Chapter IV: The First Battle
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Keith reached the street where the traumatizers were first reported and when he paused to look around, it was not good. Everything in the street was destroyed. Cars were upturned and burning, shops and restaurants were smoking. The robots left destruction in their wake.
It didn't make any sense. Why such random destruction? Or was it random? So far he didn't see any dead bodies. Why? He wouldn't believe that those robots' aim was off. It was too coincidental. It was almost like…
"Land to Air, Come in Hotshot," Keith said in his com unit.
"Ronman here. Just two more…" Keith heard an explosion in his receiver and then a satisfied voice. "Booyah! The skies are clear! What can I do for ya?"
"I need eyes, my man," Keith said as he ran, following the trail of destruction. "I've got a feeling this is more than an attack."
"Well, you need to hop to it. You're about a block from the action. They're a lot of friendlies that need saving. That's strange. The people look like they're being…"
"Herded?" Keith ran as fast as he could. He could see the backs of the traumatizers as he approached.
"Yeah. They're headed for the port," Ron reported as he hovered above the buildings.
"Felix, we need that sub disabled. How are you doing there?" Keith asked over the radio.
"I took care of the sharks but the subs a little tough nut to crack," Felix said as he continued to strike the sub. "I'm making holes but this sucker's huge. I could fire my Hydro-missile at it but it won't be substantial. It would make a hole but my guess is that it would still run."
"What about using it on the propeller," Ron asked as he took out a group of traumatizers with his laser cannons.
"That's just it. This doesn't have a propeller!"
"Hydro jets?" Keith said as he reached the traumatizers. He immediately stopped and his chest cannon suddenly came to life. The robots suddenly were pummeled with high force plasma pulsars, piercing through their thick armored hides.
"I think so and the vents must be closed. I couldn't do much damage with what I've got," Felix said as he surfaced and took out the traumatizers guarding the loading bay of the sub with his arm mounted laser cannon.
"Ron, have you deployed your laser bomb?" Keith asked as he rushed to get ahead of the stampeding crowd who haven't noticed that their backs were cleared.
"Not yet," Ron said as he flew over the remaining traumatizers and pelted them with lasers. "Whatcha thinking?"
"That we'll crack that nut together," Keith said, getting ahead of the crowd. His exo-frame made him stronger so carrying his weapon system while running at top speed didn't faze him a bit.
"Roger that," Ron's voice came into Keith's receiver. "Head's up, Groundhog. Ronshine express coming through." With that, Keith leaped into the air, arms outstretched. Ron swooped down and caught his hands, carrying him towards the harbor.
"We need to get in front of the people and sink that sub before they reach it," Keith said as he surveyed the ground below. "Nice view you got here Ace,"
"Why not try flying sometime," Ron's sunny voice couldn't hide the smile. "It beats walking."
"Maybe," Keith said as they passed the civilians. "I'll take that under advisement." Ron laughed despite the current situation they're in. "What about you Felix? Fancy a spin?"
"No thanks," Felix replied. "I'm happy where I am."
"Spoilsport," Ron said with a laugh. "Let's get to work, I still have a date."
"Always the lady's man," Keith said as he suddenly fired his chest cannon to clear the ground from the traumatizers that were waiting for the people. "Question: what would Drakken want with the people?"
"Cybernetic slaves?" Felix suggested leaving a hollow feeling in their stomachs.
"Let's sink that sub," Keith said with determination. Ron flew low enough to drop Keith and immediately rocketed to the sky. "Pick your targets. Aim for the one you think is the weakest."
"Easy for you to say," Felix said as he cruised under the sub. "You have a large gaping hole called a loading dock conveniently opened for you."
"Funny. I didn't notice that," Keith said as he aimed his plasma accelerator bazooka on the opened door that led to the deep recesses of the submarine. The projectile rocketed out of the bazooka and into the sub, causing massive internal explosions.
"Whoa, that's wicked," Felix said as he saw a panel beneath the submarine open and began sucking water in. At the same time, another panel opened in the rear letting the water out and propelling the sub forward. "Thanks buddy," Felix fired his Hydro-Missile towards the intake manifold of the hydro-jets. The missile was sucked into the jets and detonated, crippling the sub's only means of propulsion. "The sub's crippled."
"Thanks Felix," Ron said as he dove towards the sub. "My turn," Ron found one of the hatches still open and smiled. "Like shooting whomprats,"
"If that's the way you want it," Keith said in his communicator. "Come on, Kid. Let's blow this thing and go home." Ron laughed and dropped his laser bomb. The hatch seemed small at his distance but then again, he was good.
The bomb entered the hatch and impacted creating a sequence of explosions rendering the sub unsalvageable. The once imposing submarine became a hunk of wreckage in a few moments.
"Alright!" Ron shouted, displaying aerobatic maneuvers in glee. "Booh-Yah!" Keith managed a smile from their accomplishments.
"Status," Keith called out, even though the danger seemed to have averted, it was wise to be sure.
"Air. The skies are always clear with the ace here," Ron happily said. Keith almost groaned at his playfulness. At least he wasn't nervous trying out the Sky Knight again.
"Sea. The water's fine, jump right in," Felix said, echoing Ron's enthusiasm.
"Land." Keith smirked. "All clear here. And looks like GJ's got the crowd calmed. At least they're useful for something."
"They're Kim's squad," Ron said as he saw the Global Justice agents below. "People come first. That's what she said when the squad was formed."
"Still spying on her?" Keith asked though the two could hear the mirth in his voice.
"Dude, it's hard not to notice her, especially in her combat suit," Ron was referring to Kim's preferred GJ combat suit which hugged her body and left none to the imagination.
"Don't go there, Flyboy," Keith said, admitting silently that the man had a point. Kim Possible could make any sane man crazy. But he wasn't one of them. He would be called crazy if he told anyone his preferences. Suicidal would be the most applicable term. Especially after the stunt he pulled earlier.
"Regroup at the far end of the harbor," Keith said and made his way to the rendezvous point.
"On my way," Felix said as he engaged his boosters. "Let's go, Ron-man."
"Roger," Ron said, giving the scene below a final look, hoping to spot a certain redhead amidst the crowd. There were a lot of people and he was about to give up when he felt that he was being observed. Slowly turning his head, he saw someone on one of the rooftops hear him. He smiled as he saw the unmistakable red hair fluttering with the wind.
Kim Possible was looking at him not with spite as he would have expected but with respect and curiosity. He barely made the soft mouthed "thank you" but he did see it.
"Later KP." Giving her a playful salute he cut off his engines and dropped to the ground. Before he was a few feet from the ground, he reignited his engines and flew away at high speed. He needed to get back so he could see her again.
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Kim's heart stopped when she saw him plummeted to the street below. She almost dove after him but when she saw him reignite his thrusters she knew that he was showing off. It impresses her and irked her at the same time.
Just who was he? It annoyed her that he was able to destroy those drones but was thankful that they showed up at the right time. She knew when she was rescued that he could do something she and her team couldn't do and she let him do it. When she had caught up with the fleeing crowd, she noticed numerous destroyed walking drones called traumatizers. Could he do this all on his own?
After instructing her team to check on the people, she went towards the harbor and found the destroyed submarine. From the accounts of her team and from what she saw earlier from the rooftop, it seemed like that they were herding the people towards the sub.
"Why?" she asked aloud. She suddenly heard an engine roar. She knew that sound. It was the same sound that the man in blue's jetpack made when he rescued her.
She saw him. Saw him landing on the other side of the harbor. She quickly set off to find him. She had a lot of questions and he had the answers. It took her a while but she reached the place where the man in blue disappeared.
When she got there, there was nothing there. No place to hide. No place to sneak off to. It was like they disappeared from thin air.
Dr. Director won't like this. She won't like it one bit.
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Zita sighed as she retrieved the three. She was monitoring the action below, ready to give assistance when needed. However, there was little she could do. The boys handled themselves well. But what was Drakken after?
"I think I need wheels," Keith said as he stepped down from the beaming pod. "It was a long run."
"Like I said, you need wings man," Ron said as he slid from the stair's banister. "Death from Above."
"I had my fill of wings, thank you very much," Keith smirked, shaking his head at the suggestion.
"Well, I think we need to juice up the cannons more. They hardly dented that sub," Felix complained.
"You are the master of your element, Felix. You decide if you need a change of hardware in the middle of the battle. That's what makes these weapon systems effective," Keith said as he looked at Zita's console. "By now Drakken is aware of our presence. And if what I heard is true, he would be pissed and is planning his next attack."
"Great," Ron sighed as he leaned on the console. "But why was he taking people? Hostages?"
"Once maybe. I don't know. Let's keep on out toes. This Drakken of yours became demented and unpredictably brutal. That reminds me, don't you have a date?" Keith looked at Ron in askance, making the blond blush.
"Yeah. I'll go get ready then," Ron sprinted towards the beaming pod and smiled. "Catch you later!"
"Keep the exo-frame with you. There might be an emergency like earlier," Keith said, watching the pilot disappear in a red light. "I'll be at Centrum. We've got to find out what Drakken's up to."
"We'll hold the fort while you guys are gone," Felix said as he unzipped his exo-frame.
"Thanks," Keith went up to the beaming pod and smiled. "Energize. Each his own way." He disappeared in a yellow light and Felix was alone with Zita.
"What was that about?" Zita asked as she stood beside Felix. Felix merely smiled and shook his head.
"Nothing," he said. "Just something about people doing the same thing." Zita was still confused.
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Kim was chewed again by Dr. Director. This time, she and her team was suspended. She argued that her team was not to blame but she, herself, was. It didn't matter. Not only did they made GJ look bad but they didn't apprehend the men that saved the people.
This was crazy. Arrest the people who saved the city? It was like punishing a person for doing a good job.
The problem was, it was making GJ look bad.
So now, suspended and might even be fired, Kim Possible walked the streets of Middleton with out a clue to what she would do next.
"Maybe I should call Ron," Kim said as he took out her phone. She hasn't used her Kimmunicator in a long time. But she remembered one important thing: she didn't get his number.
However, he did say Bueno Nacho but he was in Japan. She tried to find him but she was recalled. It wasn't a good day for her. What the hell, it wouldn't hurt to try. She entered Bueno Nacho, their old hang out. It seemed like a long time since she'd been there. A long time since…
Since she had broken up with Ron. It was probably one of the few things she really regretted in her life. She didn't want to relieve the pain she endured. She wanted to apologize but he was gone. Not even Wade could find him.
As she approached their table, she noticed someone was already there. "oh great," she thought," just my luck that someone had gotten our table before…"
"Saved you a seat, KP," Ron's voice reached out through the gloom and touched her. It wasn't possible. He was here! In Middleton! But how?
"Ron?" she blinked in surprise. "How did..?"
"Caught an early flight," he smiled. She missed that smile. But it was different. It still held the goofy childlike smile but it had confidence in it. Something she did not expect.
"How did you know that I would choose this Bueno Nacho? There must be hundreds to chose from."
"Process of elimination," he said simply. "Anyway. It's good to see you."
"Me too," Kim smiled as she took her seat. She realized she really did want to see him and after all these years, there's a lot of catching up to do. "So, what have you been up to?"
"Since the break up?" Ron said calmly. She couldn't believe it. How could he say that so easily? It was like he had gotten over it. Had he gotten over her as well?
"Yeah, since then." She couldn't keep her hands trembling. She was nervous. Why was she nervous?
"Well, after you and I gone our separate ways I joined the Air Force," Kim couldn't believe what she was hearing. Ron? Air Force? When? How? The why she could figure out.
"Wasn't that a bit drastic?" Kim said, the guilt emerging from deep within.
"I though so a few times," he continued smiling. "But I got to play with some badical toys." Just like Ron, always seeing the brighter side of things. Though, then again, he always sees the darker side of things as well.
"How come Wade couldn't find you?" she didn't understand that. Wade could find anything about almost anyone.
"Wade was given limited access when you made him one of your team. He couldn't get into ghost files without proper authorization. Plus one of my friends made sure that I was beneath the radar." His explanation made sense.
"Why?" she asked. "Why be invisible?"
"I became a test pilot," Ron said proudly. "Area 51 stuff. Can't tell." She couldn't believe it. Ron got on well without her. She was proud of him. Really. All his accomplishments made her seem inadequate somehow. With all her failures the last few months, she couldn't face him with the same confidence he had. "What's wrong?" he asked.
Was she that obvious?
"It's nothing," she said. Even to her it sounded like a blatant lie.
"KP," Ron took a deep breath and lean on his chair. "Even though we had a rocky and somewhat disastrous ending to our love life doesn't mean I stopped being a friend." This broke her. She tried to hold back but when she felt Ron move to her side, everything she had kept locked up and hidden, burst out.
There are two things that Ron could not handle seeing. The puppy dog pout and women crying. He did what he thought was best at that time. He took his arm and wrapped it around her. Kim felt the warmness and immediately buried her head on his chest.
Ron smiled softly as he soothed his best friend and once girlfriend. He didn't know what to do or what to expect. He just knew that Kim needed him. And whatever needed saying had to wait.
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"Who are those men?" Doc Drakken asked as he watched the footage of the attack on Tokyo in his secret lair.
"Don't know man, but they have seriously wicked hardware, seriously," Motor Ed said as he watched the footage.
"I made a fool out of my arch foe Kim Possible and thought that I could conquer the world. These are variables that I didn't count on." Drakken's left cybernetic arm moved to press a button on the console. "They are almost military. They have the demeanor of a well organized unit. I doubt that the government knew about them." Drakken uncharacteristically growled as he shut the monitor off. Ed knew that Drakken's intelligence was increased after the fusion of his cybernetic half's computer unit Syntax. Ed's own Lesion unit made him stronger but felt that something was looking over his shoulder.
"Seriously, can't we just swat them? Serirously?" Ed suggested.
"They are an unknown factor. They are dangerous. But nothing will stand in the way of the might of Doc Drakken!" Drakken laughed maniacally, giving Ed the shivers.
"Come, Ed. We attack Middleton Space Center," Drakken said with a sneer. "I have some things to… acquire. And if Kim Possible or those men interfere, eliminate them."
"Seriously?" Motor Ed smiled. Draken turned and returned the smile but his was filled with malice and deviousness.
"Seriously."
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End of chapter
A/n: I have returned from a long hiatus (Had to concentrate in graduating). I hope to update the rest of my stories. Thank you for your patience and hope for your continued patronage. Even though this is one of the least reviewed fanfics I have, I'm gonna finish it.