Chapter Four

Kim Possible, Ron Stoppable, Jenny Wheeler, and Rufus were eating lunch in the Global Justice Middleton Facility's cafeteria. They had spent the morning being evaluated on their improved fighting skills, and were rather hungry.

"How do you think we did?" Ron asked, taking a bite of a hamburger with extra cheese. Not having a Bueno Nacho at hand for a year had broken the fast food restaurant's hold over his stomach, so he was more willing to eat elsewhere now.

"I'd say we impressed them," said Kim, emptying a pack of Italian dressing on her salad.

Jenny looked at Kim. "And I still couldn't beat your time in the obstacle course."

"And I couldn't beat your time on the villain lair exercise, so we're even," replied Kim.

"Ahh.. I guess so..." said Jenny, and turned her attention to her chicken sandwich.

"So when are you going to tell Wade to open the website?" asked Ron.

"Not for a little while," replied Kim, "We need to see the official report on our evaluation, finish getting back into our lives, and we've still got forms to fill before classes start. I was thinking after we get settled into a routine at school but that's still a month away."

"You're the boss..." said Ron. He looked at Rufus, who had already finished his burger and lay asleep in the remains.

"And that reminds me," said Jenny, wiping her mouth. "Tara told me that she wants in."

"Wants in what?" asked Ron.

"Team Possible," was the reply. "She feels like she should help somehow."

"Aren't there enough amateurs on your team already?" asked a voice.

All three turned to find Commander Will Du standing behind Kim's chair. His arms were crossed, and he wore his normal condescending expression. His GJ uniform was spotless, of course, and his boots shone.

"Will, if you still think..." said Kim in an icy tone.

The GJ Top Agent smiled slightly. "I'm just kidding, Kimberly. I've learned to respect you and your team."

Kim flushed a bit. "Okay, sorry. Old habits, you know."

"I was asked to remind Jennifer to go see the head scientist at the Hex Factor Project when she's done here," he said, looking at Jenny.

"Oh, yeah, forgot about that," said Jenny.

"Want to join us?" asked Kim, gesturing at an empty seat.

Will shook his head. "I've already eaten, thanks. I also wanted to let you know we've caught Amy Hall."

Kim frowned. "When did this happen?"

"Several months ago, while you were still in Japan," He answered, "I led the team, as befitting a... TOP... Agent."

Kim smirked. "And how were her cookies?"

"Very good, actually. Chocolate chip. I think she used some chocolate left over from your cheerleading fundraiser to make them, since we found a case in her kitchen," he deadpanned, and walked away.

"I don't believe it. He actually made a joke," said Ron.

"People do change with time," said Kim, forking a cherry tomato.

"I'm a living example," said Jenny, grabbing a last French fry. She eyed Rufus to see if he was planning any food-stealing operation, but the mole rat was still asleep.

"Jen, if you would, go see those project guys, and Ron and I will see if the evaluations are finished," said Kim, "We'll meet at the main entrance."

"Sounds like a plan," said Jenny, getting up and gathering her trash.

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After asking directions twice, Jenny finally got to the lab where The Hex Factor Project was housed. She was greeted warmly by the scientists, and was instantly plied with questions. Jenny noticed the tube covered with sensors had been moved to a corner and partially disassembled.

"I've honed my control by refining the amount of energy I give a hex to what fits the situation," Jenny said.

"I see," said the chief. He flipped a page on his clipboard. "What about that problem you have with a different outcome from what you wanted?"

"Oh, we did experiments to find a number, and it's thirteen percent," she answered.

He gave her an odd look, and Jenny shrugged. "That's what we found. The Sifu I worked with said it was feedback from the luck magic, to give it balance."

"Okay..." was the response, and he made some notes.

"What about your sensor thingie?" she asked, pointing to it, "Gonna try again?"

He glanced at where she was pointing. "Oh, no, not today. We're still trying to find a sensor that will work to detect magic at all." A thought hit him. "Do you know how it might be done?"

Jenny shook her head. "Not a clue. I'm sensitive to my own magic, but not anyone else's."

Several of the scientists perked up at that comment, and came closer. "What do you feel?"

"Uh..." said Jenny, thinking, "It's not something I can describe. When I touch something I've hexed, I can just tell. It fades away after a day or so."

"Maybe we need something biological as a detector?" asked a woman with glasses and a lab coat.

"That's a thought," said the chief. "Let's try using the target."

Jenny followed them over to the test apparatus where the woman, whose name tag identified her as S. Smithson, turned the block of steel around so the rust spot created by the hexes from a year ago were visible.

"Say, do you have a younger brother who's friends with Jim and Tim Possible?" asked Jenny.

The woman smiled. "Sure do. Things are never dull when they're around. My name's Sarah, by the way."

Jenny smiled. "Don't I know it. And nice to meet you!"

"Do you think they might be interested in becoming scientists for GJ after college?" she asked.

"As a matter of fact, that idea came up last year. Mom and Dad asked them about it," answered Jenny, "They said only if they were free to research and build what they wanted to, in addition to what you might want. You as in, "GJ in general"."

Sarah nodded. "They can get kinda wild. They brought over a portable silicon phase disrupter once. I was going to confiscate it, since it's good against mind control chips, but it got destroyed when my brother accidentally spilled a beaker of hydrochloric acid on it."

"Sounds like he's just as wild as they are," said Jenny.

"Well, he's into chemistry, so Jim and Tim consult with him about rocket fuel," answered Sarah.

There was a quiet 'a-hem' from nearby, and the two girls flushed a bit.

Jenny turned her attention to the target and put her fingers against it. She felt nothing. "It's been too long, I don't feel anything," she said. She flicked a finger at it, producing a pink spark, and the rust spot grew just a bit more.

Putting a finger against it a second time, she frowned. She could tell her magic was there, but how to describe it...? She finally shook her head. "Sorry, I can't describe it. I just know."

"All right, Agent Jinx, that's fine," said the chief, "You've given us a new direction to investigate, so that's all for now. Thank you."

Saying goodbye she made her way toward the entrance.

Her partners were waiting for her, and Kim handed her a folder with the evaluation results. She and Ron were grinning, so it must be good news.

"Wow, I'd say we did good!" she said after looking it over. The evaluation score was way over what it had been a year earlier. "And on that note, let's go home." She put the folder in the paper shredder stationed by the entrance, and headed for Kim's car.

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"What was that you said about Tara?" asked Kim, as she drove toward home.

"She said she wants in. Become part of Team Possible," answered Jenny.

"Wow," said Ron, "I'd never have expected that."

"She knows us and the way we work pretty well, after a year in Japan," said Kim, "What does she expect to do?"

"That's what I asked her," answered Jenny, "But she couldn't give me an answer."

"I don't have one either. Ron?" said Kim.

"I got nothin' KP. Rufus?" asked the blond boy, looking at his mole rat friend.

"Dunno," said Rufus, shrugging.

"Why would she want to join anyway?" asked Ron.

"She still doesn't know what she wants to do. I think she's looking for an idea," was the answer.

"She's so sweet and gentle I can't see her learning to fight, and I hate the idea of her getting hurt or worse. I don't think this is a good idea," said Kim with a frown.

"Yori told me she wasn't suited to learn Monkey Kung Fu," said Jenny, "And I agree. But I did promise I'd talk to both of you about it."

"Well, let's talk to her, and see what she has in mind," said Kim,

The conversation turned to other things for the rest of the ride home.