July 9th, 2012
Los Angeles, California
7:47 P.M.
SilverWolf05 sat back in satisfaction.
"And here ends the life of Kimberly Ann Possible," she said slyly as she clicked the Submit button.
"Really?" The Real Sidekick asked, "You think it's easy writing Kim Possible's life?"
Before Wolf could move a handcuff clapped over her wrist as two fingers slammed into her shoulder pressure points.
"Vulcan Nerve Pinch," he announced in glee as she leaned forward in pain.
As she struggled through the pain that suddenly accompanied the nerve tweak, she was forcibly drug from the chair and before she could fight back The Real Sidekick had handcuffed her to the radiator on his wall.
"Stay there until I figure out what to do with you," her ordered and he started skimming the chapter Wolf had set up.
Wolf tugged at the handcuffs, "Where did you get handcuffs?" she paused, unsure if she should ask her next question, "Why do you even have handcuffs?"
He turned to her with a raised eyebrow and a sly smile, "Spoilers."
"You did not just quote Doctor Who to me," Wolf said angrily as she reached at The Real Sidekick with her free arm, "now why do you have these hand cuffs?"
The Real Sidekick turned back to his computer, "I don't ask you what you do in your free time. I expect the same courtesy."
Wolf looked at the handcuff on her wrist and fought the revulsion growing inside her as she tried not to think about where that handcuff had been or what it had been used for.
The Real Sidekick was silent for a long time as he read Wolf's changes before shaking his head, "you didn't..."
"You can't change it Sidekick," Wolf snickered from the radiator, "I've already submitted the chapter and there's no way you can stop her death."
The last thing Kim saw was Felix's face screaming into hers but then Kim's world went white and she knew no more, he read that line over and over again. There was no way he could change, alter or in any other way bring Kim back to life.
Kim Possible was dead.
He scrolled further down and his jaw went slack at what his beta had done.
It waited for a bit just to give the remnant a little bit of hope, every passing moment The Nothing grew as more and more was thrown at it. Soon The Nothing grew bored of the resistance and set about its purpose.
Within a matter of minutes only Nothing remained.
Plip.
The Universe was gone.
He didn't want to accept it but SilverWolf05 was right and the thought kept bouncing around in his head.
Kim Possible was dead.
"NO!" he shouted angrily, all trace of his calm and placid demeanor gone.
Wolf cringed as he shouted and her eyes widened as he picked up a book and threw it across the room. It slammed into the wall and tumbled to the carpeted floor with a loud thump.
She turned back to the Sidekick who was breathing deeply to fight the anger in him, "Why?" he asked, "Why would you do this?"
"You didn't ask me to help," she replied meekly, all trace of her arrogance was gone. Instead it had been replaced by a new understanding for the Creator, "You...you really care about her. Don't you?"
He nodded, "She didn't deserve to die."
"You and I both agreed it was for the best," she answered quietly, "You said last Creation that these things happen for the greater good."
"That was a different creation," he said quietly back. To Wolf, he looked defeated, almost like an enormous part of him was gone and she could tell it was killing him even more than his disease.
"Suppose," she paused as she struggled to find the words, "Suppose you could bring her back?"
He shook his head, "There's no way to. You've already killed her."
"Don't even think of lying to me," She shook her head disapprovingly, "I saw your notebook. I know the one I killed wasn't the real Kim," she paused and looked up at him, "And that Universe I collapsed was not the real one either."
"What do you mean?" he asked, hoping she wasn't
"The Kim I killed was Kim of Universe Fifteen," she took a deep breath, "We've been following the wrong Kim since the beginning of Act II."
He opened his mouth to argue but realized it would be pointless to lie to her, "Did you figure it out before you saw the notebook?"
She shook her head, "There were clues but not a definite answer," she saw his questioning gaze, "Kim was Kim Prime in Act I and then you change her into Kim Fifteen in Act II and hope no one would notice?"
He smirked, "That was the plan."
"Using Kim Fifteen opens the door to bringing her back," she suggested, bringing the conversation back on track.
He looked at her hesitantly, a familiar spark of hope appearing in his eye as he realized what she was suggesting, "Ok…"
"What would you do?" she asked as she already had the plan in her mind, "What would you do if you brought her back?"
"I'd end this," he said quietly with defeat written across his frail features.
"Good," she smiled, "Then you know what you need to do," she took a deep breath and paused to build tension, "Prime."
His laughter echoed around the room, "I can't do that, she's not just my last one, she is everyone's last one," he burst out laughing again, "The original Kim Possible."
He struggled with finding the right word before it came to him, "Kim Prime."
She shrugged, "I don't see what choice you have? Robert and Mark are on their way over here and if you want to save Kim before they get here to expel you from the Order, I suggest you do what I say."
His eyes narrowed, "Why are you helping me?"
She sighed, "Because like it or not, I'm your Beta, even to the end," she shrugged, "And I'm still your sister."
He looked into her eyes and seeing truth he nodded slowly, "Fine, we bring in Prime. How do you recommend we do that?"
"First get me out of these handcuffs," she ordered.
"Maybe later," he said off handedly, "Now tell me how you would bring her back."
She took a deep breath and with a smile that would make the Cheshire cat jealous uttered two words, "Rule Six."
December 20th, 2015 A.D.
Paris, France
7:07 P.M.
"Kim," Ron's voice echoed through her radio, "we're going to give you light so brace yourself."
Kim Fifteen barely had time to register those words as light flooded into the tunnel and her night vision that had once benefited her in the near pitch black tunnels, turned against her as the light was amplified to painful levels.
Kim lurched around the tunnel and tore at her mask even as she heard the team following suit. Screams of pain echoed around the tunnel as the light tore into everyone's vision and blinded them.
Somehow Kim succeeded in removing the mask from her face and blinked rapidly to restore her vision. Through the white light blurring her vision she saw a dark figure lurching around further down the tunnel but Kim paid it no mind as she finally succeeded in restoring her sight and she looked around the now lit tunnel in satisfaction.
With her vision restored, Kim turned back to the dark mass in front of her and raised an eyebrow as she saw-
"Betty?" Kim asked in confusion, "What are you doing down here?"
Dr. Elizabeth Director turned to stare at Kim with her two healed eyes and cocked her head to the side in confusion, "Kim?"
Kim nodded as she tightened her grip on her gun, "Aren't you supposed to be on the surface leading the diversion?"
Betty nodded, "I can't explain why I'm down here but I need to be down here."
"For what?" Felix asked as he struggled to see clearly.
"For this," Betty said as she pulled the pistol from its holster on her side and proceeded to shoot Kim twice in the chest.
BOOM BOOM
Kim placed a hand on her chest and looked questionly at the hand that came back soaked in blood, "Betty?"
"Forgive me," Betty said emotionlessly as she held the gun to her head, "Now the universe will go back to how it's supposed to be."
She pulled the trigger.
Kim stared in shock at Betty's bloody form before turning back to Felix, "Felix, I don't feel so..."
Kim didn't finish as her legs refused to work and she collapsed to the ground in a heap even as she felt Felix struggle to catch her.
Kim looked into Felix's face and lightly cupped his cheek as he pulled her into his lap, "Not me," she gasped, "Not…"
The last thing Kim saw was Felix's face screaming into hers but then Kim's world went white and she knew no more.
July 9th, 2012
Los Angeles, California
7:50 P.M.
In his chair he smiled, "Not today you don't."
With a nervous smile, The Real Sidekick hit a button on his keyboard and brought Kim Possible back from the dead.
December 20th, 2015 A.D.
Paris, France
7:07 P.M.
"Betty?" Kim asked in confusion, "What are you doing down here?"
Dr. Elizabeth Director turned to stare at Kim with her two healed eyes and cocked her head to the side in confusion, "Kim?"
Kim nodded as she tightened her grip on her gun, "Aren't you supposed to be on the surface leading the diversion?"
Betty nodded, "I can't explain why I'm down here but I need to be down here."
"For what?" Felix asked as he struggled to see clearly.
"For this," Betty said as she pulled the pistol from its holster on her side and proceeded to shoot Kim twice in the chest.
BOOM BOOM
Twin streaks of silver erupted from Betty's gun towards Kim. The bullets traveling faster than the speed of sound hissed through the air but miraculously they only grazed Kim's battle suit, their passing disturbing the air and knocking Kim onto her back.
As Kim fell backwards, Felix moved. In moments he had removed the pistol from Betty's hand and had thrown the older woman to the floor where she hit the steel grating with a loud clang.
Felix turned back to his wife, "Kim?"
Kim coughed and raised her hand in thumbs up gesture, "I'm OK," Bonnie helped Kim into a sitting position, "Wade made this suit resistant to Shego's plasma, a few bullets are nothing."
She lightly pushed Bonnie away and stood to her feet shakily and held up her arms to look at the bullet glances that quickly sealed themselves with a smile, "It'll take a lot more than that to kill me."
Felix smiled and turned back to Betty, "What are you doing?!" he shouted angrily.
Betty shook her head, "I don't know," she looked around in confusion, "One second I'm above ground following her directions, the next you're on top of me."
Josh took a step forward, "Can we continue this discussion at a later time?"
Bonnie nodded, "You take your team and get Shego, we'll meet up at the Machine."
Josh nodded and his group raced down a side passage and were soon lost among the tunnels.
Kim turned back to Felix and Betty and approached them with a coldness she was surprised to find. She crouched by the women, "Who is 'her'?"
Betty nodded, "The voice, she was ordering me to kill you-"
"And you just went along with it?" Felix interrupted angrily and he clamped a hand on Betty's throat.
Kim placed a hand on Felix's shoulder, "Felix don't."
Felix turned back, "You can't be serious-"
Kim went on without hearing her husband, "Tell me more about the voice."
Betty turned back to Kim, "She wanted me to kill you and in exchange she would make all this go away."
Which is in itself not a lie.
Kim looked around, "Sidekick?"
Betty turned to Kim, "Wait you heard that too?"
As touching as this reunion is, you need to keep moving. The sooner you get Shego and the Machine the better.
"What about Betty?" Kim asked as she ignored the looks from Bonnie and Tara. Hana simply smiled as she processed the entire situation.
Bring Betty with you Sidekick ordered, You need her.
"Need I remind you she tried to kill me?" Kim asked angrily.
Did she kill you this time?
Kim stumbled with words, "Well no-but-"
But nothing, you're still breathing and that's enough for you the voice sounded angry but soon transferred back to a neutral tone, Get moving and don't kill her.
Kim turned back to Felix, "Let her go."
Felix shook his head, "You cannot be serious. If you want to be talking to nonexistent people fine, but do not expect me to expect me to just let this woman go. She tried to kill you."
Kim nodded, "But she's needed."
Felix refused to budge, "I can't let her go."
Kim took Felix's hand and pulled him away from Betty, "I once told you I was a time traveler and you believed me only based on my word. Now that I'm back, why don't you trust me?"
Tara helped Betty to her feet and the clattering caused Felix to turn around slowly, "She tried…"
Kim pulled Felix back to facing her, "…But she didn't."
Felix was silent for a moment before nodding slowly, "Let's go."
December 20th, 2015 A.D.
Paris, France
7:10 P.M.
"Ron, which button are we pressing?" Monique asked as she looked over a myriad of glowing buttons.
"What difference does it make?" Ned asked as he reached out to press a random button.
Ron grabbed Ned's wrist, stopping the man mere centimeters from pushing a button, "The difference is that unlike one of Drakken's old lairs, pushing the wrong button results in the shield core over loading and detonating in an explosion that would make Hiroshima look like a firecracker," he paused and scanned the buttons silently, "Not even I would survive a blast that size."
Ned quietly withdrew his hand, "Then which button do we press?"
Ron's face lit up in a smile, "Not a button."
Monique threw her hands up in with a frustrated sigh, "Then what is it?"
Ron pointed to a large switch on the wall with a knowing smile, "Why the Off Switch of course."
December 20th, 2015 A.D.
Paris, France
7:11 P.M.
Bwooooom
Warhok stopped midstride and turned to look out a window as he saw the shield surrounding his city collapse.
"My lord," his attendant standing behind him said meekly, "They've found the Off Switch."
Warhok growled deep in his throat and quietly muttered to himself, "WARMONGA WILL NEVER LET ME HEAR THE END OF THIS."
Knowing his life hung in the balance, the attendant remained silent but was forced to speak as communicator began buzzing.
"Report," the Lowardian began but Warhok snatched the communicator from his hand and walked off with it.
"The intruders are in the main reactor room," the voice over the radio said, "There are also reports that they are heading for the machine."
Warhok was silent for a moment before nodding, "MY ORDERS STILL STAND, HOLD THEM IN THE STREETS WHILE WE PROTECT THE MACHINE."
"Understood," radio reported before it clicked off.
Warhok turned from the window and started running down the hall in long strides that his attendant struggled to keep pace with.
The arrived at an elevator that closed quietly behind them and the attendant felt his stomach rise as the elevator plummeted into the Earth.
"My lord?" the attendant asked, "What about the shield? Are we going to start it back up?"
Warhok laughed, "WE'LL HAVE TO PASS THROUGH THE SHIELD ROOM TO REACH THE MACHINE," Warhok cracked his knuckle menacingly, "WE'LL KILL THE GROUP IN THE SHIELD ROOM AND THEN TAKE BACK OUR MACHINE."
December 20th, 2015 A.D.
Paris, France
7:10 P.M.
Ratatatatatatat
Yori let loose a string of curses that would make a sailor blush as she yanked on her aircraft's controls and banked away from the incoming antiaircraft fire.
Another stream of antiaircraft fire Lowardians on the ground rose up from the ground and Yori winced as several energy bursts glanced off the side of her craft.
Please, she prayed silently to the Creator as she fired a set of rockets at approaching soldiers on the ground and watched in grim satisfaction as they were consumed by the ensuing explosion, please get us out of here.
Bwooooooom
As if by her command, the shield surrounding Paris collapsed and disintegrated into nothing. Instantly the glass surrounding her cockpit was covered with pouring rain and she fought to stay air born.
When she had finally corrected her craft, she turned to her radio and switched it on, "GJ!" she shouted into the mike.
"This is GJ," Will Du's voice echoed over her radio.
Yori banked hard as a flying Lowardian just missed her craft. The alien tried to latch onto her side but she waggled her wings and the Lowardian tumbled into the aircraft's turbine.
"I need to talk to Betty," she commented as he her craft groaned in protest to the Lowardian in her engine.
"Betty is gone," Will shouted over the radio and Yori heard the sound of shooting coming from Will, "I'm all you've got."
"Fine," Yori said tersely as she struggled to see through rain, "If you're in command I sincerely recommend that we retreat."
"I agree," Will said over the radio, "We've already spent too long here. We're pulling back-" the sound of gunfire echoed again over the radio, "We're pulling back and we're leaving on the Derricks inside of the next two minutes," he paused as Yori launched flew over the retreat, "we need what's left of Yamanouchi to cover our retreat."
Yori nodded, "We'll cover you until we're out of Paris airspace. Yori out."
She switched off her radio and took a deep breath.
The raid was almost complete.
December 20th, 2015 A.D.
Paris, France
7:35 P.M.
Will crouched in the mud as he waited for his rifle to cool down. He'd fired so many rounds from his rail gun that every other shot was overheating the gun. The gun finally was cool enough to fire and Will hopped up and fired another round through an advancing column of Lowardians.
He ducked down as his gun beeped again. A constant reminder that he had to wait another couple of seconds for a cool down.
A soldier appeared next to him with a rail gun in his hand, "Sir!" he shouted over the gun fire, "We're pulling back to the Derricks and the Lowardians know it," an energy blast tore apart part of their cover, "Barkin sent me up here to cover your getting back to the main group."
"Du-Chan," Yori's voice sounded in his ear, "We see you both and we're going to cover you."
Will peeked over the wall and brought his head back down as an energy blast nearly took his head off, "Make it quick Yori, we're dying out here."
"Affirmative," Yori answered, "We're coming in and we'll plow the way for you. Keep running and we'll get you back to the Derricks."
Will nodded to the soldier and with a resolved nod sprinted with the soldier back towards the wall.
The two men ran through nearly abandoned streets, the last of humanity retreating back to the wall surrounding Paris.
Will was about to turn down an alley but the soldier next to him pulled him roughly to the side, "Not that way," the two men ducked down another street as Lowardians nipped at their heels.
Energy blasts zipped and hissed around the two retreating humans and for a brief moment, Will thought they'd make it.
That was exactly when an energy beam erupted beneath his feet and lifted the two men into the air.
Will tumbled to the ground, mud and rubble falling onto him.
His world shaking and moving almost in slow motion, Will felt two hands digging him out of the mud and haul him to his feet.
"C'mon," the soldier shouted, his face streaked with mud and blood, "You're almost there!"
Will nodded and took a hesitant step forward before shrugging off the soldier and together the two of them sprinted through the city.
Will continued to sprint through the city even as energy beams singed past him and blackened his clothing. Bullets whined overhead and rockets left smoke trails as Yori and what remained of her fighters tore into the final onslaught of Lowardians.
"KEEP MOVING!" Yori shouted as her craft skimmed the streets and just barely missed Will's sprinting body as soon as she cleared him she unleashed the last of her ammunition on the following aliens and turned them into fire and blood.
Still the Global Justice Officer ran, his muscles screaming for relief as he continued his sprint for safety. Mud flew up around him as he pushed his body beyond its limits, yet he still continued his run to safety. Before him he could see the ramp leading up to the last departing Derrick and he heard the growl of Lowardians behind him as they chased after these last humans in Paris.
"You're almost there Du-Chan," Yori confirmed as Will hurdled over a makeshift barrier that had been erected at the base of the ramp leading up to the departing Derrick. His body compensated for the sudden incline and he kept his pace even as he heard the thunderous footsteps of the Lowardians behind him.
A burst of bullets zipped overhead followed by a burst of rocket fire but Will ignored it as he tossed his gun to the side and ran with a new determination.
They were nearly to the Derrick.
On the platform of the retreating Derrick, Will saw Steven Barkin firing indiscriminately into Paris with his mini gun.
Will knew one of those guns weighed close to seventy pounds with the ammunition yet Barkin hoisted it and waved the gun around like it was nothing. He fired at an approaching Lowardian and Will watched in grim satisfaction as the creature vanished in a cloud of smoke and red mist. The thunderous footsteps were closer to Will and he could only imagine the outstretched hands of the Lowardians grasping for him and he shouted for help. He saw Steve nod in confirmation and directed the Synthodrones towards the Lowardians chasing after Will and the soldier.
Lethal bullets of lead zipped past his head but Will hardly slowed. In fact, he sprinted faster as a slug sliced past his uniform, tearing a clear cut but drawing no blood.
On the Derrick, Will saw Barkin toss his now empty gun aside and shout encouragement as the remaining Synthodrones continued firing with deadly accuracy.
As they neared the Derrick he heard Yori shout something into his ear about her dropping her fuel tank or something like that. He really wasn't paying attention as he sprinted and only when he saw Yori zip over him and drop a large fuel tank that splattered and covered the top of the wall in the thick jet fuel did Will really start to worry. He felt the liquid splatter against his back but he kept running.
Nearly there, Will's body was beyond screaming for relief as Will ran to the departing Derrick. He saw the Derrick had already detached from the wall and Barkin was screaming for him.
"JUMP!" the former Marine shouted, "I'LL CATCH YOU!"
Will nodded slightly as he called up the last of his reserves and leapt from the wall of Paris to the retreating Derrick even as Yori's final rocket slammed into the jet fuel covered wall and light it up behind him in an enormous explosion. He felt the flames licking at his back as he sailed out into space, allowing the shock wave to propel his body further than if he had jumped on his own power.
He flew through the air towards the Derrick but watched in horror as he fell short of the Derrick and tumbled towards the ground.
For several agonizing seconds that felt like an eternity Will tumbled to the muddy death below.
"OOF!" he grunted as he felt a hand clasp his and stop his descent towards a muddy death. He looked up in gratitude as Steve Barkin held him firmly by his arm and with little effort pulled him onto the relative cover of the Derrick.
Will laughed as he fell to his knees on the derrick and turned to look back on the wall of the city that was now aflame. Behind him, he saw the Lowardians pulling back from the walls and into the heart of their city.
For the moment, the Derricks were on their own with what remained of Yamanouchi flying overhead as air support.
As they retreated from the city, one of the jets broke formation and darted back towards Paris with afterburners burning. The craft was soon lost in the rain as Will brought his radio up to his ear, "Yori?"
"Hai?" she asked over the radio, to Will she sounded even more tense than usual.
"We just saw one of Yamanouchi's jets head back into Paris," Will explained.
"That is me," Yori answered as she weaved through anti aircraft fire towards the center of the city.
Will was silent for a moment, "Why?"
"Stoppable-San needs me," came the enigmatic reply as Yori shut off her radio and she did a barrel roll that helped her avoid more incoming anti aircraft fire. She had a destination in mind and as she zipped through the city towards Kim and Ron, she knew that she would need split second timing for this plan of Kim's to work.
Will didn't care what happened to Yori but instead he raised his head enough to see they were the last of the retreating Derricks. Each one crammed to the brim with the remaining human and Synthodrone survivors.
Barkin crouched next to Will and nodded to the city, "Betty?"
Will shook his head as the Derrick rumbled away from the city, "She didn't make it," he paused, "Any sign of pursuit?"
Barkin shook his head, "No. Seeing as Betty didn't come back, you're in charge now. Orders?"
Will turned to look at Barkin and pointed in the way they were going, "Back to our headquarters and hope that Kim's plan was worth it."
Barkin stood to his feet and walked off to distribute orders around to the remaining synthodrones.
The soldier Will had run with appeared next to him, mud still caking his face and he stared silently at the city they were retreating from.
"Some day," the soldier commented idly in the rain.
Will snorted, "Yeah, some day," he turned to the soldier, "Thank you back there."
"I couldn't leave someone like you behind," the soldier smiled, "Especially not one the Creator feels is necessary."
Will turned to the man but he was gone, his form retreating into the driver cabin.
Will shook his head as he continued to watch the city as they rumbled away but soon he found himself leaning against the wall of the Derrick before finally letting the sweet relief of unconsciousness claim him.
Barkin made his way back to Will who he just shook his head at. Checking to make sure Will was in fact still breathing Barkin let out a sigh and sat down on the wet metal next to Will, "Sleep now because in a few hours-"
Thump
Barkin turned back to city in horror as the center of the city lit up in a pure white light. An expanding bubble of light poured from the ground, the glow sweeping over the city racing through the buildings as it expanded outward. For a moment it looked like almost beaut-
KABOOM
The white light engulfed the city and instantly turned the remains of the once proud city of Paris into nothing more than a crater of smoke and ash. The shock wave of the blast lifted the derrick up on its front treads and the pilot inside the driving compartment struggled to steer the Derrick.
The white light raced after the Derricks as if the light wouldn't let them leave. It ate everything in its path, instantly vaporizing the remains of broken machines and reaching so far into the sky that it consumed the clouds over Paris. As it neared the Derricks the curtain of White Death rumbled to a stop before it condensed back until it was nothing more than a memory.
Barkin blinked rapidly as his eyes struggled to handle the white light that had just blinded him and moments later he was able to see again but just as soon as he saw again, he almost wish he hadn't.
Nothing remained of Paris. An enormous crater rested where Paris had once been and in its place nothing remained. The edges of the crater had been cooked to solid glass and Barkin heard the sizzling as the rain overhead came into contact with the still cooling glass. His jaw dropped at the sheer devastation before him and he could do nothing more than sit and watch the crater that had once been the city.
Thinking quickly, Barkin pulled out Will's radio and clicked it on, "Yori come in."
Silence.
"Come in Yori."
Still no answer.
"Kim come in," he tried a new tactic.
Nothing.
"Anyone," Barkin was desperate now. He needed someone to give him orders.
"If you can hear me, talk to me."
Barkin's radio picked up nothing.
He was alone now.
Disclaimer: I own Nothing. Disney owns the rest.
Author's Notes: Did you honestly think I would end the story with Kim dying and the Universe collapsing? That being said, 50 TRS points to Teachunsa for picking up on Kim not being Kim at the start of Act II. Very observant sir. And before I get hate mail from you all saying I cheated allow me to reassure you that like everything in this story it does have a purpose and wasn't thrown in there for shock value.
Special thanks this week goes to Lord Jaric (Chapter 13 Man), Darev (In an AU anything can happen), Joe Stoppinghem (Ron is the answer, just like 42), Katsumara (If you can't poke fun at yourself you don't have a sense of humor), Eddy13 (Consider it undone...sort of), CajunBear73 (The Battle of Paris originally featured the 73rd Cavalry coming to save the day: Bear Company), Sentinel103 (Cigars and drinks all around).
And to the silent reader, I heartily thank you for staying with me for so long.
If you have a question, comment or review, drop me a line and I'll get back to you.
Until next time,
TRS