3) Under no circumstances is a Creator allowed to create lesser beings that supersede the role of the chosen beings unless you have permission of the Founders.
In·sur·gent/inˈsərjənt/
Adjective: Rising in active revolt: "armed insurgent groups".
Noun: A rebel or revolutionary.
July 9th, 2012
Los Angeles, California
5:15 P.M.
Ding
Robert looked up from the book that he was reading as a random noise invaded his isolation therapy.
Silence
Robert continued listening to the empty house for several seconds before resuming his reading and for several long moments only the sound of Robert turning the pages could be heard before-
Ding
This time Robert set down the book and got up from his comfortable position on the couch and shivered as his bare feet felt the cold of the hardwood floors of the empty house. He passed a fireplace with several awards on the mantle but he didn't stop to admire them, he was on a mission to find out the culprit of that incessant dinging.
Ding
This time it came from his study. Turning on his heel Robert slowly pushed open the door of his study to find his computer dinging softly while the screen flashed. Robert pushed aside the large chair in front of his computer and pulling out a set of worn reading glasses from his pocket read the message that his computer dinged about.
Your Computer is currently unable to delete file 114. Advise we come back later.
Robert shrugged to himself and looked around for any sort of computer help in his empty study. Seeing no one to offer advice Robert shrugged again and clicked the OK button.
The message box closed and his computer silently chugged away as it continued to compile data. Seeing no other need for him to be in the study, Robert turned back to his living room where his book was waiting for him.
December 15th, 2015 A.D.
Minsk, Belarus
5:03 P.M.
Pip pap pap pap
He ignored the rain that traced its way down his cheek before dripping to the ground and instead sighted through his telescopic sight at the horrific nightmare that was unfolding before him.
How in the world could Kim have been that careless? Kim had been right next to him when they had spotted the Lowardians on the other side of the wall. Kim had even been the one who designed the plan and created this sabotage mission. All she was supposed to do was sneak up, plant the bomb and then fly away.
Simple right? the man thought to himself as his mind began race, the form of a rescue plan starting to take shape.
Apparently for Kim that was too complicated of a task. Of course what really made him shake his head was Kim suddenly stopping midway through the mission and then looking around. Sure the Lowardians tribute to the fall of Europe still gave Kim the creeps and haunted her nightmares...the man shivered in as he looked at the tribute with an uneasy feeling in his stomach.
"LT?" a voice whispered through his communication headset, "what do we do?"
He thought for a second as the rough outline of a rescue plan formed in her head, "Tara, stand down. I repeat, all units are to stand down until I get in position," he was silent for a moment, "Confirm last transmission silently."
His heads up display glimmered as the members of his team silently acknowledged the orders. Taking a deep breath he tapped at the side of his head, the metal clad finger clinking silently against the protective metal covering as his shoulder mounted guns retracted into their shoulder holsters.
Slowly he eased his body into a crouched position and used his Heads Up Display (HUD) to calculate the force and angle of his leap as he finished the makeshift rescue plan in his head.
Calculations complete.
He nodded and fed the calculations into the subsystems of his Centurion suit and waited as a little bar appeared in the top corner of his visor.
Ready To Execute Command.
He nodded silently and whispered over his communications unit, "Centurions, when you get my signal start firing. I don't care who you hit so long as you're firing," he was about to sign off but quickly added, "target their officers before taking out their grunt infantry," he was about to switch off the radio again but added, "and try not to hit Kim, I'm planning on killing her later."
"We'll try but it sounded like you were killing her pretty good last night," a male voice echoed over the radio and his face flushed despite the cold of the rain.
"Josh, what did I say about radio silence?" he hissed angrily as twin rocket boosters appeared on his back.
Josh's calm reply was devoid of any emotion, "Yes Sir."
With a shake of his head and a mental note to soundproof their room, he used the rockets to blast off the ground and flew into the never ending rain fall towards his goal.
December 15th, 2015 A.D.
Minsk, Belarus
5:15 P.M.
Kim couldn't begin to describe her feelings at this moment. One minute she was a high schooler who just fell in love with her best friend, the next she was a bride about to be married to Josh Mankey and then a migraine and some light later...she was a commando in the midst of what appeared to be an alien invasion.
Kim didn't know whether to be angry or cry. Before she could do either, her captor set her on the ground.
Roughly.
"Ouch," she complained as she sank to her ankles in freshly churned mud.
The Lowardian known as Murtagg nodded to a secondary commander and growled, "Five minute break," the commander nodded walked away as Murtagg pulled a beeping hand held device from his pocket and held it in front of him for a few moments.
"Murtagg Krullort of the Fifth Legion Infantry," he said reverently and bowed his head to the device, "Lord Warkhok how may I serve you?"
Kim noticed it quite easily as each and every Lowardian within range of Murtagg snapped to attention. She wasn't able to tell if it was out of reverence or fear but either way, nothing in the column of soldiers moved, it even seemed as if the rain stopped for a second at the mention of his name.
"Let me see her," a deep and gravely voice whispered through the device and Murtagg slowly positioned the device so it faced Kim who tried to strike a defiant pose but failed as her boots, now slogged with mud, slipped and squelched in a non threating manner. Instead she mustered up the last of her courage and looked away.
"The great Kim Possible," the voice said and Kim could almost hear the admiration in his voice,
Kim looked around in confusion before deciding to go with the voice, "Hooray for me?"
She heard a snarl from the device, "You will pay dearly for your insolence-," Kim laughed despite the situation, "What's so funny human?" Warhok spat angrily.
Kim snorted as some water flew up her nose and she coughed for a few seconds, "If you knew how many times that I've heard the line 'YOU'LL PAY FOR YOUR INSOLENCE...'" she mocked but a nod from Warhok and Murtagg backhanded her across the face. Kim spun around like a top before falling onto the mud.
"Any more jokes human," the speaker growled, "And I'll let Warmonga be the one to torture you."
Kim wasn't sure what a Warmonga was but she guessed it wouldn't be a good idea to aggravate the situation any more. Instead she lightly fingered her cheek from the mud and nodded, "I'm good."
Warhok's eyes narrowed as Kim pushed herself to her knees, "Bring her to me alive," Warhok ordered.
Murtagg nodded and tucked the device back in his pocket. Turning back to Kim he snarled dangerously, "He didn't say anything about unspoiled."
Kim looked up and recognized the look in Murtagg's eyes. She had seen that look in many common criminals that she fought and she didn't need a lot of guesses as to what he planned to do with her.
He took a step towards her and Kim prayed for a way out even as she backpedaled in the mud.
As he saw her fear Murtagg smiled a crooked grin but then a tiny click was heard through the rain and his head was simply gone, a cloud of red mist was all that remained. The secondary commander was about to raise the alarm when his head vanished in a cloud of red mist even before Murtagg's lifeless body collapsed to the ground in a heap.
From all around her, Lowardian screams of pain sounded as rail guns and blue beams of light fired upon them, cutting many Lowardians down where they stood.
"WE'RE UNDER ATT-" a Lowardian attempted to shout but a two pound slug of aluminum traveling at a fraction of the speed of light cut him off midshout, and it was enough to turn what would have been an organized resistance into a chaotic mess.
Lowardians broke rank in a vain effort to escape but slugs cut through them like a scythe through tall grass. Others attempted to fire their weapons blindly in the vain hope of hitting one of their attackers. They fell just like their brethren.
Through this all Kim was still backpedaling through the mud before spinning around and pulling herself hand over hand through the pouring rain and the blood soaked mud. All around her the screams of war sounded and she couldn't think. All defiance was gone, instead the flight instinct had kicked in and she was trying to get the heck out of dodge. Behind her she heard a silent squelch as something landed in the mud and without missing a beat started following her through the mud.
Kim crawled hand over hand to escape her pursuer even as bodies fell around her. A Lowardian fell to the ground in front of her, bellowing and howling in anguish as it clutched at the severed stump of it's leg.
The monster saw Kim and it reached out a clawed hand towards her but just as quickly the creature transformed into ash as Kim's pursuer blasted the creature with wrist mounted guns that shot out a burst of blue light.
Suddenly Kim felt a hand on her back that spun her over so she was looking up at the sky, or rather at her attacker. Without thinking and instead relying on her instincts, Kim's foot shot up and caught her attacker under the chin. Not expecting this, the human flew up into the air and hung suspended for a moment before coming down to the earth with a whump that splattered mud and rain water everywhere.
Kim rolled back onto her stomach and continued to crawl through the mud and over bodies towards the hope of freedom.
I'm going to kill her, he thought dangerously behind her HUD, there was no way around it. Kim Possible had to die. Not just for causing this unplanned massacre that was supposed to be a reconnaissance and sabotage mission but that kick to the jaw was something that warranted a slow and pain filled death.
Preferably with lots of stabbing and mutilation.
Slowly his Centurion suit's systems restarted and he sat up with a groan. Thankfully the suit had taken the brunt of the kick's force so in all reality it felt like a tap...a super powered tap that threw him onto his backside. Standing to his feet, he slogged through the mud towards Kim as the sounds of resistance died down. Kim's team did their job quickly and efficiently.
Finally reaching the still crawling Kim he flipped Kim quickly onto her back as his face mask pulled away, revealing his face to Kim. Kim swung wildly at the man without seeing who it was so the man promptly sat Kim's midsection, preventing Kim from moving.
His sapphire eyes gleamed with an anger that had no rival in fury, "You're lucky that I love you so much Kim or else I would kill you for that kick."
Kim finally stopped struggling as she saw her assailant, "Felix?" she asked incredulously.
"Kim," Felix Renton grunted to Kim as he held her in place.
Kim nodded to Felix and he stood to his feet above Kim in the rain, "you ready Kim?"
Kim leaned back on her elbows and looked at the standing man with a confused look, "when did you learn to walk?"
Felix returned Kim's gaze with a look of confusion, "Kim-"
They were interrupted as a woman ran up, the faceplate of her Centurion suit retracting as she approached, "Felix, we need to leave now," Bonnie Rockwaller said tersely, "Josh has another squad passing through this area in less than five minutes."
Felix nodded as his guns holstered themselves, "get everyone set to move out Bonnie," he looked to Kim and offered her his hand to help her up, "We'll talk about this later."
December 15th, 2015 A.D.
Castle Rodigan, Rodigan Empire
7:03 P.M.
BOOM BOOM BOOM
The team stood before a large cast iron door that had too many pockmarks and scratches that told of countless past attacks. Kim stood silently in the midst of the team, her team, as Felix pounded on the doors again.
A slit in the door opened and through it a tiny camera poked through, "Wade open the door," Felix said dejectedly as he massaged the back of his neck.
"How do I know you're really Felix?" Wade's voice sounded from a tiny speaker attached to the camera.
"You're eighteen, you still live with your mother and Olivia isn't putting out until you finish modifying the Centurion suits," Felix said with a cocked eyebrow that suggested there was more he could reveal but was choosing not to.
There was a moment of silence as Wade typed the command and with a loud screech the bar holding the gates shut was removed and the doors swung open.
Kim followed Felix through the still pouring rain and across a courtyard that was filled with people running to various positions. To Kim, it looked as if she had just stepped into a medieval castle and the peasants were gearing up for a fight.
One thing that caused Kim to stop was the fact that each and every defender wore the same matching red jumpsuit and each wore the same slicked back brown hair cut, their olive skin only served to heighten their foreignness and the need to see their face ate at Kim as something seemed incredibly familiar about them. Their movements were perfectly choreographed without a single defender slipping or falling in the mud.
Felix snapped his fingers and one of the defenders stopped what he was doing and sprang to Felix's side. Looking him straight in the eye the man ordered, "Go report to Betty that Centurion Unit 1 is back."
He nodded and sprinted away but Kim had seen his face.
Eric.
The synthodrone Eric was the chief line of defense at this Castle. Kim looked around in shock as she started to see what she had chosen not to. Tiny holes in the walls were being patched by teams of Erics armed with mortar and stone as another group flash dried it with devices that looked like modified hair dryers. To her left there was a group of Erics repairing an axle that was easily three times as large as them, but the Synthodrone hefted it around as if it weighed nothing. She looked up to the battlements where a group of Erics stood in perfect formation with railguns at their sides, they showed no sign of discomfort and hardly moved a muscle despite the rainy onslaught.
She turned to a forgotten corner where a group of Erics helped maintain a radar dish that chugged silently. Kim peered at the dish through the rain and saw the words Magnetic Scrambler imprinted on the side. But through it all not a single Eric turned against its human masters, in fact they were as obedient as little children. All this was lost on the rest of the team who slipped and squelched their way through the mud to a lone door on the far side of the courtyard.
Kim slipped in the mud for the umpteenth time and finally asked, "Doesn't it ever stop raining here?"
From her left Tara Matthews' face covering pulled back until her head was completely exposed to the rain, "Not for the last four years," she saw Kim's shocked look and shrugged, "But Wade said it should clear by the weekend," she laughed while shaking her head, "but he says that every time I ask," she lowered her voice to a whisper, "I don't think he really knows."
Kim looked at Tara, "What do you mean 'last four years?' How long has this been going on?"
Monique's voice sounded from behind Kim, "You feeling OK Kim?" she paused as the rain continued to pour down, "That Lowardian didn't knock you too hard in the head?"
Kim was about to respond when a large set of double doors opened outward with a BOOM. Across the courtyard all movement stopped as everyone, human and synthodrone alike snapped to attention and saluted the person exiting the doors.
She was a small, lithe woman who at times could appear happy but still remain serious if the occasion called for it. Her single eye only focused on one person in particular and Kim knew immediately that this was not the Betty Director that she knew but Dr. Betty Director none the less.
Betty approached Kim's group, team members scrambling away from their leader as she marched through them determinately. She didn't care about the mud that flecked the fringes of her uniform, nor did she care about the rain that drenched the rest of her uniform and slicked her hair back. She only cared about reaching Kim.
Marching directly up to the auburn haired girl Betty waited patiently as she saw Kim stiffen in fear before asking in a deceptively calm tone, "How did your last mission go?" Kim didn't respond, "Renton?"
Kim didn't answer so Betty tried a new tactic, "Kimberly Ann Renton, I gave you a direct order to observe, sabotage and get out but I then had you scrub the mission when your team discovered a whole infantry division," the rain cascaded down on the castle and still no one in the courtyard moved, "And you disobey orders, get yourself captured, alert Warhok and then have your team wipe out that infantry force," she was silent for a moment before finally losing it and screaming in Kim's face, "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'VE DONE?"
SLAP
Kim's head turned sharply and she fought back tears as Dr. Betty Director slapped her across the face, "I'm going to be as clear as I can and I'll use small words so you can understand me," she took a deep breath, "if you ever disobey a direct order like that again I will personally turn you over to Warhok."
Kim was doing her best to suppress the urge to strike back and instead braced herself as she saw Betty draw her hand back for another slap.
Only it never came.
Kim opened her eyes to find Felix holding Dr. Director's arm in place and with a warning tone spoke coldly to the woman, "I was willing to let one slap go but two slaps…" he took a deep breath, "No one lays a hand on her."
Betty pulled her arm away in a huff and eyed Felix with her one good eye, "Oh, and call your dog off," Felix called out to the one eyed woman.
Kim turned back to Felix and noted the laser dot between Felix's eyes. She traced it back and saw Will Du with a pistol drawn and ready to fire.
Betty nodded and Will holstered his gun with hardly a sound as the entire courtyard resumed breathing again.
"Besides ma'am it was my fault," Kim heard Felix explain, "Kim wanted to pull back but I said that it would be a tactically sound decision to complete the mission," Felix took a deep breath in an effort to salvage what little remained of his confidence as Betty's single eye remained fixed upon him, "And besides, we took out an entire infantry division," he shrugged to the rest of the squad, "I don't see what's the problem-"
"Renton, the problem is," Kim's head tilted up at the mention of Felix's name, "that I gave your team a direct order to pull back," Felix steeled himself for a verbal lashing, "and your Wife countermanded my orders with orders of her own," Kim's eyes widened as her mind raced at Betty's words, "Orders that almost got you all killed and also alerted Warhok that we're here."
"So what?" Felix shrugged, "he's always know there were pockets of resistance in this area."
Betty shook her head, "Warhok now knows our entire operations are within striking distance of him."
It was silent for a moment as Felix and Betty stared each other down coldly through the rain. The rain didn't care about anyone or what happened as it continued to pour down from above but as if a switch had been thrown, it suddenly stopped, or at least it stopped over the courtyard.
A beeping on Betty's wrist watch caused her to break the staring contest and look away as her watch unfurled into a tiny view screen, "Go ahead."
A tiny voice, instantly recognizable to Kim sounded through the speakers, "This is Yamanouchi Stealth Flight 1337 requesting permission to land."
Betty nodded, "Go ahead Ron, tell Yori to land in the courtyard."
Kim could practically hear Ron Stoppable smiling as he requested, "Then would you mind stop slapping your soldiers around and clear a spot to land? Yori's having a hard enough time hovering up here," there was the sound of someone off screen complaining in Japanese but Ron yelled back before returning to the screen with panic in his voice, "We need to land now," he saw the confusion in Betty's face before responding, "We have an patrol incoming."
The look of fear was easily seen by everyone as she shouted at the top of her lungs, "LOWARDIAN PATROLS INCOMING!"
The frozen courtyard suddenly transformed into raging chaos as people struggled to find cover behind anything that could hide them as the Erics manning the radar dish pushed a button. The dish tilted upwards towards the sky as a wavy pink beam burst forth and vanished into the clouds. The dish powered off as the beam fell back from the clouds and fell upon the courtyard like a fog.
Through the confusion Kim felt Felix's strong yet loving arms grab her around the midsection and pull her towards a large set of doors with a sign that read Rodigan Housing Quarters.
Kim was about to say something but Felix spoke first, "C'mon Kim, we've got to get inside!"
Kim found the will to move her legs and skidded and slipped through the mud as everyone made a mass exodus from sight.
"HOLD THE DOORS!" Felix shouted as people on the far side of the doors started to shut them. The doors slowed long enough for Felix and Kim to dive through them and slide along the cobblestone floor before coming to a rest in front of Betty and William Du, both of whom were both caked in mud.
Betty nodded to Felix, "The two of you go and get cleaned up and then meet us in the War Room as soon as the patrol passes us by."
Felix nodded as the large wooden doors boomed shut behind them and someone dropped a steel bar in place, "Door secure Ma'am," came an Eric's report.
Betty nodded as the sound of a jet landing was heard outside before quickly shutting down. Even as the engines wound down Betty's wrist beeped again. Flipping it open, Kim the face of Ron appeared again, "That was close Betty," he took a deep breath, "Yori and I are going to stay here with Hana until they pass."
Betty nodded to Ron, "Same here," she took a deep breath, "When they're gone, meet us in the War Room."
Ron nodded and the communicator shut off. Betty took another deep breath and saw Kim still staring at her, "What are you waiting for Rentons? Go get cleaned up."
Kim nodded and helped Felix to his feet. As soon as the man was standing he grabbed Kim by the hand and led the two away.
December 15th, 2015 A.D.
Castle Rodigan, Rodigan Empire
7:33 P.M.
"Some day, huh?" Felix asked from the bathroom as he took a shower. Hearing no answer from Kim he continued, "Getting captured, the rescue, facing Betty..." Felix trailed off in a sigh as Kim refused to answer, "Oh and Ron coming back, couldn't forget about that."
Silence.
Cutting his shower short, Felix wrapped a towel around his midsection and exited the shower. Coming out of the bathroom he saw Kim sitting on the bed, looking around the room in confusion as if she was seeing everything for the first time.
"You OK sweetie?" Felix asked and placed a hand on Kim's muddy shoulder.
Kim jumped and spun around but instantly calmed at seeing Felix, "I-I'm sorry Felix..." she tried to wipe the confused look from her face, "It's...It's all..."
"Shhh," Felix pulled Kim in for a hug, not caring if he got muddy again, "I know what Betty did was rough but she's right, you disobeyed a direct order and had to pay the penalty," Felix snorted, "I'm surprised you still have your team still under your command."
Kim's eyes refocused as she pushed away from Felix and he gasped at Kim's swollen and purple cheek, "Oh wow Kim," Felix breathed as he pulled Kim to the bathroom, "we need to get that cheek looked at."
Kim reacted as if she was just learning about it, "My cheek?"
Felix cocked an eyebrow as she grabbed a hand towel and doused it in cold water, "You sure that Lowardian didn't hit you too hard?"
Felix dabbed at the swollen skin, eliciting a gasp from Kim each time the cold towel made contact. He was silent for several minutes before finally asking, "So do you want to tell me what's really going on?"
"Pardon?" Kim asked.
"Normally you'd be yelling about Betty and how she's overstepped her bounds," Felix dabbed at another purple spot, "but you haven't made so much as a peep since you've been here," he dabbed again before looking Kim in the eye, "Now spill."
Kim tried to find the words before sighing, "You're going to think I'm crazy-"
Felix laughed softly, "That's why I married you."
Kim closed her eyes in frustration, "That's just it Felix," she avoided Felix's piercing gaze, "I-I don't remember anything about this place, what's happened, you can walk...us," she trailed off and waited for something.
Anything.
Nothing.
Kim looked at Felix who wore the expression of confusion mixed with sadness, "Are you...are you trying to leave me?"
Kim pushed Felix away, "I don't know," Kim took a step away from the sink and walked back into the bedroom, "Here's what I do know, last night it was April 8th, 2005, I just kissed Ron good night when he brought me back from the prom and I went to bed," she took a breath and sat down on the bedside, "I feel a pain in the base of my skull and then I'm standing in a dressing room of a church," she looked up as Felix leaned against the door frame, "I'm getting married to someone, I think it was Josh and over a thousand years have passed. I feel the same pain in my skull, I'm suddenly blinded by white light and then I'm crouched behind that wall in the pouring rain," Kim's voice rose in volume, "And apparently the world has been over run with giant aliens, I'm leader of a group of killers that used to be my high school friends and I'm married to my boyfriend's best friend."
Kim finished, breathing heavily and she looked at Felix who appeared to be studying her. After several long moments Felix nodded subtly and dropped his towel on the floor. Walking to his dresser Felix pulled out his Centurion bracelet and slid it on.
"What are you doing?" Kim asked, she was past confusion and somewhere in between flustered and confounded.
"I'm believing you," he said as the microscopic nanomachines poured from the bracelet and covered his body in a liquid metal coating that hardened into an exosuit, "and we're going to see Wade."
Kim looked up in shock, "Why?"
"Because he's probably the only one who can help you," Felix replied and waited as his suit whirred to signal it was ready, "the way I see it," he heard a tiny whir and offered his hand to Kim, "You're either lying to me or telling the truth."
Kim shrugged and grasped Felix's hand, "Well that's one way to look at it I sup-"
Felix didn't let Kim finish, "But if you are lying to me..." he didn't finish but pulled Kim out of their room.
Kim and Felix Renton please report to the War Room.
Kim and Felix both looked up as the intercom made the announcement and looked at each other in unison.
"Optical jinx," Felix said as she saw Kim staring at her.
Kim was taken aback, "There's...there's no such thing as an optical jinx."
Felix nodded, "I know, I just made it up right now and you have to follow it," he linked her arm with Kim's and pulled her towards down a hallway towards a large elevator, "We both agreed to fulfill the other's jinx when we said our vows."
"We had vows that included a jinx clause?" Kim asked as Felix pressed a button and the elevator sank into the floor.
Felix nodded, "Mmhmm, right after who get's the Cuddle Buddies if we both die on a mission," he paused, "It's Tara."
Kim sighed and looked up at the ceiling, "How long have we been married?" she asked even though she still couldn't believe the words she was saying.
"Last night was our third wedding anniversary," Felix replied with a laugh as the elevator screeched to a halt and the doors parted with a metallic screech.
Kim felt Felix tugging at her arm but found herself drawn to the scene playing out before her. The Elevator had opened up into a cavernous room that was bustling with activity. The gray concrete walls were pockmarked with crumbling divots, water droplets tracing their way down the cool walls. Along several walls enormous cracks raced their way towards the ceiling and tiny strands of roots grew out into the open area.
The open sections of the walls that were not cracked each held view screens that showed various portions of the world. Kim leaned forward as she and Felix passed them and saw Lowardians building what looked like fleets of rockets in the remains of Detroit. Another screen showed a camp where humans shambled around in a daze, the label on the screen read Beijing, China. Kim could guess that this was a death camp and still others showed nothing but open plains of dirt and rock. But one thing was always the same in each picture: it was always raining.
"Does it always rain?" Kim asked.
Felix nodded, "The Lowardians need water to hydrate their skin, we think that's why they invaded four years ago.
"Without the rain they dehydrate in a matter of hours and die," Felix pulled Kim past a hologram of the world that turned slowly, "So you honestly believe that you're not from here?"
Kim shrugged as they passed a bank of computers, "I don't know where here even is," she paused as she thought back, "although I did see Rodigan on the door earlier."
Felix smiled, "You led the exodus to Rodigan when Middleton fell," he shook his head in remembrance, "When Middleton fell it was the start of the domino chain," he looked back, "so to speak."
"What do you mean?" Kim asked.
"Middleton falling combined with you retreating..." Felix trailed off, "Cities all around the world were over run. New York, Madrid, they turned Beijing into a detention camp," Felix stopped and looked back to Kim, "Governments fell, people died," she looked back at Kim sadly, "you blamed yourself for the majority of it."
"And we started dating how?" Kim stopped and let an overworked technician run past with their arms full of papers, "I mean the Felix Renton I knew was Ron's paraplegic, video game playing best friend."
Felix laughed, not a malicious laugh but a happy and carefree laugh as he remembered the video game matches with Ron, "I haven't played video games in..." she pursed his lips, "two almost three years," he shook her head and nodded to a door, "that's the War Room," he stopped Kim and made sure the majority of the mud caking her body was gone, "Ugh, who let you go out like this?" he teased and kissed Kim.
Kim's body stiffened in an instant, causing Felix to chuckle, "You may not accept it yet Kim, but I am your husband, for better or for worse," she leaned in and adjusted Kim's collar, "there you go."
He patted Kim on the shoulder and together the two of them walked into Dr. Betty Director's War Room.
December 15th, 2015 A.D.
Castle Rodigan, Rodigan Empire
7:45 P.M.
To Kim it looked like she had just stepped onto the set of Dr. Strangelove.
From the world map adorning the wall to a giant table in the center of the room, walls glowing with countless buttons that chimed periodically and against the back wall rested a food table. But what struck Kim the most was the lack of chaos in this room. There were no scrambling workers, no hurried runners, instead everything was subdued and quiet, almost as if to speak loud would incur some unforeseen punishment. However all this was forgotten as Kim's focus was on the one eyed woman, her assistant that Kim recognized as Will Du and two people dressed in matching jumpsuits of black. All were gathered around one section of the table with a series of maps arrayed before them.
As they approached the table Kim could hear Betty finishing up the last bit of a conversation with her guests, "...fifteen derricks, seven hundred walkers and forty Centurion squads," Betty took a sip of coffee, "How fares Yamanouchi?"
The first guest looked up from the table and Kim gasped as she saw Yori gesture to a map, "We're all that's left," Kim heard Betty gasp, "Warmonga led her forces personally into battle," Yori shook her head, "even a mighty stone can be covered by the tide."
Will Du looked up from the frantic notes he was taking, "So that's it? We're all that's left?"
Yori shook her head, "as we...retreated," she chose her words carefully, Kim noted to herself, almost like she doesn't want to admit defeat, "Ron-chan gave the order to split up," Yori pushed a button below the table and a hologram appeared that showed the world and what Kim guessed to be space debris circling lazily overhead, "we believe a group made it to the Philippines, but we cannot confirm it yet."
Betty nodded, "So how many made it here?"
Yori pulled out a piece of paper from her gi and slid it to Betty, "only a handful of our hover jets, a few warriors and hackers," she bowed apologetically, "regretfully that is all that made it out. Everyone else is now in the camps, in the factories or impaled."
Betty nodded as the door closed behind Kim and Felix with a quiet boom, "We are truly sorry for your loss," Betty bowed to Yori and gestured around the room, "Your people are welcome to stay here."
Yori nodded and wiped at her eyes quickly, "How is this front? Has Warhok detected your presence in the area?"
Betty shrugged, "We're not sure but just this is just this morning one of our Centurions decided to get herself captured," she looked directly at Kim, "Isn't that right Kim?"
Kim didn't know how to respond but remained silent as she and Felix approached the table, "reporting as ordered ma'am," Felix said when they were in position.
Betty nodded slightly, "Yamanouchi has fallen," she said quickly before adding, "but on their way over they took a picture of this," she pulled a photo from the stack of maps and papers and slid it across the table before handing it to Kim, "What do you make of it?"
Kim looked at Betty questioning eyes, she was no analyst, she had no idea what to look for. But then she looked at the picture and then her eyes saw The Machine.
Words couldn't describe it to Kim but she knew every facet of it. Every detail she knew and if asked she could explain how it worked but at the same time it was completely foreign to her. She loved it but she hated it, it gave her pleasure beyond belief but it killed her to look at it. It was conflicting each and every emotion she knew and she gasped as she couldn't look away.
It started low at first and was quickly overwhelmed by the rush of emotion but through the storm that rampaged unchecked through her body she heard a voice. Not just a voice, the voice. The voice that would guide her. It was as familiar as the day, yet as foreign as the night. It quickly rose in volume until it trumped everything she felt-
One traveler for the journey to the creator,
as power from beyond the stars will fuel her machine.
His love not returned will guide her and stay with her when she becomes lost.
The symbol of royalty will open the doors closed to her and the machine will carry her
even as the soul of an immortal protects her.
The words blared in Kim's mind so loud she swore Felix heard them and she grasped her head as pain suddenly sprang to life where there had only been questions. Stumbling around Kim felt herself start to fall but was caught by Felix and helped to the ground by the second guest. Looking up from her near collapse Kim peered into the eyes she had so desperately been craving to see. The one vision that calmed her storm and suffering.
Ron eased her to the ground without any apparent strain, "You all right KR?"
Kim nodded and gasped in surprise, "Ron?"
Ron nodded, his golden hair waving from the gesture, "Kim," he answered coldly.
Kim felt a chill run down her spine as she never heard Ron talk like that before but before she could say anything Betty Director asked, "Are you all right Kim?"
Kim turned her attention to Dr. Director and pulled herself to her feet, "I don't know."
Yori crossed her arms and held up the picture, "You see this picture and collapse?" her deep brown eyes ripped through Kim, "what is is?"
Kim opened her mouth to say she didn't know but then answered, "It's a Machine."
Betty raised an eyebrow, "A machine about eight feet in diameter, with four glass cylinders all surrounding a giant glass ball on a pedestal that we think is made of pure gold?" she showed a second picture, "it was found this morning roughly fifteen miles from us buried several hundred feet underground."
Kim answered without thinking, her tone somewhere between reverence and awe, "They uncovered the Machine."
From Kim's side Bonnie asked, "The Machine?"
Kim saw the skeptical eyes from all sides, " When I saw the picture I heard something whisper to me," Kim explained, "something crazy but then I had this overwhelming desire for the Machine."
"Desire?" Betty asked, her single eye conveying the skepticism better than two could have done.
"Yes," Kim pointed at the photo, "whatever this is, we cannot let Warhok get it."
Yori shook her head, "You're crazy Renton-San," Yori shuffled around the photographs until she found one she wanted, "They've moved over one thousand kilometers from here to Warhok's capital: Paris."
Kim didn't hesitate, "Then we get it back."
Betty smiled, "It's a nice effort but no, we can't get it. It's a suicide mission for anyone going in there."
Again Kim didn't hesitate, "Then we die, but we cannot let Warhok control it."
"Why not?" Felix interjected, "Why don't we want him to have it? Apart from you wanting it, why should we risk everything on this machine?"
"I don't know but this Machine is a game changer," Kim explained as she held the picture of the machine up to the rest of the group, "with this machine he could do a lot more than rule Earth."
The knowing smile never left Betty's face, "but is it worth the entire resistance?"
Kim answered the question without pause, "Yes."
Silence hung over the War Room.
Yori took advantage of the silence to ask, "How do you know all this?"
Kim sighed, she'd been trying to avoid this question as long as she was able but she had to face it now, "I-I'm not from here."
If Kim thought the stares she received earlier were bad she was in for a rude awakening with this latest batch. The only thing that kept her on her feet was Felix squeezing her hand for reassurance. Seeing no other option Kim explained everything to them. Last night, the wedding, Josh, when she finished she looked around, "So that's it...any questions?" she felt like she had just given a speech at school.
Yori shook her head with a laugh, "You are insane. You want us to risk the last bit of our resistance to steal this machine from Warhok while you yourself claim to be from some other time?" she gestured to the hologram that showed the smoking remains of Yamanouchi, "You want to bring down the entire might of Lowardia on us? And for what? A stupid machine that you yourself have no idea what it does?"
Betty nodded, "Kim, I'm with Yori on this one. By your own admission you are not fit for command and this raid will only serve to bring Warhok and Warmonga here-"
"I believe her."
The words echoed across the room. They were cold, dark, hurt filled words but they were the only words Kim needed to hear, the only words that she wanted to hear.
Ron's clear tone slowly rose in volume, "I've known Kim ever since Pre-K and she never made up a story this crazy before."
"But Ron-chan," Yori objected, "listen to her."
"I tried telling Kim that the Diablos would kill us all but she was the only one who would listen to me," he paused, "the only reason we're still here is because she listened," he gulped and bit of the ends of the next words as if they were poisonous venom to him, "what kind of ally would I be if I didn't listen to her?"
Betty opened her mouth to continue her objections but Ron cut her off with a wave of his hand, "Do you honestly think we're safe here?" he gestured to the base, "Warmonga has no doubt tracked our flight path and is heading here at this very moment and according to your own report Warhok knows we are here," he let that sink in before continuing, "Either we steal the Machine from Warhok now while his troops are still low in the area or we wait for Warmonga to get here and die pointlessly."
The room was silent for a moment and Kim waited patiently as Betty and Yori made their own decisions, "What do you have in mind Kim?" Betty asked, a familiar spark Kim had seen many years ago gleamed in her eye.
Yori looked shocked for a moment at Betty's change in position before shaking her head in frustration, "Just so we understand each other Possible-San," she took a breath, "You are asking us to use the last bit of free humanity in an assault on the Lowardian capital city of Paris for a machine that you have no idea what it does," Kim was about to answer but Yori cut her off with a curt nod, "an impregnable city with walls of steel and stone over 10 meters high, inside the city sits the majority of the regions infantry and armor divisions, so you know the city will be crawling with Lowardians," Kim gulped as Yori looked at everyone present, "and after that it gets better: an impenetrable shield protects the city which deters all our missiles, bombs and even our people from getting through barrier while the Lowardians can pick us off with ease," Yori directed her gaze to Kim, "And you want us to assault that? Is that what you're suggesting?"
Kim could feel the weight of the combined gazes as she slowly nodded, "I am."
Yori shook her head, "Possible-San I will most likely live to regret this but..." she struggled to say the words, "let us hear your plan."
Disclaimer: Disney owns all.
Author Notes: So here we are again. I really don't have much to say about this chapter other than, it's going to be awesome later on in the story.
Also, thank you all for reading and reviewing this, it really means the world to me to see your responses. Speaking of which, if you leave a review I will get back to you.
Special thanks this week goes to karenstern05 (He just might be insane), ST-103 (Thanks for making me feel old), Darev (I haven't heard of that show in years), Mr. Wizard (I was really going for a mirror of the two), temporaryinsanity91 (give me a few more chapters and it will all make sense), Katsumara (Does this answer your pairing question?), Cajunbear73 (I bearly missed putting your thanks in on this one).
And to 10 TRS points which are worth absolutely nothing goes to Taechunsa who pointed out some mistakes in my last chapter. Thank you.
Until next Monday,
TRS