Hey everybody… Sorry it took me a little longer to post this chapter. I'm usually at work on Sunday night, but I was able to pound it out since I had to call in. I tweaked my back something fierce last Friday, so I'm trying to heal myself up. Nothing major, but strained muscles are a literal pain… if you know what I mean.
PLEASE, check out the picture that ivymae457 drew for me and is now on her DA site. She drew up a pic of Kim as Quinn, and it really looks BADICAL to the n'th degree!
So… I would first and foremost like to thank all the readers, and give thanks to those who have left a review: calamite, Alphamech, AtomicFire, Yankee Bard, RealityBreakGirl, MrDrP, romantic-cancer, sveta89, and mooneasterbunny. I appreciate them all! Really, I do! Now on with the show…
Disclaimer: Yup, this durned thing again. I don't own a single character in this story. (I really need to come up with more OC's)
Chapter 14
"Well… Eric," Big Daddy said, addressing the synthodrone. "Let's see what you can do, shall we?"
"I am here to follow your instructions." It responded. "Do you wish me to follow only your orders? Or will there be others who can instruct me what to do?"
Big Daddy noticed that it was looking at his partner, and asked a question. "Is there a way of installing protocols as to who you can respond to, and a hierarchy of command?"
"Of course. Only the one who originally activated me can perform such a duty."
"Does it need to be audible?" Big Daddy asked.
"No, it does not." 901 answered. "I can interface with any WiFi or wireless signal. In fact, the laptop you used to activate me would work just fine."
…x x x x…
As Ron sat down at the table, all eyes were on him. It was then that he realized he had screwed up. Big time. He had called Quinn by the name of Kim in front of Wade.
"Mr. Load?" Dr. Director asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You know… I was having some suspicions on my own, but now I'm sure. Ron just confirmed it for me. You're Kim, aren't you?" Wade's holographic face turned towards Kim.
"Umm… No." Kim said nervously.
"It's OK, Kim." Betty said as she placed her hand on Kim's now warm hand. James Possible had been able to adjust the heat regulators, and her hands now felt like they should to anyone who might touch them. "I think we can trust him."
"Thank-you Dr. Director." Wade replied. "Now Ron? Who do you think PB is? It took me about 10 man-hours of computer time trying to figure it out. I would be interested in hearing your theory."
"PB is none other than that rich guy KP and I rescued from Senior Senor Senior's freeze ray." Ron stated proudly. "I just kind of forget his name."
Wade looked at Ron incredulously. "Now how did you know who it was without even knowing the guys name, Ron?"
"If I told you it came to me in a dream, would you believe me?"
"No." All three chorused.
"Well, it did." Ron said, crossing his arms. "There were other un-pleasant images that I won't mention, but it was a dream."
Kim rolled her eyes a bit. "So Wade? Is Ron correct? I guess even I don't know the guy's name. But I know who he's talking about."
…x x x x…
Synthodrone 901 leaned over, and grabbed the front end of a Hummer A-1 that was in storage, and lifted it without any trouble. Big Daddy Brotherson's smile creased his fat cheeks, and told Eric to put it back down. He then asked the drone to perform other acts of super-human ability, and he was very pleased.
"Well?" His partner said growing agitated. "Are you going to give your main benefactor high level protocols with the synthodrone?"
Big Daddy breathed out an irritated breath, and added the man's name to the short list of those who could order this… thing… around. However, he made a note by the name, saying that he was second in command to himself.
There was no way he was going to let a rich, pompous, arrogant fool have complete control over such a dangerous weapon. So beside the name he put the number '2' to signify the command structure. The name he put it beside was…
…x x x x…
"Phillipe Bouillon." Wade said, beaming with pride that he was the only one to get the information. "Only the Seniors have more money than him. He got rich by diversifying his assets to numerous businesses. And guess what one of them does?"
"Weapons research." Kim said.
"Good guess, but not exactly." Wade started to explain. "He does own a research and development firm, but they are primarily working on alternative energy sources."
"So they must have found a way to develop anti-matter." Dr. Director said.
"How did you find all this Wade?" Ron asked.
"Where else? The Internet."
Dr. Director spoke next. "We are 99 percent sure that this is where Drakken… acquired… his anti-matter."
"Do you think he actually bought it, or stole it?" Ron asked.
"Yes." Was the answer Dr. Director gave.
Wade, Kim, and Ron all responded the same. "Huh?"
"This is all speculation at this point," Betty started, "But we believe that Dr. Drakken has made a sort of 'trade' for the anti-matter."
"Any idea what he traded? He really doesn't have much to trade with. Most of his doomsday designs were easily destroyed." Kim said.
"By us." Ron finished.
"What is the most successful thing that Drakken has ever come up with?" Betty asked all three.
There was a bit of silence as Kim, Ron, and Wade pondered Betty Director's question, and all three came up with the answer simultaneously. "Synthodrones".
"Exactly."
…x x x x…
"You know… I will have to admit, this Dr. Drakken fellow has come up with a pretty good product here." Phillipe said as he watched the Eric drone punch through a solid brick wall.
"Most definitely." Big Daddy replied. "Imagine what we could do with a veritable army of these things? Granted, it would take millions, maybe billions of dollars to build it, but we would be… invincible!"
"And it's a good thing that this 'Drakken' fellow wasn't too smart, or we couldn't have also acquired his cloning technology. With our anti-matter powering the entire system, it can all be done off the grid, and the rest of the world will be none the wiser. That is, until it's too late."
The two shared a laugh, and then set to the task of assembling the cloning equipment with the assistance of the Eric clone.
…x x x x…
"Eureka!" Dr. James Possible exclaimed, using the infamous word that launched Archimedes' career as a streaker. (see note at bottom)
"What is it dear?" His wife asked, walking up to him.
"Yeah Dad… What's up?" The twins chimed.
"I've been working on trying to figure out why Quinn was having trouble hitting her top running speed, and I'm pretty sure I've found it. In the process, I've also come up with a way to shield her from an EMP!"
"Line leakage?" The twins said at the same time.
"If you two already knew, why didn't you tell me sooner?" Dr. Possible said crossing him arms trying to look cross at his sons. He couldn't hold the visage long, and his face broke into a huge grin again. "Do you know what else this means?"
"What's that dear?" Anne asked.
"It could also theoretically make her stronger. Heck, she might be able to operate at 100 percent efficiency!" James spoke with unbridled enthusiasm.
"Who, there James." Anne said. "Are you saying that with what you have here, you could make Quinn Probable nearly indestructible?"
"Well… at least her bionics would be. The rest of her is still human."
"Hmmm… that's something we need to talk about dear. How do you think this Quinn would react to being so powerful? We don't know her that well, and all we are going on is what Doctor Director is saying."
"Don't forget about Ron." Jim and Tim said at the same time.
"That's right Anne." James said. "If Ronald says Kim is good enough…" He stopped in mid sentence realizing he just mentioned his daughter's name.
"James? What is it?" Anne said, taking her husband's hand.
"Anne… Have you… noticed certain things about this… Quinn Probable?"
"Like what, dear?"
"Well, for starters, if it wasn't for her hair and eyes, do you realize she would be a dead ringer for Kim? There are little things that I've noticed too. Like when we first met her, I was looking closely at her hands, and I saw a mole on the inside of one finger. Kim had a mole in the exact same place."
"And I swear we heard…." Jim started.
"Her call us Tweebs." Tim finished.
"Really guys." Anne started to say. "You really don't believe that Kimmie… Our Kim… is Quinn? How could she… I mean…"
Anne got a far off look to her face as she started to remember a few looks that Quinn had given them. They were almost… sad looks, as if she wanted to tell them a great secret, but couldn't. Before she had written it off as seeing things, but now…
"Should we just out right ask?" Anne asked.
"I think we do deserve some answers. After all the work we've done for her. If she really is my little Kimmie-Cub… I'm grounding her for a year!"
"Now James… She's almost 19. You can't ground her anymore. She's an adult. If it really is her, I'm sure there is a real good reason why she had to fake her death. But for the life of me, I can't think of how she would have gotten the bionic limbs. Unless…"
James and Anne looked each other in the eyes and came to the same conclusion at the same time. They spoke to each other at the same time, their eyes moist from the realization. "Both arms… both legs…"
"Don't forget her eye too." The twins said.
"That's it." James said wiping away a tear, and the image of his daughter he had just conjured up. "We're getting some answers right now."
He picked up a phone on the wall next to his workbench and dialed an extension he knew by heart. After three rings the ring tone changed, indicating it changed lines, and Betty answered.
…x x x x…
"Just a moment." Betty said as she took her cell phone out of her pocket and looked at the caller ID. "It's your father, Kim."
"Yes, this is Doctor Director… Hello James! How are you doing? … You would like to meet us? All of us? … Sure, we have a little time. May I ask what this is regarding? … Significant discoveries? … The cafeteria in an hour will be fine. See you then. Bye."
Betty snapped the phone closed, and spoke to Kim and Ron.
"Well… it sounds like your Dad has some significant discoveries that they would like to discuss with us." She turned to the Holo-Wade. "We will continue our discussion later Wade, if that's OK?"
"Sure, that's fine. Wade out." The projection immediately ended.
"Well, we better change and get ready." Kim said.
"Should I bring Rufus along?" Ron asked.
"Where has the little guy been, Ron?" Kim asked. "I haven't seen him in quite a while."
"He's been sleeping a lot lately. I hope he's not sick or anything. He'll wake up just long enough to eat, and that's about it." Ron paused, thinking for a bit. "You know? He might be depressed, being cooped up in the room all this time. Would it be all right if I brought him along, Dr. Director?"
"I don't see why not, Ron. Who knows? The Possibles might be happy to see the little guy."
Forty-five minutes later, Quinn, Ron, and Dr. Director met back in Quinn's room. All Ron did was put on a fresh shirt and pants, which was the same he always wore, a red hockey jersey and cargos. Dr. Director wore her casual uniform, which was a pair of black slacks and a blue short sleeved shirt that had the GJ emblem on the left breast pocket. Her command insignia was displayed on her left shoulder. Quinn wore black jeans, and a blue shirt that had sleeves that went down half way between her wrists and elbow. It had a tie on the sides that went around her back, and hung in a loose bow.
Quinn also wore her hair in a large ponytail that pulled her hair away from her face, and hung ¾ of the way down her back, and had changed her eye color to hazel.
"Kim…" Ron said, looking her up and down. "You look… Badical!"
'Thank-you Ron." She said as she scooted up to his side and placed a kiss on his cheek, making him blush. "Just remember to call me Quinn in front of my parents."
"Oh, right. Quinn." He smiled and gave her a quick kiss on her forehead.
Betty Director watched the two teens in front of her with a wistful look. Oh to be young again. She thought.
"Let's go you two." Betty said. "We don't want to be late."
A few minutes later, they arrived at the cafeteria. All three walked in through the double doors, and immediately saw the four Possibles sitting at a large rectangular table. They walked over and sat down in no particular order, but it was noticed that Ron and Quinn sat next to each other.
"Before we start," Dr. Director said, "Would anyone like something to drink?" Betty should have known better than to ask that, as all of them started to speak at once giving her their order.
Somehow she kept it all straight, went to the counter, and placed the order with the only employee in the room. It was about 10:30 in the morning, and no one else was in the cafeteria as it was between the breakfast and lunch crowd.
Betty went back to the table, and told everyone the drinks would be out soon. She sat down and looked at James and Anne. "So… what do you have for us?"
Anne brought out a single piece of paper and spoke. "We have here a list of all the improvements we can do for Quinn. Jim and Tim helped with everything there too. We couldn't have done it without them."
The twins were looking at Quinn closely, trying to see if she looked like their sister. "What are you twe... two… looking at?" She said.
Ron's hand shot to her leg as he sat beside her, catching her close call. Jim and Tim whispered something to each other that no one could hear. James and Anne never flinched.
Anne handed the paper over to Dr. Director who looked over the list.
Converted medication to capsule form – Dr. Anne Possible
Improved interface between synthetic muscle and natural muscle, resulting in increased reaction time by 10 percent – Dr. Anne Possible
Secondary software protocol for Bionics resulting in no more system lock ups, and integrated back-up control unit – Dr. James Possible
Listening device in hand – Dr. James Possible
Protection from ESD for Bionics – Dr. James Possible
This is amazing!" Dr. Director said. "And you did all this in such a short amount of time. How did you do it?"
"It's the genes." The twins chorused.
The cafeteria employee picked that time to bring over everyone's drinks and also set down an extra plate. "I brought everyone a plate of crackers and cheese, in case anyone is hungry."
At the mention or the word 'cheese', Ron suddenly felt movement in his pocket. Rufus was awake. The little guy popped out of his pocket, and jumped up on the table, startling everyone at his sudden appearance.
He quickly went to the plate of cheese, grabbed a chunk and hungrily started to eat. He finally started to look around the table and immediately recognized everyone there. He scampered over to the twins, who greeted him with a pat on the head, and he waved 'Hello' to Mr. and Mrs. Possible.
Finally his eyes landed on Quinn. He cocked his head slightly, dropped to all fours, and trotted right in front of her. He raised on his haunches, and sniffed the air.
He smiled a cheese-stained grin, and exuberantly shouted her name, but it wasn't Quinn. "Kim!"
The entire table gasped, and Quinn, who had just taken a swig of her soda, shot it out of her mouth all over poor Rufus.
To be continued…
...x x x x... (bar on edit page didn't work) ...x x x x...
I hope the way I brought in Rufus back in was feasible.
Well, it's finally out. At least Kim's family knows she's alive now. But how will they react to her new-found strengths? Keep reading to find out. Hope y'all still enjoy…
note: Over 4000 years ago, Archimedes discovered volume and water displacement when he sat in a bathtub filled to the rim with water, causing it to spill over. He was so excited about the discovery, he ran out of the bathhouse completely nude! (It's true! Confirmed it with MrDrP)