Disclaimer: Nope, don't own any of the KP characters from the series. They belong to Disney. A few of the bit players are mine. This epic, along with the rest of my writing career is, unfortunately, a non-profit operation.
Chapter 6 – A Man on a Mission
Sensei immediately recognized the nature of the artifacts stolen from Mexico City. They were nearly exact replicas of charms used by priests of Hanuman. Some were said to give the priests power over the various species of monkey. Others were used in rituals to contain or destroy evil in all its' many forms. He quickly assembled some of the foremost experts on the cults of Hanuman in an attempt to discern the exact nature of each relic.
What he found most puzzling was the thief. He knew of only one person who would be interested in these items, Monkey Fist. No threat from that quarter as the mutated English lord was currently imprisoned inside a statue as a result of his failed attempt to tap the power of Yono. So what did Shego want with the charms? Had she somehow learned of the Yono and intended to claim its' power herself? Sensei shuddered.
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Kim was in a bad mood when she arrived home a little before midnight. The movie had centered around two high school friends who met again just before one's wedding. Long story short, groom fell for friend, left fiancé at the altar. She had no idea what Monique found so humorous in the story. Then, to cap off her perfect day, she found Ron and Yori were still not home, having gone to Japan after their mission in Mexico. Barely speaking to her parents, Kim went to her room, changed into her pajamas, and then climbed into bed and cuddled up with Pandaroo. She tried to sleep but her mind kept wandering out over the Pacific wondering what was keeping a certain aircraft. Finally she drifted into fitful sleep.
It was still dark when Kim awoke and looked at the clock. It was just after three in the morning. She thought she heard noises coming from the living room. Grabbing her kimmunicator in case she needed to call for help, she moved slowly and silently down the stairs. She heard giggling, followed by several moans. Looking around the corner from the kitchen, she saw Yori, all of Yori. She was leaning back on the couch with her arms spread along the back of the cushions and a strange smile on her face. And Ron…. He was down… She covered her eyes and shook her head, trying to erase the image. He had never done that for her. She opened her mouth to scream…
Kim sat up in her bed screaming, looking around the room for her errant boyfriend and his companion. Before she could separate dream from reality in her mind, Yori burst into the room staff at the ready.
"Where is the intruder, Kim-san," the ninja asked.
"There is no intruder, just a really bad dream. If you like, you may borrow my robe." Kim replied, gesturing toward the closet
"Sorry, I am not used to American style modesty," Yori remarked, grinning. "I did not think an intruder would wait while I dressed."
It was nearly five o'clock. Not much point in going back to bed, even if she were sure there would be no more disturbing dreams. With the image of Yori ready for battle burned into her mind she wouldn't bet on the absence of dreams. "How about we go downstairs for an early cup of coffee and some girl talk," Kim asked.
When they reached the kitchen Kim made coffee, one of the few tasks she was allowed in the kitchen. Yori opted for tea, filling the kettle and placing it on the stove. Yori told Kim how the mission had gone, including what they discovered about the stolen charms. Then she asked, "Is he always clumsy on missions?"
"Why, what happened?" Kim asked.
"He tried to block Shego's escape, but instead tangled himself in some fish nets while she got away."
"What you see is what you get," Kim replied, chuckling. She then went on to relate a few of Ron's more embarrassing moments from their adventures.
"Sometimes he seems so focused. He played one fight game almost all the way home. When I tried to talk, he said he was busy bashing zombies. He used all kinds of weapons and defeated so many zombies. I have seen the same skills in battle, yet last night in the museum they deserted him."
"There are no cheat codes for real life," Kim replied. Yori raised an eyebrow, questioning. "Ron studies that stupid game. He has every magazine article ever written about it and knows all the tricks to get past the obstacles. He just isn't as serious about real life. He does step up on occasion but only when there is no other option."
Yori nodded in understanding. "So all the time on the plane he just played Zombie Mayhem?" Kim asked.
"When he was not asleep or eating," Yori replied.
'YES' a small voice screamed in Kim's head.
Ann Possible entered the kitchen in time to hear Yori's last remark. Seeing Yori in Kim's robe she raised an eyebrow, looking carefully at both girls. "Kimmie, you and Yori best get upstairs and get dressed before Dad comes down."
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While Team Possible waited in Middleton, Wade busily searched for traces of their nemesis. He had followed her trail to Thailand, but lost her. Yori was anxious to continue pursuit, urging that she and Ron leave immediately for Thailand. Ron wanted to stay in Middleton until they had better information.
"How can we hope to find Shego if we do not go where we last located her?" Yori asked incredulously. "The longer we wait, the less chance we will find signs of her visit. One must always pursue an escaping enemy before signs of his flight fade."
"Yeah, well, KP and me do things a little differently," Ron replied. "See, Wade has the world wired. There's not much goes on he can't find out about. She uses any of her credit cards, or powers up, or makes a phone call, Wade's gonna see it. Then we go where she is instead of where she was."
"So what does this mean, Wade has the world wired?" Yori asked. Now she was curious. Sensei followed the old ways, teaching her to rely almost entirely on human intelligence. Other than communications devices and transportation, there were few concessions to the modern world at Yamanouchi. Perhaps there was something here she needed to learn.
Ron keyed his kimmunicator. When Wade responded, he replied "Got a young lady here wants to learn all about what our resident genius does." A quick look at Yori and Team Possible's tech guru was ready to tell her whatever she wanted to know. It was decided she would visit him next week for a full tour.
Kim watched from the sidelines. Something still made her uncomfortable, but she just could not put her finger on it. She put her thoughts aside as the trio headed to the garage to begin their daily workout.
Half way through their training, the kimmunicator beeped. "What's the sitch," Kim asked, taking the call.
"I've detected a power up at Drakken's Caribbean lair. Nothing major but you should probably check it out. Could be where Shego went."
"Thanks, Wade. Set up the ride."
"How many?"
Kim glared. "Just two. Dr. Mom left specific orders."
Moments later, Ron and Yori were off. Kim decided to continue her training. Yori had been instructing them in use of the staff for close combat. For the next half hour Kim aggressively explored the manner in which it could be used to devastate an opponent. Then she went inside, sat at her computer and ordered two new practice dummies.
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Two parachutes opened above the Caribbean lair. The absence of trees allowed both crime fighters to land without incident. Ron quickly located a familiar grate allowing access to the ventilation ducts.
"Is it always this easy?" Yori asked.
"Pretty much. Wade takes care of any alarms. It's not like me and KP need mad ninja skills to get into these places." Ron replied, causing Yori to giggle slightly, then gesturing for silence as she followed Ron through the duct. They reached the main room of the lair where they saw Shego relaxing with a magazine while the television blared in the background. Dropping into the lair, Ron managed to catch his pants on the grate, lose his balance and fall noisily to the floor. Yori followed silently, but the element of surprise was gone. Ron stood, restoring his cargos to their normal position as the villainess looked in their direction. Yori discretely hid her smile.
"Must be my lucky day," Shego said, greeting her two visitors. "I get a personal visit from the clown prince and his ninja princess. Kimmie must be crushed by the new partnership."
"Forget the lip, Shego. We're here for the stuff you stole in Mexico. Hand it over. Your ride back to Cell Block D should be here shortly," Ron replied.
"Don't have them. Don't know where they are. Did my job and got paid. End of story. Cell Block D is not on today's to do list, but if you still wanna hang around, I haven't had my workout yet. Which one of you wants to be first practice dummy?" After a quick glance at each other, the two crime fighters moved in on Shego.
Yori attacked first, exchanging a rapid series of blows with the green villainess. As soon as she fell back, Ron moved in, doing his usual clumsy moves to throw Shego off her timing. Shego drove him back, forcing him to dodge plasma blasts as Yori moved in again. Catching the ninja slightly off guard she flipped her across the room. "Not bad, little girl, but not in my league. Why don't you go back to school and learn how the big girls fight?"
Ron moved in again keeping her busy while Yori recovered. He landed several good blows while avoiding both fists and plasma. Shego fell back and looked him in the eye. "You two make a pretty good team, Stoppable. Maybe you should dump your sorry excuse for a girlfriend and go into business with baby-san over there."
To her detriment, Shego failed to notice the hardening of Ron's expression and the color of his eyes. "Not." Ron exclaimed as he delivered a quick blow to Shego's belly, knocking the wind out of her. "Gonna," as he hooked a leg behind her, taking her down hard "Happen," as he stood over her fallen form. Startled by his swift takedown, Shego looked up into a face she had not seen since that memorable evening at Bueno Nacho, and then passed out.
What Shego missed, Yori had seen. Once Ron had the special plasma resistant handcuffs in place she threw a bucket of water on their foe. Shego awoke, sputtering. Yori stood over her, a carefully guarded smile of satisfaction on her lips. "What was it you wished me to tell Sensei?" she asked. There was no response from the prisoner.
"Now about those charms," Ron began
"Weren't you listening earlier? Don't have them. Don't know where they are. Did my job and got paid. End of story."
"So who has them?"
"I never discuss my clients." Shego responded as a Global Justice recovery team entered the lair.
"Mexico wants her this time," Ron explained to the team leader as Shego was led out of the lair. "But take her back to Cell Block D. Even she doesn't deserve to do time in Mexico."
Leaving the lair he looked at Yori and remarked, "well that was fun." Her glare was her answer. She didn't speak until they were on board the GJ transport in route to Middleton. Then it was with barely restrained anger.
"The charms are in Thailand," Yori stated. "We should have gone there first. We have lost valuable time. Now we must go there and recover them."
"How were we supposed to know Shego didn't still have them?" Ron responded.
"Because she is ronin and without honor. She has no respect for the ancient ways. She would not seek to use the power of the charms herself. The only reason she would steal the charms would be to sell them," Yori replied. "Warawa gozen baka! I should have known."
"Chill out. We'll find them," Ron said, activating the kimmunicator. When Wade appeared he began to explain, "Shego was hired to steal the charms and already made delivery, apparently in Thailand. See if you can find out where she went and who she met."
"On it," Wade replied. "You are coming right home this time? Kim was really tweaked after Mexico City."
"No detours planned this time, buddy. Tell Kim we should be back in a couple hours," Ron responded, closing the channel and putting the kimmunicator into his pocket.
"We must act quickly," Yori urged. "In the hands of one who knows their power those charms are very dangerous. I will alert Sensei. Perhaps Yamanouchi graduates there can provide information." Yori left Ron and moved off alone.
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While Team Possible and the experts at Yamanouchi were trying respectively to locate Shego and determine her intentions for the stolen artifacts, Nigel Bates was in his luxury suite atop one the Bangkok Tipton preparing for his day's activities. He was wearing the traditional khaki shorts, shirt and pith helmet of a British explorer. While his years in the service of Lord Montgomery Fiske had never put him in a situation such as he faced today, he felt ready. He had been involved in enough of His Lordship's adventures and misadventures to know how to properly prepare.
From his service as His Lordship's secretary, Bates was second only to Fiske himself in his knowledge of the various monkey cults, legends and artifacts. When Fiske set out on his most recent quest, he did so after carefully researching the legends concerning a power known as the Yono, paying particular attention to the writings of the priests of Hanuman regarding containment of the power. His detailed findings were contained in a journal that he left with Bates along with specific instructions on actions to be taken in the event he failed to return.
It had taken Bates several months to locate the things he needed and assemble them in one place. Using his position as secretary to Lord Fiske he gained access to items in museums throughout the world. When he was allowed to copy documents, he did so. Others he replaced with counterfeits or blank scrolls. Using contacts at the British Museum he attempted to secure the loan of the last artifacts he needed from the Mexico's national museum. When that failed, he secured the services of a certain mercenary thief to acquire them.
He supervised the loading of his equipment and provisions into an older model Land Rover, then after giving instructions to the driver on their destination, set out into the Thai jungle in route to Cambodia. His first task, locate Fiske's legion of monkey ninjas.