VI
As they flew toward Drakken's secret South Pacific Lair, they tiredly conferred on what they were going to do next. Ron and Rufus were more energetic, but Shego didn't dare put him in the pilot's seat.
From her seat, she called out, "So what's your plan, Princess?"
Drakken spoke up, quite dramatically. "We will use our new abilities to warn the world, and then save it..."
Shego interrupted with a raised hand that caused Drakken to cringe. "I was talking to KIMMIE." She somehow managed to point to Kim without looking behind her.
"I'm the one who signs your checks, you know" said Drakken peevishly.
"And I'm the one who pulls your lard out of the fire time and time again. Shut up while I do it again, or should I let Kimmie give you another wedgie?" As Drakken subsided into bitter mumbling, she asked, "Kimmie?"
Kim was finding it hard to adjust, but she played the hand of cards she'd been dealt, seeming unconcerned with the drama. "Drakken, you need to get in touch with anyone who can help, especially those outside the law and not having been in custody in the last few months. Especially DNAmy."
She chose to ignore the furious glare he gave her, and turned her gaze to Ron. "Ron has his own friends that not even Wade knows, and he will get in touch with them, with my help. Ron's friends can get my parents out. They're both good at what they do and will be a great help on our side."
She then turned back to Shego, and added, "When I return, hopefully with help, Shego and I will go into Global Justice to extract some of this alien technology to examine. Since someone smashed what little we had."
"Wait a second," replied Shego, "there were pieces of that guy's corpse left, if you were really curious. Besides," she added over the chorus of "Ewws!" "that's where Global Justice wants us. Bad idea."
"They want us there to make sure we're assimilated to specs. We'll wait for the process to complete itself, and hopefully they won't be able to affect us. The nanites in us will even provide protection against future infection."
Shego shook her head. "I don't know about that, Kimmie."
"If you're scared, Shego," challenged Kim, "I'm sure I can get one of Ron's friends to help."
"Hey!" shouted Shego, "I'm not scared! I just want to make sure you've thought this out."
"Just do your part," said Kim, "let me and Ron do our part, and then I'm sure we'll have a better plan on taking the fight to Global Justice."
Shego's frown faltered, and while she obviously fought it, it turned into a grin, and then a laugh. "Pumpkin taking on Global Justice, this is something I HAVE to see."
"It's a show that no one will forget," promised Kim. "But first, I'll help Ron make contact with his friends. If you could drop us off in Thailand..."
"Aren't you tired?" asked Shego incredulously. "I'm fighting to stay awake as it is."
"I am, but not as tired you you and Drakken. I'm not sure what Will did to me, but it's like being on several caffeine pills. I feel ragged, but capable."
"So you abuse pep pills," replied Shego, with a hint of mockery.
"Saving the world, being a cheerleader, having a normal life—caffeine was made for people like me," Kim conceded.
"Ok, Princess, it's only a few minutes drive by hovercraft from our hideaway. We'll want to drop you off at night, but be careful. I've been there before: you'd be surprised how many shady people, besides us, sneak into the place after dark. I'll just need to give you a way to contact us." Then, though she didn't turn around, she said severely, "Don't say a word." Kim and Ron noticed that Drakken was indeed about to say something, but put down his hand and shut his mouth instead. Shortly after, he nodded off, grumbling. He coughed once before falling asleep.
"I don't know, KP," Ron was saying after Shego dropped them off at Pattaya Beach that night.
"So not the drama, Ron," replied Kim, and then coughed.
"Not yet, but collecting all the villains? Trouble, KP!"
"It's part of my plan. They can't stand each other, and will only work together long enough to stop this threat. Afterwards, they'll turn on each other, using what they learn about each other from this."
"Oh, I get you," replied Ron happily, "Conquer and divide."
"More divide and conquer, but..." Kim was stopped by a fit of coughing.
"You ok, KP?" asked Ron. "Your voice is sounding kinda scratchy there."
"I'm fine, Ron." Then she coughed again, and resisted the urge to scratch at her throat, especially as she felt the itching more on the inside. She forced herself to not wonder what could be going wrong, and said, "Let's just find a phone."
Later, Ron made a collect call from the Royal Garden Plaza, an international food court that KP found refreshing given the more red light entertainments openly shown elsewhere that had obviously peaked Ron's curiosity to her distress (though she did crack a smile at HIS discomfort when they passed "Boyz Town"), and left a message about Hana needing to see a doctor. That was a code word that he needed help. The man who answered somehow knew where he was calling from, because his calm voice asked in flawless English, "Can you see a doctor I know in Bangkok?" After affirming that, he was given an address that he wrote down.
"KP and I will check him out," said Ron, hanging up with, "Later!"
"That's all there is to it?" asked Kim.
"Yeah, we'll get to this address and someone will meet us." He blinked again as Kim coughed. "Are you sure you're ok?"
"Yes!" Kim wouldn't admit it, but she was scared. There was definitely something building in her throat, and she feared the nanites might be killing her.
"Of course you are. You're KP, and Ron is at your side!" Rufus chattered something, too. But when he put his arm around Kim, she shook him off and walked ahead. "Hey, what's wrong?"
"Nothing." Kim paused in the awkward silence, and then added, "Ron, these nanites in me, they are suppose to be uber-antibodies. If any of my bodily fluids were to mix with yours, they could replicate in fighting the foreign organism, which would be your entire body. The only cure is to have your own nanites. They somehow recognize each other."
"Ok, so I won't let you bleed on me."
"It's more serious than that, Ron."
"How so?"
"We can't kiss."
"No kissing? Wait, why not?"
"Saliva."
"No way! You mean I've got to get infected, too, if I want to kiss you!"
"No, you're NOT going to get infected! We'll just have to put our dating routine on hold until this gets fixed."
"What if it never gets fixed?" asked Ron, hurt. He didn't hear the concern that if he was infected, he might be dominated or killed, but that Kim would rather break up with him than try to fix the problem. And if she couldn't fix it…then there wouldn't be any more Kim and Ron together.
"I don't know," said Kim, feeling too violated by these nanites, and fearful of what was going on in her throat and lungs, to notice Ron's hurt. "We'll cross that bridge when we must."
"Fine," replied Ron in a hurt tone, "whatever."
Kim was frowning and wondering what to tell Ron to make him feel better, but was feeling too tired and nervous to think clearly. And the train station was just ahead.
From Bangkok, they told their story to a representative of the Yamanouchi ninja school and got a ride to Japan, where Yori greeted them graciously, as did Master Sensei upon their actual arrival at the school.
As Ron, Kim, Rufus, Yori, and Master Sensei drank tea in a ceremony, Master Sensei assured them that they had the support of the Yamanouchi school. "Already, we have capable hands to retrieve your immediate families. Hana is our top priority, but the Possibles and the Stoppables are also important to us. You understand we must be cautious in taking them, in case they are already infected."
"You won't hurt them or anything, will you?" asked Kim.
"Certainly not. Because of the urgency of the situation, we do not have time for long negotiations, and may have to resort to more drastic measures. However, other than being taken and brought here, they will not be harmed. It is our honor to safeguard them, and protect them from all harm." He cocked his head as he added, "But it would perhaps be wise if you left a video message for them if you cannot call them, and cannot be here to greet them."
"No prob! Thanks, Master Sensei," replied Kim smiling.
"It is our honor, to aid those who have done this school a great favor many times."
"It was just some mad monkey demon and Monkey Fist destroying everything in their path and petrifying anyone they could," said Kim, "no big."
"Actually, Hana took care of that," said Ron happily, "while you were too busy getting stoned. Get it, KP?" He laughed at his own wit.
Kim was not laughing. "I get it, Ron," she replied frowning.
"But you have both helped me and this school in other ways," said Master Sensei, "and you have our complete trust, and you can trust in us completely." Then he asked Kim, "Is something wrong with your voice?"
"Just scratchy."
"If you don't mind, you could honor us by leaving us a blood sample. We have ample technicians and medical specialists that can examine it. Most carefully, of course."
"My parents can help, too," added Kim.
"Most assuredly," answered Master Sensei. "If they are anything like you, Kim Possible, they will work most admirably and effectively in helping to save the world, once again."
Ron added, "My parents aren't too bad, either. My dad even defeated a math villain once himself."
"I have taken the time to study your family, Ron Stoppable, and would not question their honor or ability. Indeed, I can think of no greater honor than fostering Hana to them." Then noticing Kim nodding off, he said, "Yori, could you please show Kim Possible to her room so that she may rest."
"Of course, Master Sensei," replied Yori standing and bowing, "it would be my honor."
As Yori led Kim off, Master Sensei spoke in low tones to Ron. "How trustworthy do you believe Kim remains?"
Ron blinked. "I totally trust her. I mean she's acting weird and all, but she's still with the good guys. Even if she's teaming up with the villains to take on Global Justice." He shook his head. "I mean, I don't know."
Master Sensei nodded. "Kim Possible's honor is without question. However, these nanites are killing the Kim Possible we know and making a replicate. It's possible that due to her unusual circumstances she can still be trusted. But it's also possible, even likely, that when she goes to Global Justice, these invaders will take over her soul, just as they have with your friend Wade. You must exercise extreme caution when you help Ms. Possible infiltrate Global Justice."
"Wait, do you mean you don't have a problem with Kim teaming up with bad guys to attack the good guys? Even though the good guys are now bad, but then so are the bad guys! Um, did that make sense?"
"Ron Stoppable, you will learn in your life that life is a flow of good and evil, that it is often a dance of perspective, and that there are many shades of grey, for good and evil are present in all. All that is good can be made to serve evil while convinced it is serving the greater good, and all that is evil can be made to serve good even as it thinks it is doing great evil."
"Ok," replied Ron, "I guess that makes sense. Sort of. So what do I do if Kim goes bad and joins the good guys?" More quietly, Ron said to himself, "Man thinking about this gives me a headache."
"I will send Yori with you. She will aid you and Ms. Possible as much as she can. But she will also be your bodyguard, Mr. Stoppable. If Ms. Possible becomes lost to us, then Yori will be the one to turn to. Do you understand, Ron Stoppable?"
Ron swallowed, sadly and with some fear as he realized that Kim might truly be lost to him forever. "So ka," he said weakly.
"Good. Then you, too, should get your rest. Meditate on what I said regarding shades of grey. Tomorrow morning, you will be returned to Thailand, with Yori as your protector, and able to contact us for anything you two might need."
"Like Wade!"
"Perhaps. But the true ninja is self-reliant, able to use what is on hand. However, it is our honor to help you in this time of great peril to our entire world."