A/N: I hope you enjoyed the last chapter. Anyway we get to the main plot of the story in this so here you go!
Disclaimer: I only own Kim, not Cyberchase.
McKenzie
Daisyfan5534
Chapter 6
Kim bolted straight up from her dream in a panic. She managed to calm herself down a little bit, but she was in shock. An eight year old who was capable of vandalism, and got away with it. It just seemed unreal, but it wasn't any kid. It was her, which is what made it seem realistic. She's heard people say that she could be capable of murder, Kim would probably agree to that, but she would never kill anyone. It doesn't matter who or what they've done, Kim doesn't have a heart to do so.
"Can't be real." she said as she curled up into a ball, pulling her head down to muffle her voice. "It's just a dream, it can't be real!"
Pulling her thoughts together, Kim was able to calmly lie back down.
'Was that even real? Did I actually do that? No, I couldn't, why would I do something like that when I was eight? There's no way I even could do something like that. What if it's related to my nightmares? It could... but there is still no way I could do it. I'm too innocent, even Evelyn said so. She also said a dark change caused me to act out and would fill my eyes with guilt. The nightmares could be the "dark change" and the dream could be the guilt thing and me acting out. Or she predicted that I'd have this dream and know that I'd think that. That must be it. It's the only thing that makes sense.' Kim turned her head towards the alarm clock on her nightstand: 11:48. 'It wasn't real the dream wasn't real. I'm sure of it. Evelyn just didn't mention me thinking it.' With that last thought, Kim closed her eyes and fell back asleep.
One hour later...
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Kim bolted straight up again, coughing due to lack of oxygen. She had her usual nightmare, which causes her to breathe rapidly, limiting the oxygen she needs.
Kim regained her focus and turned to her alarm clock. She shut it off, but she was confused. It was almost one in the morning and her alarm is set to go off at seven... or was set. Getting out of bed, she knelt down in front of her nightstand. Kim tilted her alarm clock up and stared at it. On the left side of what read the time, in small letters said: A1- meaning alarm 1. She has two alarms, alarm 1 goes off at seven and alarm 2 goes off at eight, but Kim rarely uses the second alarm.
'Okay, why would my alarm wake me up this early... and why do I feel like I'm being watched. Wait... I think I know, and it involves the microchip I found earlier.'
Kim set her clock down as she slowly inched her hand behind it. Then she struck.
A smile plastered across her face as she stood up with what she caught. It was a long, narrow spy bug. Kim had no doubt that it came from her stalker and that it was equipped with the microchip.
With it squirming between her index finger and her thumb, Kim brought it in front of her face.
"Listen up, asshole." she said. Kim had a feeling that he could see her. "If you keep following me, then you'll end up like this bug."
With that said, Kim put it between her teeth and bit it in half. After spitting it out into her hand, Kim walked out of her room and to her kitchen. She threw the pieces in her hand in the sink and turned on the water then turned on the garbage disposal. Although Kim wouldn't kill anyone, she had no problem with making empty threats.
After turning the water and garbage disposal off, Kim started walking back to her room, but she hesitated when she got to her door.
"Yeah, screw that."
It was one of those nights when Kim doesn't want to sleep. When that happens, she pulls an all-nighter. Kim walked over to her computer station and sat down in her chair. She opened the bottom drawer and pulled out her secret project and put it on the desk.
Kim's secret project is extremely complex, she started on it when she was ten, and started going out and stealing parts when she was ten and a half. She's gotten better at stealing the parts she needed. When she first started doing it she just waited until her target was alone and used the knockout gas, but Bobby caught her when she was eleven. So after getting him the raise, Bobby promised to keep his mouth shut about Kim, but ever since then, Kim has been getting them by meeting up with her target then stealing afterwards. Bobby is just her partner in crime.
Kim's progress in the project is not that far. Even though she's been working on it for two years, Kim would estimate that she was only 16% done. There are a lot of things she needs to consider for the project to work, all the math, the mechanics, even the parts must be perfect. Yes it's difficult, but she loves it.
Her night usually goes like this: Work on the project until her brain hurts, read a 'Cyberchase' book, spy on people on her monitors and make up their own stories* until she gets bored, or she passes out.
The next morning…
"Kim?" the door to Kim's room opened and in came the Cybersquad.
After finding her asleep with her head in her arms they made their way over to their friend.
"Kim, wake up." Matt said as he shook her slightly.
The blonde lifted her head up.
"Kim, you okay?" Jackie asked her.
"Yeah," Kim yawned. "I'm just tired."
"You didn't sleep last night?" Jackie asked her.
"Not really. I didn't want a nightmare, so I stayed up. Sometimes I can stay up the entire day... and other times I just-" Kim fell out of her chair when she fell back asleep, but Matt caught her.
"Oh no, not again." the Cybersquad jerked their heads to Kim's door and saw Digit come in.
"Again? What do you mean?" Inez asked the cyboid as he flew to Kim's desk and landed on it.
"Well, this happens often." the cyboid said.
"How often?" Inez asked.
"Let's just say the last time she did it was the day that Slider took her to therapy." Digit replied. "Just get her to the couch, I'll make her some hot chocolate. It's the only thing that will wake her up."
After Digit flew off to the kitchen, Inez and Jackie picked up Kim's legs and helped Matt take her to the couch to set her down. Digit soon came out with a cup of hot chocolate and put it down on the table next to her.
Once the cyboid shook Kim awake, he gave her the warm cup and she took the first sip.
"Alright," Kim said. "I'm up."
"Kim, do you realize it's noon, right?" Digit told her.
"I do now," she said as she took another sip of her drink. "What are you kids doing here?"
"We're going to see if anyone needs help around Cyberspace." Jackie said. "Do you want to come?"
"I'd love to, but I can't." Kim said. "I have to do something today." she took another drink. "Besides, I'm half asleep."
"Get some rest, Kim, you need it." Digit said.
"I know, Dige, I know." she said. "You guys have fun."
After saying goodbye to Kim, the kids and Digit made their way to a four-seater cybercoop and got in. Digit was driving, Matt was sitting passengers seat, Inez was behind Digit in the backseat with Jackie, who was sitting next to her, behind Matt.
"So, we know the plan?" Matt asked the girls.
"Wait, what plan?" Digit said.
Meanwhile …... In Kim's room...
Kim was still on the couch with half a cup of hot chocolate, thinking on her situation.
'Should I do this? I don't know if I should. If I do, should I wear my costume? What if I mess up if someone asks me a question? Maybe the Cybersquad is just fine, but they have been coming into Cyberspace a little more often. No, something's wrong. I don't need to find out everything today, maybe I should just get a lay of the land. Yep, that's all I'm gonna do. The kids are here; I don't have to wear my costume today. Oh man, if they find out what I'm doing...'
Kim finished her hot chocolate, so she got up to put the cup in the sink. After she did that, she made her way to the bathroom to examine her cheek. It wasn't red anymore and the swelling died down, but she could see the tiny scratch marks. They aren't that noticeable, and Kim was glad that no one would ask 'where she got the scratch marks'.
Kim grabbed the hairbrush and brushed her hair, and then she sat on the counter to brush her teeth. When she was done, she went to her room to get dressed, because she stayed up all night in her pajamas.
After Kim walked out of her room fully dressed, she walked over to her desk to grab her bag that was beside it. Once she put it on, she started typing on her keyboard.
"Okay, I can do this. I can do this. All I have to do is hit 'E' then jump through the portal." Kim took a deep breath. "Alright, let's do this."
Kim hit the key on her keyboard and turned around to watch a portal open in front of her. She closed her eyes and said, "Here goes nothing." then she jumped through the portal.
Meanwhile... In Cyberspace...
"So why are we going to the Northern Frontier?" Digit asked.
"Kim saw a power supply box floating around in Cyberspace, but Hacker got to it before she could. So we're going to go get it for her." Matt said.
"You do realize that Kim can get it herself, right?" Digit told the kids.
"Yes, but it's the least we could do after she took us to R-Fair City." Jackie said.
"It's our way of saying thanks." Inez added.
"Why do I get a bad feeling about this?" Digit asked himself before flying off to the land of Hacker.
Once they got there, the Cybersquad landed behind the hangar and climbed out of the cybercoop. They made their way to the front and entered the hangar. The Grim Wrecker was landed inside and the ramp was down. They didn't see Hacker, Buzz, or Delete.
"Come on." Matt said as he ran towards the ramp. The others followed him onto the ship.
The kids and Digit entered the control room of the ship and saw the power supply box on the panel.
"Am I the only one who thinks that this is too easy?" Inez asked her friends.
"You're right, earthbrat." Hacker's chair turned around with him in it. "It is too easy."
They Cybersquad turned around to make a run for it, but Buzz and Delete were blocking the exit.
"Let's raise the difficulty shall we?" Hacker said.
Meanwhile… On Earth…
Kim hopped out of the portal into a room, when she turned around she saw a map of a library. Kim recognized it; it was where the kids first met. She smiled at the thought, but she regained her focus. Processing what she just had done.
It's been six years - six years away from this place. She vowed that she would never come back, but she did. Kim looked above the map and read the time: 11:25.
'Wait, wasn't it around noon when I left? Oh yeah, cybertime.'
After remembering that cybertime is faster than earthtime, Kim quickly walked out of the library. Who knows how much time has passed in Cyberspace, and more importantly for Kim: when the kids will be back.
She left the library and started walking down the street, observing everything. It was weird to be back: to see cars instead of coops, people like her, instead of penguins, poddles, and cyborgs. Although it was different, she knows enough to get by.
Motherboard thought it would be a good idea to study things on Earth in case she ever wanted to go back. Even though she thought she never would, Kim agreed.
She had to admit, it was pretty nice to be back. Even though she didn't have a lot of good memories when she was living on Earth, it was a place she once called home.
Kim shook her head, getting her mind back on track. She glanced across the street and saw a park, more importantly she saw a bulletin board of the town. Kim managed to get to a crosswalk and get over to the board. She stood in front of a map of the town and she saw the visitors' maps next to it. Kim took one and opened it up.
After pinpointing her location on the map, Kim started taking mental notes as she walked through the park.
'Okay, I'm in the park. And it seems like the biggest place in this town. This might as well be head quarters. What about the places around it? Um... there's a cafe, a dinner, the library- duh, a few other miscellaneous stores, and- Whoa!"
Kim nearly walked into a couple kids who were chasing each other. Kim smiled, it reminded her of her and Madison when they were younger. Kim looked ahead to find a building across the street with a sign above the door that said: Mary's Orphanage.
The name of the building is what caught Kim's eye, and she wanted a look inside. After she crossed the street, she climbed up the steps of the building and opened the door as she started folding the map back up.
The inside of the building was like a hotel lobby. She looked to her right and saw the front desk with a woman sitting there who looked up at Kim. She had brown hair, green eyes, and freckles.
Kim hesitated for a second before walking up to the front desk.
'No, it can't be.' Kim thought.
"Can I help you?" the woman asked.
"Mary B?" was all Kim could say. "Is that you?"
The woman smiled. "It's been years since anyone has called me that."
Kim felt herself smile. It was Mary Beth, the one who cooked, cared, and cleaned the orphanage that she and her sister went to. She was sixteen when she last saw her, and now she's twenty-two
"I- I can't believe it's you." Kim said.
"Come on, let's go to my office. It's more private." Mary Beth said as she stood up.
Kim followed Mary B to a room behind the front desk. Kim heard her old friend shut the door as she sat down in a chair, then Mary Beth sat down across the desk in front of her.
"So, Kim how's your new family?" Mary Beth asked.
"You remember my name? Kim responded.
"Of course, how could I forget the twins that gave me a sixteenth birthday party? Speaking of which, how's your sister?" Mary Beth said.
Kim almost forgot that Mary Beth promised that she'd get her and her sister adopted before she left six years ago. She didn't want to hurt Mary Beth's feelings by telling her that she didn't get adopted. So, what else is Kim to do, but what she knew that she'd eventually do: Lie... with part of the truth.
"Actually, Madi and I got separated by adoption, and I haven't seen her since." Kim said.
"But, you and Madison are twins. How could- Ms. Stone, you idiot!" Mary Beth said.
Kim has never seen her get mad before. "Mary B..."
"Kim, I'm sorry. I never liked Ms. Stone; I knew she didn't care about us. And please, just call me Mary." she said. "Anyway do you like your new family?"
"Yes, I love my family. I live in an R.V. so I've been traveling." Kim said. "My dad can get a job anywhere and I sometimes help get the money. My mom just stays in our home on wheels."
"Well, I'm glad to hear that." Mary said.
"So, how did you get us all adopted and how did you open up this place?" Kim asked.
"Well, after I left the orphanage, I took a bus to the largest town in the county and got a job at the county newspaper. So I used the pictures and information I got and put it in the paper." Mary said.
"And they were okay with it?" Kim asked.
"Yep, turns out the owner of the newspaper was an orphan at the orphanage before I was even there. He didn't like Ms. Stone either, it's why he gave me the job." Mary explained. "After I turned eighteen, I came back to my home town and found an abandoned hotel. Since the town didn't have an orphanage anymore, I bought the place and turned it into one. It took almost two years, but I did it. The state pays me to keep it open."
"Wait, the orphanage that we use to live in, was in this town?" Kim asked.
"Yep."
'Well, that's ironic. The kids live in the same town.' Kim thought.
"I should get going soon. Thanks, Mary." Kim said as she stood up. Mary Beth made her way over to her to hug her goodbye.
"It was good to see you again." Mary said.
"Hey, do you still have the sheet we gave to you?" Kim asked her as she released from the hug. She was referring to the bed sheet that she and the other orphans used as a birthday card.
"It's hanging on my bedroom wall." Mary said to her before she opened her office door.
Kim smiled as she started to walk out, but she thought that she should tell Mary Beth this, "Mary, just so you know, I always thought of you as a mother." then Kim left the orphanage.
After walking around the town some more, Kim came across a mansion, she figured that she was on the rich part of town. Kim saw a female adult struggling to not drop the bags of groceries from her car to the mansion door. Thinking that she needed help, Kim made her way over to her and insisted that she'd help the woman. Kim took a couple bags in her arms and helped carry them inside and into the kitchen. The woman thanked Kim for helping then asked for her name.
"It's Kim." she said.
The woman was taken aback by her name and stared at her for a few seconds before asking her next question. "Kim, tell me, do you have any siblings?"
Confused by her question, she answered, "Uh... yeah. A twin sister." she said.
"Madison." the woman said right after Kim finished her sentence.
"Uh yes... but how did you-" Kim was interrupted by a surprise hug by the woman.
"How long has it been?" the woman said.
"Do I know you?" Kim asked the lady as she released her.
"The last time I saw you was when you were three." the woman said ignoring Kim's question.
Kim was in shock and she was frozen in place. She didn't know anyone and hardly knew anything when she was three. She thought about it for sometime on how the woman knew her. Kim scratched the back of her neck; she felt her fingers brush over her the chain of her locket. Then it hit her. When she was three: she woke up one morning with her mother's locket around her neck. It was that day when her and her sister were shipped to the orphanage. The day she never saw her parents again
Meanwhile... In Cyberspace...
"You and your big ideas, Matt." said Inez.
"Hey, you're the one to talk. I thought you were all in on this plan?" Matt yelled at her.
"That was before I knew we were walking into a trap!" Inez yelled back.
"Well, if you knew then why didn't you speak up?" Matt yelled.
"Guys, guys! If we want to get out of here then we need you two to stop fighting." Jackie said.
After Hacker's capture, he put the kids in slim, glass cylinders* after confiscating their SQWAK Pads. They were bolted to the ceiling and floor and the door was sealed shut. As for Digit, he was just put in a cage next to the earthlies.
"Jackie's right, we need to find a way out." Inez said.
"Inez, we tried, there is no way out." Matt said.
Silence filled the room for a bit.
"You think Kim would be here by now." Jackie said.
"You know, I was about to ask where that pest is."
The kids and Digit jerked their heads to the door and watched Hacker stroll on in.
"Do you want something?" Jackie asked.
"What I want is the fourth earthbrat. So where is she?" Hacker demanded.
"How are we supposed to know?" Matt responded.
"You actually think that I'll believe that?" Hacker said.
"Well incase you haven't noticed, Hacker, Kim wouldn't be the one to give details." Digit said.
"So you really don't know where she is? No matter, she'll eventually come." Hacker said. "And when she does, I'll make sure she'll talk."
"How? Are you going to strap her to a chair and electrocute her?" Inez said sarcastically.
Hacker just laughed evilly, "Oh don't worry, you'll find out when she gets here." he said before walking out of the room.
Meanwhile... On Earth...
"So how did you know my parents?" Kim asked the woman.
The woman Kim met is the maid of the mansion. The maid-whose name is Annie- took Kim to her room which is outside in the backyard shack.* It wasn't big, but it had a small table and two chairs that her and Annie were sitting at.
"I used to work for your parents, Kim." Annie said.
"You did?" Kim said. "What did you do?"
"Well, I was their maid and their nanny. You see, this mansion was your parents." Annie said.
"It was?"
"Yes, but when they passed, the fortune was given to a married couple that worked for the business."
"But, why them? Why not you or Madi and I?" Kim asked.
Annie was silent for a while. "You were always a curious child, Kim." she said. Annie stood up and walked to her closet. She pulled something down from the top shelf and brought it over to Kim. It was a big, thick, brown book entitled: Photo Album.
"This will explain everything." Annie said giving it to Kim.
"Why are you giving this to me?" Kim asked.
"Don't tell your sister, but I always liked you better. I still do." Annie told her.
Kim smiled as she stood up putting the book in her bag. "Well, I better get going. Thanks, Annie."
"You're welcome, Kim. Do you want me to show you the way out?" Annie asked.
"No thanks, I think I can find the way." Kim said before she left.
Kim managed to find her way out and she started heading back to the park. 'I better get back to Cyberspace, who knows how much time has passed there.'
After using her SQWAK Pad to open a portal at the library, Kim jumped through it and landed in the control room in Control Central. She looked at the SQWAK in her hands: 4:06.
"Wow, four hours here." Kim muttered to herself.
"Kim." Motherboard said. "Where are the kids and Digit?"
"Um... Last time I saw them, they said that they were going to help other cybersites." Kim responded.
"I've checked with almost all of the Cybersites, Kim. No one has seen them." Motherboard said.
"Then where could they-" Kim hit herself in the head. The kids went to Hacker's to get the power supply box for her. "Just let me empty out my bag and portal me to the Northern Frontier." Kim said as she ran out of the room to do so.
Five minutes later...
Kim landed on the hard ground by Hacker's hanger. She started walking towards it as she heard the portal close behind her. As she was about to enter the hangar, Kim felt someone grab her forearm and jerk her inside. Looking at the green hand on her arm, Kim looked up and saw The Hacker standing over her.
"I don't have time for your crap, Hacker." Kim said yanking her arm away. "Just let the kids and Digit go, and I'll get out of your hair- Oops... I meant wig."
"Well, I don't have time for yours either, but I need to talk to you." Hacker told her.
"Do you now?" Kim asked with sarcasm.
"I do, earthbrat. I have a few questions. For example: How as I not able to see you around Control Central before?" Hacker asked.
"Easy, Motherboard and the Doc didn't trust you." Kim responded. "I was also at Slider's all the time."
"Alright, next question: How come you're so different from the other earthbrats?
"Why, you think that I'm unstoppable?"
"Oh please, different or not, I can still defeat you."
"Oh really, like the ninety-four times the Cybersquad had defeated you and three more times with me. Counting this one."
Kim could tell that Hacker was getting furious, but his next question was calm. "Tell me, Kim. Have you ever talked yourself into something you couldn't handle?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Have you been watching your back lately? Getting messages that made you question how safe you really are?" Hacker said.
"Wait a minute... You're the one who's been following me, aren't you?" Kim accused.
"You're being followed?" Hacker asked unsurprised. He sounded innocent; furthermore Kim knew that there is no way he could be that smooth enough to spy on her.
"Well- I- Uh..."—'Damn, not him. He's probably gonna use it against me now.'
"Don't worry, Kim. I'll make sure not to tell anyone. Chances are that if the cat gets out of your bag, it won't end well for you." Hacker said. "Besides, all your secrets will go with you, including how to get into Motherboard's mainframe." he said grabbing Kim's arm.
"There it is." Kim said.
Hacker stripped Kim of her bag then he grabbed some rope to bind Kim's arms behind her. After having her hands tied, Hacker shoved Kim forward, forcing her to walk up the ramp onto the Grim Wreaker.
They entered the control room and Kim saw the Cybersquad trapped in individual tubes. Hacker shoved Kim forward again.
"Hey, I'm walkin'. Don't get your panties in a wad." Kim yelled at him as she walked towards an empty tube. Glaring at the kids and Digit, Kim saw them holding in their laughs at her comment.
Unfortunately, Hacker didn't take it to well. He shoved Kim inside the tube and she hit the round wall. Hacker shut the door, leaving the ropes on her.
Kim turned around and watched Hacker toss her bag in a small pile by the wall that contained: Matt's backpack and all of their SQWAK Pads. Kim noticed another empty tube on the other side of the room, with a curious look she turned to her friends.
"What's with the tube over there?" Kim asked them. Low enough so Hacker wouldn't hear her.
"I have no clue." Jackie said. "We saw these four over here and we thought that they were for us and you'd be in that one, but then he put Digit in a cage, so we don't really know."
"What's with the empty tube over there?" Kim asked Hacker.
"You'll find out. Now then, I want you to tell me what I want to know." He said.
"Which is?" Kim said.
"Don't play dumb, you pest. You know that I want to get into Motherboard's system, so tell me how to do so." Hacker demanded.
"Yeah… No. You might as well make this tube sound proof, I'm not saying anything." Kim responded.
Hacker smiled. "Do you want to know what the empty tube is for?"
Kim paused. "Now I'm not so sure."
"Don't worry, I think you'll enjoy this… Demonstration." Hacker said as he typed on the control panel. "Just know that it's identical to three others."
With a hit of a key, the empty tube lit up with electricity harshly, flowing inside it. Kim's mind wrapped around the words 'three others'.
Hacker turned it off and turned to the Cybersquad. "That was only level one."
Kim's mind was still processing. "Three others?" she said praying to not be true.
"Here's a hint: one of them isn't yours." Hacker said.
Kim looked at the kids next to her, who looked back at her with worry. "You wouldn't." Kim said.
"Let's go up a level shall we?" Hacker said as he started typing again. Kim heard their capsules start up and her mind started racing. "And this time, we'll try it out." Hacker said, his finger nearing the key to activate.
"NO! WAIT! STOP!" Kim yelled.
Everyone stopped and stared at her. Waiting for the next thing she'll say.
"I'll- I'll talk." She said.
"Kim, please tell me that you're joking." Digit said.
"I'll tell you what you want, just don't hurt them." Kim said calmly with a hint of guilt.
"Kim, you're not serious are you?" Jackie asked.
"Come on, Kim. We can take it." Matt said.
"You don't need to do this." Inez added.
"It's not like I have much of a choice." Kim said as she leaned back against the round wall of her capsule.
"You know what I want." Hacker said. "So tell me, where do I start?"
A/N: Boom! Cliffhanger… I am running out of ways to do my outro. So I hope you like this chapter: 5,000 words and the last chapter was 6,000 words. Please, if you'd like more chapters this long then please review. They are my fuel.
BTW- I'm going to be at cheer camp on the 22-26 so I'm not going to be able to do any kind of writing. Computer, Google drive, notes, yep I'm going to be that busy. I'll be lucky if I get some stuff done on the bus there and back, so I might be a bit behind on FanFiction. Anyway I hope you enjoyed the story so far, there will be a lot more to come so stay tuned!
*- Modern Family (Can't remember the title)
*- Cyberchase Ep. 209-Double Trouble. (The things Master Pi was in. I call them tubes because I have no clue on what they are called.)
*- Another Cinderella Story (Mary's bedroom, only more adult.)