10) Under no circumstances is a Creator allowed to be cruel to or insult other Creators. Doing so will ensure expulsion from the order.
August 17th, 625,473 A.D.
Middleton, Colorado
12:35 P.M.
Ron walked among the ruins of Middleton without seeing a thing. He didn't know what he was looking for nor did he know where he was going but he just had to go out for a walk.
He couldn't remember the last time he'd gone to go visit Kim's grave and quite honestly he didn't care. Kim was dead to him now and the last thing he wanted was to remind himself that she no longer was a person in his life.
As if sensing his thoughts Rufus jumped on his shoulder and started chittering away angrily in his master's ear.
Ron continued walking through the dilapidated city, waiting for Rufus to finish before replying, "and why shouldn't I hate her Rufus? She left us, remember?"
You're going to blame her for what happened to us? his companion asked in a shocked tone.
"Sure," Ron replied without missing a beat, "if she hadn't gone to go see Larry and instead stopped Monkey Fist with us, we wouldn't be in this mess."
Then she'd be the one with the Mystical Monkey Power and she'd be here, a pause, alone.
Ron didn't care, "She'd have figured out something little guy, something that didn't involve bathing in Mystical Monkey Power" he looked at Rufus, "she wouldn't have made such a stupid mistake."
Didn't you volunteer for the Monkey Power? Rufus asked, so how can it be her fault?
Ron was silent.
Hello Ron? Earth to Ron. Anyone out there? his naked companion asked.
"Just...just stop Rufus," Ron said before stomping away angrily, "I don't want to talk about this anymore."
Rufus angrily nipped Ron's ear in the ear in response, Well I do and we're going to talk about this or I'm going to bite your ear off.
Ron stopped next to a pile of rubble that had once been a bench and sat down dejectedly upon it, "Why Rufus?"
Why what?
"Why is she dead and I'm alive?" he fought back tears, "why couldn't I save her?"
Because we're still doing the Creator's purpose, Rufus answered back without missing a beat.
"Creator's purpose?" Ron scoffed, "It's the Creator's purpose that you and I sit here? For who knows how long doing nothing but sifting through the rubble as we try to pass the time," Ron shouted and shrugged Rufus from his shoulder to a pile of rusting metal angrily before storming off.
Ron stopped mid stride and walked back to Rufus angrily, "And I can't even go crazy in the meantime, I have to be sane through this entire ordeal. At least if I was crazy this would all at least be a bit fun," Ron turned to his only friend left and hissed with anger in his voice, "If there is a Creator he doesn't care about us anymore."
Rufus watched Ron storm away and silently chased after him through the rubble of Middleton. It hurt him to see Ron like this but if he left Ron like this...Rufus didn't even want to think about what would happen to the poor boy.
He followed Ron for a few miles before Rufus finally figured out where they were going and only after Ron passed the sign for the Middleton Cemetery did Rufus finally figure out what Ron was going to do.
Rufus silently stalked Ron as Ron made his way through the empty field that housed his long deceased wife. As Ron neared her grave he dropped to his knees, heedless of the red dirt that covered the ground and wafted around him like a mist.
"Hello," he said quietly, the first words spoken to her in thousands of years.
He sat there in the silence, listening to the cold wind that whipped past him before continuing, "I know it's been a while since we've talked but I've had some things to do..." he trailed off and was silent for a moment before shaking his head, "yeah, even I don't believe that lie."
Rufus ducked behind a closer gravestone in an effort to hear Ron, "...hates you. The other part..." he sighed, "the other part loves you so much but wonders why you left."
The cold wind whispered past Ron and he struggled to keep from crying, "Why did I live when everyone else died?"
The wind slowed to a faint breeze, "Why did you leave me?"
Rufus purred in compassion and hopped onto Ron's shoulder before patting Ron sadly on the cheek, I know it hurts that she's gone but you can't hate her for dying.
"And why not?" Ron asked as a tear fell from his eye and evaporated as it hit the red earth.
Because she always loved you, Rufus replied. Do you think it was easy for her to sacrifice her self knowing you would stay the same for all eternity?
Ron didn't have an answer, it wasn't easy for her, in fact there were times that she started to resent you for being immortal, Rufus saw Ron's face start to soften, she hated the fact that you had to look out for her later in life, Rufus let out a sigh, she didn't want you to suffer for her.
Ron looked at Rufus with confusion, "How do you know this?"
Rufus smiled, She told me, he looked away as he remembered Kim, just the battle, before she sacrificed herself, she told me how she always loved you but hated you at times for being so young, he looked back at Ron, She told me that was her greatest mistake, hating you for staying young. She told me that if she could go back she would gladly love you no matter what.
Ron was silent as he watched the sunset with his best friend and commented quietly, "Thank you Rufus."
His naked mole rat smiled and pulled a piece of Cheese from Ron's pocket and offered it to Ron.
Ron turned and looked at Rufus for several seconds in disgust before, "First, how long has that been in my pocket," Rufus just smiled, "Second, where did you even get that cheese?" Rufus continued to smile, "Third, you do know that is over 600,000 thousand years old?" Rufus shook his head and silently calculated in his head, "Fou-oof"
Ron gagged as Rufus pounced on his face and forced the cheese into his mouth. He felt Ron struggle for a few moments but eventually his love of cheese won out and he bit down hesitantly on the food.
"You know," Ron remarked in genuine surprise, "It's not half bad."
See, you just need to trust me and it'll be all right, Rufus replied.
"Is it Kraft?" Ron asked, fearful of the answer.
Yep.
"I don't know if I should be repulsed by that or impressed that you managed to keep this for all these years," Ron laughed.
If you think that's something you should see my Twinkie collection, Rufus smiled at Ron's slack jawed expression.
They sat in silence and watched the blood red sun set on their fallen civilization.
October 23rd, 701,943 A.D.
Middleton, Colorado
7:07 A.M.
CRASH
Ron's eyes instantly snapped open as another building fell in the distance and he slowly sat up from his bed and looked around the cave while rubbing the back of his neck in a futile effort to ease the kinks and tension out of his muscles. He quietly rose and set about his chores so as not to disturb Rufus from his slumber and within an hour he had swept the cave, washed his face and prepared for his day of scavenging with Rufus.
After he had finished everything, Ron found Rufus still asleep and smiled as he transformed the lotus blade into a towel and tossed it on the sleeping form of the naked mole rat.
Rufus groaned as he woke and growled angrily at Ron, Why? It's way too early for me to be awake.
"Because I need you to go with me into downtown Upperton today," Ron answered.
Why? What is there for you in that husk of a town? Rufus asked back from beneath the towel, besides you might wake it.
"We haven't seen a trace of it in over 100,000 years Rufus," Ron replied, "I'm fairly certain the...whatever it is has long since fallen apart."
Fine, let's say it is dead, Rufus answered from beneath the blanket, do you really want to go into its territory unless you're absolutely sure it's gone?
"You treat it like the bogey man Rufus," Ron retorted as he pulled the towel off Rufus and transformed it back into the Lotus Blade.
I'm not the one who didn't carve a closet or any space under our bed because he's still scared of monsters under the bed, Rufus shot back.
"Well you never know," Ron said defensively, "Besides we don't have anything of value to store under the bed or in a closet," he thought for a second, "unless you count that mePod I found."
Rufus looked over to the brick with wires his master had found in the rubble hundreds of millenia ago and just shook his head, Fine, I'll go with you but the second I think that monster is still alive we never go back to Upperton. Ever.
Ron held a hand to his forehead in a military salute, "Pixie's Honor."
Rufus didn't break the gaze, I'm serious Ron. There's a lot of things I'll do for you but sacrificing my immortality for you is not one of them.
Ron broke away from his best friend's gaze even as his mind journeyed back to that day the world went away.
September 7th, 2007 A.D.
Middleton, Colorado
5:07 P.M.
"Go Fraulein!"
BWeeee-ish
Kim watched from the open cargo door of the Global Justice hover jet as it blasted off into the night sky, the sun setting against the now raining sky. In the distance, at what remained of Upperton, the Lowardians had erected a large pylon that Global Justice had knocked over just a few hours ago. Once erect, a bright burst of blue light shot into the clouds covering Middleton and the rain poured harder in response.
"Dementor!" she shouted, "get in! We need to get out of here!"
Below her Kim watched as Professor Dementor waved her jet off, "Mein forces vill hold zem at bay! Get out of here Fraulein!"
Kim stood at the edge of the door contemplating taking the short man by force but stopped as he turned back to her, "NOW!"
Kim nodded and silently mouthed a thank you as her jet vanished into the boiling sky.
Overhead, the portal Warhok's forces had set up was doing its job and every second ships of all shapes and sizes poured from Lowardia and into Earth's atmosphere.
Beep Beep Be Deep
Kim held her wrist up to eye the Kimminucator, "What's the sitch Wade?"
Her tech genius looked around and rubbed at the stitched up gash under his eye, "Zita and I are airborne but your family's jet is still at the Space Center."
Kim was silent as she looked out over the burning town of Middleton, smoke rising against the setting sun as the reptilian creatures clawed their way over the buildings and screamed at the fleeing jets, "Wade connect me to Betty," she ordered silently as the wind whipped through the cargo hold, her blue super suit rippling as the tears slowly started to stitch back together.
Wade nodded and Kim grabbed onto an overhead strap as a Global Justice Hover Jet nearby exploded into a ball of flame, rocking her craft in response, "Everyone all right back there?" Will Du called out from the cockpit as he flew the Jet through the storm, the golden light from the sunset in his mirrors as he flew East.
"We're good," Ron shouted back as he walked to Kim at the open door. He placed one hand on her shoulder while holding onto a hanging strap for support, "right?"
Kim shook her head, "how is that right?" she asked as the true scope of events were seen for the first time.
Middleton was being abandoned. The thriving metropolis which at one time acted as the hub that connected the East and the West coast was collapsing in on itself as explosions rocked the city.
Skyscrapers of steel and bronze that at one time had held the greatest minds of the scientific community tumbled to the ground as Lowardians unleashed their entire arsenal on the city. Bolts of yellow energy licked at the buildings, liquefying the metal and causing them to buckle under the strain.
Against the setting sun, Global Justice hover jets and military helicopters rose into the sky, each craft weighed down with countless evacuees and refugees from the dying city.
Kim and Ron watched as a Spider like robot climbed up the Middleton Tower, the tallest tower in the city, and perched on the top of the building with extraordinary grace. It raised one of its four legs into the air and let loose an otherworldly scream that was heard from miles away.
"Lie to me Kim," Betty pleaded as she appeared on the Kimminucator, "tell me you closed the portal."
Kim was silent as the wind whipped through the cargo hold.
"Can you at least tell me that you have a plan?" Ron asked as the hover jet rocked her image.
Betty nodded, "We're going to regroup in Go City and try and create a-"
"It doesn't matter," Kim interrupted, "Lowardia has a foothold. We failed."
"Kim we don't know-" Betty tried to speak but was cut off.
"We are out gunned and out numbered," Kim retorted to the one eyed woman, "Counter attacks won't work, they have Middleton and after thoroughly defeating the Army in the city..." Kim trailed off, "we had to rely on Dementor and Drakken to get us out of here," Kim paused as she watched an enormous flying carrier emerge from the portal, "they gave their lives so we could escape."
Betty looked crestfallen, "And Shego?"
Ron turned to the woman strapped into the seat behind her, her unconscious body shaking limply with each bump, "alive but out of the game for a while."
Betty nodded as she pondered their next move, "can we retake Middleton?" she asked Kim, knowing the answer but afraid to say it aloud.
Kim gave a final look to the city gleaming against the setting sun.
Her home a burning shell.
Her school, now a makeshift refugee camp, everything burning in the golden light.
The city, apart from Ron the only constant in her life, the city was falling to the ground.
Reckoning was at hand.
Kim shook her head as fighters erupted from the flying carrier and began blasting anything that moved, "Middleton is lost."
Betty took a deep breath, "Then I'm executing Protocol 1"
"Kepplar Initiative?" Kim asked in disbelief, "you told me that-"
"Desperate times," Betty replied stoically as she removed a key from her neck, "Under the Global Justice Security Protocol 1: Survival of the Species at any cost, I'm ordering a nuclear strike on the town of Middleton via the destruction of the Global Justice Base located beneath Middleton."
"Betty you're insane!" Kim shouted.
"I'm sorry Kim," Betty said as she inserted her key into a gray box, "Will, you need to insert your key as well."
In the cockpit Will Du pulled an identical key from around his neck and inserted it into a slot on the control panel and turned it into position, "key inserted ma'am."
Kim looked back at the burning city, "what about my family? They're still at the space station."
Betty looked to Kim, "They're giving their lives for the greater good."
"No!" Kim shouted as she raced for the cockpit, "WILL, DO NOT TURN THAT KEY!"
She reached the cockpit even as she sensed Ron at her back, "WAIT KIM-" he shouted but it was too late as Kim was already reaching over Will for the Key.
In the process of reaching for the key Kim slammed into Will, pushing him forward into the controls of the Jet. Instantly the craft spiraled out of control and towards the ground as everyone in the craft lost gravity.
Kim pushed off the walls and reached the key. Pulling it from the socket, she held it triumphantly as Will leveled the plane, slamming everyone into the deck.
"I can't let you do this Betty!" Kim stated angrily as she stood shakily to her feet.
"Kim please," Betty pleaded, "think of the world-"
"I need my family out of-" Kim was cut off as a hand reached over and grabbed the key from her hand.
"Ron?" Kim asked in disbelief.
Ron Stoppable, always one to follow Kim, shook his head with no as he stood up to Kim for the first time in his life, "I'm sorry Kim," he said as he inserted the key.
Kim lunged for the key but a blue glow surrounded Ron and he easily held Kim, "No," he said firmly.
"WHY?!" she shouted as she struggled in vain against his Mystical Monkey Power.
"Because we have several million people that need Lowardia pushed back to escape," Ron said as he held his girlfriend around the waist, "even if that push is only for a few hours."
"But my family-" she argued.
"Would say the same thing," Ron said forcefully, even as he realized what he needed to do.
He placed his hand on the key.
"If you turn that key Ron Stoppable," Kim threatened, "I will leave you. I will hate you and never forgive you."
"It needs to be done," he took a deep breath.
"Please Ron," Kim whispered as she struggled to reach the key.
"Forgive me Kim," he whispered as he turned the key.
"WAIT!" a shout stopped Ron midturn.
All eyes turned to Wade as he scrambled with his computer, "We can still save Middleton."
Kim eyed her technology genius with hope in her eyes, "How?"
"You can't do that Wade," Betty said with a hint of desperation in her voice, "You yourself said-"
"We're going to activate the MAMA," Wade said confidently as his fingers began to dance across his keyboard.
"Does someone want to fill us in?" Kim asked, her previous anger at Ron forgotten as a new path was created.
Wade's fingers continued to fly as he wrote computer code on the fly, "We were weeks away from the actual physical body testing of the MAMA but it already tested well within the acceptable range of-"
"Wade it killed thirty scientists," Will called out as the jet rocked wildly, "and that was when it was only a few lines of code. Now you want to give it the military body?"
Kim grabbed onto the wall as the aircraft banked sharply, "Wade can you do it?"
"I can," he answered without a second of hesitation, ignoring Will's question.
"Do it," Kim answered as Wade typed a final string of code, "Betty I need you to agree on this."
Dr. Elizabeth Director looked at Kim, "You're letting the genie out of the bottle," she shook her head sadly, "I won't agree to this plan," she took a deep breath as her screen beeped at her with a message. She looked up with disdain written across her features and her lone eye showed nothing but disappointment in Kim, "but you've already done it."
"I'm sorry Betty," Wade said, "but we're doing this for the greater good."
Betty shook her head, "no you're not. You're simply trading one enemy for an even worse one."
Bwee-oop
With that Betty closed her screen and left Kim with Wade to power up the MAMA.
May 15th, 835,768 A.D.
Upperton, Colorado
10:57 A.M.
"See Rufus," Ron said as he tossed Rufus a tennis ball, "I told you ages ago that venturing into Upperton was the greatest thing we could ever do."
I still hold to caution, the mole rat replied as he dashed after the tennis ball they had found in some forgotten ruin.
Rufus came holding the ball in this tiny paws and dropped it at Ron's feet, "What's it going to take Rufus?" Ron asked as he tossed the ball again, "You want to see the carcass and its circuitry?"
That would be nice, Rufus answered from somewhere in the ruins, I'll even settle for one of its eye circuits.
"Well we never did find its den so I don't think we ever will," Ron answered as the mole rat bounded back.
Rufus chittered a laugh, Didn't you once tell me that we've got nothing to do? Why not search for the den?
Ron picked up the tennis ball and tossed it away as he continued scavenging for more parts, "I don't know why you're so obsessed with finding the thing that destroyed this world."
Personal reasons, Rufus shouted back, and if you knew what was good for you, you'd be begging me to go looking for it.
"And why is that?" Ron asked as he waited for Rufus to come back.
Silence.
Ron stopped his scavenging and looked around the city, "Rufus?"
Nothing stirred in the dead city.
Because the only thing left on Earth able to kill us hasn't been found, Rufus answered as he appeared on Ron's shoulder with the tennis ball, that alone should be reason enough.
Ron jumped at Rufus' appearing but quickly shrugged him off, "It's dead and besides if it is alive and kills us at least we'll be with Kim."
Rufus groaned and slapped a paw to his forehead, Please don't tell me that you're back to those thoughts again.
"No," Ron shook his head, "I'm just saying we've obviously completed our purpose so we should die."
Rufus smiled, You don't know that, the Creator obviously kept us alive for a reason. Surely you don't think-
CRASH-BOOM
The two looked up just in time to see a streak of silver jet out from the lobby of a towering skyscraper. Moments later the tower groaned and started toppling towards them.
RUN! Rufus shouted as the tower tumbled towards them, with each passing meter it gained more speed.
Ron didn't need to be told twice and started sprinting out of the tower's path. Darkness fell upon the two of them as the enormous tower's shadow swallowed them up.
Rufus looked back as he cowered in Ron's pocket and gasped in horror as the floors of the tower started collapsing as they made contact with the rubble filled street. He looked up as the tower continued to fall towards them and he saw that it was falling way to fast for his liking. The creaking and groaning from the buildings left standing told Rufus that the falling building was crashing into the buildings that lined this street and it only meant that more debris was about to fall. Rufus started praying that the buildings wouldn't start a domino chain and he knew Ron needed to move faster if he wanted to live.
Rufus ventured another gaze behind them and growled angrily as he saw the silver streak darting out from the building's path. He heard the steady thumps of its four mechanical legs and more importantly knew Ron did too.
Turn right, Rufus shouted and Ron ducked into a tiny alley just as the skyscraper slammed into the ground, instantly crushing everything beneath it into tiny pieces. Everything that is except-
SHREE-DAO
Ron and Rufus both clamped their hands over their ears as the mechanical beast let loose a mechanical scream as it clawed its way through the wreckage of the collapsed building towards them.
I told you coming into Upperton was a bad idea, Rufus said angrily as Ron started running again, but you just had to explore, didn't you?
"Quiet Rufus!" Ron shouted as he heard the creature clawing through the mangled building.
Rufus looked back down the alley just in time to see the monster punch through the metal of the building and tear through the titanium alloy as easily as one tears tissue paper.
Rufus watched the creature slip through the break easily and finally got a good look at it. The robot had changed since the last time he'd seen it but it still retained the basic shape James Possible and Wade Load had originally designed for it.
It was about the size of a Great Dane but with the body of a leopard, the chassis made from the toughest, lightest and strongest materials in the galaxy with the entire body being held up by four thin but lethal looking legs. Capping each "paw" was three wicked looking claws that hadn't lost their sharpness in the countless millenia since their creation. The same went for the half foot long metal spikes that made up the robot's jaw and elongated snout. It watched the two fleeing beings run with red eyes and calculated the best way to dismember them before selecting the best way to do so would be to simply run up there and kill them both with a swipe of its paw.
With the new data, the creature originally designated MAMA sprang off after them.
MAMA caught up with Rufus and Ron just on the outskirts of town and tackled Ron to the dusty ground where everyone slid along the loose red soil for several meters before coming to a stop. In the confusion, Rufus tumbled from Ron's pocket and was lost among the red tinted rubble.
Ron rolled onto his back and stared at the monster before him that snarled at him with those wicked fangs and he let out a contented sigh.
"I've lived for thousands of years and now I'm going to be killed by a robot?" he scoffed, "that tanks."
The MAMA didn't respond but instead brought up an enormous paw to crush Ron's head with. Ron didn't move, he didn't even flinch as the creature brought the paw down. He did however scream like a little girl when MAMA let loose a mechanical scream and rolled off him, the paw missing his head by centimeters.
Ron propped himself up on his elbows and looked at the curious sight before him as the robot responsible for all this destruction rolled around in the amber colored dirt. Ron picked up the Lotus blade and held it at the ready as he saw the robot thrash before him and he approached it carefully even as it continued its mechanical scream.
SHREE-DAO
WHAT ARE YOU STILL DOING HERE? Rufus shouted from the back of the robot as he looked for a way to duck inside the rusted chassis, RUN!
Ron shook his head and started slashing at the monster wildly. He heard metal creaking and the tug of wires on his sword but other than that, he was unable to see the monster that had now caused an enormous dust cloud to form.
Ron took a hesitant step back as he saw sparks and heard hissing from inside the dust cloud.
"Rufus?" he asked hesitantly as the dust started to settle.
I found a way inside, his companion shouted, now get out of here, I'll start pulling wires and hopefully-
Without warning, a paw with three enormous metallic claws shot from the cloud and caught Ron in the chest, instantly picking him up as if he weighed nothing and throwing him through the air. As he flew through the air, Ron lost his grip on the Lotus blade but he didn't have time to think about it as he rocketed into a building and knew no more.
Rufus was scampering around inside the mechanical chassis of the MAMA as he saw his Master thrown away like a forgotten toy. Rufus shook his head and resumed his attack of biting any wire that looked important and hoping that maybe the next wire he clipped would be the one that stopped this creature for good.
In the days leading to the creation of the MAMA James Possible had worked with Wade Load in creating the code for the MAMA. A Metal Automatic Maintenance Assembler that Global Justice had claimed would change the face of environmentalism by eating spilled toxins and waste products for power while producing clean and renewable energy for all.
"As an added bonus," Betty had claimed at the announcement of the MAMA, "it can even detect contaminants before they pollute the environment and eliminate them to better mankind."
To better mankind, Rufus thought as he tugged at a wire and felt the robot lurch in pain, What a joke.
It was only when Lowardia had invaded that the true purpose of the MAMA had been revealed and a better acronym had been given to it: MADD, a Mutually Assured Destruction Device.
It was an artificial intelligence designed specifically to eliminate all threats to its existence. If humanity couldn't have Earth, no one could have it.
In the days that had followed the fall of Middleton, Wade had transferred the MAMA to a body that was the most technologically advanced robotic shell ever created. It had been designed for speed, stealth but most of all: lethality.
Only hours after the MAMA had been deployed to the front lines, Lowardia had been driven into a full retreat. The carnage and slaughter giving the race of aliens pause as they were effectively and swiftly stopped at every turn.
Rufus remembered standing on Ron's shoulder as they overlooked a battlefield with the MAMA versus an entire Lowardian infantry division. The battle lasted only minutes as the MAMA killed each and every Lowardian before loyally returning to its masters.
Only when the war was over did everyone realize the prophetic nature of Betty Director's words: The genie was out of the bottle. Without an opponent to fight, the MAMA created opponents in its owners and soon the artificial intelligence had rebelled against its very creators.
The military had tried to stop it, Lowardia had volunteered forces to try and stop it, but the more people shot at it, the more powerful it had grown.
Eventually, Lowardia abandoned Earth to the monster and fled, vowing to seal off this solar system for all time. They'd been so scared they left everything and everyone behind, only the quickest Lowardians had been able to escape and any ships leaving the Earth was instantly shot down so as to prevent the Robot a chance to escape.
The only delay for the MAMA had been when Kim dropped Go City but even then that hadn't been enough to destroy it, only delay it.
After the Lowardians left, it was only a matter of time before nothing on Earth was left.
There was no more water, The MAMA drank it all.
There was no food, MAMA had an insatiable appetite and within a year, the only things left alive was Ron and Rufus mainly because the robot feared Ron's sword.
Rufus shook his head as his mind drifted back to the monster's creation and bit at a wire leading to the creature's power supply.
That stopped the creature dead in its tracks. Rufus held his breath as the robot stopped midstride and flopped onto its side with a soft hiss of air.
Scampering out of the creature's side, Rufus jumped onto the MAMA's face and snipped at a wire connecting the CPU to the rest of the monster. Just for good measure, Rufus removed the robot's memory core, CPU and an eye for a trophy. Seeing as the monster was completely powered down Rufus then crushed the three items and set about looking for Ron.
He found Ron not too far away but Rufus' heart fell when he saw his master. Ron was crumpled up face down on the ground, a pool of blood beneath him and a wheezy gasp coming from his mouth.
Ron? Rufus asked quietly.
He saw Ron cough weakly and rolled onto his back, "R-rufus?" Ron called out weakly.
I'm here, Rufus replied and hopped onto Ron's shoulder. He looked down at Ron's chest and gasped at the three enormous tears in Ron's chest where the robot's claws had punctured him.
"I-I gothackhack got careless," Ron coughed weakly, blood coming from his mouth.
It happens to the best of us, Rufus said comfortingly and he patted Ron on the cheek.
"I'm sorry Rufus," Ron said, his breaths coming weakly.
For what? Rufus gestured to the blood, This, oh this is nothing, slap a band aid on here and you'll be fine.
Even in his state Ron could still laugh at Rufus' humor, "Not this time buddy," he let out a low sigh, "not thishack time."
Rufus didn't know how to deal with Ron dying so he paced around quickly, Hang on, Rufus promised, I'm going to save you.
Ron smiled, "Sorry buddy, you said it y-yourself, we may be immortal but we're not invincible," the blood was coming weaker now and Rufus knew Ron didn't have much time.
The idea came to Rufus in an instant but he still continued pacing even as he debated internally whether or not he should do it. It took him the whole span of three seconds to realize what he was debating and then he looked away as he flushed in shame for being so selfish. Ron was his master and more importantly, his best friend.
You'd do the same if you were in my position, Rufus said to the dying Ron.
"D-do what?" Ron asked slowly.
Rufus didn't answer but instead curled up on Ron's shoulder and allowed his heart to slow. Rufus felt it slowly at first but it built like a wave, a wave of pure energy just waiting to be unleashed. A tidal wave of pure blue energy that had kept Rufus alive for all these years was just waiting to be freed.
This is how it should have been all along, Rufus smiled as he allowed the Mystical Monkey Power to flow from his spirit, his soul, and pour into Ron's.
Rufus cracked an eye as the blue energy erupted from his body and descended on Ron's like a storm. Crackling blue flames raced across Ron, instantly healing all his injuries and restoring all the pain he felt in his body. Within seconds the transfer was complete and Ron was restored. In fact he was better than restored. The Mystical Monkey Power was in him completely now and his body trembled at the enormous power swelling through his body. Ron's eyes opened and he sat up quickly, Rufus' body tumbling from his shoulder and into his lap.
"You did it Rufus!" Ron shouted and he jumped to his feet, feeling his body all over for any injury. He felt a tingling running down his chest and looked on in wonder as the cuts instantly repaired themselves and the wound disappeared without so much as a scar.
"This is so cool Rufus," Ron grinned but the grin faltered when Rufus didn't answer, "Rufus?"
I'm...I'm here, his companion called out from his forgotten position on the ground.
Ron was instantly at Rufus' side and scooped him up in his hands, "Rufus?"
Yes Child? Rufus asked as he felt hundreds of thousands of years suddenly wash over him.
"What's happening?" Ron asked, fearful of the answer even as he saw Rufus aging drastically before him.
I'm dying Ron, Rufus answered back weakly.
"But why?" Ron asked, fearing the next answer.
Because I gave my Monkey Power to you, Rufus answered back, You now have it all and it repaired your body. Immortal and Invulnerable.
"What?" Ron gasped in horror even as he felt his body finish healing itself, "Why would you do that?"
You were dying, Rufus said in a quiet voice.
"But you told me you wouldn't sacrifice your immortality for me," Ron argued.
Rufus allowed a small laugh to escape his weak frame, don't remind me.
A tear streaked down Ron's dust covered face, "You didn't have to-No, you shouldn't have done it."
It's a bit late for that isn't it? Rufus asked sarcastically.
"But what do I do now?" Ron asked his dying friend.
I don't know Ron Rufus answered.
Ron never replied. He just sat there hunched over, frozen. Rufus looked around and saw dust particles stationary in the wind, neither rising nor falling, they just sat there suspended above the ground arranged in a perfect arrangement.
The world stopped in time, paused with no passage at all save Rufus.
Even as he felt the life leaving him Rufus looked around in confusion as he struggled to figure out what was going on.
And then he saw her.
Rufus' eyes widened slightly as a woman with beautiful blonde hair appeared behind Ron.
He was about to whisper to Ron but the woman held a petite finger to her lips and winked an almond shaped eye.
She bowed slightly in a show of respect, her Japanese upbringing manifesting itself in her mannerisms. Her patched up robe waved silently in the wind as she whispered to Rufus, "She's coming Rufus-Chan, he needs to wait for her."
Who? the Naked Mole Rat asked.
The girl laughed, the first time she had done so in years, "Why Kim-Chan of course."
Ron looked at the woman quizzically, But she's dead.
The woman continued to smile, "Not yet."
Rufus looked into her chocolate eyes and finally recognized her-
"Save your strength little one," she interrupted Rufus, "You need to be with Ron-Chan now. Comfort my Father in his hour of need for the last time."
She faded from existence as the world slowly started moving again.
Rufus looked one last time at his master and held out a tiny paw for Ron to grasp, Wait for her Ron, wait and be ready for when she comes.
"Wait for who?" Ron sniffed as he held his best friend.
Kim, Rufus answered as he saw the grand scheme played out before him, Kim's coming back and when she does, she'll need your help.
"What? How?" Ron asked through tears.
Thank you Ron, Rufus took his final breath, Thank you for every thing...
Ron felt Rufus' last breath and then nothing and hunched over his friend weakly.
Rufus, his one constant in life, his true best friend that Kim would never be able to be, Rufus Alvin Stoppable was dead.
Ron sat back on his haunches and screamed to the empty world.
He was cursed with his utmost fear:
Alone in life.
Unable to Die.
Alone, here at the end of the Universe.
He was alone.
Disclaimer: I own Nothing. If Disney wants to make this into Season 5 they can go right ahead.
Author's Notes: And with that Ladies, Gentlemen, Children and Bears, we end Act I: The MAMA. This first act was a hoot to write and I look forward to what's coming up in Act II.
If you've got a question, concern or want to sing my praises drop me a review below and I'll respond within seven business days.
Special thanks this week goes out to Wanderer of the Mist (Glad to see you back buddy), CajunBear73 (Betty and Lucy got some 'Splainin to do), Sentinel103 (Where does Hobby end and Obsession begin?), Darev (Just one more), Joe Stoppinghem (It was my pleasure), Taechunsa (Answers for everyone!), Eddy13 (He says he'll think about it.)
And a thank you to you, the silent reader. I'm just glad you keep tuning back in every week and I hope you're enjoying the story.
Until next time, TRS.