Chapter 17 : As One With the Dust of the World*

Scene : Kim and Ron in Middleton Mall's food court a day or so later, trying to figure out what to do next.

"The Bebes released their Omega virus Ron !" Kim stated as she poked at her Chinese food, "That's like the second time a villain has EVER managed to get something past me because I wasn't paying enough attention !"

"Well, I don't think it's ALL your fault KP." Ron offered, "I mean, Drakken's Diablo plot only worked because it was so random. And the Unity's plot only worked because they were so darned sneaky that not even Wade knew they were around, much less up to something !"

"Yeah, but the Unity AND their virus wouldn't even exist if I had just made sure all the Bebes were destroyed when I had the chance years ago !" Kim sullenly replied.

"But if they were all destroyed years ago, then Vina and her sisters would never have been built." Ron noted.

"So ?" Kim replied, poking at her noodles, "Can't miss what never existed."

"Whoa ! Now THAT'S cold KP !" Ron replied.

"Colder than a bunch of homicidal robots infecting everyone on Earth with a fatal virus Ron ?" Kim responded, slamming a fist onto the table, "Artificials have been NOTHING but trouble ! The first Bebebots, the hyperspeed Bebes, the Destructo-bots, the Diablo 'bots, sythoclones of me, you, Rufus and Bonnie ? Erik ? The Unity and Elite Bebes ? Not a single one of them had any redeeming features whatsoever !"

Ron sipped on his soda, deep in thought before responding "Well, what about S.A.D.I. ? And Dr Freeman's other talking appliances ? Or Oliver, that robot Vivian built ?"

"Well, they're different for a couple of important reasons !" Kim replied with an exasperated sigh before counting off reasons on her fingers, "One : they aren't trying to take over the world. Two : They were built by sane people instead of Dr Drakken or other soulless robots. And three : they know their place - SERVING humans instead of trying to replace, equal or subjugate them !"

"Isn't slavery of any sort wrong KP ?" Ron asked, "I mean, anything smart enough to know what slavery is, is probably smart enough to not like it, and rebel !"

"Are you taking the Rossum's side against me AGAIN, Ron ?" Kim asked, temper beginning to flare.

"No. Not really." Ron replied as diplomatically as he could, "Just pointing out that your attitudes - although QUITE understandable given everything you've dealt with over the years - may be clouding your judgement. I mean, you once accused Yori of working for Monkey Fist ! And you tried to take down the Fashionistas alone rather than let Monique help you ! If she hadn't decided to go to Milan to help you of her own accord, you would've been splattered on the pavement when your grapple line was cut A FEW STORIES UP !"

Kim mulled that over quietly for a few moments. "Well, the Rossums could be trying to take over the world - Nina only said that 'taking over the world BY FORCE' was a bad idea; she didn't say anything about the wisdom of using other methods ! Like deceit and behind the scenes manipulation ! They ARE robots after all, no matter how human they look and act.

And it had ALL been an act up until the Unity tried to grab them. It may still be an act - the kidnapping attempt may have been yet another ruse, and the Rossums could be pretending to be on our side to get in close to one of the few agencies that could stand up to the Unity to destroy it from within !

As far as we know, they could be pulling some sort of complicated septuple cross or something !"

Ron blinked a few times in amazement. "What would they have to do to convince you to give them a chance KP - DIE FOR YOU ?!"

"Why SHOULD I give them a chance Ron ?" Kim snapped back, "There's a bunch of killer robots TRYING TO EXTERMINATE THE ENTIRE HUMAN RACE out there ! WHY should I believe - for even an instant - that the Rossum series of Bebebots are really any different than the others ?!

The Unity USED me like a meat puppet to hurt one of my best friends Ron !" Kim continued in a screaming whisper, "Using tech that I'm sure Nine-A understands and can replicate any time she wants !"

"Well, so could Drs Drakken, Bortal or Dementor if they put their minds to it." Ron stated in reply, "But for now, Nina and her sisters are under constant watch by GJ. It's unlikely they could get away with anything. Even if they were up to something. Besides - don't we have a world to save ?"

"Yeah." Kim replied once she calmed down, "I'm sure Wade could devise a way to cure Omega virus, IF we could find a sample of it for him to analyze !

So, all we have to do is figure out HOW the Unity spread their virus in order to track down a sample of it."

"You sure they really DID release the virus KP ?" Ron asked, "I mean, they could have lied about that to put you into a funk ! Or, to get us to waste time searching

the entire planet for a tube the size of a single soda straw !"

"The Unity is all about efficiency Ron." Kim began, "The most efficient lie would have been to claim the virus was in some deathtrap at the North pole, while the actual facility was at the South pole. Or say 'that is for us to know, and for you to force out of us !', and stay just out of reach for as long as they could. And THEN say the virus was at the North pole when interrogated !"

"So, you think that liquid metal Core defender was actually telling the truth ?" Ron asked after a few moments thought.

"More than likely." Kim replied, "Now, where could they hide a virus to ensure it gets spread as far as possible, as quickly as possible ?"

"There's a lot of places to hide a virus !" Ron noted, "Like, they could've broken into BN's manufacturing plants and slipped it into the Diablo sauce ! It could be all over the world several times over by now !"

"Well, they do have Shego's infiltration skills," Kim noted, "and the security for a place like that would be pretty light. But they'd need a lot of the virus. And that sauce is pretty noxious stuff - remember what it did to that explosive nano-tick that was stuck to my nose ?"

"Ah, right !" Ron replied, "I doubt anything could survive in that stuff for long ! Wait ! I know ! Smarty Mart items ! They receive and distribute stuff from all over the world !"

Kim cringed from a discount flashback. "True. But they'd need a LOT of virus to infect the entire Smarty Mart network. A lot more than what would fit inside a soda straw."

"Oh, right. What about money then ?" Ron offered, "There are only two places in the country that print bills, and they only use ink and paper from ONE source ! Slip the virus into the inks, and everytime someone spends cash, they transmit the virus !"

"That would be a great way to spread the virus Ron !" Kim replied, "But I doubt a virus could live through the printing process - what with all that heat and chemicals. Say, how did you know all that about money ?"

"It was on the 'Triviata !' channel last night." Ron replied with a shrug, "Just flicking through those hundreds of channels and sort of saw it mentioned."

"Ohhhkay ...." Kim answered as she looked around, hoping something would spark an idea.

Meanwhile, the waitress had come by and dropped off a few fortune cookies; Rufus made a run for them the moment her back was turned.

After breaking a cookie open, he started franctically chittering at Ron.

"What's the matter there little buddy ? Get a bad fortune ?" Ron asked once he noticed Rufus waving the slip of paper about like a small flag.

Ron took the fortune, then squinted at it. Then turned it upside down, then sideways, then held it up to the light to reverse the symbols.

"What are you doing Ron ?" Kim asked once she noticed his odd actions.

"Trying to figure out what this thing says !" Ron replied, "It looks like it's written in some sort of complex code or something !"

"It is written in Chinese, sir." the waitress replied on her return trip to the kitchen, "The manager thought it would be a good idea to get authentic Chinese fortune cookies from China. So now we have case upon case of fortunes few people can read !"

Ron thought for a moment. "Wait - weren't fortune cookies invented by a Chinese chef in America, and pretty much unknown in China ?"

"Yes, but you can get nearly anything made cheaply in China nowadays." the waitress replied, "You watch the Triviata channel ?"

"Only when its on. Sometimes ...." Ron answered sheepishly, "So, do you know what this fortune says ?"

"It says 'Pay attention to the small details to see the big picture, but do not miss the big picture by staring too closely at the tiniest of brush strokes.' " the waitress noted.

"You said you have a few cases of cookies from China ?" Kim asked.

"Yes. Quite a few." the waitress replied, "They arrived last week. Would you like a few packs to go ? We have plenty to spare !"

"No, that's fine ! Thank you !" Kim replied, then holding her tongue until the waitress had moved to another table, "Ron ! I know how the Unity is spreading their virus !"

"How ? Through fortune cookies ?" he replied, "That doesn't seem much better than any of the ideas I came up with !"

"No, Ron. Not the cookies - the packing materials !" Kim replied, "Those styrofoam peanuts and such ! Companies ship stuff in it all over the world, and nobody pays any attention to it !"

"Oh, right !" Ron replied once he caught on, "Since no one would rob a factory that makes packing material, how tightly would it be guarded ? And eco-friendly companies re-use those peanuts instead of throwing them out ! One batch of that stuff could be scattered all over the world by now !"

"The Unity tapped into our shipping networks to distribute their virus for them !" Kim noted, "But the virus must be pretty spread out by now.

So, all we have to do is find a way to scan for the virus !" Kim continued, "Not every styrofoam peanut will have Omega virus on it, so we need a way to scan a LOT of them at once ! But how ?"

Kim's train of thought was interrupted by four familiar tones from her wrist Kimmunicator.

"Wade ! You're okay !" Kim squeaked out in relief when his image appeared on the tiny viewscreen.

"Yep. They let me come home a few hours ago." he replied, "Just got finished getting everything hooked up and connected !"

"I am SO sorry about everything Wade !" Kim stated.

"It's okay, Kim." Wade answered with a dismissive wave, "I figured something weird was going on when you kicked my door in !"

"I didn't hurt you too badly, did I ?" Kim asked, trying to swallow her feelings of guilt, "I mean, I never meant to hurt you ! That wasn't really me !"

"I know, and don't worry about it !" Wade replied, "Strange things happen when you're out saving the world."

Kim smiled with pure relief. "Thanks Wade. Quick question - where's the largest maker of packing materials in the US ? And can the Kimmunicator scan for Omega virus ?"

Meanwhile, back in a conference room at GJ :

"Where did you get that cat ?" Will Du asked Nina, "None of you brought in anything from the outside, and there are no animals in this base !"

"He's not a 'real' cat, Agent Du." Nina replied as she absent-mindedly stroked the black and white cat snoozing on her lap, "I found him in a storage locker when I was looking for tools and replacement parts - he was a rather curiousy shaped parcel !"

"Ah, that's one of our old surveillance mechs then." Will recalled, "We used them to keep watch on subjects without their knowledge. But why did you re-activate it ?"

"I needed to test some new generator/capacitor configurations." Nina replied plainly, "Even with the equipment here, I have been unable to get Dr Weaver's bioreactor cultures to grow, so I am as yet unable to rebuild a power supply for Vina. I suspect he installed a fail-safe to ensure no one could steal his experiments."

"So you mean I'm stuck plugging myself into electrical outlets to recharge instead of eating ?" Vina whined.

"I am afraid so." Nina replied, "It's not like we can call him up and ask him to send us more of the stuff that was stolen from him a year ago ! One of many reasons I don't like relying on restricted, rare or stolen technology !"

"But we're creations of mad science and stolen technology !" Vina exclaimed, "Normal tech can only go so far ! And we are far beyond normal tech !"

"Science is science, 'mad', 'normal', or otherwise." Nina replied, "And I have made some progress in translating 'mad' into 'normal' science."

"You have ?" Vina asked, "Like what ?"

"I managed to get Enkidu here to run off a small perpetual generator." Nina answered while holding up her still snoozing cat, "He doesn't have to eat, drink, or breathe, but does have to be offline - 'asleep' - for eight hours every day so his generator can recharge his systems."

"That doesn't sound so bad." Vina noted, "I could live with being offline a few hours a day ! Heck, everyone needs a few hours of sleep a night anyhow ! And not needing to consume any external resources at all beyond usual maintenance and repairs sounds GREAT !"

Nina sighed glumly. "The relationships are non-linear, I'm afraid; if I scaled them to your size and power demands, you'd have to be asleep for twenty three and a half hours a day ! Another problem is the fact that our bioreactors are small eco-systems, based on living cells. Living cells that can mutate.

I am honestly surprised they've been able to power us for as long as they have."

"So there is a good chance your bio-reactors will fail in a short time ?" Doctor Director asked.

"Yes." Nina replied "It is unlikely they will continue working for another year; I estimate total failure within six months.

We were never meant to live for very long." she continued with a shrug and a pained smile. "Vina, your 'crude' alternate power supply will keep you functional for as long as electricity is available; I suspect I will have to install a similar system within myself and Tina rather soon.

But for now, we are functioning at optimal efficiency." Nina continued as she addressed Doctor Director, "And ready, willing, and able to help you in any way we can."

"Good to know." Director replied.

"So where are Kim and Ron ?" Vina asked, "Aren't they usually at these 'save the world' briefings ? Even if they aren't running them ?"

"Last we heard, they were out searching for a sample of the Omega virus." Will answered.

"They are ?" Nina asked, "How are they going to detect the virus ?"

"Use her Kimmunicator to scan for diagnostic DNA sequences, I suppose." Will replied, "Or find a few potentially contaminated items and ask our labs to examine them."

"Well, that's great - FOR HER." Nina noted, "But that won't help determine how widely spread the virus already is. That would require massive sampling. And you need to know that in order to determine the best course of preventitive action - or even if preventive measures are even possible now."

"Yes, we know that Miss Rossum !" Will replied, "But unless someone can invent an environmental DNA scanner that can be easily mass produced, we're stuck relying on Miss Possible's tech friend and her one-of-a-kind device !"

"Relying on a single person to do everything is neither sensible nor logical." Nina noted.

"Correct on both counts, Miss Rossum." Will answered.

"Then WHY rely on Kim and Wade so much ?" Bonnie finally had to interrupt, "Nina's great at technology and engineering and stuff ! She could probably whip up a scanner in no time at all !"

Doctor Director thought about that for a moment before turning to Nina and asking "Can you invent a viral scanner that can be quickly mass produced, as Miss Rockwaller believes you can ?"

Nina quickly glanced to her sisters, who both nodded once. "Yes. The US Army currently has a device that, with a few simple modifications, will do the job. I should have a prototype, parts list and blueprints in an hour or two."

"Excellent." Director replied, "Please begin work on it then."

Scene : GJ electronics lab, where Bonnie and Nina are working on a device.

"So, what was that quick psychic conference with T and V about ?" Bonnie asked, earning a start from Nina.

"Don't worry - I can't listen in on those conversations because I don't have the hardware." Bonnie replied when she noted Nina's reaction, "But it's quite obvious when you three are doing that ! But you're the tech specialist, so WHY would you need to ask Vina and Tina for help ?"

"I required some assistance in resolving a logical conundrum." Nina replied as she continued working with the drafting program, "It was not a question of 'COULD I do this ?' but rather 'SHOULD I do this ?' We have to stay on Kim's good side to stay alive, but she does not seem to tolerate competence in others. By helping to save the world without her consent, we risk becoming her enemies.

She has already destroyed dozens of Bebes so far; what's three more ?"

"And you three decided to go ahead with it anyways ?" Bonnie replied incredulously once she got over the chills.

"Yes. In the end, Kim's insecurities are her problem, not ours." Nina replied, "We are under no obligation to follow her script for us, nor conform to her opinions. Nor anyone else's. For once, we shall be who WE want to be, not what others want us to be."

"That's very brave of you." Bonnie noted as she started work on another component, "Very brave, or very foolish. Or a lot of both. But I'm surprised Tina didn't have some words of ancient wisdom to cover this situation."

"Actually, she did." Nina replied with an amused chuckle, " 'Fame or integrity : which is more important ? Money or happiness : which is more valuable ? Success or failure : which is more destructive ? If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never truly be fulfilled. If your happiness depends on money, you will never be happy with yourself. Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.' Or words to that effect ..."

They continue to work on quietly for a few moments before Nina asked "Are you still getting headaches around technology ?"

"No." Bonnie answered, "I think the more I learn about tech, the less effort those programs installed in my head need to figure it out, so less pain."

"Kind of like the difference in wear on a computer's hard drive when you upgrade from 256M to 2G of RAM ?" Nina asked with a slight smile.

"Yes ! I think that's ... GAAACK !! Oh God ! I'm turning into a neek !" Bonnie replied, "I can feel the food chain rolling over me as we speak !"

"A 'neek' ? What is a 'neek' ?" Nina asked.

"A mix of 'nerd' and 'geek' !" Bonnie replied, getting distressed, "I look horrible in thick glasses ! Am I turning pale and pasty yet ?"

"You ARE aware that brains and looks are not mutually exclusive, right ?" Nina asked, sounding slightly peeved.

"Have you looked at the world around you Nina ?" Bonnie replied in almost a shriek, "How many beautiful people are brilliant ? Or vice versa ?"

"Remind me to introduce you to Vivian when all of this is over." Nina replied coldy after a few moments of silence, "I suspect you two would cancel each other out."

"Vivian ? Who's Vivian ?" Bonnie asked once she calmed down, puzzled by Nina's unfriendly tone of voice.

"A robotics expert at the space center I worked with now and again." Nina replied flatly, not looking away from the computer screen, "She desperately WANTS to be taken seriously for her intellect, but her looks keep getting in the way."

Bonnie cringed once she figured out why Nina was tweaked. "I'm sorry about that whole 'neek' outburst there N ! I didn't mean to insult you ! It's just that, well, I'm still getting used to some of the unusual fallout from that whole 'former Queen of the Bebes' bit !"

"Apology accepted." Nina replied after a few tense moments. "'Tech genius' isn't your usual place in the food chain, right ?"

"Well, it's not the one I've been working for all these years !" Bonnie replied, "But I guess I'll have to deal."

Scene : back in a GJ conference room about seventy two minutes later.

"As promised, one easy to use bioscanner !" Bonnie stated to all present as she showed off a box the size of a deck of cards, "All it needs is a simple saliva swab to sample from people, or just a wet swipe to sample surfaces. After a few minutes for a few cycles of PCR and DNA binding analysis, it displays the results on this screen."

"A few minutes ?" Kim snorted in derision, "Wade could build something that could do all that AND give results in just a few seconds !"

"And could Mr Load's device be mass produced ?" Nina interceded as Bonnie licked an oversized Q-tip to get a sample to demonstrate with, "Scanning the entire human race one person at a time with your ONE Kimmunicator would take centuries; the Omega virus will most likely become full bore lethal within a few months. A year tops."

Kim merely growled under her breath in reply.

Will took the device from Bonnie and looked at it. "This device can be mass produced quickly ?"

"Easily !" Bonnie replied as she retrieved a flash drive from a pocket, "This has the blueprints and the parts list. Just give these files to any one of the companies listed, and you could have thousands of these within a week !"

The bioscanner emitted a loud 'ping !' to annouce that it was done.

"Let's see - all sixteen positive controls show 10/10. Sensors are working properly." Nina noted, "Negative controls - two '1s', rest '0s'. Systems reading correctly and not just detecting background DNA fragments.

Sample - three '4s', rest '3s'." Nina continued, her good mood fading quickly, "That indicates a low titer infection !"

"I'm ... INFECTED ?!" Bonnie shrieked, "but HOW ?! I haven't been out of Middleton ! Or done anything out of the ordinary for the last few days ! I haven't even done any shopping for anything !"

"Great Mary Mallon !" Nina exclaimed, getting odd looks from everyone.

"Mary Mallon. More commonly known as 'Typhoid Mary', a one-person epidemic back at the start of the 20th century. She was immune to typhus, but had a persistent infection in her gall bladder. Every family she cooked for - about a dozen or so - became infected because she didn't see the need for washing her hands."

Only response was blank looks from everyone else in the room.

"The Unity infected Kim and Ron with the Omega virus while they were inside the base." Nina continued, "They've been unknowingly spreading it everywhere they've gone since then."

"That is simply not possible !" Will stated, "They were quarantined and sprayed for infectious agents the moment they left the base ! We checked them for viruses at the first opportunity ! The tests revealed they were both perfectly healthy !"

"That should have been your first clue that something was wrong." Nina noted, "Since the Bebes don't breathe and are immune to disease, they kept the base full of toxic gases and low titers of Omega virus so that any humans that broke in would become agents of their own destruction. Walking out of a base full of toxic gases and biohazards with DAMAGED protective gear and still be healthy ? Simply not possible. Even for Kim and Ron."

"And since Kim and Ron insist on travelling all over the world to help people, they would do the Unity's job for them !" Vina noted, "All the Unity would have to do to spread the virus is simply keep stealing items they need ! Kim would go in to investigate, infecting everyone at the site !"

"They turned the world's saviour into its unwitting destroyer. Most efficient !" Nina noted.

"Oh, PLEASE !" Kim interrupted, "Do you SERIOUSLY expect anyone to buy into that lame story ? It's awfully convenient !"

"What are YOU complaining about ?!" Bonnie exclaimed, "I'M infected with a fatal disease ! I only have a few months to live !"

"Only if you believe Nina !" Kim growled in reply, "She could be making this whole thing up to keep me locked away in quarantine somewhere so the Unity 'bots can run amok outside !"

Nina's left eye twitched slightly. "I have no desire to help the Unity 'bots that are out to RECYCLE ME and my sisters !" she exclaimed, "Nor any desire to distress Bonnie in any way ! This is our world too, Miss Possible. We have to live in it just like everyone else."

"RiiIIiiIIIiight !" Kim replied before employing maximum snark, "So tell me - just HOW did GJ supposedly miss me and Ron being infected ?"

Nina thought for a moment. "The nanobots in your blood ! When the Unity took you and Ron over, it had its nanobots sequester the virus in your tissues. Nothing short of a complete scan of every molecule in your bodies would have found them. Once you were given a clean bill of health, the Unity simply ordered the nanobots to release the viruses they were carrying to start an infection."

"Well, okay, that SOUNDS kinda plausible ..." Kim replied, "but I'm not ready to buy it yet !"

"Oh good grief !" Vina exclaimed, "What would it take to convince you that she's telling the truth ?"

"A bioscan from Wade ! Him I'll trust !" Kim replied as she activated her Kimmunicator.

"This. Is. HORRIBLE !!" Bonnie stammered, "I don't want to die !"

"Well, there is some good news." Nina offered, "The virus was designed to be asymptomatic for months, to ensure it was quickly and widely spread. And all that is needed to develop a vaccine is a sample of the actual virus. Which you and the heroic duo over there currently have."

"BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE BLED OUT OUR DISSECTED !" Bonnie shrieked, "I like my blood right where it is right now !"

"I can assure you that such drastic actions will not be required Miss Rockwaller." Doctor Director interjected, "We just need to call in some more bioengineers and biogeneticists to look at the virus. It may have an exploitable weakness or two."

Meanwhile, Wade had just completed his bioscan of Kim and Ron.

"Well, according to my scans, both you and Ron are infected with Omega virus !" Wade replied after a few quiet moments.

"PLEASE tell me you can do something about this Wade !" Kim shrieked as quietly as she could.

"I'll see what I can do !" Wade replied, "I know a few biogeneticists that owe me a favor or two. I'll get back to you as soon as I know something !"

"Thanks Wade !" Kim replied before signing off.

"This is a pretty heavy sitch KP !" Ron noted, "You sure the Wademan can come through in time ?"

"He always has before Ron !" Kim replied, "He cured me of that pollen that was making me vanish. And he did come up with a way to turn me back into a human when the Monkey King's amulet almost turned me into a monkey ! So I'm sure he can come up with something to get rid of a simple little virus !"

Later, in the GJ Infirmary :

"Now that wasn't so bad, was it Miss Rockwaller ?" the technician asked as he rubbed a cotton swab on the spot he'd taken a blood sample from.

"You SURE that's all you'll need, right ?" Bonnie asked suspiciously, certain they were going to come back and take far more at some later time.

"We have some of the most advanced medical tech on the planet." he answered before turning to leave, "This is more than enough blood to run every conceivable test and analysis we have."

Bonnie sat on the side of the bed in contemplative silence before looking at the silver bracelet on her right wrist.

"I could tell these nanobots to go in and destroy any viruses they find in my bloodstream." Bonnie noted to Nina.

"True. But given their scale and numbers, it would take a month for them to hunt down and kill all circulating viruses." Nina replied quietly, "But new viral particles are being produced all the time. And your nano-cure wouldn't help anyone else currently infected. In the end, you would be the only human left on Earth."

"But there has GOT to be a better solution !" Bonnie cried, "Wait a minute ! The Bebes didn't invent their Omega virus ! They originally stole that data from Team Impossible, who copied it from someone that stole it from some lab somewhere ! We just have to find the guy who INVENTED the virus in the first place ! If anyone

would already have a vaccine, he would !"

"True. But even that is no guarantee - vaccines have a rather short shelf life, and we don't even know of the original virus was ever made in the first place." Nina replied, "And the Unity has most likely altered it from its original state."

"So, even if the guy that invented the Omega virus had a vaccine, it probably wouldn't work against what I got ?" Bonnie asked tremulously.

"Sadly, no." Nina replied, "I am sorry. I wish I could be of more help to you. Or at least of more comfort."

"Wanting to help is more than enough Nina." Bonnie replied, "You SURE you can't figure out how this virus works to cure it ?"

"Well, virology is quite a bit out of my fields of robotics and AI programming," Nina replied, "but I will see what I can do."

A few hours later, Kim and Ron were nearly knocked over by a lab tech running from an auditorium - moments before a tossed chair hit the wall.

"Hey !! You want to get back here and repeat that TO MY FACE ?!" Nina yelled at the rapidly retreating figure.

"Sister, PLEASE calm down !" Tina told her, placing a firm hand on her shoulder.

"Calm down ?!" Nina replied, eyes blazing with the hellish red Bebebot glow as the various other groups of scientists and technicians in the large open room looked on, "I installed and hooked up every computer in this room AND set up the most secure file sharing and comm protocols the world has ever seen for the express purpose of stopping a lethal virus - AND HE WAS USING THEM TO PLAY EVERLOT !"

"Humans occassionally goof off." Tina replied, "It is in their nature. Especially when they are under stress. Taking a break on occassion helps keep the mind fresh.

But I suspect that is not what bothered you most, is it ?"

"No." Nina growled in response, "One of the few humans that I actually LIKE on this whole whirling ball of dirt is dying from a horrid disease, and he was wasting time goofing off !"

"You are of no use to anyone in this state." Tina replied coolly, "And how would Bonnie feel about seeing you like this ?"

Nina slammed both fists onto a folding table covered with reams of data before taking a few deep breaths. "Damn these emotions !" she muttered as she regained her composure.

"So, I guess you've made some progress figuring this virus out ?" Ron asked, hiding behind a glowering Kim.

"I had to look up a lot of stuff, and have some rather headache inducing conferences with scientists all over the world," Nina replied as she quickly hammered on a keyboard and pulled out a laser pointer, "and tap into a few rather restricted databases, but yes."

With that, a giant projection screen began displaying everything currently known about the Omega virus.

"If you don't mind, I'm getting Wade in on this !" Kim announced as she activated her Kimmunicator to set up a teleconference.

Nina waited a few moments for Wade to respond to Kim's call before starting to talk.

"As you can see, the Omega virus is a tube of proteins coiled around its DNA genome." Nina began, pointing to what looked like a long, bumpy rod with bits sticking off here and there, "These multimeric blocks of protein protect it from the environment, meaning it can remain outside of a host for weeks at a time.

And, since its normal route of delivery is out through the sweat glands, lungs, and mucous membranes, merely touching the same surfaces an infected person did, or inhaling microscopic droplets expelled through normal breathing is enough to contract it.

Once it comes in contact with certain proteins expressed on epithelial cells, the tube unwinds and injects the virus' DNA into the cell." she continued as a large open circle with a blob covering one free end was displayed on the screen, "The virus has a telomeric fuse - it replicates itself about once every week, but every time it replicates, the uncapped end shortens slightly. Once enough of it is chopped off, promoters are uncovered and the virus begins replicating rapidly. Since it remains at low levels inside cells, the immune system can't find it until its later rampant replication kicks in."

"So what does that blob on the other end do ?" Kim asked, sure she wasn't going to like the answer.

"Export protein." Nina replied, "Proteins in the cell bind to that, and transport the virus directly into any cells touching the infected one. It ensures there is only one virus per cell because as the virus replicates, it is exported to other cells. So eventually every skin cell in the body is harboring at least one Omega viroid before the countdown finishes.

The lethal phase of the virus kicks in once it reaches a high enough titer after the rampant reproduction phase." Nina continued as Wade checked the data, "The lethal form targets endothelial and certain hemopoeitic cells, and express siRNA targeted against several vital genes, promoted by a quorum sensor."

"Err, yeah." Ron stated looking rather lost, "Pretend we don't know what any of that means !"

"Endothelial cells are the ones that line your arteries and veins, Ron." Nina explained, "Hemopoeitic cells make blood cells. A quorum sensor activates a gene complex only when there is sufficient signal. And siRNA induces the cell to destroy specific mRNAs, preventing the expression of the targeted proteins."

Thanks to dealing with scientists of all sorts over the years, Kim figured out what all that meant. "So the virus causes a human's circulatory system to fall apart and leak all at once, right ?"

"Exactly." Nina replied, looking rather ill, "A victim's skin will become as thin and easily torn as tissue paper, their blood won't clot, and will leak from every pore as arteries rupture from the slightest stress. Oddly enough, the lethal phase is not overly contagious - you'd have to inject infected blood directly into your veins to catch it."

"Well, gee, THAT'S really comforting !" Kim stated through clenched teeth, "but NONE of that tells us how to stop it !"

"Actually, it does." Nina replied, "Omega virus may be lethal and easily spread initially, but it is still just a virus; there is nothing magical about out. Any procedure that prevents the spread of flu or cold viruses can slow its spread down as well. Its protein coat is tough, but not impervious. Even as we speak technicians all over the world are checking to see what it takes to kill it."

"Say, we're not looking at a world-wide zombie rampage, are we ?" Ron asked, "This virus doesn't have any other surprises, does it ?"

"No, Ron. There will be no zombie rampage." Nina answered, "That would require a specifically designed virus, and the Unity had neither the time nor the skill to develop something like that. You and Kim really put a dent in their plans, so they had to rush this virus out. All it does is kill. In a needlessly gruesome way."

"That is more than enough !" Kim groused to herself before turning to Wade's image on her Kimmunicator and asking "So, get all that Wade ?"

"Yeah. From what I can tell, she covered it." he replied, "This is a pretty nasty virus !"

"Any idea about how far the virus managed to spread yet ?" Kim asked.

"Labs all over the world started checking various forms of packing material as you and Ron suggested." Wade replied, "They found quite a few contaminated batches, and are starting to set up quarantine and isolation procedures. If they can track it down fast enough, they may be able to halt further direct infection."

"Did you manage to find a cure ?" Ron asked, "There must be something out there that can help !"

"Actually, there is." Wade replied as a holographic picture of a showy flower appeared before them, "This is the rare Benetricium orchid. Found only in the deepest of the Sumatran jungles. Its pollen and sap are the most effective anti-virals ever seen !"

"Coolio !" Ron exclaimed, "Just a short trek through a jungle and we're cured !"

"Such a trek would be a waste of time." Nina stated flatly.

"Ah HA !! I knew you were secretly out to get us !" Kim exclaimed, "Why else would you say that trying to get that plant is a waste of time ?!"

Nina sighed. "Because that orchid is one of the rarest flowers on Earth ! There are only enough of them to cure two, maybe three people.

There are, by best estimates, over thirty five THOUSAND people currently infected with Omega virus, with more every hour." she continued, "All your little trek would do is fulfill the Unity's promise that you die last. YOUR lives would be spared, but only at the cost of everyone else's !"

"Well, if labs all over the world are finding samples of the virus, they should be able to whip up a vaccine in no time at all !" Kim stated triumphantly.

"Do you truly believe it will be that easy, Miss Possible ?" Nina asked, sounding rather despondent, "Pharmaceutical companies are already working at maximum capacity as it is, and diverting effort away from their usual work risks a pandemic from currently raging viruses. And even if they could safely divert effort, it will take some real amount of time to produce enough of the vaccine to be of use. And that's not even considering the logisitical nightmare of distributing it to everyone on Earth in time even if they could make enough !"

"And your plan is what again ?" Kim asked, starting to sound rather tweaked.

"Cowpox !" Nina replied.

Ron looked confused for a moment before stating "You know, you really need to work on your exclamations there N !"

"That is how a vaccine can be spread quickly worldwide Ron - an immunizing virus !" Nina replied.

"What ?!" Kim interjected, "Are you serious ? You want to INFECT everyone on the planet with yet ANOTHER engineered virus ?!"

"It could work like Jenner's original smallpox vaccine !" Nina replied, stepping back from Kim, "Over two hundrerd years ago, Jenner noted that people that contracted the harmless cowpox virus did not contract the deadlier smallpox virus. All that needs to be done is produce a harmless but highly contagious viruses that expresses parts of a few key Omega virus proteins. This way, the vaccine replicates and distributes itself. People get infected with the immunizing virus and produce antibodies against Omega virus proteins. Thus the Omega virus plot can be foiled before it can even get started."

Kim gave her a sour look. "And you SERIOUSLY expect people to go along with that plan ?!"

"It is one of several options up for consideration." Doctor Director interjected, "The world does have resources beyond your efforts Kim."

"But how do you know that 'immunizing virus' wouldn't be the trigger that activates the Omega virus ?" Kim asked, "It would be just like the Unity to trick us into zapping ourselves with something a so-called ally developed !"

"We've analyzed the entire genome of every available sample of the Omega virus, Kim." Doctor Director replied, "It has no surprises like that."

"You're actually going to trust something a killer robot came up with ?" Kim asked.

Tina winced before Vina spoke up with "Excuse me ? 'Killer robots' ? I haven't killed anyone ! None of us have ! What are you getting at ?"

"Your sister there said that 'taking over the world by force' is a bad idea," Kim replied, leaning in close, "but she never actually said you three weren't interested in taking over the world !"

"Actually, I HAVE !" Nina interrupted, "And so have Tina and Vina ! Evil is not conducive to long term stability. I rather like stability."

Kim glowered at her. "You seem to be a bit confused NINE-A. Saving the world ? That's MY thing ! Not yours !

You want to help ? FINE ! Go rescue cats from trees. Or help people rebuild their houses ! But leave the *BIG* stuff to me !"

"And just why should we do that ?" Nina replied in a dismissive tone, "We don't need your permission OR consent to do anything Miss Possible !

We are willing and able to help, so we're helping in any way we see fit - whether you like it or not !"

Kim responded like she'd just been slapped upside the head.

"This 'sitch' is beyond your usual talents." Vina stepped in, "Beating up the Unity will not stop the virus, nor is there anything for you to destroy or recover. Your usual 'punch out the bad guy, save the world !' routine simply will not work this time !

Do you SERIOUSLY believe that you can - and MUST - solve all the world's problems all by yourself ?"

"Of course not !" Kim sneered in reply, "Ron and Wade can help ! And GJ sometimes !"

"But no one else can, right ?" Vina asked smugly.

"Yes ! Er, I mean NO !" Kim replied, tensing her fists.

"So, how do you and your thrall Wade intend to save the world from the Omega virus ?" Vina inquired, "Build some kind of 'funky ray thing' and zap everyone from a satellite he hacked into ? Or try to quick clone the world's supply of Benetricium orchid pollen AFTER he uses all of it to save you and Ron first, then somehow expose everyone else on the planet whenever he can get around to it ?"

"I don't know !" Kim replied, glaring at Vina, "It doesn't matter ! HE'LL figure something out ! He always has before !"

Tina and Ron shared a glance, then started to edge in a bit closer in case a physical altercation broke out; most everyone else backed away.

"Well, until Wade comes up with a plan you approve of, how about we go with Nina's or GJ's plan, and just tell everyone that it was all you at a press conference ?" Vina needled at Kim, "Or report that the vaccine was developed from your blood and no one else's ? That way, everyone gets what they want : the world is saved from the Omega virus, and you get all the credit and glory for saving the world single-handedly. You get to be the Most Glorious Saviour of All, and everyone else that helped can just rot in your shadow !

Just the way you like it !"

"WHAT is your problem 'Lavinia' ?" Kim growled through clenched teeth.

"You, mostly." Vina replied plainly, "My sister is trying to help SAVE LIVES, and you're accusing her of trying to end the world ! What's up with that ? Paranoid much ?"

"Paranoid ? It's not paranoia when there ARE people out there trying to get you !" Kim replied tersely.

"But none of them are currently in this room 'Kimberly' !" Vina replied just as tersely, "Nina is trying to help ..."

"Well, that is what she CLAIMS !" Kim replied, leaning in even closer, "That hasn't been verified yet !"

Vina swears under her breath. "How do people put up with your insufferable arrogance ?! We could spend the rest of our lives doing everything you asked of us to prove we're not evil, and in the end it would never be enough, would it ?

There would ALWAYS be 'just one more test', always just 'one more hoop' we are expected to jump through, WOULDN'T THERE ?!" she continued, practically screaming in Kim's face, "We'd be under YOUR thumb the rest of our lives ! Our world would revolve around you ! 'What can we do to appease Kim Possible ?' " Vina wheedled, " 'How must we act, what must we think and feel to appease Kim Possible ?'

That is not living; that is merely existing. Why must WE settle for being second class citizens ? Why must WE be the ones to bend over backwards ? Why must WE be the ones to conform to YOUR standard, heh ?"

Ron and Tina readied themselves to leap into the fray to seperate Kim and Vina if it became necessary.

Noting them tensing up out of the corner of her eye, Vina stepped back from Kim. "So, rather than attempting the impossible by playing by your rules that ensure we cannot win, we've decided to use an alternate strategy."

"Which would be what ?" Kim asked, keeping an eye on Vina.

"Screw trying to fit in !" Nina interrupted with a Chesire cat grin.

Ron looked shocked. Kim gaped like a hooked fish. Tina chuckled. Vina smiled. Will raised an eyebrow. The agent listening in through a hidden microphone spewed coffee all over his monitor.

"We shall be who WE choose to be, not who others want us to be or think we are." Nina continued, glaring at Kim.

"Now wait just a minute here !" Ron exclaimed, "Robots aren't supposed to act like that ! Once you've evolved beyond being emotionless killers, you're supposed to be all mopey and depressed because you're not human ! Then try real hard to become human, or be accepted by them ! Like Sonny in 'I, Robot' ! Or David in 'A.I. : Artificial Intelligence' ! Or Data from 'Star Trek : TNG !"

"You just proved her point Ron !" Vina noted, "You PRESUMED we would conform to YOUR ideas. You actually expect an artelect to feel depressed because it isn't human ? Makes as much sense as expecting a banana slug to feel depressed because it's not a trout !

We are not human; why must we pretend to be something we are not ?" she continued.

"But all those sci-fi stories ..." Ron replied.

"... were written by humans, for humans." Nina interrupted, "With the core assumption that being human in the greatest thing in the universe, and being different from human is something to be ashamed of.

'Different' is not wrong or evil or inferior; 'different' is not something that needs to be corrected or destroyed. Would you expect a meat-based alien to conform to HUMAN standards ? Or feel inadequate because they're Martians or Vulcans or Klingons or Lorwardians instead of Earthlings ?"

"We aren't trying to compete with our upstage you or anyone else Kim !" Vina stated, "We're just trying to make our own way in this world the best way we can. There is more than enough trouble in the world to go around !"

Kim wanted to respond, but stormed off because she was too angry to form coherent sentences just yet.

"And by the way Kim," Nina stated before Kim got too far away, "An immunizing virus is but ONE of several ideas that can be used. Poisoning the quorum sensor with a binding agent so the lethal phase never gets underway is another viable strategy. Chemical synthesis is much faster than vaccine production, once enough time is spent finding an effective compound that is. Did your quest for the golden spirit stick teach you nothing ?"

"What ?" Kim asked, stopped cold by the sudden change of topic.

"This is not a 'winner takes all' contest, Kim." Tina added, "There is no reason why we must use only one strategy. Tackling the problem from as many angles as possible grants the greatest chance of success."

Later, in the Possible house :

"Something wrong with the meatloaf Kimmie ?" Mrs Possible asked once she noticed that Kim had done nothing but poke at her dinner.

"No, dinner is great as always Mom !" Kim replied, "I just have a lot on my mind."

"Like what ?" Mrs Possible inquired, "Flashbacks from being under control of those robots ?"

"No. Nothing like that Mom." Kim answered, "All that time I spent under Unity control just seems like a faint memory now. All that's left is just vague images, and a few errant feelings. Nothing big."

"Then what is bothering you so much Kimmie ?"

"The Rossums are definitely Bebebots !" Kim replied, slamming a fist onto the table, "They're just as arrogant as every other one we've met ! And that Vina OBVIOUSLY got most of her personality from Bonnie !"

"And that's something to fret over why ?" Anne asked.

"Mom !" Kim cried, "Is EVERYBODY taking their side against me today ? I'm trying to save the world like I always do !"

"So who is trying to stop you Kimmie ?" Mrs Possible asked, trying to calm Kim down, "I'm pretty sure GJ isn't standing in your way."

"One of those robots - Nina - is trying to get some credit for saving the world !" Kim replied.

Mrs Possible looked confused for a moment. "How does that stop you from saving the world honey ? Why does it matter who gets the credit, as long as lives are saved ? And, if she really did the work, why shouldn't she get some credit for it ?"

"Because she's not doing good because its the right thing to do Mom !" Kim replied, "She's only doing it to stay on everyone's good side ! Purely for selfish and mercenary reasons !"

"And you know this how ?" Anne inquired.

"Isn't it obvious ?!" Kim answered, "The Rossums were built by evil, soulless robots ! So how could they POSSIBLY know or understand what goodness is ?"

"Well, you did say Vina had a lot of Bonnie's personality. I know how you feel about Bonnie, but Bonnie is human." Anne replied calmly, "And these 'Rossums' seem able to learn. I had a long talk with the one called 'Tina' earlier today once she and Ron got you safely back from Japan."

"You did ?!" Kim asked "About what ?"

"About her and her sister's motives." Anne replied, "What they plan on doing after all this is over. What, specifically, she did to you to keep you unconscious until Bonnie could get those nanobots out of your brain. How does that bruise feel ?"

Kim had to think for a moment, since she didn't feel anything aching. "Oh, right ! Tina hit me with some sort of weird kung-fu attack !" Kim recalled once she lifted up her shirt a bit, and noticed a long, narrow bruise just under her ribcage on her left side. "Looks far worse than it feels Mom.

But why are you and everyone else willing to give them the benefit of the doubt ?" Kim continued, "How do you know they aren't up to something ?"

"There's a fine line between caution and paranoia Kim." Mrs Possible replied as diplomatically as she could, "I'm sure you could handle anything they could dish out. So stop fretting so much ! It just isn't good for you."

"But how do you KNOW they aren't up to something ?" Kim continued.

"Well, those Unity robots are all into efficiency, right ?" Anne asked, and Kim nodded in reply. "If the Rossums were working for the Unity, the most efficient thing for them to do would have been to have Tina get rid of Ron while they were both in Japan trying to recover you. Then the Unity would still have control over you, and Tina could have returned to spread some misinformation and kidnap Hana once Ron was out of the way."

Kim wanted to object, but realized that her mother was absolutely right. Then recalled that the Unity could twist anything to their advantage ...

"The Unity is going to go into hiding while we deal with their virus !" Kim exclaimed as she stood up, "They're going to use their foiled pandemic as a diversion while they get set to do something else !"

############

* Tao Te Ching 56 :

Become one with the dust of the world

This is called 'The Secret Embrace'

One who knows this secret

Is not moved by attachment or aversion

Swayed by profit and loss

Nor touched by honor and disgrace

He is far beyond the cares of others.