Chapter Eight
The small car drove through the afternoon at about 200 miles an hour and 12,000 feet altitude. Below, the westering sun made shadows that stretched slowly eastward.
"You're on course, Kim, and you'll get there in about an hour," said Wade from the dashboard's built-in Kimmunicator.
"Thanks, Wade, keep me updated, please and thank you!" she replied. The young supergenius signed off.
The redhead glanced at her passengers. "Everything okay?"
Raf smiled. "Yes, thanks. This is fun!" Rufus, in her lap, hadn't woken up despite the shaking and tilting the car had done.
Kabale looked ill at ease. "I guess I'm okay... I don't like being up this high, especially while in mortal form."
"Sorry, it won't be for long," Kim replied.
KP/AF KP/AF KP/AF
The Sloth touched down on a deserted two-lane blacktop about ten miles from Fiske, and drove on in. She stopped beside a mound of rock in a field of worn stones. Cacti and small plants eked out a meager existence in the stony land.
"We're here, Wade," she said into her wrist Kimmunicator, after climbing out of the car and locking it.
"Okay..." the sound of typing was clear. "He's about a quarter-mile from you in a valley straight ahead. I'm picking up a number of small heat signatures that are probably monkey ninjas. They're spread out all around him."
"No big, then. Any sign of Ron?" she asked.
"Not yet... no, wait. Another human-sized signature just appeared at the base of a rock. I'd bet it's him," Wade answered. "He's closer than you are."
"Let's go!" Kim took off running, Raf and Kabale right behind her.
After a few minutes they stopped behind a large boulder half-buried. Kim took a peek around it to see Ron standing about ten feet from the monkey-obsessed villain. They were talking, but she couldn't hear what they said.
She turned to her companions. "How are we going to do this?"
Raf flushed slightly. "Kim, we'll guide you, and protect you as well as we can, but we can't fight your battles for you."
The devil-girl nodded in agreement. "We can't reveal what we are, remember. And if we use our powers where they can see, both of them will know."
"All right," said Kim, thinking quickly, "Then can you handle the ninjas while I help Ron? Fiske is dangerous."
Kabale grinned. "Sounds like fun. Raf, I'll distract them and draw them over here, and you take care of them with your Inflame power."
The angel looked shocked. "Burn them to death? I couldn't do that!"
The devil rolled her eyes. "They're just animals. It's not like they matter."
Rufus popped out of Kim's pocket and glared at the devil. "HEY!"
Kim glared as well.
Kabale ignored them and continued, "And they brought it on themselves, putting our charge in danger."
"... I'll think of something else," Raf answered, shaking her head.
"Fine. But do it quickly. Kim, what are they doing?" said Kabale.
The redheaded heroine was looking around the boulder again. "The conversation seems to be over. They're getting into position to fight. The monkey ninjas are all around them."
"All right," said the devil-girl. She held out her hands and transformed herself into an exact copy of Kim. "This ought to get their attention."
"I- I'd say so..." said the heroine, staring. "If you can do that, why didn't you change to look human while we were in public?"
"Too much fun watching you and Raf flounder for explanations," said Kabale. "What do you think, Raf?"
"Looks good, Kabale," approved Raf, giving her rival a thumbs up while scowling at her.
"I'll go this way, you get ready to go the other side," said Kabale, then turned and headed toward the far side of the boulder. "Wait until you see them chasing me." she called back.
"Good luck, Kim," said Raf, giving the redhead an encouraging smile.
"Thanks. You too," said Kim. "Both of you."
KP/AF KP/AF KP/AF
In the Challenge Room, the students and teachers were watching closely.
"About time we saw some action!" said Gas. He tossed a handful of popcorn into his mouth and chewed noisily.
The angels scrunched their faces with disgust, but didn't comment, knowing he was doing it deliberately.
KP/AF KP/AF KP/AF
Ron Stoppable faced off with his arch-enemy, Monkey Fist. Both men were in set positions for the martial arts style they shared, Tai Sheng Pek Quar, or Monkey Kung Fu.
Ron was slender and blond, with brown eyes, freckles and large ears. He was wearing a black gi he'd gotten while at the Yamanouchi School for Ninjas in Japan.
"What's with the Q and A, Monty?" asked Ron, "You don't usually bother."
"Yes, well, I'm waiting for another guest to show up," the evil man answered.
"Oh, you're stalling," said Ron. "Wish you'd said so before. I could have been eating my snackage while we wait." He stood up from his position. He picked up his backpack and started rummaging through it.
Monkey Fist stood up as well. "Don't you have any respect for anything? The fate of the Mystical Monkey Power is on the line, here and now, and you're being flippant!"
"Hey, food's important!" protested Ron. He found what he was looking for, and picked up a wrapped taco.
Fiske threw up his hands in exasperation.
Just then a monkey ninja came over to him, chattering and pointing.
"She's here?" he asked, and Ron looked up, dropping the taco back into a thermal bag.
They looked in the direction the monkey was pointing, and saw a familiar redhead standing by a large boulder just outside the valley.
"KP!" called Ron, waving frantically.
She waved back, but stood where she was.
"Monkey ninjas! You have your orders! Attack!" shouted Fiske in a loud voice, pointing at Kim. All of the ninjas took off in her direction, chattering and screeching.
"NO!" shouted Ron. He started to run after them, but was stopped by a hard kick to the side. He tumbled over a few times and sat up, glaring at Fist.
"Not so fast, buffoon! You have your own problems to deal with," the evil man purred, grinning.
"If helping Kim means going through you first, fine," answered Ron. He stood up and took a stance. Then he surged forward, striking at his enemy with everything he had.
Fiske blocked the attacks easily, but didn't fight back. He was going to let Ron run himself ragged first, the easier to defeat him. The one-sided battle went on for a minute or two, then Ron backed off a bit.
"Come on, Stoppable, is that all you've got? I'm not even breathing hard!" said Fiske, "I was hoping by now you'd be a real challenge, but I suppose your poor skills are Sensei's fault. He's not getting any younger, after all."
"Sensei is a great man!" said Ron, puffing a bit.
"Yes, great at getting his students killed!" laughed Fiske. "Once you're out of the picture, I'll squash your mole rat, then I'll be the only one with the Mystical Monkey Power!"
"You're not there yet!" retorted Ron, "And even if you do kill me and Rufus, Kim will stop you!"
Fiske laughed at him. "The cheerleader will fall! I will be the Ultimate Monkey Master, and rule the world!"
Ron shook his head. "Seriously, dude, what is it about ruling the world? I mean, it would be a LOT of work. Why would you want to bother?"
Fiske spluttered a bit. Nobody had ever asked that before. "Well, you see, it's..." The sound of a girl's scream cut him off, and both combatants looked that way. They saw no sign of Kim or any of the ninjas.
"And that is that," said Fiske, with satisfaction. He turned back to Ron.
The blond boy stood, shocked, mouth hanging open. "K... Kim?" Tears started trickling down his face.
"Never mind her, worry about yourself, boy!" said Fiske, taking a stance. "Let us finish this!"
Ron turned to him, face set, anger boiling in his brown eyes. "Finish this? I thought you'd never ask." He held out his hand, and after a moment a katana, the Lotus Blade, appeared. He grasped the blue-glowing sword and its light spread all around him. His eyes turned an electric blue and his hair started standing up from the static.
"Finally!" said Fiske, and began glowing blue as well.
KP/AF KP/AF KP/AF
The students and teachers sat mesmerized by the sight on the monitor.
"Is this it? The Crisis Point?" asked Urie.
"No, not yet," said Temptel.
"The Crisis Point is Kim Possible's to resolve," said Arkan, "This will probably be the trigger."
"GOOOO MONKEY FIST!" shouted Cabiria.
"Beat that goody-goody!" added Gas, and burped.
"Stop him, Ron!" countered Dolce.
"You can do it! Save the world!" put in Miki.
"Say something, Sulfus!" urged Cabiria, nudging the devil-boy.
"What is Raf and Kabale doing?" he said, "Show them. I don't care about those two!"
"I want to see the fight!" said Gas.
"Me too!" said Cabiria.
"We'd rather see Raf," said Miki.
Arkan and Temptel exchanged a look, then Temptel waved her hand, creating a second monitor. This one showed the angel, the devil, and the human.