.
Misfire
Clapping rang through the auditorium, though no one was actually clapping. They never did. Jack stood in front of them, a serpentine glint shining in his eyes. Tiffany was at his side grinning that winning grin of hers that made her such a valuable asset to his showcases. Of course, that winning grin had also been one of the sources of the argument he'd had with his wife.
"Welcome one and all. We have quite the lineup to display for you today," Jack said.
"Do we ever, Jack," Tiffany chimed. "This might be our best sale yet."
"Doesn't she say that for every sale?" Monkey Fist muttered to Killigan, whom he was sitting next to. Fortunately, he'd managed to talk his mother out of accompanying him here.
"Aye," Killigan said. "Where's Drew? He never misses Hench's auctions."
"I haven't a clue," Monkey Fist replied, curiously searching for their ally. "But when Drew Lipsky is missing at an event where HenchCo products are being showcased, it's never good for Jack Hench."
KP
Kim crawled through the vent above the sale, Ron and Rufus behind her. Yori followed closely. "Ready?" Kim whispered to them.
"Monique and Amelia are in the getaway car, and Fukushima and Hirotaka are keeping an eye on the villains from the roof beams. We're golden KP," Ron answered. "Nothing can go wrong."
"Jinxed it," Rufus chattered, poking his head up worriedly.
"Rufus-san, there is no such thing as a jinx," Yori said, giggling at the rodent. Rufus looked back at her with wide eyes, hoping she was right.
"Shh, we're right above it," Kim whispered, pointing down. The other two joined her at the vent, peering down at the room filled with villains.
"Now we wait," Ron said, grinning.
KP
The villains were clapping for real now, after having observed the Lamprey Project in action on a test dummy. "Ooh, that's a good one," Frugal Lucre remarked to Professor Dementor.
"I vant zat project!" Dementor said.
"People, people, this isn't even the best part," Jack said, gesturing with his hands for them to settle down. "Now allow me to introduce to you our main feature. Evocative of Senor Senior's Valentine's Day scheme, inspired by Kim Possible's techno guru, HenchCo presents for your enjoyment, the Cupid Ray!"
The ray was rolled out and the villains oohed. "What's that do, Jack?" Tiffany asked.
"Well Tiffany, reminiscent of the Roman God whose name it wields, firing this device will secrete a potent love pheromone in the form of a mist. Whoever it catches will become so consumed with passion either for the one who fired it or the first one they see after, that they'll melt in your arms. Helpless to resist their desires, they'll be yours to manipulate, yours to control yours to…"
"Ooh, maybe I should use in on you, Jack," Tiffany said. Jack froze, stiffening and paling. The villains laughed. Jack turned to her and frowned, grabbing the device from her.
"Yes, well, humor aside," Jack said, eyes narrowed. He turned back to the villains, smiling again while keeping the ray away from Tiffany. She was clearly put out. "Now, the original effects were only temporary. We here at HenchCo, though, have improved upon the initial formula. For your benefit, my friends, this ray will now last indefinitely unless our HenchCo patented antidote is used to counter the effects." He held up a green vial, grinning. "Yours free with every purchase for the first twenty-four hours." The villains looked intrigued.
Just then a loud boom shook the room! Tiffany fell with a little scream. The villains all gasped. Jack grabbed the table to keep from losing his balance and looked quickly over at the intruder. His eyes widened in disbelief. In rode Drakken on his hovercraft. "How about free for me?" the man asked.
"Oh you've gotta be kidding me. Not again, Dr. Drakken!" Hench testily said in exasperation.
Just then Shego leapt out of the hovercraft and snatched both the ray and antidote from Jack's hands. "Payback time, Jacky boy. Your little trick in snatching that cure during the apocalypse wasn't very nice. You know how much we like to hold grudges."
"Shego, let it go!" a voice suddenly exclaimed. The villains all gasped and turned. There stood Kim Possible backed by Ron and Yori!
"Kim Possible!" DNAmy exclaimed, pointing. "Ooh, you're such a meanie! How rude of you to interrupt like this!"
"Do no' worry, lassie. We'll handle this," Killigan said with a wicked grin, drawing a golf club. The rest of the villains rose, growling at Kim and muttering agreements.
"And here we go again," Kim said dryly, rolling her eyes.
"But this time our gang's all here too!" Ron said. "Ninjas, backup!"
Immediately Hirotaka and Fukushima sprang from above and landed on the ground on either side of Shego with ninja sounds. With a swift kick, Fukushima knocked her back and snatched the antidote. Hirotaka seized her arm, and spun her around, sending her flying into the audience and crashing into Frugal Lucre. Hirotaka snatched the Cupid Ray next and the two ninjas threw down smoke pellets, cloaking themselves. Rather, they tried to. The problem was Hench was prepared. Pressing a button, immediately everything was locked down. No one was going anywhere. Sure enough, when the smoke cleared, the two ninjas were standing with Yori, Kim, and Ron looking less than impressed.
"All right, so this is a setback," Ron said.
"Jinxed it," Rufus flatly said, repeating his 'prophecy' from earlier.
"Outsider. Of course. Who else?" Fukushima growled lowly.
"Dude, I'm in no mood for your 'tude. Hey, that rhymes!" Ron exclaimed.
"Get them!" Monkey Fist ordered the villains, scowling darkly.
"They'll be perfect test subjects for the Lamprey Project," Adrena said, wickedly grinning.
Kim, Ron, Yori, Hirotaka, and Fukushima dropped into fighting poses and met the attacking villains head-on, battling for possession of the Cupid Ray and the antidote. "You little brats, always interfering where you have no business being!" Monkey Fist snapped, going toe-to-toe with Ron.
"Dude, meddling kids, duh," Ron replied. Monkey Fist growled and seized Ron's arm with a foot. "Bah!" Ron cried as the man swung him around and thrust him to the side. Fukushima immediately took Ron's place.
Monkey Fist started and barely managed to dodge a strike, scowling at his ward. "You know, now would be a perfectly wonderful time for you to turn your allegiance to me again," he said, dodging the youth's attacks.
"For a Cupid Ray?" Fukushima incredulously asked.
Monkey Fist found it more than a little interesting that the boy hadn't stated he'd never go traitor again. Just that he wouldn't do so for a simple Cupid Ray. "You haven't been keeping up with your training, Fukushima. You're beginning to display some of your old weaknesses," Monkey Fist said. Fukushima started and blushed. He'd hoped his guardian wouldn't catch onto that. At least he wasn't getting a lecture. Not that Monkey Fist had time right now to play father figure.
Kim and Yori, back to back, were fending off a large majority of the villains and villainesses. Hirotaka was holding his own, finding this more a casual amusement than any sort of actual threat. He dodged a lineup of bombs shot by Killigan and landed behind the golfer. The ninja tapped the man's shoulder. Killigan spun and gasped. "Hi," Hirotaka greeted. Right after he seized the man's arm and sent Duff flying into a just-rising Shego.
Drakken, meanwhile, gaped in shock at the mess going on below him. Tiffany was hiding under the desk and Jack was definitely staying out of the way. The businessman immediately hit a button and Drakken gasped. Hench had called for reinforcements! That meant that he and Shego were in trouble, and so was Team Possible. Time to get that device and go. "Nrrgh, enough playing around!" Drakken yelled. Instantly he sent out his flowers, snatching the ray and the antidote before the heroes could react. They gasped as Drakken grabbed Shego with his vines as well and made for the ceiling. Shego grinned and blasted a hole in the roof. Kim shot her hairdryer and followed them immediately with Ron. Yori, Fukushima, and Hirotaka were right behind. Monkey Fist and Killigan were quick to go after the heroes. Drakken clearly needed defense, so they would provide it.
KP
The group reached the roof and Kim shot her elastic lipstick at the hovercraft, stopping it in place. Drakken and Shego gasped. "Kim Possible, you think you're all that, but you're not!" Drakken yelled furiously. "Shego, attack!" Shego scowled and leapt down, hands blazing. Immediately she began to fire at them. They nimbly dodged her attacks, going for Drakken. He still held the devices.
Drakken was pressing buttons fervently, trying to find a way out of the goopy mess that the hovercraft was stuck in. When Yori began leaping towards him, though, he stopped and moved out of the way with an alarmed cry. Yori spun and began kicking at him. Drakken, to their surprise, was holding his own relatively well, blocking most of her attacks and tanking the blows she landed, even her powerful kicks to his chest. Of course, he'd done this same bit with Kim Possible not long ago during her amnesia episode. He wasn't completely useless, he just preferred to let Shego do the grunt work.
All at once Monkey Fist and Killigan leapt up. The nobleman immediately went at Yori, taking her off Drakken's hands. "Ah ha!" Drakken exclaimed. "About time."
"We came as fast as we could, laddie," Killigan defended as he emptied a sack of golf balls and began firing them at the heroes, all of which were kept busy dodging them. Yori, busy with Monkey Fist, wasn't dealing with the barrage of explosives herself.
Drakken snuck towards his hovercraft as Shego and Kim rolled across the roof behind him. He knew Killigan had next to no chance of holding off Kim, Ron, Fukushima, and Hirotaka all, but Monkey Fist's ninjas made the scene just then and began battling the quartet too. Drakken snatched the Cupid Ray and turned, grinning evilly. All at once, though, Ron was there, trying to pull it out of his hands. "Hey! I had it first!" Drakken protested.
"It's not yours!" Ron replied.
"Finders keepers, losers weepers," Drakken childishly replied.
"Give me back!" Ron insisted, sounding equally as childish.
"No!" Drakken argued.
"Yes!" Ron replied.
"No!" Drakken shot.
"Yes!" Ron yelled.
KP
Monkey Fist had thrown Yori to the ground. He leapt into the air and flipped, coming down at her with every intention of crushing her skull if possible. Yori rolled easily out of the way, though, and spun, delivering a driving kick to Monkey Fist's chin that snapped his head back. He gasped in pain, staggering. At least she hadn't broken his neck, he thought. That was it, this girl was going down. He grabbed her leg with a foot and pulled her towards him. Yori turned and blocked the chop he was about to deliver to her throat with a hand. With all her might she threw him back, causing him to stumble and lose his grip on her leg. She leapt up and hand-sprang away from him before drawing her Tessan with a frown and dropping into a ninja stance.
Monkey Fist blinked in shock. By the gods she was good. He scowled and leapt at her. She nimbly danced around him, blocking his attacks with her fans. Finally, though, he found an opening to break her defenses. He dropped low and kicked, making her stumble back to the edge of the building with a scream! She caught her balance quickly, however, and smirked at him, slyly winking. He started. Why did she insist on being such a bother to kill? Once again he ran at her. He would strangle the girl if he had to! If only she would just die!
"Give me the Ray!" Drakken and Ron were both yelling as they pulled on it together. Suddenly they fumbled, almost dropping it. Grabbing for it, Drakken's finger accidentally squeezed the trigger. They didn't notice the mist as it ejected from the ray. Nor did they see who'd been struck by the pheromone.
Yori, about to clash with Monkey Fist yet again, suddenly smelled something sweet and started, blinking, then began to cough. Monkey Fist, seeing opportunity, leapt at the chance to shove her off the roof. He raced at her, but as he neared he got a whiff of something sweet. It wasn't her lotus scent though. This was something different. No matter. He seized her arms while she was still catching her breath, and spun her around, throwing her towards the edge! He looked sharply after her with a grin, eager to see her fall. He met her eyes as she staggered, and suddenly every thought he'd had about harming her fled his mind, and an overwhelming sense of-of something came over him. Something he'd only ever felt towards power.
She was going to fall.
His eyes widened a bit in alarm. "Yori!" he exclaimed without thinking, reaching out towards her. She screamed as she lost her balance and went over. "No!" Monkey Fist exclaimed, leaping for the edge as th others, alarmed, looked quickly over with gasps.
Hirotaka paled. "Yori!" he cried.
KP
The Monkey Lord dove over the edge of the roof in front of the shocked eyes of all the others. He seized a conveniently placed rope with a foot and caught the ninja's arms as she fell. Her hands automatically clamped on his own and she gasped, looking up. Her eyes widened, heart leaping into her throat, and she caught her breath. She could only gape in awe at her rescuer. "M-Monkey Fist," she stammered, blushing deeply.
He felt his heart leap upon hearing his name spill from her lips. Oh gods have mercy, let the beating of his heart slow down. All he wanted was her! Thoughts of power fled like rats from a sinking ship. Thoughts of destiny and fate drowned themselves in the deep and beautiful pools that were her eyes. Monkey Fist quickly pulled her back onto the roof. He couldn't let her go. He wouldn't. He would sooner die. He would sooner lose his powers and mutations than lose the girl in his arms!
She sprawled onto her back as he leaned over her, both panting lightly for breath and gazing directly into one another's eyes. Drakken, looking confused at the behavior, suddenly noticed the ray gun was less full than it had been and gasped so loudly and so deeply his chest cavity could hardly contain his lungs! "What?" the others quickly asked, looking swiftly over worried something had happened.
"Oh, this could be very bad," Drakken replied.
"Drakken, what happened?" Kim demanded.
"The Cupid Ray fired! The Cupid Ray fired!" Drakken exclaimed.
"What?!" Kim exclaimed, along with Shego.
"But then who...?" Kim began. She stiffened, eyes widening. "Oh no," she said. Gasping, she looked quickly over at Yori and Monkey Fist who were currently completely fixated on one another. "Oh no, no, no," she said.
"Drakken, tell me ye' do no' mean…" Killigan began.
"That Yori's in love with Monty Freak?!" Ron blurted in horror.
"And Monty Freak's in love with her right back," Shego dryly said, face-palming.
"Wrongsick!" Ron exclaimed.
"For once I completely agree," Shego replied.
"My-my little sister. Is in love. With the Monkey Man?!" Hirotaka asked in disbelief, eyes wide in a cross between horror and wrath.
"This could get quite disturbing," Fukushima said, staring numbly at the pair.
"Hold on, hold on, we can fix this!" Ron said. "Where's the antidote?"
Drakken looked around, as did Shego. They gasped when they saw it, paling. The vial was shattered on the ground, the last of the antidote drying up in the midday sun! "Ooh, this very bad now," Drakken said.
"No, no, we can still do something! Jack Hench! He has the antidote, right?" Ron said, grabbing the ray away from Drakken. In the process, however, he accidentally pulled the trigger and it sprayed directly into Drakken and Shego's faces! The two began coughing violently.
"Ron!" Kim exclaimed.
"No, wait, oh no!" Ron exclaimed.
"Outsider!" Fukushima yelled furiously. "You worthless…" Hirotaka covered his friend's mouth before Fukushima could let out a string of curses in Japanese or English.
"Et was only a matter o' time," Killigan wryly joked, watching as Drakken and Shego's eyes fell on each other.
KP
Almost immediately, Drakken and Shego were star-struck. "Oh Drew!" Shego exclaimed, beaming up at him, then giggling bashfully.
"Oh Shego!" Drakken said, swooping his sidekick up into his arms and spinning her with a laugh as if they were both lost in a dream. The two gazed adoringly into each other's eyes, grinning, and kissed right there in front of them all.
"Sick and wrong," Ron squeaked.
"But-but Shego doesn't go this out of character!" Kim exclaimed.
"Clearly she does when she has been sprayed directly with a love mist! At least there was some distance between the pheromone and Monkey Fist and Yori," Fukushima said.
Hirotaka started, reminded of the situation, and looked quickly back at his sister and the Monkey Man. His mouth dropped. She was kissing him passionately right there! "Yori!" he blurted in shock.
Yori gasped and looked quickly back. Immediately she staggered up with a blushing Monkey Fist, her skin a fiery red. Quickly she adjusted the sleeve of her shozoku, which he had been in the process of sliding down her arm. "Hirotaka, we were only…" she began. Seeing her brother's infuriated and stunned expression, though, she immediately shut up before she could make it worse.
"Brother, remember, this is not her," Fukushima said in concern. Hirotaka scowled but willed himself to calm down, eyes glittering dangerously. Yori quickly returned to her brother's side, but cast a desperate and longing look back at Monkey Fist. He appeared to be just as enraptured and consumed, eyes filled with love and adoration.
"Ah'll take Drakken, Monkey Fist, an' Shego home," Killigan said.
"And I'll talk to Hench about getting an antidote," Kim said.
"What? You wish to separate me from her?" Monkey Fist demanded, expression suddenly becoming anxious, worried, and fearful. Yori gasped, covering her mouth, eyes filling with dismay.
"Laddie, et's far yer own good," Killigan said, catching the possessiveness and misery in his friend's eyes.
"No! I shant be taken away from Yori!" Monkey Fist replied. "To never gaze into her eyes again…" He turned longingly to the ninja girl. Tears of fear were threatening those beautiful, beautiful eyes. "I would die of a broken heart," he finished adoringly.
Hirotaka looked ready to murder him, but was exercising remarkable self-control. "You will not have her!" he shouted at the man, openly hostile.
"I love your sister with my entire being. You will not keep me from her! I wish only for your blessing, but if I must, I will fight to the death for she whom I love so well. Then again, I do like simply taking what I want," Monkey Fist threatened. Yori felt herself melt at the implication. She did not believe she was supposed to be, as the Americans said, 'turned on' by such words. She felt like she should be frightened instead, but her heart screamed for the man to make good on his threat and sweep her away with him.
Hirotaka looked ready to retort when suddenly they heard Drakken say, "Oh Shego, how could I have been so blind?"
"Oh Drew, how could I have ever turned my back on you?" she breathed, pulling him into an adoring kiss. He returned it hungrily. She drew back, happiness in her eyes. "How could I have ever thought to be with anyone else? Dr. D, all this time I've been so stubborn, so cold, turning my heart to stone. I'd never thought I needed anyone or anything! Not until I met you." She tapped his nose for emphasis and giggled again.
"Wha' es this? A double weddin'?" Killigan asked, appalled at the whole scenario.
"You! Give me that!" Kim shot, snatching the Cupid Ray from Ron before he could spray anyone else. "I'll talk to Hench. Surely he'll understand!"
"We'll go wi' ye', lassie," Killigan said, nodding.
KP
"Get them! Bring me their heads on a pike!" Jack shouted at his henchmen furiously, pointing at the group who had approached him. Forget keeping a cool temper! This time they'd gone too far. Yes, they'd given him the Cupid Ray back, but they hadn't gotten a word out edgewise afterward, because he simply wasn't inclined to hear it.
"Right. He will completely understand," Fukushima sarcastically said to Kim, glaring at her.
"Jack, ye' do no' know wha'…!" Killigan began. The man's henchmen were approaching, though, and nervously the group backed away. It looked like they weren't going to have much choice but to flee. Turning, they ran from the building as fast as they could go.
"Monique, Amelia, start the Sloth!" Kim shouted. The two looked sharply up and gasped at the scene. Immediately they obeyed. Kim, Ron, Hirotaka, and Fukushima dove inside the car.
Yori was about to follow when Monkey Fist seized her arm and turned her to him. "Come with me!" he begged.
"Say what?" Monique blurted, eyes wide on hearing what he'd said to Yori. Amelia was gaping in disbelief.
Yori looked passed him, pale, then looked up at the man again. She threw herself into his arms, kissing him desperately and adoringly. Pulling away she replied, "I cannot. Those you are allied with would do me harm. Those who I stand with wish you only grief! But do not despair, my lord, I will be in your arms again soon. Please, bide your time." He kissed her once again, his embrace so tight it was as if he'd never let her go. He certainly didn't want to. Nonetheless, he saw the wisdom in her words and pulled away, bowing low.
"Until we again meet," he said. She bowed back and joined her friends as Monkey Fist sprang towards Drakken's hovercraft where Killigan, Drakken, and Shego waited.
"Just like Bonnie and Clyde, Dr. D!" Shego exclaimed, grinning excitedly as she flicked a series of switches, her old self seeping back through the haze of love though she was still very much in love with her boss.
"Minus the hail of gunfire," Drakken replied, smirking at her.
"Ach, give et a rest. Yer sickenin' me," Killigan said, rolling his eyes. He immediately started up the craft and the villains vanished. As the Sloth peeled away from the parking lot, and from Hench's henchmen, Yori looked longingly back and blew a kiss after the aircraft.
"So what just happened here?" Amelia questioned, totally lost.
"It's a long story, and you won't believe a word of it," Kim replied with a groan.