I do not own any Disney character named herein, and am only writing a nonprofit story for entertainment purposes only.
Kim Possible: Mirror, Mirror
By LJ58
VII
"….He would jump up all hours of the night, write something down, or go to work on something, and then go back to bed. And I swear, it wouldn't be ten minutes before he was up yammering on about something else. It was like he didn't know how to stop. I finally started insulating my private quarters just so I could sleep."
"You know, it's a shame he had to go off the deep end. In his own way, he was smart enough that he could have really made a difference….."
"You mean like his pollinator juice? He really freaked when they used it to almost wipe out hunger by creating crops that grew anywhere. He just couldn't stand it that someone else saw the potential, and profited when he had created that one himself."
"Yeah," Kim nodded at Shari. "Actually, I tried to get Gro-Rite Industries to recognize him, but…."
"Yeah. I know. Ivanna Gro was a self-righteous greedy cow that refused to admit anyone helped her develop Wonder Gro. That's why I bought her out, and ruined her company."
"That was you?"
Shari just gave a weak smile, shrugging before Kim went on.
"It's been strange with him gone these past few years. Now that I know he won't be back…."
Shari sipped her tea as they sat in the dining room eating after a her long afternoon in the lab, and sighed. "Yeah. I'm actually missing the blue dim-bulb myself. Go figure."
"He was a part of your life for quite a while. It is only natural…."
Shari suddenly smiled. "Did I ever tell you about the time he built a twenty-five foot machine to open a jaw of pickles?"
"No!"
"I swear. And it failed, of course. Blew up completely, and didn't even crack the jar. Then, when I opened the lid, he swore he had loosened it."
Kim laughed. "Now, that sounds like a man. My dad always did that, too. Not the machine part, but claiming he loosened a lid I popped open for him when he couldn't….."
"You know, you haven't gone home since I dropped in," Shari reminded her. "I thought you said you were...?"
"I was thinking of going this weekend. I know my folks are going to want to see you after that press conference."
"But they didn't call."
"Mom understands the need for privacy. She probably hid the phone from dad," she grinned.
"I'm just surprised Hego didn't call. We did kind of air the family scandal just then."
"I talked to him earlier while you were napping. He was actually pretty concerned about how you were holding up to the new attention. He said you were welcome to visit any time you needed to get away, as he put it."
"I guess he doesn't know we're kind of….attached just now."
Kim grinned.
"Attached," she echoed.
"Watch it, Possible."
"Anyway, if you're up to it, we can go see my folks this weekend, and go by Go City, too, if you…."
"Later."
"Just so you know, you aren't a prisoner here, Shari. If you want to go somewhere. Anywhere, just ask."
"But I am a prisoner, Kim. Remember?"
"Not in my eyes," Kim told her. "If you want, or need anything….."
"Thanks. I'm fine," she told her. "Actually, the past few weeks here have been…..nice."
KP
"….but if we do that, it creates an inverted loop that will create a catastrophic feedback," Kim protested as she smacked the chalkboard before her in disgust.
Shari had eased the lab door open, staring inside when she went to find Kim who wasn't in her bed despite the hour, and was surprised to find Wade there, too.
"That's impossible," the taller, muscular young man grumbled as he stood before the chalk board eyeing what seemed arcane scribbling to Shari's eyes. "How did I overlook this?"
"I don't know, Wade. Maybe we're both pushing too hard. I think we need to back up, review the earlier calculations, and see how we might rework them. I don't think either of us want to make a mistake at this point."
"God, no," the younger man cried, and then seemed to reach out to tap something Shari couldn't see. Something that wasn't there. "I'll start the new calculations in the morning, and get back to you," he told her Shari cleared her voice behind them.
"Oh, Shari," Kim suddenly turned as Wade abruptly vanished. "I didn't wake you, did I?"
"I…..couldn't sleep. And I noticed your light was on, but you weren't in…..your….. How did he do that," she finally blurted. "Did you actually invent a teleporter, too?"
"No," Kim smiled. "Hard-light holographic projection," she pointed up at the ceiling where three dark plastic bubbles were set into the plaster at regular intervals. "As long as you have a transmitter, and a receiver, you can literally project your hologram anywhere you like. Wade uses it to teach his college classes now, but it's also convenient when he can't get here in person to work….."
"So, he wasn't really here?"
"No," Kim replied as Shego frowned, releasing the ends of the robe she had pulled tightly around her body. "Just his holo-image."
"But….I saw him holding chalk. Writing….stuff," she gestured helplessly.
"Hard-light. By integrating enough power into the holographic image, you can literally solidify portions for short periods of time to enable you to manipulate your immediate environment around the area your projector gives you access to when you activate it."
Shari shook her head. "This is making my head hurt."
She smiled, and shut down the computers around her. "Sorry. Sometimes I get restless, or get an idea, and I just have to get it down."
"And Wade? He just happened to be restless, too?"
"He's probably the only teen I know that can't sleep at all, and not because of the usual reasons. He literally has to make himself go to bed, because he's always trying to learn something new, just to keep up his reputation as the smartest guy on the planet. And he doesn't mind helping me out when I get a….thought."
"So, this is…..something new?"
"Something Wade and I have been working on a few years now."
"Do I want to know?"
Kim chuckled, and switched off the lights before leading her out of the lab. "It's no big. I'm just working on a way to detect aliens who might come to Earth again before they land in our back yard."
Shari nodded. "That would have been helpful a few years ago," she admitted.
"Wouldn't it? Wade and dad both helped set up a series of new satellites for Nasa after that last sitch, but we all still think it's a bit lacking. What we need is something that will warn us before they're on top of us. So I started thinking, astrophysical displacement. I mean, duh!"
"Sure. Right. Anyone would have thought of that." Kim didn't miss her upward roll of her eyes.
"Okay, now I know you're teasing. So, why are you up, Shari? Sure I didn't wake you? I know Wade and I can get carried away sometimes, and….."
"No. I…..had a nightmare," she admitted sheepishly.
Kim just nodded. In the past few weeks, Shari had more than a few unsettling dreams, and she invariably ended up either sitting up in the dark all night, or coming to Kim's room to lay beside her. She did nothing, and suggested doing nothing. She just seemed to need to be with someone, and Kim didn't find that too troubling. Frankly, there were times when she missed her crowded home, but she was an adult, and with the tweebs growing up, too, she couldn't live at home forever.
"You want to lay down," she asked, "Or do you want to go ahead and make breakfast," she asked, spotting the clock on the wall, and realizing how long she and Wade had actually been up arguing over that last equation in her new calculations.
"Coffee sounds nice just now," Shari told her as she didn't even glance at the clock. Her tone suggested she had the kind of dream where she didn't even want to risk closing her eyes again.
"That bad?"
"When…. When do you think we could go see…..?"
"I can call Ron anytime you want, Shari. It's been almost six weeks now. I'm sure that's enough time for her to settle in, and acclimate."
"Could you? Call, I mean? I…. I just need to see her."
Kim said nothing to that.
"I'll call after breakfast. Even ninja won't like being woke up just when they're going to bed without a reason."
"Oh. Right. The….time."
"Don't worry. Ron's about as bad as me or Wade when it comes to sleeping by the clock. Well, that, and Yori has been running him ragged with this new pregnancy."
Shari sighed. "You know, all this time, I figured you two were settled down and making little heroes, or something. I never thought…. I mean, you were so close."
"We still are. As friends," Kim told her, leading the way into the kitchen.
Shari eyed the small, metal briefcase on the table, and remarked, "So, you finished it?"
"The other night. I just had Wade go over my limiter programming before I signed off on it. I'll drop it at Speedy-Dropp on my way in to the university so they can deliver it for me."
"So, just what exactly was it supposed to do," she asked as Kim started making fresh coffee. "That you didn't want it to do?"
"Well, as it is, it can be a valuable medical tool. For diagnostic purposes, it can find and alert a physician to any potential genetic damage or defects in a patient. It can warm a potential mother if something is wrong with their child, or ascertain if there is an underlying cause to whatever is troubling an older patient. It will give the doctors a genuine place to start without dozens of other costly, and likely unnecessary tests."
"Okay, I can see where that might be pretty reasonable. What did Franky want to do with it that got you so tweaked," she asked, and Kim only frowned as she went to the fridge to pull out eggs and sausage, her bacon supply gone by then, and seriously needing to shop since Shari ate far more than she did even when she was at home.
"Dr. Stein wanted to amp the decoder so it could allegedly tap the damaged genes, and repair them."
"Isn't that a good thing, too?"
"You'd have to know him. He's slipshod, and focuses on flash and dazzle. Even if nothing else went wrong, just blindly manipulating genes in something as complex as human DNA would leave the door open for all kinds of complications, or unexpected mutations. That's saying there weren't also intentional exploitation and manipulation of the device. The way I set it, all it will be able to do is read a patient's DNA, and that is all. No altering, no manipulation or rewriting genes, and no harmful side-effects."
"Oh. Yeah, I can see where….mutation would suck."
"You know, Shari, if you are that worried about yourself, I could show you how the decoder works, and find out if you have anything to worry about you don't know about."
"I…. No. No, I better…. You think it would….work on me?"
Kim couldn't help but grin as she set the fixings beside a skillet she had just pulled out of the oven. "You are human, Shari," she smiled. "And I can vouch for its safe, and accurate operation."
"Okay. Okay, why not?"
Kim walked over, triggered the security code on the briefcase, and pulled out what looked like a steel tiara attached to a small power pack, which in turn was connected to a small notebook style computer.
"Let's just set this on your head," she told her, "Leads on the temples. Now, let me warm up the template, and we'll have a reading in….ten minutes. Just sit still, and when the program gives a double chirp," she said as she tapped in a starting sequence on the notebook computer she opened up. "We'll have your complete genetic profile, and whatever is in it."
"You aren't….recording it, are you," she asked uneasily.
"I can delete the sequence once we're finished. Which I would have done anyway. Stein doesn't need to know what genetics are involved with anyone beyond his own research subjects," she told her earnestly.
"Thanks," Shari murmured as she felt a faint tingle around her brow as the 'tiara' began to hum in tandem with the notebook.
"I'll pour coffee while you wait. How many eggs this morning?"
"Five will do. I'm not too hungry this morning."
Kim said nothing to that. She did good to eat two or three when she wasn't being active, but she had seen Shari put down a dozen eggs, and all the sides when she was really hungry. Her metabolism, she realized, must be on permanent turbo.
Breakfast was ready before the small laptop chirped, and Kim declared the diagnostic was complete. She set the device aside, and told Shari they would eat before she looked at the results. Shari, overly anxious, was ready to argue, but agreed all the same. She had her own suspicions about her body, but wasn't going to say anything.
Finally, after the meal was over, Kim put the dishes away, and pulled out the notebook again, and began to access the decrypted code that represented Shari's genetic structure. She studied the code for a few minutes as Shari stood just behind her back, and waited for her to speak.
"Well, this is surprising. Very surprising."
"What is it," Shari asked quietly, fearing the worst."
"Well, it's just…. According to this," she murmured.
"Will you spit it out," Shari asked irritably, as if unable to contain her own distress now.
"Well, it's not what you think Shari. According to all this, you have only one problem."
"What problem," she asked, ready to slap the redhead just then.
"You're green."
Shari stared at her. "You're kidding me? All of that and you're telling me it says I'm green?"
"Actually, it says you have a melanin imbalance, which explains the pigmentation, but otherwise….. You are perfectly healthy, Shari. You have nothing to worry about. In fact, if you wanted, I'm betting you could get rid of the excess melanin, and regain a normal pigmentation if you wanted."
Shari stared at her.
"You could…..do that?"
"Well, if I'm right, and the data says I am, you just have an imbalance brought about by overloaded photosensitive receptors in your cells. See, your photochemical reaction to UV rays is to usually darken, and therefore convert harmful radiation to a benign tan before it can create harmful melanomas. But I'm guessing the comet overloaded your metabolism's ability to handle that photo-protectorant, and the heat transfer was so great it….leached the melanin creating the green pigmentation you have."
"That's all? I mean, actually, it was mom the comet hit, but….that's all?"
"Well, it's obviously a genetic trait that was shared with you, Shari, but….I don't see why it couldn't be corrected. Just like any other imbalance."
"No," Shari murmured after a moment.
"Shari?"
"I…. I know how mom feels. Being the only other green-skinned freak on the planet just now. I know. I won't even try that….cure, until I know it might work on my mother, too. I won't leave her any more alone knowing what I…know."
Kim closed the device now, and nodded. "I understand. And I respect that. To be honest, I'm not sure about your mother's condition. After all, she would be first generation, and you have a more normal human DNA shared with….whoever your father might be. That might be why your….imbalance suggests you can be treated. With Sherri…..?"
"Could this machine tell you?"
"Probably," she nodded.
"Then….let's keep it long enough to find out. Could you do that?"
"I not only can, I will," she nodded. "Making Stein wait a little longer to find out his newest scheme isn't going to fly won't bother me a bit."
"Thank you, Kimberly," she told her as she rose to start helping her do the dishes.
"It's all right," she nodded. "We should hear back from Ron by the time we get back from Go City," she stated firmly.
"You mean Middleton? Right?"
"Well, Middleton is before Go City," the redhead smiled.
"Princess," Shari growled, sounding like herself again. "I never said…."
"You didn't have to. This might be something you might want to discuss with your uncles, too. Don't you agree?"
"When did you get to be so meddlesome," the green-skinned woman grumbled. "Oh, wait," she snapped her fingers. "You were always…..!"
Kim only laughed.
KP
"Hi, mom. Up to some company," Kim asked as they stepped into the house.
"Kim, come in, sweetie. Shego is still with you?"
"Actually, it's Shari, Dr. Possible," she told Ann. "Mom is the only real Shego now. I kind of….gave up the right to the name."
"Whatever you say," the neurosurgeon smiled at her as she stepped aside. "Come in, both of you."
"You….don't mind me being here," she asked uneasily as Kim nudged her.
"Shari, you're our daughter's friend. That's enough for us, dear," Ann reassured her when she expresses fear of her exposed new status. "I thought we settled that question back when you first visited."
Shari had a flashback, remembering that time when Electronique had shifted her brainwaves, and sighed.
"But….that time… That wasn't really me. I was…."
"Nonsense. Inverse polarization of behavioral patterns doesn't truly change the person you are at heart," the older redhead informed her. "It simply allows you to express aspects of your personality you don't usually exhibit."
Shari just sighed.
"Mom is right, Shari."
"Not even going to try to argue," she muttered as she followed the two into the kitchen.
"Tea? Your father won't be home for a few hours, so I was waiting on starting supper.
"Tea sounds nice, mom," Kim agreed.
"Sure. Thank you," Shari agreed.
"So, are the tweebs still at college?"
"Well, they haven't been kicked out of this one yet," Ann told her daughter with a sigh.
"Yet?"
"We're keeping our fingers crossed," she admitted. "You are staying for supper?"
"Oh, absolutely," Shari agreed. "We wouldn't dream of not letting Kim see her father after coming all this way. Supper, it is," she nodded firmly.
Kim only laughed.
"Shari's still nervous about visiting her uncles after all the recent revelations."
Shari shot her a curt glare as Ann poured them tea, and set the sugar and lemon on the table to let them flavor their own glasses.
"Don't worry," Ann told her. "I'm sure they're just as anxious."
"Probably more so," Shari admitted somberly.
"I'm sure they're just worried about you," Kim told her. "You haven't talked to them since we dropped that last bombshell on Hego."
They sat and chatted casually for over an hour before Ann started making supper for all of them, expecting her husband in before too long. They continued to converse over a surprisingly comfortable meal, and Shari found herself remembering other times, better times, and wishing she could have had a family like that one that had so easily accepted a dangerous felon into their home without a moment's pause just because their remarkable daughter asked them.
She didn't know anyone else like the Possibles. She was pretty certain they were all one of a kind in their own way.
She was also surprised she could go a whole evening smiling without faking it.
KP
"Let's just get this over with," Shari groaned, recognizing the cars outside the Gordeaux home. The two red sports coupes were obvious. The sleek, black and white sedan was also known to her. Marcus did still like to stand out.
"It won't be that bad," Kim assured her as she parked behind Hego's family van.
Shari shot her a grim look, and finally climbed out of the car.
"Just….promise to get me out of there before they get weird. I'm trying to behave, but they were always able to make me…. That is….mom….. Well, me and mom….."
"Shari. It'll be fine. By now, Hego has told them about you, and all we'll have to do is fill in the blanks, and let them get to know their new niece."
"New niece, huh," Shari grumbled. "I still do not want to be here, Possible," she complained.
Which was when the door opened.
"Shego," Henry smiled.
"Shari," Shari complained. "Get it right, you jerk."
"Feeling better," Mira smiled at her from behind her husband's back.
"Oh, she's really been looking forward to this trip," Kim assured her, pushing Shari into the house.
"You'll pay for that one, Kimmie," Shari murmured as they walked into the crowded living area were Mego was arguing with one of the Wegos. The other was playing with Henry's boys, and making quite a bit of noise with the colorful action figures they were using.
"Shego," they all looked up at her arrival.
"Hey, Kim," the twins grinned.
Mego just eyed them. "So, you're supposed to be Shego's kid?"
His grunt of dismissal was pure Mego.
"Maybe I should just leave."
"Nonsense," Miranda took charge, and steered her to the couch. "Sit down, and I'll get refreshments. We still have a lot to talk about, I'm sure."
"Say, it occurs to us from what we hear, that technically you are only sixteen," one of the twins grinned as they both eyed her. "So that means you're younger than us," they grinned. "That makes us your elders!"
"Oh, yeah, because you got that whole age and maturity thing going sooo well," Shari couldn't help but bite as one of her brothers sat holding two different action figures as he played with their nephews.
Kim chuckled. "It's nice to hear you sounding more like yourself, Shari," she smiled.
The green skinned woman huffed, but then found herself smiling, and shaking her head.
"Yes. Loathe as I am to admit it, sis…ah, niece. We have worried about you," Henry agreed. "You were acting awfully fragile….."
"Fragile," Shari sputtered as Miranda only smiled at the woman's indignation as she returned carrying a tray of glasses filled with lemonade.
"Oh, who cares. Don't you want to know how I…..?"
"No," all three brothers, and Shari barked at once before Mego could get wound up.
Kim and Mira couldn't help but laugh.
"Thank you," Henry's wife murmured an hour later before Kim and Shari left. "You may not realize it, but you've really helped heal a long, and painfully sore breach in this family."
"No big," she smiled back. "It's still what I do."
"Meddle," Shari drawled, coming up behind her, hugging both women from her vantage point. "Oh, yeah. She's really good at sticking her nose…"
"Shari. Don't you want to load the car so we can get started," indicating the gifts her uncles had gotten for her, and for Shego after hearing of their intended trip.
"Fine. Fine. Don't let me interrupt your gossiping."
The women grinned, and Miranda told Kim, "I think she's much happier, too. Although we might never get her to admit it."
"I know. That's part of her charm," Kim agreed. "I'll try to get her to stop by once we get back. I'll let you know what we find out about Sherri. Although, knowing my friends, I'm sure she's fine."
"I hope so. I have to admit, she was quite a handful when she showed up."
"She always was," Hego agreed, coming up behind his wife as he looked out the door, watching Shari shove things into the back seat.
"We'd better get going," Kim smiled, Shari having slammed the door after climbing into the passenger seat, and then reaching over to honk the horn as she glared her way. "She'll never say it, but she is worried."
"Good luck," Henry told her. "And thank you, Miss Possible. You've been a real miracle worker this time."
Kim only smiled, and headed for her car, trying not to laugh at Shari's expression.
More and more, the gruff, but likeable woman she knew was coming back to life. She found she didn't mind one bit.
To Be Continued…..