I do not own the Disney characters named herein, and am only using them for a nonprofit tale meant to entertain only.

Kim Possible: Rogue

By LJ58

15

She rolled over with a heartfelt moan, the clatter of chains on her thin limbs deafening in her ears.

"You all right, Miss Possible," the man in a worn, tattered uniform of an Air Force officer asked as she blinked against the overhead glare of two, bright suns in the sky. Blue stars.

She was, as Dorothy, a long way from Kansas just now. Or anyplace on Earth.

"I've had better days," she groaned, sitting up with effort, and carefully wiping still fresh blood from a split lit.

"So, what was the ploy this go?"

"They wanted all dad's codes for his Space Center computers," she grimaced, feeling the ache from her already sore ribs. "They didn't want to take no for an answer, but I think I managed to convince them it was all I had."

"Good. I still don't know how they communicate with Earth, but it's obvious whatever they learn isn't going to help us. Or our planet," he added somberly.

"I guessed that one myself," she grimaced as she gently stood with his help, and looked around the corral in the middle of a desert that was near to a low, slopping rocky outcrop.

There current location was a place near where a group of the humanoid things had first spotted the Matrix' initial rift. The place where they were mining the last precious resources of a planet they had themselves destroyed. Only a few of the indigenous life forms apparently even remained.

Huge, deadly sand spiders that might, or might not be intelligent.

To her disgust, the arachnids were also the source of their only meal if they were to eat. And the things, for that was all her mind could label the shapeless humanoids that took any form that was practical, or necessary for them at any time, weren't averse to using their prisoners as bait to lure those spiders to their own traps.

The first time Kim saw one of the towering spiders that stood at least ten foot over her own head, she was pretty sure she was about to its dinner. Fortunately, as swift as the arachnids proved to be, she found herself even quicker. It was all that saved her life when she was chosen, more and more often, as the favored bait by their hosts.

The barbed spears that seemed the local humanoid's only weapons, or the only ones they showed around them, were also very lethal. Which was proven more than once on both the arachnids, and their human captives. Once they had a target, several of them attacked the exposed spider, and quickly put it down with those long spears. Right before they cut it up for food. Sometimes the human bait survived to share that food. Sometimes they didn't. Kim was one of the few to date that had survived more than once in that gambit. Still, that meat was all they had.

A meat with a taste, Kim knew, she was never going to learn to accept.

Kim stood up, eyeing the few remaining humans with them, all strangers for the most part, thankfully, and considered what the aliens were trying to do based on the answers they had tried to beat out of her.

"Whatever is going on, I trust my….friends to figure it out, and beat them. This isn't over," she said stubbornly.

Richard Flagg only nodded.

"I just hope my doppelganger doesn't prove too convincing. He could do a lot of harm with my authority. More than I care to imagine."

"True. I shudder to think what my twin might be doing," Kim agreed.

"Do you think….your wife….will know the difference?"

"Shego," she said, glancing down at her ring finger when the simple, but precious band encircled her slender digit. "If I know her, she's already carving her way though those freaks as we speak. I just hope she can convince people to listen to her. She can be….abrasive."

"And don't I know it," the officer sighed.

"You've….met," Kim asked as she walked over to the single strand of wire that marked the corral from the greater desert.

It didn't have to be much. The few guards barely even glanced her way.

Their captors knew anyone that ran was as good as dead. They were on a barren world, surrounded by enemies, carnivorous spiders, and the only water they knew about was inside the cave they were forced to mine to find the precious ice crystals that kept them all alive.

That didn't keep Kim from trying to figure a way out of her current dilemma all the same.

The humanoids, whatever their shape, weren't that tough. Only they didn't fight alone. They swarmed. And even with the sixty-odd shifters keeping them here, it was more than enough to put her in chains after she ended up being pulled through the gate by those that had been waiting. Flagg had been one of the first grabbed, along with a handful of soldiers with him on guard that day. Of all the people the rift first swallowed after it opened, though, only nineteen of them currently remained alive including her, and the general. Well over a hundred people had been here at the start. Now, only nineteen humans, on a world that was never meant for them.

"So, how long was I out," she finally asked, looking back at the general after tearing her eyes from the horizon.

"Not long. A few hours, I guess. It's still 'night,' I guess, since that big star hasn't shown itself yet," he said, eyeing the two bright blue stars overhead just then.

"I don't recognize the constellations, either, so we obviously went well beyond our galaxy. Or our own dimension, if my own theories are correct."

"That doesn't help," one of the few surviving civilians taken grumbled as he listened to them from nearby. "How can we even get home if….."

He trailed off, and put his head down again. None of them knew for certain how long it had been since they had been forced through the portal by those alien humanoids, but they all knew it had been a long time. A very long time. Many of them were simply shocked they were still alive.

Kim suspected it was because they were the core of Lilac Valley. Scientists with knowledge that might still be valuable, or necessary. That was certainly true in General Flagg's case, and he had been interrogated as often as she had been since their arrival. Their methods weren't always gentle, but they had both learned to give a little harmless truth mixed with misinformation. Hopefully, it was enough.

Kim, despite having just woke after being knocked senseless during the end of her last interrogation, couldn't help but yawn as she wisely stretched her sore limbs while she had the chance. Still, it was hard to sleep at the best of times, she well knew. They had no luxuries here. Just sand for bedding, and rocks for pillows. Her own clothes, like the others, were mostly rags. It wouldn't be long before she wouldn't have that much.

Not that their taskmasters seemed to care.

They kept them working, kept them penned, and occasionally fed them. If only to keep them strong enough to do their labors.

"You know what I think," Kim murmured after a moment.

"What's that," the officer asked.

"I think our friends are likely turning the heat up back home. It's the only explanation for their being so….desperate. Or that is how I see it."

"So, what do we do now?"

"Now," Kim asked, and met his gaze. "Just like always. We stay alive, and wait for our chance. My friends have never let me down, General Flagg. I don't think they will now, either. I don't think Shego will let them," she added, thinking not for the first time of their unlikely bonding.

"I hope you're right, Miss Possible. I really hope you are right. I'd like to see my son again, at the least."

Kim said nothing to that as she turned to stare out into the desert again.

As bright and hot as the blue stars were, it was nothing compared to the rising of that red giant when it filled the sky. Fortunately, they spend most of the 'day' underground in the relative coolness of the mines. If only they didn't have to work just to stay alive. The taskmasters had already proven they would kill anyone that tried to shirk. They certainly had not trouble withholding food or water from those that didn't work as hard as possible.

Ironically, though, despite all the trouble they got from her, they had left her alive.

It didn't inspire her.

But Ron, and especially Shego did.

Especially Shego, she mused, rubbing a thumb over her ring, and wishing she were with her now. They had been so happy as they had made their plans. She had been ready to go face her folks, and her friends, and share her happiness. A part of her had resented Sheng Li deciding he wanted to host their wedding as a show of honoring them. Still, even she could see you didn't insult the head of a major triad in the heart of his own country. She was certain her parents would understand, and she was more than willing to have another marriage ceremony just for her family and friends. Not that it mattered to her. She just wanted to get on with life, and to share it with Shego, and her family and friends.

Then, following a peculiar call from Drew, Shego was abruptly called away at the last minute, promising to meet her in Middleton.

Only Kim never quite made it home.

First, the Army had abducted her to carry out research she had already vetoed when they first contacted her about helping them with the 'Matrix' project. Then the witless scientists ignored her, and helped open an unstable gate in the very rift where she had already been warned by Drew that potential hostiles were waiting. Of course, no one listened, and they burst out of that portal like starving bears, and overwhelmed the few sentries to take over the research level before they abducted her, along with everyone else on that level. It was very evident from the start, too, that they weren't looking to make friends. Not when the first thing they did was kill everyone that resisted them, and then pull the rest of the men and women from that research lab into their own world, all while sending back duplicates.

She and Flagg had only been among the only survivors from that group of captives.

What stopped them from continuing to invade, even she didn't know. She hoped her own last-minute sabotage had helped, but it was evident something had done from the other side, too.

She had her own guesses, but for now, that was all they were. Guesses.

Now, if someone would just find a way to rescue them.

Before it was time to play bait, again.

KP

Ron watched the last incoming jet blown apart well short of the island, noting there was no parachute. No escape. Senior's missiles had taken down every one of the more than twenty fighters that had tried to reach the island since the U.S. Navy had appeared to surround them. Three mini-subs likely loaded with drones had been destroyed in the underground netting set up just for just an attempted entry. He remained standing on the beach, watching the near-distant circle of battleships that now surrounded the island, wondering what was next.

By now, the naval vessels knew not to get too close.

One destroyer had already gone down under a barrage of missiles.

So far as he could tell, everyone alive was pulled out of the water. He didn't exactly feel comfortable fighting his own country, but for now, he had little choice. The men were only following orders. Until they could root out the real problem, though, they had to stay safe, and stay alive. From the way they had tried to simply barge onto the island, it was obvious that they had not expected such a potent offense to their attack.

Too bad for them.

"Stoppable," a a voice came over the radio he was carrying.

"Here," he told Shego. "What have you got?"

"Dr. Possible has got the bird almost ready to fly. We're just attaching a few defensive measures, just in case."

"Good to hear."

"You'll like this one even better. The kids…."

Ron heard a loud complaint in the background at that one.

"….Are about ready to fire up their doohickey. Senior, Sr. wants you down here nearby in case of any….complications."

"I didn't think we were opening a portal this soon," he frowned as he turned toward the villa that was more mansion, than not.

"We're not. But….you know how fast things go south in this biz, monkey-boy. You'd better be there, just in case," she told him.

"On my way. And it looks like the latest attempt to breach our defenses failed. We should be safe enough while they argue over what to do next," he told her.

"Gotcha," Shego said, not bothering to admit she had been keeping one eye on their new guests herself. It was she who overridden Dr. Possible's complaints when she set the missiles to lock on, and explode, rather than just try to warn them off as the scientist first wanted.

When it came down to it, Shego was just selfish enough to want to stay alive. She still had a wife to find, and save, after all. And nothing was going to stand in her way. Not even the entire American military.

KP

"So, now you call me," Fukushima, AKA Viper sneered as the man on the phone's video-panel scowled at him.

"Just tell me you can get on that island, and shut them down. All of them."

"Save your euphemisms. I'll kill everyone who needs killing, and get your little toy back."

"Then do it. However you can, just get the Matrix, and put an end to those interfering….."

Fukushima sneered as the connection ended, getting the impression the man in blue was cutting himself off to avoid letting something slip he didn't want known.

Not that he would have surprised the rogue ninja.

He had already figured out most of the truth of his current employers. He knew they were not from Earth. He knew they were not who they were supposed to be. He knew they likely had grander plans that was beyond just shutting down the pretentious gaijin that dared name himself Monkey-Master.

He simply didn't care.

After Monkey Fiste had been lost, some claimed destroyed by the YoNo itself, he had been lost. He sought a new identity, and a new direction to claim the fame he still felt owed him. Facing down the pretender in Middleton had been bittersweet. Even he could tell Stoppable had been holding back. As if he still feared the true power and potential within him.

He would have killed him there but for two separate reasons.

First, he had a role in a greater plan that was necessary at the time. The invaders had needed the functional reactor to power a new gate they were attempting to build to regain access to their own world. Something else they didn't think he knew Why they wanted to go back to a place they had just abandoned, he didn't know. Yet. Not that he cared. Because his second, and more primary reason for cooperation was to reach Stoppable. The unworthy pretender who his own spies had told him now held the Lotus Blade himself. He would force him to produce it when next he faced him, and then he would use it to carve out his unworthy heart after beating him once and for all.

He smiled, and walked out to his minions after pulling on his mask once more.

"Rejoice," he told the fifty Henches he had handpicked that were the crème of the latest crop. "We are finally going to face our true enemy, and take from him the means to finally force this world to bow to our supremacy," he ranted.

The men cheered.

As expected.

KP

"So," Bonnie asked the twins. "You're certain no one can look back at us?"

"Oh, no way." Jim told her.

"We're using an integrated, quantum filter that…."

"English," Ron and Bonnie both groaned.

The twins scowled.

"Think of the viewing port like a two-way mirror. Unless we alter its frequency, we can see out, but no one can see in," one of the boys assured them. "And nothing can get through, either."

"Tim's right," Jim nodded. "We're not amateurs, after all," the young teen huffed.

No one commented to that as the Possibles stood nearby with their host, and Dr. Director stood by with Will across the room, bracketing the vortex viewer now set up near the Matrix that was now humming with life again as they prepared to activate their viewer.

"If you find her, can you….bring her back," Shego all but demanded, not doubting their abilities for a moment. She had seen them pull off too much even as children.

Jim and Tim both shared a somber look before Jim shrugged.

"Honestly, we don't know. First, we would have to make sure there isn't anyone around her. We sure don't want to add our problems. First we find her, and then we will get her back. Trust us," Jim told Shego. "We want her back, too," they both concluded as one in a fierce tone.

Shego nodded.

"Do it."

"Everyone, stand back," Tim told them, and threw a switch. "We're locked onto the last known coordinates logged when the Matrix was last activated."

The fourteen inch monitor attached to the portable device between the Matrix, and their borrowed computers burst to life, showing a gray-green static before it began to hum audibly, and the colors began to fade to a dull brown that filled the screen.

"My word," Senor Senior exclaimed, staring at the desert landscape that now filled the monitor. "Is that….?"

"Another world," Dr. James Possible murmured, staring at the dunes that stretched out in all directions.

"Could…..? Could even Kim have survived in that," Anne asked anxiously, her own voice a soft whisper of misery.

A flash of red passed the monitor just then, and then the screen went dark for a moment. Then darkened again. Then again.

"Pull back focus, and zoom," Shego shouted knowingly at the boys.

"Good, God," Dr. Director exclaimed, even her composure shaken as they saw the massive arachnid chasing a nearly naked redhead over the dunes.

"Track her," Will shouted needlessly, stunned as much as any of them.

Jim and Tim frantically worked the mechanism to follow the slight figure, and focused on her after they got a very good image of the huge spider-like creature that was obviously trying to grab her. Even as Kim apparently tripped, they saw long, deadly spears flying from over a dune where she landed somersaulting, and tumbling out of the way as the weapons uncannily target the arachnid from both sides to almost neatly sever its head from its massive body.

They saw six, gangly humanoids with unnaturally long visages appear to quickly chain Kim, while others swarmed the spider with long knives, obviously cutting it up for a purpose.

Will looked genuinely green himself as they abruptly realized that most likely purpose.

"She's definitely in trouble," Jim murmured as they kept the monitor focused on the redhead who was marched in chains, at spear point, back to a small, wire corral with eighteen other humans staring miserably out at her.

"That's General Flagg," James Possible exclaimed when they spotted one of the men in a tattered uniform. "But he's…. I just saw him a few days ago," the scientist sputtered.

"You saw an Inverser," Shego realized. "These guys are not just shape-shifters. They must be able to somehow copy whoever they snatch so well that you can't tell the difference."

"Except for the eyes," Ron murmured, watching Kim as she was shoved into the holding pen that looked rather flimsy considering.

"So, why didn't they copy our Kimmie-cub," James wondered.

"Good question," Dr. Director nodded. "The question is, who else do we think we know are copies? From the look of those people, they aren't exactly overly concerned with keeping anyone over there alive."

Anne turned to her sons, and asked bluntly, "Can you get her back," with such urgency, everyone knew what she was thinking.

"Too many aliens around," the boys shook their heads. "Even we can see that," Jim explained as Tim just stared at the screen. "We don't want them exploiting a rift that opens right in front of them again. We have to try to do this when no one else is around. Or figure out how to get rid of them. We don't dare just open a gate in front of them."

"Agreed," Dr. Director nodded. "Boys, I want you to work out a schedule, and keep eyes on our people at all times. If they ever get somewhere alone, we pull them out. But you do nothing without armed backup in this room. Understood?"

"Got it," the twins nodded, already going to work.

"If…. When you get the chance," Shego asked warily, her eyes never leaving the redhead now slumped in the pen near the real General Richard Flagg, "Can you really open that gate?"

"Piece of cake. We have the coordinates, and our viewer works as a stabilizing field that will safely open a door anywhere we want to go," Jim told her.

"Anywhere," Senor Senior asked with a bland smile.

"Well, duh," both boys huffed. "Like we said, we're not amateurs here," Tim added.

Will Du said nothing to that.

"What are you thinking, sir," Dr. Director asked the old man bluntly.

"You are, undoubtedly, wise in refraining from an immediate rescue, my friends," the elder Senior called them. "However, suppose we could use this wondrous device to finally get down inside the Bunker, where something is going on that I suspect we truly need to know? Could it deliver someone inside, and get them out, without anyone even knowing we're there?"

"Child's play," Jim smiled, and nodded.

"All we need are coordinates."

"Those, we have," Will Du told them.

"Then we need a plan," Dr. Director told them. "Because I still won't let anyone go anywhere blindly. We already lost some good people trying to storm this Bunker. We already have the military knocking at our door, and I don't want to lose any more people in some haphazard operation."

"If we get the right coordinates, and use the right timing," Jim told her.

"They won't even us coming," Tim concluded.

"And by 'us,' you, of course, mean Dr. Director's team," James Possible told his sons fiercely.

"Aw, dad," both complained.

"He's right," Shego cut in. "This is serious, guys. Serious enough we need someone that already knows what they're doing to handle the portal opening, or moving. Or….closing, if things go bad."

No one said anything to her grim words.

"And we have to keep a lock on Kim, and the others," Ron added. "We have to be ready to get her back when the chance arises."

"Goes without saying," Shego growled, unconsciously rubbing a thumb over her gloved ring finger.

"That's a lot to keep track of," Senor Senior remarked. "Are you sure even you two remarkable young men can manage…."

"No big," Jim smiled. "Belt?"

"Belt," Tim nodded, and handed over an oversized buckle he pulled from his belt, proving it was a covering that masked something else.

"Dad, your watch," Jim held out a hand. "And, mom, we need your cell, please."

"My….cell phone?"

The adults watched as they pulled the digital devices apart, reassembled them in a peculiar fashion, and soon had a small, rectangular box chirping, and blinking as they plugged it into their monitor.

"Guys, meet our special, top secret, and very special project. We call her ANI."

"Annie," Anne Possible frowned.

"A-N-I," the boys parroted.

"Autonomous, Neural Intelligence. A very special AI we built."

"Oh, now, be serious," Will complained. "You just stuck a few things together, and then claim it is….?"

"He's not very smart, is he," a glaringly feminine voice remarked.

From the monitor.

"Sorry, ANI," Jim and Tim grinned at the adults' expressions. "You know how dull some adults can be."

"Just how long have you been working on this, boys," James asked, peering closer at the small box as he approached the monitor.

"Just over a few months. When you told us we couldn't fly the Mark III without competent backup."

"And you stashed the components in our electronics," Anne asked.

"Best place to hide her was in plain sight. Besides, even segmented, ANI was constantly exposed to new stimuli, and learned at an exponential rate that allowed her to mature, and develop faster than just staying with us."

"A computer-hive," Dr. Director exclaimed. "You actually built a portable hive-mind that becomes a functional AI in…..a cell phone, and a watch?"

"Duh," both boys grinned.

"You have got to let me hire them," Global Justice's erstwhile head told the Possibles. "If only to ensure they don't go branching off in unwanted directions."

"Please. Why would we stoop to villainy," Jim complained.

"We have much higher ambitions," Tim grinned with a disturbing smile.

"I think that's why she's worried, boys," James said with a knowing smile that couldn't quite mask his pride.

"Right now, let's just focus on the here-and-now. And my... Our Kimmie," Shego cut them off.

"Agreed," everyone echoed for their own reasons.

"You know, Kim could probably tell us everything we need to know, if we could just reach her," Anne sighed.

"Or…..if she could reach us," Jim said as if something occurred to him.

"Hicka bicka boo," Tim asked.

"Hoo-Sha," his sibling nodded.

"Dad," Tim told him. "We need that other case in our luggage. The one that's marked with warning labels."

"I'll go get it now," James nodded, and turned to go.

"What is it, now," Will asked sardonically. "Portable nuclear weapons?"

"As if. We have much more powerful stuff than those," Jim sniggered.

Which made even Anne Possible looked uneasy.

"Tell me he's kidding," Dr. Director whispered to the brain surgeon as the boys continued to work on something with the Matrix/AI fusion now.

"I wish I could," Dr. Anne Possible sighed. "But ever since they learned how to pull things apart, and put them back together in their own unique way, I've found myself wondering just what they would be when they did grow up."

"Indeed," Dr. Director murmured, eyeing the pair that were giving the AI some kind of direction in that twinspeak they shared that left the rest of them lagging. "Indeed," she echoed again.

James Possible was back in less than fifteen minutes holding a box the size of a shoebox, and nothing else. On top was a yellow, warning sticker with a handwritten waning label that stated, "Open Only For Emergencies."

"What is it," Shego asked, knowing enough of the pair to be anxious.

"Our secret weapon," they crowed as they used a thumbprint to open the box, and pull out a small, sleek remote controlled Four-By-Four with a coded lock on the back of the obviously portable carrier.

Opening the control, they put a very familiar Kimmunicator band Time pulled out of the box, too, into the space, and then locked it back.

"Was that….?"

"A spare Kimmunicator we built after studying Wade's own design," Tim smirked as they set the truck on a pad just a few feet from the Matrix.

"We improved it," Jim added.

"You're going to open a portal," Dr. Director demanded. "Here? Now?"

"Not a big one," Jim told her. "Just one big enough to roll our delivery to Kim without anyone even noticing."

"You hope," Will cut in.

"We know," they retorted indignantly. "Look, energy output will be practically nothing for a gate of this size. Nothing big enough, or wide enough to draw attention. And it only has to last a few seconds. Just long enough to get the ADS through, and over to Kim."

"ADS?"

"Automated Delivery System. We use it for all kind of…..uh, deliveries," Jim faltered when their parents eyed them sternly.

"Suddenly, I am starting to understand how you boys pull off some of your pranks on Mr. Barkin," Anne remarked sternly.

"He did complain a lot," James agreed with her.

"Let's just focus," Shego told them. "Guys, do it. If that gizmo can help us get in touch with….."

"Oh, it's more than a radio," Jim smiled. "It's a completely integrated…."

"Upgraded…."

"Nannite battle suit," Jim concluded. "With extras," he beamed.

"Hoo-Sha," both boys said, and stunned the adults when the truck simply rolled forward onto the pad set up near the Matrix, and literally vanished.

It reappeared on the monitor, completely unnoticed by the few guards around the corral as the small vehicle rolled forward to bump into Kim's left foot.

She looked down, and stared, and then looked around even as she scooped up the vehicle as she half turned to hide it as she examined the toy.

"Now," Jim grinned as Kim all but tore the truck's sealed bed open that was keyed to her genetic code.

"Things get interesting," they both said as one as Kim immediately slid the apparent watch on her arm before the eighteen other humans staring around in confusion as they realized the ADS had literally come out of nowhere.

Dr. Director spat, "Clear the lab. Dr. Possible, and get Stoppable back down here. Tell Senior's men to arm themselves, and have them standing by. Just in case," she added as she watched as a silvery sheen began growing around Kim Possible's mostly naked body on the monitor that turned into a genuine Centurion battle suit just before she erupted into action as the redhead's smile turned nothing less than feral.

To Be Continued…..