Chapter 15: Race to nowhere

Kim sat in front of a small fire. Her feet hurt from two days of walking through the vast emptiness of Russia. Reiko sat across from her pointing at the flame.

"So where are we going?" Kim asked after a long silence.

"The boarder. Once we get there we can go to head quarters, there we find your friend." He replied. Kim stared at the fire trying to piece his words together.

"Do you mean the resistance head quarters?" She asked. Every muscle in her body suddenly stiffened.

"Yes." He said plainly. Kim instinctively prepared for whatever danger was coming.

"Are you sure he's being held there? I mean if we walk in there and try to get him out and he's not there it would be a suicide mission." Kim explained. "How can you be sure he's there?"

Rieko scratched his stubbed chin. "I tend bar, keep my head down. Resistance members come every night. They drink too much and let things spill out. Sometimes they use bar as drop off point. On night they grab blonde they bring him to my bar. I hear them say they take him to head quarters to meet leader. Say he is very valuable to the Empresses, make good bargaining chip."

Kim tried to swallow the lump in her throat. "And how do you know where the head quarters is?" She asked. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end.

"I was member years ago, but defect when Empress over take Drakken." He locked eyes with Kim. "I grew up in world when it was free, it was dark and cold. But now I live in world when it is ruled by one power. It no longer dark or cold. I always have food for my family and strong roof over head." He smiled knowing like at her. "I'm not stupid enough to fight for a life I hated when I can have the life I dreamed about." Kim relaxed a little at this but she was still on edge.

"You think I'm going to turn you in?" He said after a long silence. Kim pursed her lips. "You should put that out of your mind. I'm not so willing to walk into head quarters myself, they don't take kindly to deserters. But if I have chance to help out one of the women who I owe my life, then I have no choice."

Kim stared in shock but quickly hid it. "How did you know?"

Reiko shrugged. "I'd know your face anywhere." Kim felt her heart sink, was she that recognizable? Reiko smiled and shook his head. "Don't feel bad. It took me long time to recognize you, I don't think we will be in one place long enough for that to happen again." Kim nodded. She sorely hoped so.

888

Shego huffed in annoyance as Wade furiously worked. "Is this going to take long nerdling?" She pushed. Wade sighed and ignored her. Shego pursed her lips. "Well?"

"This isn't as easy as I make it look you know." Wade finally said. Shego smirked as Wade pulled a map up on the screen. Several red dots appeared scattered on the map. Shego leaned in eagerly.

"So where is everyone hiding?" She asked.

Wade pointed to different dots on the map. "Well, Kim looks like headed toward the boarder. I guess she's got a lead on Ron. Or…" He trailed off at that and pointed to another dot. "Looks like Bonnie is a couple hundred miles out of the city. She we be worried?"

Shego shook her head. "No she got out of there before they had a chance to pick her up. I'm betting by now she's got Betty all up in tizzy disappearing like that." She leaned back. "Any sign of Ron?"

Wade shook his head. "Last sign of him was in Russia."

Shego crossed her arms over her chest and thought for a moment. "Well I don't know about you but I think I'm feeling a little left out. It seems everyone gets to go out and play but us."

Wade scoffed. "Well unfortunately you can't just leave the palace to go jet setting when there isn't anyone to hold the throne."

Shego raised a brow. "It's not like I'm going to be gone long. I just need to clean up the mess and haul in the kids. You make it seem like I'm going to be out having fun." She gave him a devilish smile and Wade knew he couldn't argue with her.

"Fine." Wade finally sighs. "But please be quick. If they find out your gone then we're sitting ducks." He said pleadingly. Shego nodded in understanding but it was clear she was already off in her own world.

"No worries. I'll be back before anything happens. And if anything goes wrong you've always got plan B." Wade nodded, though he didn't like the thought of having to fall back their carefully laid plans he knew exactly what he would have to do, if Shego and Kim never came back.