Chapter 3: Missing in action

Monique strolled past the many different shops and restaurants down Main Street. She happily maneuvered past people crowding the sidewalk. No one seemed to notice her walking amongst them. She was thankful for her sudden invisibility amongst the people; she didn't want a reminder of her traitor status.

She walked into a random shop and quickly regretted her choice. Before you stood a small group of black clad figures they slowly closed in on her. "Oh h-hey guys long time no see, w-what's…uh wh-what's new?" Before she could get away she felt a pair of strong arms pull her into a crushing embrace. Monique felt her lungs tighten air was quickly becoming short in supply.

"The boss wants to have a word with you." A deep voice growled behind her. Before she knew it, Monique felt a blow to the side of her head. In a flash of pain and light everything went black.

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Kim sighed sinking lower into the warm water, her aching muscles thanked her. Shego smirked from the other end of the huge tube. "Feel better Kimmie?" She asked stretching a stiff shoulder. Kim closed her eyes. "We should have stopped when you threw me through that wall." Shego laughed and swam closer. "You're the one who said no holding back." Kim sneered.

"Okay but I didn't think you'd throw me into a wall."

Shego gave a mock pout. "Aw poor Kimmie can't take a little rough housing? Should I take it easy on you from now on?"

Kim pursed her lips in annoyance. "You wouldn't know how to take it easy on me. It's your fault my back probably going to get all bruised."

"Oh come on your back looks fine you're…"

Ron came bolting into the bedroom. "Kim! Shego!" He ran into the bathroom. "Kim! She whoa! Sorry! Sorry! I didn't know you two where…um yeah." Ron covered his eyes.

Shego rolled her eyes. "What do you want Ron?"

"Okay um…Some resistance members where spotted in the city."

"Ron you should be able to handle this one, do a city wide sweep and find them. Make it discreet, we don't want them to know we're looking for them."

Ron nodded and clumsily groped his way out of the bathroom.

Shego looked over at Kim. "I really thought he would grow out of that buffoon act."

Kim only shrugged.

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Monique was thrown to onto a hard surface before she was pulled to her feet. She opened her eyes slowly wincing at the pain in her head. She looked around the dark room and stared up at the shadowy figure sitting in front of her.

"What is it with you bosses and staying in shadow?" She asked groggily. One of her captors roughly jabbed her ribs. "Do you know why I called you here Monique?" The figure asked. Monique shook her head trying hard not to think about her splitting headache. "I don't know. I guess it wasn't to shoot the shit huh?" She received another sharp jab to the ribs.

"No, Monique I called you here to make you an offer. I want some information about Kim Possible."

Monique scoffed. "And what offer is this?"

"We're working to free the world. The way it's supposed to be."

"Did you ever stop to think that maybe the world is better off being ruled by one person?" Monique earned a quick punch to the stomach.

"You really don't have a choice in this. You can either give us the information we want or…"

The figure snapped their fingers and Monique was under attack. Punches and kicks came from every direction each blow felt more painful then the last. The figure snapped their fingers again and the attack came to a sudden halt. Monique lay on the cold floor trying hard not to gasp for air. She was yanked to her feet again; something warm ran down her face. She resisted the urge to check her best guess was blood.

"So do I have your allegiance?"

Monique laughed. It sounded like an insane cackle nothing like her own. She wasn't about to betray her friend twice, she was in too much pain to fight her way out. It's seemed her only choice was to betray Kim or die with holding all information. She couldn't help but laugh harder.

"Why are you laughing?"

Monique stifled her laughter. "It's just funny…I can either die here or die later when Kim defeats you all again. Either way I'm going to die. I might as well die with some honor then be executed in front of the whole world."

"Really?...well I have to say I'm very disappointed in you Monique. I thought you of all people wanted a free world." The figure snapped their fingers. "Get rid of her."

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That night Kim walked the corridors of the palace, something wasn't sitting right with her. "What's wrong?" A voice asked behind her. Kim turned to face Ron, a concern filled his eyes. Kim turned away and continued walking.

"Where's Monique?" She asked when Ron caught up with her. He shrugged showing no real thought to the matter of the missing woman. "Why are you looking for her?" He asked as she turned a corner picking up her pace. She didn't answer him. She looked toward a group of guards posted near the main entrance.

"You three!" The guards rushed over and stood at attention. "Have any of you seen Monique coming in or leaving the palace?" One guard stepped forward. "Yes, Majesty. I saw her leaving for the city this afternoon she has yet to return." Kim took this into thought and sighed impatiently.

"Go search for her. I want her back in the palace ten minutes ago." The guards saluted and ran through the entrance out into the dark city. Kim and Ron stood quietly in front of the heavy doors for a long time before Ron spoke. "Why did you send a search party?"

Kim crossed her arms and looked away. "First of all, that's not a search party. Second, I have a feeling that resistance is looking to recruit her again." Ron pressed on. "So why are you looking for her if she is being recruited? Wouldn't that be like inviting the enemy in?" Kim glared at him for a long moment.

"I'm going to bed. You should do the same." Kim turned on a heel leaving Ron alone in the entrance hall.

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It had been days since that night. Kim sent a search party but each day they returned empty handed. One night she stood in front of the entrance waiting for the party to return hoping they had found something. Her lack of sleep was beginning to show, her eyes were blood shot and she looked pale. She sat on the marble floor staring at the doors through heavy lidded eyes.

"So this is where you've been every night." Shego said kneeling down next to her. Kim didn't seem to notice her. "You know she's been missing for a week now, you're going to have to accept that maybe…" She was cut off when Kim pushed her away. Shego raised her hands in defense. "Okay fine, why don't you come to bed then? It's no use bringing your hopes up every night."

Kim shook her head. "I want to be here if she turns up." Her voice was nearly inaudible. Shego sighed and sat down next to her. "I don't need company." Kim said in a tired voice. Shego shook her head. "Too bad Kimmie. You haven't slept in a week which means I haven't slept in a week. I might as well stare at these doors then stare at the ceiling." Kim didn't respond.

The two sat for hours before the doors creaked open. One guard ran in past them while another barked orders to go directly to the infirmary and wake the doctors. Finally the last guard sprinted in with something wrapped in his arms.

Kim and Shego shot to their feet and chased the guards toward the infirmary. When they entered doctors and nurses rushed around them. Shego caught hold of a guard and pulled him off to the side. "Report!" She demanded.

The guard straightened up. "We found Monique Majesty. She was on the outskirts of the city." He pointed in the direction of the ICU. Shego pushed him out of the way and chased Kim down to the room Monique was being held in.

"Would someone tell me what's going on here?" Kim called over the noise in the room. No one seemed to be listening. Shego pulled her out of the room. "We have to wait on this one Kimmie." Kim gave a frustrated huff as Shego forced her into a near by chair. Shego sat on the floor.

For hours they silently waited, doctors rushed in and out of the room none of them paying the women any attention. Finally the doctors cleared out of the room and doctor stood before them. "Majesty?" Shego picked herself up off the floor Kim shot out of the chair.

"It looks like she was beaten severely, she's still unconscious." The doctor looked at his chart. "Compound fractures in her left arm and leg…three broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and extensive blood loss and bruising. It's not pretty." Kim rushed into the room. Shego nodded to the doctor. "I want the best doctors taking care of her you got that? And I want to know the second she wakes up." The doctor nodded and Shego walked into the room.

Monique was almost unrecognizable as she lay in the hospital bed. Kim looked stunned at the damage done to the woman. Shego stood quietly next to Kim looking over Monique with silent disgust toward whoever would do such a thing. After long silence Shego lead Kim out of the infirmary. Kim looked lividly back at the room before they were out of sight. Anyone who had seen that look would have noticed the sudden drop temperature.