed someone who was still accepted as the 'good guys' to get things started. That left only one group of people that she had a touch of trust - her brothers. It took her a little over three hours to reach the outskirts of Go City from Draken's lair, making it near the heart of night. When she reached the city, she didn't even bother to slow down from her break neck speeds. Racing through the streets, she made it across the bridge to the Go Tower in record time. Hardly breaking stride, she leapt from her bike and stormed toward the main gate. As she strode to the door, she threw a ball of plasma at the signature reader causing it to explode and send the doors flying open. With the reader nothing but charred slag, Shego marched into the tower to the sound of alarms.

Entering the main meeting room, she had to wait a moment before a great hulking, bleary eyed man charged in with his blue-tinged hair waving messily in his face. The only thing he was wearing was boxers and cobalt glowing fists. "Halt, you vandal!" was his 'heroic' entrance line, or at least that's what it was supposed to be. Instead, it came out something closer to a slurred, "Hal, you candle!"

Another young man came in a moment later in purple pajamas and combing his hair. "Hego, what the hell is with the alarms? You know I need another eight hours for my beauty sleep!"

Following the arrival of the purple one were two younger twins. They were the only ones that had some semblance of being ready for an attack. They had on everyday clothes; though, it was more likely from just now heading to sleep rather than quickly becoming prepared. Seeing the one that was attacking them was Shego, they shouted in unison, "Shego! You're back!"

Suddenly everyone's undivided attention was on the new arrival and apparent source of the alarm. All four of them started speaking at once. Asking questions like: where have you been?, why are you bleeding?, what crime did you commit now? The usual. Which called for the pale woman's own usual response.

"All of you, SHUTUP!" she screamed. Her head was already pounding due to her adrenaline rush having died off sometime during the trip and now having her brothers blabbing at her really did nothing to help. Knowing she now had them silent and listening she told them, "GJ's gone fucking nuts! They just tried to kill me an-"

The purple man cut Shego off mid-sentence. "Nothing's new with that sis. I mean-"

A green burning ball flew within inches of his head, completely silencing him. "It's fucking different this time, Mego!! They fucking killed my Kimmie!" she yelled. A sudden wave of nausea accompanied that fact. The thief wavered in place till she leaned against the wall. "Princess is dead," she said in a softer voice.

"What? You mean that nice girl that helped when you had stolen our powers?" Hego asked

"Yes, you thick headed fuck-wad. Who the hell else would I be talking about?" Shego said in a seething voice. Shaking her head to clear it, the thief pushed off from the wall and stood up straighter. "I need Team Go to do a little recon for me. I need you to look into Global Justice to see what's changed. Them trying to kill me is one thing, actively trying to kill Kim and succeeding is something else entirely." She was practically growling at the end.

Hego, as dense as he was, saw this had seriously upset his sister, even to the point she was coming to her siblings for help. Granted, it didn't quite look like she was asking so much as commanding, but it was the same for his sister. "We'll do it. Global Justice must be made to answer for Ms. Possible's death. Right now though, we have to patch you up."

When he moved to grab her arm, Shego swatted his hand away. "Dimmit, Hego, you don't get it! You won't just be able to go up to GJ and ask them 'why'd you kill Kim?' Hell, they probably have her murder pinned on me!"

Mego looked a bit hesitant. "You… you didn't, did you?" Seeing her face darken with an incredible anger - he knew he had asked the wrong question and immediately started scurrying backwards away from the green woman.

"God, no! You stupid, fucking, self-centered little nat!" she hollered at the purple man. Engulfing her hands in her plasma, she began to stalk towards Mego.

Seeing their sister's hands flare up again, the twins moved to intervene. "Hey, sis, those wounds look pretty bad. We should get you to the med wing," both said at the same time.

Looking at the pair of Wegos, Shego gave one last death glare at Mego and let the flames around her hands dissipate. "Fine, let's go." When they had left the two other siblings in the room behind, Shego said one more thing to the twins. "Make sure they keep a low profile. I'm not sure how GJ will react."

Shego stayed at the tower for only another day before leaving again. The sun had long since dropped below the horizon, and night ruled. Heading north, Shego hoped to reach Upperton before daybreak, but it looked like she'd be hard pressed to make that.

The sun's rays were starting to fall over the expansive city just as the villainess made it to her first destination. It appeared to be a normal hotel, if a little shoddy, complete with the usual rundown neon sign saying OTEL. Stepping into lobby, there were only the counter attendant and another man sitting on a bench to the side of the door. The one near the door was as big as a linebacker and trying hopelessly to appear as though he wasn't watching the newcomer. While, on the other hand, the old man at the counter did a much better job of appearing natural and quite distracted by the newspaper he held. When Shego approached the counter, the hotel manager didn't even look up when he said, "Hello, Ms. Shego, seems like Draken's lair was destroyed. Your room has already been prepared." Still keeping his eyes on his paper he reached out to grab something under the desk. Pulling out a keycard, he slid it onto the counter towards the pale woman, then replaced his hand back on his paper. "Please enjoy your stay at Hench-co's Safe-hotel."

Grunting in reply Shego only mumbled, "Thanks, Benny." Grabbing the card, she moved to the single elevator. Riding it to the fourth floor she got out and checked out her room. Draken still hadn't shown up; that meant either he got caught by the new GJ or he was just taking his usual idiotic time in getting to their meeting place. Shrugging her shoulders, she left and locked the door. She'd be in town for a while so there was still a chance that the blue imbecile would show up.

Her second destination was located in the criminal undercity of Upperton. It was, in fact, literally under the city. The specific destination was the head of the World Wide Evil Empire. Getting into the secret headquarters was surprisingly easy. Then again, that might have just been because Shego was so good at what she did – sneaking into places where she wasn't supposed to be. Reaching her ultimate destination, she slipped into the room of the WWEE leader.

Sheldon 'Gemini' Director was certainly not expecting to have a meeting today, much less one with Shego herself. Since the murder of Kim Possible, she had become the number one most wanted villain in not only her original eleven countries, but nearly every single one that was on the UN charter (and even some that weren't). When Shego appeared in his personal office, his one eye widened in surprise before quickly recovering himself. His mechanical right hand clattered quietly against his desk as he waited for the infamous thief to stand in the middle of the room. He greeted her accordingly of her new position, "So, Shego, what do I owe the pleasure of meeting with the most wanted criminal in the entire world and killer of the legendary Kim Possible? Oh, and remind me before you leave to have the head of security executed."

At the killer comment, glowing eyes glared at the criminal mastermind. Stalking towards Gemini's desk, she said, "I came here to warn you and for you to give me some info."

"And what do you have to warn me of? I have eyes and ears everywhere," he said carelessly. "There is nothing you could know that I don't already. So I doubt you have anything to bargain with."

"I said nothing about bargaining, Sheldon Dir-ec-tor," she annunciated Director clearly for the mastermind, just to be certain he understood what she was talking about. That got a reaction from the criminal, his flesh hand moved to reach under the desk. But before he could even reach the lip of the desk Shego was leaning over his desk with a single glowing fist. The heat pouring off from the plasma was more than enough reason for Gemini to stop moving. "I wouldn't do that, Shelbie. I'm not here to hurt you, unless of course you do something stupid or tell me something I don't like." Pulling back she lit up her other hand and drew them together to crack her knuckles as she started, "Now I'm not sure how close of tabs you keep on your dear sister, but I wanted to tell you her pet project killed Kimmie. I didn't kill her; it was her fucking toy soldiers going at both of us with lethal weapons." Shego carefully watched Gemini's face to see if any of this was new to him. Going by his facial reactions, it was. "What I want you to tell me is where Bets is."

"My sister was removed from her place as head of Global Justice nearly a month ago," Gemini said. "Since her removal, I didn't think GJ would pose much of a threat so I've scaled down my reconnaissance of them. Whoever they are must be incredibly incompetent to not only miss their desired target but also kill their greatest tool."

"It wasn't unintentional. They were targeting her as much as me, if not more." As Shego said this, she was thinking on the head of GJ. (If she was removed that long ago then she wasn't calling the shots.) "Now, tell me where Betty is," she repeated.

Gemini placed his human hand on his chin and stroked his mustache. "Hmm, what do you plan on doing with her?"

"Do you honestly want to know? Because I can very easily show you," she said letting plasma drip from her right hand onto his desk. Even a small droplet of the super heated substance quickly burned through the red oak desk, giving off an acrid smell.

"Eh, very well." He gave in, with hardly a second thought. "Needed to give the appearance of sibling love and all that. I don't know her exact location, but there is someone who might. She's something of a… friend of the family."

(1)Shinyuu – best friend

Author's notes: I'm actually planning on working on the next chapter of Pure next. So, the next chapter up will be Truth's 10. After that it'll be Fallen.