Disclaimer: I keep telling you, I don't own Kim and the gang. I only do this for fun and your reviews. Please, please believe me. Time for the big face off with I.J.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Chapter 15 Counsel Pt 2
Kim deftly helped the rehab nurse attach the lead wires to Ron's torso. "It's just like helping Mom's staff when they're getting ready to preform brain surgery," she quipped, "except the patient is standing naked in front of me." She gave Ron a peck on the lips and started on another wire.
"Oh?" Nurse Rosie said, "do you want to follow in your Mother's footsteps and become a surgeon or a nurse?"
"I've thought about it," Kim replied as she attached the last lead, "but I'm not sure if I can really handle all the blood and icky stuff."
"Yeah," Ron giggled and interjected, "Kim tried to assist her Mom with a brain operation on Mother's day last year. She fainted three times."
Kim snapped the nose plugs over Ron's nostrils and slammed the snorkel style mouth piece into his craw. "Get in the isolation tank, Ron Dear," she growled playfully and kissed his nose.
Ron pulled the goggles over his eyes and stepped into the large metal box. Kim made sure the wires were secured before she blew him an air kiss and closed the heavy door. She walked into the control room to rejoin Nurse Rosie.
The nurse flipped a few switches and turned a dial. "There, all set. Ron will be in there for fifteen minutes."
"So what's all involved with this therapy?" Kim asked.
"The wires we attached will send a low amperage current through Ron's body," Rosie said as she pointed to one of the monitor gauges, "while he's immersed in Altunian wine. The combination of the two will help fuse his Energy Being with the human body he's in."
"And the isolation tank is ideal for Ron to mentally concentrate on the fusion?" Kim ventured. Rosie nodded. "But the wine in the tank looked red. I thought there were only three types of Altunian wine. Green, blue and gold."
Rosie opened her lab coat which was the only thing she wore, and leaned back in her chair. "Actually there are five types of Altunian wine. The red, as you've seen in the tank, is the cheapest and not very good to drink. Therefore we use it in the fusion process. Then there is the green, blue and gold varieties that you've already heard about. Also, there's a clear Altunian wine. It's the sweetest of the five. The most rare. They run from dry to sweet in that order."
"That's a lot easier to remember than all the varieties of wines on Earth," Kim sighed. "It'll take a lifetime to understand all the Chablis', Zinfandels, Chardonnays and Pinots there are. I don't even what to get started with all the red wines."
Kim scanned the monitor panel and looked at the therapist. "So, are you getting ready to go to Earth on assignment or have you just gotten back?"
"Neither actually," Rosie said as she picked up her glass of blue wine and took a sip. "I came back from my tour of duty a long time ago, you might have even heard of me. When I was on Earth for my last assignment I worked as a nurse during the Crimean War. I went by the name of Florence," she said with a raised eyebrow.
"Florance Nightingale?" Kim marveled. "You practically wrote the book on the job of nursing as we know it today. You brought sanitation to army hospitals and decreased the number of fatalities due to related diseases. You also brought mathematics and statistical analysis to the medical profession."
Rosie blushed. "Yes, I did all those things, but I could have done more if I didn't follow my assignment. I wasn't allowed to make speeches about my findings. That might have led to further advances in nursing and health care. But I.J. would let me. It wasn't in their parameters for the time stream they had in mind."
"So Rosie, you toed the line and behaved like a good soldier," Kim sadly stated, "unlike Ron."
Rosie laughed. "Yeah, Ron is one of a kind, even back then. I met him once briefly. He was one of the Generals in the war and created some unique strategies, especially with the calvary. The steed he rode off on was magnificent!"
"So, why do you still keep your human form?" Kim queried. "Wouldn't you like to go back to being an Energy Being?"
"No, not really," Rosie smiled and took another sip of wine. "I like to go back to Earth every once in a while and teach. I was one of your Mother's instructors during her residency."
"Wow," Kim exhaled. "I never would have guessed. My Mom doesn't suspect she had worked so close with Florence Nightingale, one of her idols."
"Of course, you can't tell her," Rosie warned. "You can't reveal anything that you've seen here with anyone but the people from the FCC."
"The Federal Communications Commission?" Kim puzzled. Then it hit her. She giggled and slapped her forehead. "Oh yeah. The Federation of Consolidated Constellations."
Rosie leaned over and toggled a few switches. "Ron is just about ready to come out of the tub. You want to get him a towel or would you like to join him in the tank for an while?" she slyly asked.
Kim jumped out of her chair in anticipation. "Could I?"
"Well, I need to leave the rooms for about an hour to go do some paperwork and check on other patients," Rosie said with a wink. "Just be sure to clean up on your way out."
Kim was more than half way out of her clothes by the time Rosie finished the sentence.
"Hi Dr. Frank," Kim chimed as she dried Ron's back with a towel. "I guess you're here to tell us to get our butts over to the Council Chambers."
"No Kim, Ron," the Energy Being pulsed. "I just got word that they don't want you there for three hours."
Ron's cheesy grin arose. "Great! That means we have time to grab a bite to eat before the proceedings." He pulled on his pants and turned to Kim. "You want to check out the Bueno Nacho and see if it's as good as the one back home?"
Kim finished tying her shoe laces and happily said, "Yes, Please and Thank You, Honey. You know I'm hungry after that little underwater diving expedition we just went on."
"Underwater?" Dr. Frank queried.
Kim giggled. "Well, actually under wine. Nurse Rosie let me go in the immersion tank with Ron for a bit of fun. But don't worry, we cleaned up our ah... mess, although I think I swallowed a gallon of wine."
"I know I did," Ron chimed with his goofy grin plastered across his face.
"Alright you two," Dr. Frank sighed and laughed, "as long as we don't have to replace all the red wine. Ron, you only need one more therapy session and you'll be ready for duty again. We'll see you tomorrow morning."
"Thank You Dr. Frank," Ron cheerily said, "I'll be here." He turned to Kim. "Are you ready to go Dear?"
Kim linked arms with her husband and they walked out of the rehab center. "Cynthia?" Kim wondered aloud.
"Ginger," Ron said off-handedly. "Like the actress Ginger Rogers."
"What, and call her Gin for short?" Kim laughed. She said seriously, "Elizabeth. Beth for short."
"Nah, too Biblical," Ron said shaking his head. "How about Kimberly?"
"And have people call her Junior or KJ?" Kim said with a sour face. "Girls aren't named after their Mothers."
"Okay, Penelope," Ron offered. "Penny for short."
"I like that one. How about Martha," Kim said smiling. "Nana Possible's first name."
Ron frowned. "Only if we push her into the army. Then she could be Martha Possible Stoppable of the Military Police. MPS the MP." They both laughed long and loud at that.
They found the sombrero shaped building just like back on Earth. Ron breathed deeply as they entered the establishment. "Ah, the smell of cheese. It smells like..."
"Money in our pockets?" Kim tittered.
"Kimberly Ann Stoppable," Ron playfully chided her. "That sounds very mercenary!"
Kim shrugged as they started for the counter, "What! I can't be all Motherly and think of the future well fair of our children? By the way, we'll need to set up a college fund for our daughter when we get back to Earth."
"If we get back," Ron said disheartedly.
Kim stopped in her tracks and crossed her arms. "That doesn't sound like the Ron Stoppable I know. That sounds more like what Dean Katzwitz might say."
"Sorry Kim," Ron sighed. Then his face practically beamed. "You're right. We need to face the Council with a positive mental outlook... and a full stomach."
They walked to the counter and stopped suddenly. "Ned?" they both puzzled as they eyed the boy behind the counter.
"Hey Ron, hey Kim," the bespectacled boy said in his nasally voice. "So you finally came around to see me. Welcome to Bueno Nacho, Kalzarian style."
"You work for I.J.?" Kim asked in disbelief.
"Oh No, no no no no, No." Ned intoned. "I was working for the FCC. They wanted to keep an eye on you two after Intergalactic Justice started showing Ron's reports as an animated series. Since you two spent so much time at BN, they thought the Manager of the Middleton restaurant would be a perfect cover. Now that Kim's wise to the I.J. operation, I decided to return and run this shop. You two want your regular?" he said smiling broadly.
"Grande size Ned, Please and Thank You," Kim nodded eagerly.
Ned went to work on the order while continuing the conversation. "You don't know how much I love hearing you say that Kim," he sighed. "Anyway, it took a genius like me to get the gourmet class off their collective butts and finally get something close to the cheese we know back on Earth. I think you'll be pleased with the results." He set their orders on the counter. "Let me know what you think, and have a Muy Bueno Day!"
"Back at cha Ned!" Ron chimed. They picked up their trays and went to their normal booth. "The only thing missing," Ron said as he looked around the room, "is Rufus digging into the food before we get a chance."
Kim picked up her chimerito. "Yeah. That and hearing Bonnie's cackling laugh from across the room while she's talking to Brick or her former posse."
Ron took a bite of his Naco and smiled through the cheese. "Wow, Ned did it! This tastes just like back home!" Ron stood and threw Ned a thumbs up. Ned beamed and literally jumped for joy.
Kim had finishing her chimerito and was digging into the nachos, "I feel like I'm back in Middleton. Any minute now, I expect the Kimmunicator to go off and see Wade's smiling face."
BeepBeepBeBeep
Kim and Ron stopped in mid bite, peered at each other for two and three quarter seconds and laughed. Kim wiped her mouth, dug her Kimmunicator out of her pocket and thumbed it on. "Hey Wade, what's the sitch?" she giggled as she saw her tech buddy appear on the screen. "We were just talking about you."
"Hey Guys!" Wade said sunnily. "I don't have a mission for you. I just wanted to check in and see how things are going." He took a slurp of his ever present soda.
"We're just having a bite to eat at Bueno Nacho after Ron's second therapy session," Kim said happily, then she frowned. "We need to get over to the Council Chambers for day two of the hearing in a coupla hours. We're not sure how that's going to turn out. Ron and I talked about it last night and we don't think we have many options."
"We've been talking about it back here too," Wade said solemnly. "It doesn't look good and there's nothing we can do to help."
Ron grabbed the Ronunicator out of his pocket and turned it on. "But we have some good news. Kim's pregnant! We're gonna have a baby girl!"
Tara's face appeared on the two screens. "Bonnie and I were going to throw you a bridal shower when you got back. I guess we should change it to a baby shower now," she giggled.
Kim groaned in appreciation. "Aw, you don't need to... Auntie Tara," she giggled back. "Tell Auntie Bonnie you can have a party if you promise not to buy any gifts. Ron and I have already gone shopping and we've completely furnish one of the bedrooms as a nursery."
"You were that certain you'd get pregnant?" Tara asked.
"Hold on guys," Wade appeared again on the small screens and seemed perplexed. "I got an incoming call but I don't know anyone who's on this frequency besides us. I'd better take it so I need to sign off."
"Talk to you later," Kim and Ron said in unison as the screens went black.
"That's strange," Ron said in deep thought. "Who would be calling him on our frequency?"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Kim was standing, wrapped in Ron's arms with her head on his chest, when she heard the door open and the five Council members enter. "Just remember Ron," she sighed, "no matter what happens today, I'll always have your back."
"Just like I always got yours KP," Ron whispered as he pulled her lips to his.
The kiss was somewhat passionate, but slightly restrained considering the environment. Kim started to giggle long before the buss should have ended. "I don't know why," she grinned as she uncoiled from the embrace, "but I have a really good feeling about today. A little weird, but good."
The goofiest grin spread across Ron's face. "Now that you mention it, I got the same feeling. I feel like I could take on a stampeding herd of rogue elephants."
Kim latched onto Ron's arm as they turned to face the panel. "With your plasma powers, couldn't you always?" she hissed at him.
The main Councilman, seated in the middle of the group, cleared his throat. "Ron, we will start today with why you jumped two stages in your assignment and married Kim Possible so quickly after you became a couple." He turned to the person seated to his left. "Did they even become a dating couple?"
"Excuse me!" Kim said very loudly as she stepped toward the inquisitors. "I thought you understood and agreed to my preference to be called by my married name. I'm Kim Stoppable!"
"We will, when we are making reference to you after your marriage to Ron," another Council member said. "Right now we are talking about before you two were wed, and your name at the time was Kim Possible."
"Do you need to differentiate so precisely?" questioned Kim as she started to pace before the bench. "If so, you could designate my Pre Marriage name as Kim PM, and After Marriage as Kim AM," she said sarcastically as she threw her arms in the air. "Or maybe you'd like to eliminate my name from the records altogether and only refer to me as PM and AM!"
"Ah, KP," Ron hissed at her, "Ix-nay on the Arcasm-say."
She stopped in her tracks and blushed a brilliant red. "Oops, sorry. I just got a little boost of prenatal moodiness right now. Sorry," she repeated weakly.
The sole Councilwoman smiled. "That's quite alright Kim. I was an operative assigned to Earth once and went through pregnancy. I remember mouthing off to my husband quite a few times. Your outburst is forgiven."
"Nevertheless," the main Councilman chimed, "we must differentiate your name before your marriage to Ron as Kim Possible. For our records."
"We be good," Ron said smiling broadly. He took Kim's hand and gave it a quick squeeze. "Now. You were asking me why I skipped ahead two stages. At the time it seemed like the right thing to do. I still think so. Kim and I have been friends since we were four years old. As it were, it seems like we've been very close friends forever. As one of my teammates mentioned to me the other day, the real Ron Stoppable most likely had deep feeling for Kim Possible since the day they met. Those feelings transfered to me when I downloaded his memories and replaced him. The feelings of love and admiration intensified through all the missions and hanging out with her just about twenty four seven. I mean, it was like we were dating without all the regular dating baggage to clutter things up. I would imagine she came to feel the same way towards me."
"Yes I did," Kim cut in and smiled warmly. "At first, I thought Ron was a little weird, but kinda cute. We became fast friends immediately. Over the years, I've grow to rely on Ron for a lot of things, friendship only being one of them. He's been the most helpful and loyal friend I could ever image or want. I can confide in him and talk to him about anything and not worry he might let my secret wants, fears or desires out. And his bravery. Well, let's just say I would've stopped going on missions a long time ago if Ron hadn't been by my side." Kim looked down at the floor. "I believe my meeting Ron, and Dean taking over his life, was destiny." She raised her sparkling emerald eyes to face the panel and proudly beamed a huge smile. " His child-like wonder, playfulness, loyalty and bravery helped mold my image of the world and myself. My Ron, or your Dean, and I are truly Soul Mates."
Ron added, "As Kim's innate curiosity and intense devotion to friends and family helped mold my personality. I am not the Dean Katzwitz that went to Earth two hundred fifty years ago and I am not the same as I was before I took the assignment to monitor and direct Kim Possible."
"But are the personalities of the Dean who originally went to Earth and the one who took on the Possible assignment the same?" the Councilman at the end of the table inquired. "Didn't your personality grow or change between the two time periods?"
Ron thought for a few seconds before he shook his head. "No. No not really. I believe I was basically the same person up until I met Kim. Before, I would do my job to the best of my ability, but within safety constraints. Now I take things more to heart; I'm a lot more passionate in whatever I do. The last mission I went on is a good example. I absolutely hate drugs now and I blew my fuse over that whole idiot drug lord sitch."
"But you've 'blown your fuse' a couple of times before," the Councilman said using air quotes, much to Kim's giggling amusement, "and had to return for rehab. Was your 'passion' a contributing factor in those two incidents?" The inquisitor again used air quotes, around the word passion this time. Kim had to bite her lower lip to stifle an all out roar of laughter. (Air quotes being so passé!)
"No Sir," Ron stated firmly. "The first incident was over Tunguska Russia. I was piloting our craft on the way back from a mission and we lost power. I determined the only course of action, if we were to avoid crashing, was to focus my plasma power ahead of the vessel and cushion our landing." He scratched the back of his head. "I overestimated the energy needed. We bounced off the shock wave I created and rebounded back into space."
"You've never been good at math," Kim chided him playfully in a low voice.
Ron shrugged and blew her an air kiss. "The second time was in Turkey. A couple of us were goofing around and I ah... accidentally, released most of my energy into the ground." He guiltily tittered and looked at the floor. "Well, accidentally is the wrong word." His gaze rose to meet the Council. "Someone bet me I couldn't create an Earthquake and I said I could. It registered 7.8 on the Richter Scale. This time it was different. My association with Kim has made me more passionate about things. It's the only explanation for what I did. I could have brought the building down with a few well placed plasma blasts but I was angry and went for it all."
"I said the same thing to Bonnie at the time," Tara sang as she walked into the room.
"She did," Bonnie said as she accompanied her platinum blond friend and coworker. "We've both noticed the changes in Ron from before this last assignment. And we like the new Ron."
"Tara? Bonnie?" Ron and Kim said in unison. "What are you doing here?"
Tara giggled at the duo. "I love it when you two speak as one." She turned to the Council. "We've been watching the proceedings and wanted to put our two cents in."
Kim and Ron hugged their friends. Ron asked, "How did you get to watch the hearings? I didn't think they were being televised."
"I got that call from an anonymous person telling us what channel to watch," Wade said as he walked in and took a sip of his ever present soda. "They even sent us yesterdays footage. They further suggested we might want to show up and see the fireworks in person."
"And you know us," Felix added as he walked in. "We love fireworks."
"I shoulda guessed," Kim laughed, slapped her forehead, and hugged Felix. "You were another test." He nodded. "You know what this means, don't ya?" Kim slyly winked at Felix.
"Bring it on, Ms. Stoppable," Felix growled. "I know where there's a B-ball court not far from here."
"Woo Hoo, Fireworks!" Rufus hollered from Tara's cargo pants pocket.
The main Council stood and yelled, "This is most unusual! We have never had the whole away team show up for the hearing of one member!"
"If there's one thing we've learned on this last assignment," Bonnie started.
"It's that there is no I in team," Felix finished.
"We see it in the sports we cheer for," Tara giggled.
"And Kim and Ron proved it on every mission I sent them on," Wade said grinning ear to ear.
Ron and Kim turned and smiled knowingly at the Council members.
"If you think you can up and take our Son away," Mrs. Stoppable said wagging an accusatory finger at the Seated Five as she strode purposefully into the room.
"You've got another think coming," Mr. Stoppable sternly warned from her side. He waved his hand to stop any protests that might arise from the Council members. "Yes, yes. We've been told this man isn't really our Son but an operative you've place in our home. But we raised him, and we consider him our flesh and blood. Not that teenager you have in your village somewhere."
"Mom? Dad?" Ron and Kim said in amazement.
"You know about the village?" Ron queried.
"Wade's anonymous caller said to bring us all up to speed on what's happening," Mrs. Dr. Possible said as she and Mr. Dr. P walked into the Council Chamber.
"MOM!" Kim squealed with delight and ran to hug her. Kim whispered in her Mother's ear and giggled like a school girl.
Mrs. Dr. P smiled and patted her Daughter's hands. "I know Dear. Your Father had some problems with the transport beam and Dr. Frank checked him over. It was great seeing Rosie again too. Anyway, we'll talk about that later. Right now we've come to take you two home."
"That's right!" Mr. Dr. P said firmly. "From what we've been told, you agreed with Ronald's decision to marry my Kimmie-Cub."
"DADDY!" Kim squawked and blushed.
The main Councilman stood. "That well my be, but Ron still has fifty years on his contract and we will need him for other assignments now that his work is done in Middleton."
Mr. Stoppable scratched the back of his head. "Would that be prudent? I mean taking Ron and his coworker out of Middleton. I don't know your whole layout but, don't you need to keep a group somewhere in the area? Every branch of the U. S. military has a base close by and they might be needed at a moments notice at one of them. Maybe you shouldn't move Ron and his team on to new assignments."
"Norad and the the Space Center are nearby too," Mr. Dr. P added. "With those ships you guys fly around in, you might need someone close to those bases to intercede if the craft are ever detected. I'm surprised we haven't seen anything on radar. That ship I piloted was quite a beaut," he said in admiration.
"You've flew their UFO?" Kim questioned her Father in disbelief. She turned on her husband. "I haven't seen it yet Ron! When were you going to show me?"
"That baby is sweet!" Mr. Dr. P said in his own little world, gazing far off at nothing in particular. "And the way she handled! Whoa! I never thought I'd ever see an aircraft with that maneuverability and..."
"What's going on here?" The First Councilman yelled.
Kim turned to the other teens. "You guys took our parents in your UFO?"
"They were all so kind to come pick us up," Yori intoned as she and Sensei walked into the room and bowed.
"We would like to observe what happens here at the proceeding for our colleague Stoppable-san," Sensei added, "since our jobs are also in limbo like Ron-san's." He took a moment and gazed around the chamber. "Ah yes, it has been a long time since I have been in this room."
"We are most honored you came," Kim and Ron sincerely chanted as they bowed. Everyone from Earth started talking amongst themselves.
"We need order in here!" the main Councilman yelled above the din. "This hearing is not suppose to involve any of you! Just Ron!!!!"
Sensei approached the Seated Five. "Ah, but it is." He raised his hand and all fell silent. "It is proceeding exactly as THEY wish it to."
"They?" the First Council asked the old Japanese man. "Do you mean the Earthlings, or Ron's team?"
"Neither!" the female voice stated firmly from the doorway to the room. "It is going the way WE want it to!" Monique stepped into the Council Chamber accompanied by Big Mike from Detention Hall. They were dressed in long, flowing white robes and sandals. Three other Humans and two floating Energy Beings, all of whom Ron and Kim didn't recognize, followed the odd couple. The Human forms were dress like Monique and Mike. "The Federation of Consolidated Constellations Council wishes all to be present. They are all invested in this hearing."
"Hey Ron, hey Kim," Big Mike baritoned. "Howz y'all doin'?" He waved his massive hand and the couple noticed the glittery nail polish.
"Hey Big Mike," Kim and Ron chimed and tittered. Both scratched the backs of their heads.
Kim leaned over to Ron and asked sotto voce, "What's the FCC doing here? I though I.J. was in charge."
"I.J. is only a sub department," Ron whispered back. "The Fed is in charge of the whole shebang."
"You got that right Ronnie," Monique said as she stepped up behind Kim. "You know what's gonna happen now girlfriend?"
"Not totally," Kim said with a big smile as she hugged her friend, "but I have an idea Intergalactic Justice isn't going to like it much."
"Damn straight!" Monique wickedly chimed.
"Youz guyz listen up," Big Mike said loudly to the seated Council members. "Monique here is gonna tell youz what we, at the FCC, tink of ya." He turned to the dark skinned beauty. "They're all yours, Monique."
"Thank You Michael," Monique said, smiling at him. She walked over to the five I.J. Council members who rose from their seats and bowed. Her smile quickly turned upside down. "We've been observing your operations for some time now and we don't like what we've seen. You seem to be out of touch with the planets you are running operations on. Earth is a prime example. As Ron stated yesterday, Capital Punishment is rare on that planet, except for the hardened criminals or those who show no signs of remorse for their heinous crimes. But the contracts you have with your Operatives state if they fail in their assignments they would be exiled or terminated. Exile to hard labor on some rock is just harsh. Termination is extremely harsh!" Monique's wicked little smile arose. "I think you've failed your assignment to properly run Intergalactic Justice. Perhaps you should be exiled or eliminated."
"Wait a minute," the First Councilman said. "What have we done to consider our jobs a failure here?"
Monique crossed her arms and asked. "Have you updated your parameters for Earth lately? Earthlings are advancing at an exponential rate, yet you are still running the Schedule for Advancement you came up with three hundred years ago. You listen or read a hundred reports a week. Do you take any of that info into account for future assignments?" Monique slammed both hands hard on the Council bench. "You've used Earthlings as guinea pigs! Kim got it right yesterday. They are sentient beings, like us. How would you like it if someone ran you willy nilly around the world, taking you away from your friends and coworkers, without you know the true reason why?"
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," Big Mike said. "It's the Golden Rule on Earth."
"Walk a mile in the other man's sandals," Sensei sagely added.
"Thank you both," Monique said grinning. "And the Earthlings have quite a few more adages that would apply here." She turned to Ron. "You sometimes ask your fellow Agents what they would do in a certain situation, like you did in Sri Lanka. What would you do with this bunch here?"
"Monique," Ron said weakly, "I'm in no position to pass judgment on my Superiors. My life is on the line and that would definitely cloud my decision."
"I understand that Ron," Monique sighed. Then her demeanor stiffened. "But if you had the power right now, what would you do with them? Quickly, without thinking."
Ron immediately said, "Give them another chance."
Monique turned to the other members of Ron's team. "What do you say to the question?"
The four teens and naked mole rat looked at each other and nodded. "We feel the same way Ron does," Tara giggled.
"Another Chance!" Rufus cheered, pumping a pink paw in the air.
"Now," Monique turned back to the tow haired boy, "what would Dean say to the same query, say, fifty or a hundred years ago? Think about it this time."
Ron thought for nine and a half seconds before answering. "He would've said to fulfill their contracts if they failed in their jobs." Ron suddenly paled and shouted, "NO! That's not what I want to happen now! I..." He crossed his arms and harrumphed at her. "Very clever Monique."
The dark haired, Federation of Consolidated Constellations Council member turned to the seated panel. "See? The influences of Earth morals and attitudes on our people are strong. I've been on Earth for only two years now and I feel the same way."
Kim walked over to the sole Councilwoman and said, "You told us you were an Operative on Earth at one time. How long ago was that?"
"Oh, I'd have to say it was two hundred plus years," the woman answered.
"Have you gone back since?" Kim queried. The councilwoman sadly shook her head.
Kim grinned knowingly and turned to Monique. "I'd say they're a lot out of touch. Maybe they should visit the planets they run operations on every once in a while. Maybe once every few years."
"Or perhaps they should only be on the Council for fifty or sixty years," Tara giggled. "Limit their term in office like the Senate or Congress back on Earth."
"Actually," Bonnie chimed in, "I think they've gathered enough information on Earthlings and need to focus on missions to improve matters, instead of assignments to gather intel on the population."
"If you ask me," Wade said after taking a slurp of soda, "I believe Earth is ready for a major announcement. We should invite them into the FCC as a member."
Rufus ran onto Ron's shoulder and cheerfully chirped, "Membership, BooYah!"
"All interesting ideas," Big Mike said. "There's sumptin in what everyone iz sayin here."
"Yes Michael," Monique nodded. "We'll have to discuss this situation in our next session." She returned her attention to the I.J. Council Members. "And we will get back to you with our findings. But until then, here's what's going to happen with Ron and Kim. You will keep his team in Middleton for as long as they wish to stay there. They will continue to preform their missions, as usual, and Kim will become a team member. With one minor change." Monique huddled with the Intergalactic Justice Council for a minute before they all turned to the Earthlings.
"Kim, Ron, get your parents," Monique said. "We need to discuss your future."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A/N: Just a quick note or two. Monique doesn't appear too much in the series so she's not seen reading or watching reports for the FCC. She can always beam back to Kalzaria for her FCC meetings. It was just too tempting to bring in her, Big Mike, Ned and Jilly. It all fit so perfectly. Hope you're enjoying my little twist. R&R Please and Thank You! One last Chapter to wrap up a few details. And you know I like the details.