I do not own any Disney characters named herein, and am only borrowing them to tell a nonprofit tale meant for entertainment purposes only.

Kim Possible: Impossible Journey

By LJ58

7

"This is going to be a dangerous outing, so no one who isn't willing to risk it needs to come," Ron told the team as the family and friends helping them surrounded the sleek, angular rocket turned tunneler.

"Oh, I'm going," James Possible declared firmly. "Frankly, you might need me for any repairs."

"As if," Jim and Tim complained.

"I don't doubt you boys are getting good," their father grinned. "But let's face it, you still don't have my experience with the systems that fill this baby to the gills just now."

"Well, while I didn't mind helping you outfit, and prep the digger," Wade told them, packing up a modular tool chest he reduced to the size of a shoebox before putting it away into a backpack. "I think I'll stay on top of the planet. Someone has to keep an eye on Global Justice," he added pointedly.

"Especially lately," Ron agreed.

"I'm going," Bonnie told them. "I might not be able to do much, but I'm still part of Team Possible, and I am going to do whatever I can to help bring Kim back."

"Word," Felix nodded at her. "But I'll stay up here, too, and monitor you as best I can, and stay in touch as long as you can manage to help guide you," he told the others.

"Well, while you may need a doctor," Ann Possible said ruefully, "I don't think I am really all that cut out for these kinds of things."

"Honey, no one expects…."

"Just hold it right there," Ann cut off her husband. "You just find our girl, and bring her back home. I'll be waiting, and have the best care available if she needs it when you get back."

"Count on us, Mrs. Dr. P," Ron told her. "We won't come back without KP."

"You really think you can find her," Ann asked quietly now.

"No big," Jim smirked.

"Yeah, mom. Our remote mole-bot has a serious genetic program to find and lock on Kim's distinct genetic code, and it is programmed to adapt and survive in any conceivable environment. If we get close enough, we should pick up its signal again, and that in turn will lead us right to Kim," Tim grinned.

"Sounds like a plan," Ron nodded.

"So, let's get going. Before anything else tries to stop us," James said pointedly, having ducked a few dubious Henches himself on his way to the boys' new warehouse headquarters for the new Team Possible.

So far, no one actually knew its location except those present. That didn't mean they couldn't be found. They just didn't want to be found before they could launch. They might have a few defenses, but nothing like back home.

Yet.

That was something else the boys fully intended to rectify in time.

Just now, however, finding and rescuing their sister was their primary goal.

"Okay, everyone, load up," James told them as Wade had already disappeared. "Dr. Renton," he nodded at Felix, keep your eyes open, and don't let anyone sneak up on you."

"Count on it, Dr. Possible," he told him as he slid his new EM chair on electromagnetic thrusters over to the main console away from the launching platform that angled the probe downward. "Just remember, you have to cross the globe laterally to reach the point where Kim fell just to follow her. So keep the heading constant, and the new gyro-compass I fixed for you should keep track of direction in spite of any magnetic interference."

"Sounds good, son," James said, and then turned, and hugged his wife. "Be back before you know it," he smiled confidently, kissing her lightly.

"Too late," Ann rasped, and felt the faint degree of hope growing in her heart as she prayed they could actually pull off another Possible miracle, as some reporters called Kimberly's at times phenomenal luck. "Just find her, James. Don't leave her down there."

"You know I won't."

"We won't," Jim and Tim agreed.

"Everyone inside," Ron said, and climbed in the hatch. "It's time to get going. Before our mystery men do try to show up themselves since they have to know Will blew it."

"We'll take care of them when we get back," Tim huffed as they all climbed into the tunneler.

"If GJ doesn't actually do the job this time," Bonnie asked, ensuring she was buckled in tightly as Ron closed the hatch, and Dr. Possible took the pilot's seat.

The twins took over navigation and communications, and the air began to hum as things were turned on around them.

"Yeah, right. We'll take care of them," Jim said. "GJ, or not. No one touches a Possible. No one," that last was said in stereo.

"Focus, boys," James said, "I'm priming the engines now, so let's hope that fusion reactor you picked up is up to snuff."

"Rockets are go," the twins grinned.

James Possible laughed, and the engines and bore began to hum with life even as he heard Felix' voice over the radio.

"Looking good out here, Team," he called them. "Everything green?"

"Launching now," James replied with an excited grin, and shoved the yoke forward as he claimed, "This is almost as exciting as going into space!"

Bonnie couldn't help but shudder as she saw the monitors and open ports suddenly darken as they slid down into the rock beneath the warehouse, and keep going.

"Don't worry, Bon," Ron told her, sitting beside her now, and patting her hand. "We're going to be fine."

"Can you tell the future now," she asked uneasily.

"No. But I know we had the best brains on the planet put this thing together, and we have the best qualified people here to run it for us. All we have to do is find Kim, and we can all go home," Ron told her firmly.

"I read that book you gave me," she said quietly. "If even half of that was real, how are they going to be able to survive down there long enough for us to…?"

"Just remember, this is still KP," Ron smiled now. "When has she ever given up just because things were a little hard?"

"You got me there," Bonnie had to admit. "I…. I really do hope we find her alive. It's just…"

"Thanks to dad, I could probably give you odds, but like I said, Kim has never been about odds. She breaks them every time she goes out. Every time. I'm betting we are all counting on her to do it again. We just have to be there to help her when she's ready to do it."

"I hope you're right," Bonnie told him quietly. "I really hope you're right."

Ron didn't comment to that as the tunneler continued to dive into the rock beneath the surface, angling toward a rendezvous that was at least three months old.

~KP~

Kim balanced precariously near the very apex of the huge tree that occupied the apparent center of the wide, endless forest around them. She stared around her as best she could, but even with the diamond-sun lighting the world as far as she could see, she wasn't sure how to pick a path. She pulled out a telescoping monocular from her equipment belt, and opened it up to study the forest's farthest edges, and still saw nothing at first.

Until she looked in one direction, and saw a sheer, rocky cliff that seemed to rise out of the sea of green, and rise beyond her field of vision. She noted that direction, which her compass refused to mark considering it was still spinning crazily, and giving her no help. She looked around, and eventually spotted the far edge of the underground sea they had crossed. The flanking edges stretched out as far as the forest, and gave no real clue as to what else might be out there. She sighed, and looked back to the cliff.

Perspective, like everything else here was skewed, so she had no idea just how far the rock wall might be. Or if there were any tunnels in that rock that might take them home. Still, it was a chance, and the only one that she could conjure just then. Putting her gear away, she began to climb down when she heard another of those reptilian beasts roar not far off.

Whatever else, she had to consider how unfriendly this world was to people in general.

How others had found, and traversed it was nothing short of miraculous. She had no doubt, though, that Verne's telling had left quite a lot out. What Saknussemm himself might have had to say was lost to time. His only contribution was a vague reference to alchemy, and his own mostly anecdotal explorations around, and through the globe. Nothing was left of whatever findings he made, and Verne had been more focused on his heroes getting out without injury. Why the censoring, though? Who did the censoring, she also now wondered. Verne, or his apparent heroes? Just now, she would have enjoyed a few more answers, but she wasn't going to give up.

Others had made this fantastic journey, and if they did, so could she. They, since Shego was apparently still with her. Even if the woman was obviously still not feeling very confident at the moment. This was obviously far out of her usual comfort zone, and it had to take a toll on her.

Kim would never admit that she was feeling more than a little uneasy herself. Still, that cliff wall gave her some hope, and that was enough. Sometimes, that hope was all she needed.

Climbing back down, she found Shego already nestled into a bed of thick leaves taken from the branches around them. "You look comfortable," she remarked as she climbed down to the branch they were sheltering on, and sat down to pull off her boots.

"Sure you want to do that," Shego asked quietly as she watched her.

"I need to air them out," Kim smiled ruefully. "I've been running all day, and…."

"I just mean, what if we have to move fast? Again? I'm still not sure this branch is entirely safe if those rejects from a Darwin poster are moving up and down inside this tree," Shego pointed out.

"Well, for now, I need to rest my feet, so I'll take my chances," she told her.

"So, see anything?"

"We are surrounded by forest as far as the eye can see. That sea is behind us, and stretches…. Well, you know how far it stretched. But I did spot what looked like a cliff wall of some kind in that direction," she pointed. "I'm guessing it may have some tunnels in it that might lead us back to the surface."

"We can hope," Shego smiled now. "So, how far?"

"No clue. Considering how everything is off, and my compass won't stop spinning, I have no clue just how to measure…anything. But it'll be a long walk. We'll need weapons, and provisions. And water in case we don't find any out there."

"So, do we borrow? Or try to go back to the beach, and hope big, green, and cranky didn't destroy everything?"

"I don't know, Shego. Either is a gamble at this point. Frankly, backtracking now seems counterproductive, but we need something to carry water, and I don't see these guys' clay pots as being all that easy to use."

"As opposed to those oversized gourds you found, and hollowed out with your laser?"

"Well, they were easy to use, and don't break," Kim nodded.

"So, you do want to risk the beach?"

"We know where to go. We obviously have the time. Hopefully, without my Kimmunicator signal being active, we can also get there, and back without stirring the local guard dogs."

"Guard dogs," Shego huffed.

"Well, that's what I started thinking them to be," Kim admitted. "They sure were trying to chase me away from the tree for a while."

"Or just chasing you," Shego pointed out.

"That, too," the redhead admitted.

"Right. So, tomorrow we go try to outwit a couple of overgrown lizards again. Highlight of my life," she sighed.

"I'd say you could stay here…."

"No chance of that. I'm still not sure these monkey-men might not try something else."

"Think they're sore losers?"

"What man isn't," Shego grumbled.

"Oh, well…. Not touching that one," Kim finally said.

"Just go to sleep, Kimberly," Shego told her. "I sleep light, so I'll wake you up if something happens. Hopefully in time to grab your boots."

Kim gave her another wan smile, and stretched out.

"Goodnight, Shego."

"Meh."

"Don't give up hope. We've gotten this far."

Shego's grumble was one of pure disgust.

~KP~

"We have company," Shego whispered as the two women made their way through the brush, keeping their eyes open for anything scaly. Or anything else that might want to stomp them, eat them, or generally hurt them.

"I know. They've been following us since we left the tree after….breakfast."

"Why?"

"Maybe they fell in love with your diplomatic flair," Kim grinned at her.

Shego's expression was beyond sour.

"Just watch our backs, Kimmie. I wouldn't put it past these freaks to plant a spear in them."

"I think they're just curious."

"Right," Shego sniffed. "Curious. Let me tell you something, Kimberly Anne," she called her now. "Curious people watch you. They ask questions. They do not attack you without warning, or provocation."

"Well, I'll give you that. Only you have to consider that people also tend to be both curious, and fearful. Or how many times have humans, the ones we know, acted stupidly over things they didn't understand?"

"Princess," Shego scowled all the more as she glanced back to where one of the primitives was now pointedly letting himself be seen as if testing her. "You can play logic games all you like….when we're home. Right now, I don't trust these guys any more than your lizard guard dogs."

"Maybe, but have you noticed something?"

Shego just glared at her companion as they kept walking, the brush thinning out slightly by then as they neared the beach after walking most of the apparent morning.

"What now?"

"The farther we get from the tree, the more uneasy our friends are getting. They're watching the forest more than us lately, and I've noted they all keep a watch on one direction more than not."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," Kim nodded. "The same direction I spotted those cliffs."

"So," Shego grimaced. "Whatever may be out there is something that scares the hairballs?"

"I'm guessing that's it."

"Not good, Possible. Not good."

"Maybe," Kim said, and paused as she took shelter near a large tree that was one of the few near the beach. Just ahead, a wide strip of sand now opened up, and bordered the edge of the underground sea as far as the eye could see.

"Maybe," Shego huffed. "Look, Kimberly…."

"You must be worried."

"What? What are you talking about now?"

"You keep calling me by name."

Shego shot her a mournful glare, and just eyed the beach.

"Looks like big, green, and ugly had a temper tantrum," she said, noting the scattered debris that had been their raft.

"Something did. Something, I wonder, that didn't want anyone on the water?"

"I'm not even going to ask about that theory."

"It's a theory," Kim admitted. "In the book, I recall the explorers get blown back almost purposely right back to near where they had started after a lot of….mishaps."

"We are not even close to….."

"How would we know? For sure? That's a huge body of water, we were at the mercy of wind and tide, and had to duck some pretty big creatures out there more than once. Still, we could be back near the same area, but this…..habitat could still be so large we don't realize how close we are."

"Not helping," Shego grit her teeth.

"Don't you get it, though," Kim asked her, her green eyes dark with thought.

"Apparently my brain doesn't work like yours," she shot, adding, "Thank God," just under her breath.

"Think about it, Shego. Suppose this is more than a single habitat. Suppose someone set up something, or something developed, that has flora and fauna that are kept apart for whatever the reasons."

"Now you're making it sound like someone's overgrown lab," Shego sputtered.

Kim nodded as her own eyes still searched the beach.

"I wonder if it isn't," she nodded.

Shego sputtered. She started to laugh, but then noted Kim was looking serious.

"Wait. You're serious?"

"There are flora and fauna here that shouldn't be mingling. Mastodons? With prehumans, and reptiles from millions of years ago? How likely is that to have happened in a natural setting," she asked Shego earnestly.

"Okay, you're getting back into the weirdness I thought we left up there with Doc," Shego grimaced.

"Well, it just makes sense. And gives a reason for the creatures around us to….behave so unnaturally in protecting certain territories."

"Getting worried again, Kimmie," Shego said uneasily as she looked around anxiously. "Are you saying, someone, or something is out there watching us?"

"That's just a theory. For all we know, they set up this…laboratory, and left it to run its course."

"Not any more inspiring," Kim was told.

"Actually, the fact these guys are scared of those cliffs gives me a degree of hope."

"Hope," she sputtered.

"Yeah. I started wondering. About those that came before us. About those that didn't make it. I started thinking that if someone, or something didn't want these…habitats mixing, then all their…specimens might be hardwired to prevent it."

"So, you're saying…."

"They aren't here to attack us," Kim told her now as she boldly stepped out on the beach, satisfied nothing was around that might attack. "They're here to prevent us from going to certain places."

"Snap," Shego grimaced. "So, if those cliffs are forbidden…."

"That's when they're going to try to stop us again."

"And put our skulls on their altar," Shego grimaced.

"They may try," Kim said. "But I think we both know neither of us is going down that easily."

Shego just scowled on as she followed Kim, and the women both started sifting the debris from their raft, and the supplies that were now little more than rubble.

"Hey," Kim grinned. "I found a gourd," she said, pulling one up out of the sand.

"Yippee," Shego muttered dryly. "We're saved," she twirled a finger sardonically she still noted the primitive tree men were watching them openly now, all of them with readied spears.

"Don't worry. Unless we look like we're about to head for someplace taboo, I don't think they'll do anything."

"Then why attack me at all?"

"You were new, and likely they weren't certain about you. So far, you've not really harmed any of them, uh, much, and they're probably starting to think of you as just another woman."

"Another… Oh, no. One of those hairballs even touches me…."

"I suspect they'll be cautious in that respect," Kim giggled at her. "Still, I think we can both ensure they get that no means no when it counts."

"It means hell, no," Shego snapped, "And I'll be handing out plasma vasectomies if they don't get that," she warned.

Kim couldn't help but giggle at that.

"So, Dr. Shego is offering free community service now?"

"You're warped, Princess," Shego grumbled, and continued to help her look for salvageable provisions. She did find a short vine coiled into a rope, but that was it as they both continued to search the beach with the hairy men watching their every move.

To Be Continued….