July 9th, 2012
Los Angeles, California
9:03 P.M.
Destruction had never sounded so silent.
Having watched her fair share of movies that were filled with more explosions than a Fourth of July party in Louisiana, Kim found herself almost unsure of how to process the end of the world.
She had always held to the belief that the end of the world would be filled with raining fire, blood filled streets and killer death rays but never had she imagined it to be so quiet and so empty.
Regardless of the circumstances surrounding the end of the world, she had always known one thing would never change: Ron would be by her side, holding her hand as the wall of death would close in on them.
Together they had lived and together they would die.
But never in her dreams or nightmares had she envisioned this sort of end for her.
The advancing wall of pure Nothing consumed all in its path, never stopping in its relentless pursuit of everything.
Kim watched silently from the open door of the car as Sidekick stood before the wall simply staring into the abyss of awe inducing destruction.
Before her eyes she watched as The Nothing swirled over an entire city block like a tidal wave, the full might and power of The Nothing on display. The buildings and their occupants never stood a chance and Kim held a hand up to her mouth in horror as every tree, building, every car and random passerby was vaporized into Nothing.
With each second The Nothing continued to grow.
Bob was the first to notice it and he brushed past Kim as he ran for The Real Sidekick.
Kim's eyes narrowed in confusion but it fell into place for her as well.
Like a swirling tornado, The Nothing ambled towards the trio. It appeared to be moving slow on purpose, almost like it was playing with them.
"Sidekick!" Bob shouted as he sprinted to the author, "Sidekick we've got to go!"
Kim and Bob reached Sidekick at the same time, "We've got to go," Kim said breathlessly as they appeared at Sidekick's side and started pulling him away.
"I don't know what to do," Sidekick murmured.
SLAP
Sidekick shook his head and rubbed his jaw in an effort to drown out the pain. He looked at Kim, "What was that for?"
"For causing all this," she gestured to the advancing wall of Nothing. Kim felt her hair start to swirl around her as the very air around her was sucked into The Nothing. To everyone standing near the edge of Nothing, it felt like standing on the threshold of a Tornado.
"LET'S GO!" Bob shouted over the whipping wind.
Sidekick nodded but the trio tumbled to the ground as Bob stumbled onto the pavement, dragging the other two with him.
Kim and Sidekick turned to see why Bob fell to the ground and watched in horror as a tendril of Nothing swirled its way up his leg and wrapped around his body. Before Sidekick could do anything, the tendril pulled Bob toward The Nothing.
"BOB!" Sidekick shouted as he dove towards the man and grabbed the hand with his.
They locked eyes for a moment, The Nothing still pulling on Bob and now Sidekick.
"GO," Bob shouted as he released Sidekick's hand moments before The Nothing could spread to Sidekick, "TAKE HER AND GET OUT OF HERE!"
Before Sidekick could say anything Bob was gone, pulled screaming into the silent abyss.
Sidekick stared as the location Bob had been that was now full of Nothing but the tugging hands of Kim pulled him back away from the erasing force.
July 9th, 2012
Los Angeles, California
9:03 P.M.
The Founders are dead.
Sidekick and Kim ran for the car while desperately trying to dodge The Nothing's tendrils. As they ran, bits of paper and any loose object was tugged and pulled into the suction brought on by the ever expanding Nothing.
All that remains is her.
Sidekick and Kim finally made it to the car amidst the swirling and blustering wind. They pulled themselves in and with a shifting of gears, Sidekick drove away.
And I will have her.
The car rumbled away, the ground falling away behind them and tumbling into The Nothing's maw.
But not yet.
The Nothing smiled.
Not yet.
July 9th, 2012
Los Angeles, California
9:03 P.M.
As the vehicle she was in rocketed away from the Nothing, she watched in mute horror as entire buildings were consumed and erased from existence by the ever growing Nothing.
The blue Mazda passed a large building that was at least twelve stories tall but without missing a beat, the Nothing swept over it like a wave as the building and everything inside simply ceased to exist.
Kim turned away but saw something out of the corner of her eye and turning back she saw a tendril of Nothing flick out towards the vehicle.
"TURN RIGHT!" Kim shouted as an extension of Nothing hissed silently through the air toward the fleeing vehicle.
The Real Sidekick nodded and his blue car turned off the main road and rocketed down an alley. The car jumped and shook as it tore through old garbage bags and trash cans, inside all the occupants were thrown about like rag dolls as every so often there would be a screech as a cat used up one of its nine lives.
"Do you see it?" Sidekick shouted back as he prayed desperately that no one would wander in front of the speeding car.
"It's tearing this world apart," she shouted back angrily, "How am I not seeing it?!"
Sidekick didn't respond but instead shifted gears, the car jumping forward in response.
He blasted out of the alley, the car launching into the air as it jumped the curb.
A truck's horn blasted through the night, causing Sidekick and Kim to scream as their car shot through lanes.
Sidekick jerked the wheel to the left, the tires squealing in protest but still they made the turn. For a brief moment Kim felt the car go up on two wheels but just as quickly, they returned to four wheels, the car rocking dangerously in response.
Kim looked at Sidekick, "Please don't do that again."
"Agreed," he confirmed as he mashed on the accelerator pedal and they rocketed away from The Nothing.
Kim looked back as The Nothing punched through the building behind them as it continued its mad quest for her destruction.
Her jaw dropped in horror as the truck that had blasted its horn at them was consumed along with the rest of the street.
The Nothing continued to expand as the entire world screamed in anguish.
Sidekick looked in his mirror as The Nothing rose up, an impenetrable wave of destruction, it rose up and passed through another enormous skyscraper.
The tower shook as if a freight train had slammed into it, the building shaking dangerously on its foundation.
Windows shattered and sprayed broken glass out into the night sky, razor sharp shrapnel rained down on fleeing people but in a matter of seconds the Nothing had erased the building and all those inside from existence.
July 9th, 2012
Los Angeles, California
9:03 P.M.
Sidekick kept his foot mashed firmly on the accelerator, praying with every breath that he would live long enough to take another one.
"SIDEKICK!" Kim shouted and pointed forward.
He responded without speaking and spun the steering wheel even as their road tilted upwards.
He looked in his mirrors and saw the Nothing's consuming of the world was causing a shift in the ground.
From around the city, tremors rose as the fault line running through the city found itself with missing pieces and couldn't handle the strain.
The road buckled and rolled haphazardly as continental plates shifted, toppling buildings and scattering everything like a child with a temper tantrum.
Shree-
Sidekick and Kim both exchanged glances as a new noise filled the chaos.
-DAO
A Brontosaurus crashed through the building next to them, bricks and glass exploding violently outward.
Kim put up a hand to brace herself from the destruction but it never came as The Nothing pulled the loose flying debris into the gaping maw.
"SIDEKICK!" Kim screamed as the Brontosaurus' foot stamped into the pavement, the concrete cracking in protest as countless tons of rampaging prehistoric dinosaur stamped wildly.
A curse on his lips, The Real Sidekick spun the steering wheel, his tires squealing in protest as he missed the enormous dinosaur.
Kim looked out the window in wonder as the car passed underneath the dinosaur, but her wonder was replaced with terror as the dinosaur reared up on its hind legs before leaning forward and throwing all of its weight towards Kim and Sidekick.
Thinking quickly, Kim tugged at the wheel and car jerked out of the way of the falling foot, the dinosaur crashing harmlessly into the asphalt, the pitch black material cracking and rippling in response.
The Brontosaurus screamed in rage and slammed into a skyscraper, the enormous tower toppling over in response.
Countless windows cracked and shattered explosively as the skyscraper tumbled over, girders of steel and concrete slamming into the ground.
Kim's mouth opened as the large dinosaur lurched awkwardly through the city streets, howling and screaming in rage at this new world it found itself in.
Crashing sections of the building fell around the car, the act shaking the car and shaking the vehicle's occupants haphazardly.
The Brontosaurus whipped its tail around, the thick stalk slicing through windows and entire building floors as the dinosaur struggled to understand what was happening to it.
An enormous foot crashed into the street before the car and before Sidekick could react, the car slammed into the foot.
Kim and Sidekick lurched forward in their seats at the sudden stop, grunting as their airbags failed to deploy and their car shut down.
Shree-Dao
The two looked up just in time to watch the dinosaur reel back as it prepared to crush their car.
But it never happened.
A tendril of Nothing burst from the building behind the brontosaurus, microscopic strands weaving and tracing their way across the dinosaur, holding it in place and forever freezing it in place.
The Real Sidekick turned his key in the ignition and restarted the engine without any issue.
Without a word, the two drove away from the horrendous sight behind them.
Kim watched in relief as The Nothing started to pull at the imobile dinosaur, letting out a breath she hadn't realized that she was holding in as tendrils traced their way over the Brontosaurus moments before erasing it from existence.
July 9th, 2012
Los Angeles, California
9:03 P.M.
Kim's ease was only momentary as something glanced off the side of the car with a lout ping.
"What was that?" Sidekick asked, not wanting to know.
Kim was about to answer but before she could-
Thunk
A dull sound echoed through the car and the two occupants looked at each other in confusion, "I don't know," Kim answered as a faint rumbling and clacking sounded around them.
She rolled down her window and looked out just in time to see an arrow fly directly towards her.
Not even thinking Kim brought up her hand to protect her but before the arrow struck her, it disintegrated in a flash of emerald fire.
Sidekick tried to turn to Kim but found he had to keep his eyes on the road, "What just happened?" he asked, trying to comprehend the green flash only moments ago.
Kim shook her head and looked at her hands that were now smoking, wonder why green fire had risen up crossing her mind.
"I…" she trailed off as she saw owner of the arrows appear next to her.
Charioteers from ancient Egypt rode next to their car, the chariots miraculously keeping pace with the car.
"Sidekick?" Kim asked, "Are those Egyptians?"
The Real Sidekick nodded in exhilaration, "Looks like from the Ramses the Second dynasty," he gestured towards the golden chariot next to him, "As you can see in the gold filigree of the chariot in addition to the-"
"I don't care what they are," Kim shouted angrily, cutting him off, "What are they doing here?"
Before Sidekick could respond a Charioteer raised a bow and aimed it at Kim.
Kim unbuckled her seatbelt and leaned out of the car window, grabbing the bow from the archer and wrestling with the man for control.
"Kim!" Sidekick shouted as he struggled to keep the car steady while at the same time making sure she wasn't pulled from the vehicle in the chaos.
The two struggled with the bow as the car and chariot raced alongside each other, dust and debris being thrown up in their wake.
Kim felt the archer grab her arm and tug her from the vehicle.
"SIDEKICK!" she screamed to her creator as more than half her body was pulled from the car and out over the road.
Sidekick reached out a hand and grabbing Kim by the back of her shirt, struggled to pull the woman back into the racing car.
For seconds that felt like an eternity a tug of war existed with Kim in the middle, struggling the entire time.
Kim looked up as the Egyptian pulled a sword from his belt and raised it menacingly over his head.
" الآن تموت," the Egyptian said as he dropped his sword onto Kim's neck.
The blade never reached Kim's neck as a tentacle of Nothing burst through a wall, disintegrating the chariot and rider in the blink of an eye.
Kim screamed as she fell forward towards the ground even as Sidekick turned the wheel away from the Nothing.
Kim's hands grasped desperately for something to latch onto before she grabbed at the edge of the window and pulled herself back into the car.
She fell back into her seat, gasping in exhaustion as the car continued to swerve through the decaying world.
She looked out the back window just as the Nothing burst from the asphalt behind their car and rose into the sky.
Like a tidal wave, the Nothing continued to rise. More and more the wave of nonexistence grew in size, eating more and more of the world in the process even as the wave started to crest.
"Sidekick?" Kim asked in fear as she watched the wave tilt forward towards the fleeing car.
There was no answer from Sidekick who shifted his car and prayed for a miracle.
FWEE-ORP
A pink, iridescent wave exploded from deeper in the city, expanding outward and rising up in defiance of the Nothing.
Before Kim could react, the wave passed through their car and slammed into the Nothing.
The Nothing screamed in defiance, angry at being denied its prize.
Sidekick stopped the car and got out of his vehicle as he watched the Nothing struggle in vain against the pink barrier and for several seconds it looked like the barrier would collapse as the Nothing pushed against it as part of the bubble encasing the Nothing curved inward.
The inward curve soon stopped the Nothing and for a moment Kim and the Nothing stared at each other silently before the Nothing pulled back.
It would wait.
It had to.
The Nothing pushed against the veil one last time before it had to accept the simple truth:
He had her now.
July 9th, 2012
Los Angeles, California
9:03 P.M.
Sidekick and Kim stared, enraptured at the sight of Nothing held firmly in place.
She turned to him, "What is going on?"
Sidekick shook his head, "I don't know," he ran a frail hand over his nearly bald head, "There shouldn't be a way to stop it."
Kim was about to speak but stopped as the sound of approaching vehicles made her turn her head.
A column of Humvees and military jeeps approached the pair and stopped several meters from the two.
In perfect military fashion, troops evacuated their vehicles and approached Sidekick and Kim with their guns raised and calling out orders.
"GET YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR!" one soldier called out, his gun pointing from Kim's hands to the ground, "HANDS IN THE AIR AND GET ON THE GROUND NOW!"
Kim turned to them, "Who are you?" she called out to the soldiers, their faces hidden by protective gear.
"ON THE GROUND NOW OR WE WILL USE FORCE!" another soldier called out, his tan camouflage uniform rustling from the movement.
Kim turned to Sidekick who nodded cautiously and in unison the duo raised their hands and dropped to their knees.
"ALL THE WAY TO THE GROUND!" the soldier bellowed in the night air.
A few movements later Kim and Sidekick were face down with their hands above their heads on the cold, wet asphalt as the sound of approaching boots filled their ears.
Rough hands grabbed at the two, securing their hands and pulling them roughly behind their backs.
Schnict
Schnict
Handcuffs were fastened to their hands and with a coarse tug, Kim and Sidekick were brought to their feet.
"Command this is Echo One," a soldier called into his radio, "Be advised we have the subjects in hand and we are returning to base now," the soldier looked at Kim and Sidekick disdainfully, "Please clear out the refugees."
"Roger Echo One," a voice on the other end called out, "We'll have a place for you."
The soldier snapped off his radio before turning to the squad, "Load them in the Humvees, let's get out of her."
As the two were led away Sidekick saw the squad commander call out to a soldier, "Renton!"
A younger brown haired soldier sprinted up to the commander and snapped to attention, "Sir."
"Do you know how to drive a stick?" came the question as the commander gestured to Sidekick's car.
The soldier nodded, "I converted my wheelchair into a hover chair. This shouldn't be an issue."
His commander nodded, "Follow the convoy Felix and try to keep up."
The ride through abandoned Los Angeles was eerie for everyone as the normally bustling streets were clear of people.
"Where is everyone?" Kim asked from the back.
"Gone," came the answer from the driver of the vehicle, "Only the refugees are left now."
"Refugees?" Kim asked.
The soldier didn't answer as their vehicle sped up and raced through the cleared streets of downtown Los Angeles.
Beyond the veil Kim watched the Nothing continue to erase the surrounding world, screams and crashes silenced as the Nothing grew in power and strength. More and more it expanded ever outward.
Kim turned away from the sobering experience and checked on her Creator who was silent beside her.
She opened her mouth to say something but thought better of it and waited for the end.
July 9th, 2012
Burbank, CA
9:03 P.M.
The ride continued in silence for several more minutes before the convoy turned off the street and stopped at an enormous wrought iron gate.
Kim's eyes roamed through the night an peered into this foreign world that was quickly going insane. Thousands of people crowed at the gates but parted before the humvees.
"Please disperse," a soldier shouted through a microphone, "Please disperse to the tents for you."
The crowd didn't obey but instead continued shouting all the more for salvation.
Kim swallowed nervously as the screaming masses passed slowly by their vehicles, their banging and thumping on the sides echoing in the cars as they rolled past. Their fear and frustration reaching a boiling point.
Kim looked at the soldier driving the humvee, "Why are we here?"
The soldier frowned as he shook his head, "Sorry Ma'am, we're under direct orders not to speak with you until you've met with our Commanding Officer."
"And who is that?" Sidekick asked hesitantly.
The soldier was silent as the convoy neared the gate, "Dobbs," the driver told the guard checking identification, "Bringing the two back for the Commander."
The soldier's eyes widened and he shone his flashlight into the car, the beam illuminating Kim's face "It's her?"
Dobbs nodded as he took his foot off the brake, "We need to go."
The soldier nodded and motioned to other guards on the other side of the gate, "OPEN THE GATE!"
With a low rumble the convoy sped through the check point and under an enormous metal sign. Kim strained against the window but couldn't make out what the arching sign said. She shook her head and resumed watching the landscape open before her.
The convoy sped past enormous buildings, warehouses, lots, each one swarming with activity as thousands of people raced to and fro
Kim was struck by the notion they had entered a city within a city.
Each building was thriving with activity, the occupants racing in their efforts to keep Nothing out. In the heart of the buildings stood four solitary pillars, each one projecting a beam of solid energy into the night sky.
The beams of iridescent pink energy intertwined as they rose before creating a solid stream of energy that expanded out and covered the city in a protective bubble.
"Is this a film studio?" Sidekick asked as they passed several buildings.
The soldier smiled, "Surprised you don't recognize it."
Sidekick was silent as they passed another group of soldiers being led by an african american man in his late twenties. As the convoy passed the man trailed off as he watched the occupants silently.
Kim was silent as the soldiers led her and Sidekick up the stairs leading into the brick building. With every step Kim felt the panic leave her, she felt at peace.
The doors swung open and with Kim's first step into the enormous lobby she stopped as she felt a sensation that overwhelmed her senses:
She was home.
For whatever reason, Kim felt at home in this building, almost as if she belonged in this building.
A gentle nudge from the man behind her, "Let's go Kim," the man said, his brown hair hanging loosely over his eyes.
Kim's eyes flashed down as she read his Global Science name tag, but another nudge told her to keep moving, "You'll have time for that later," he promised, "Right now, he wants to see you."
"Who?" Kim asked.
The soldier didn't answer as he waved to a soldier at the elevators, "We're ready."
The soldier nodded as he tapped the call button and the entire group waited patiently for the fast moving elevator.
Several seconds later the elevator on left dinged open and Kim took a step forward, "Wait," the soldier behind her called out, "He wants her on the right one."
The group waited patiently as the doors closed again, an empty car rising several floors.
Kim turned to her captor, "Why? What's so significant about that elevator?"
Ding
"And spoil the surprise?" he asked, his voice sounding eerily familiar.
The doors to the right elevator pulled open and the entire group was ushered into the large elevator. The soldier reached over and pushed a button on the panel and with hardly a sound the elevator rose into the building.
As the doors closed Kim leaned against the wall for support as a feeling of euphoria rushed over her, cancelling out all senses as sweet sensations swarmed her and nearly brought her to her knees.
She rocked forward but a frail hand caught her by the shoulder and pulled her back, "Kim?"
Kim turned back to Sidekick, tears of joy in her eyes, "I'm home."
July 9th, 2012
500 S Buena Vista St, Burbank, CA
9:03 P.M.
Kim took a deep breath as her group was ushered past empty conference rooms and abandoned offices towards one conference room that held a single man, his back facing them as he observed a holographic map of Los Angeles and the bubble protecting it from Nothing.
The group entered the room silently and waited silently as he touched his ear, "Wade, we have a possible breach at degree one forty-six," he reported calmly, "Increase the power output on the towers."
The soldier behind Kim cleared his throat and the man turned his head slightly to acknowledge their presence, "Leave us," he said to the soldiers who reacted without hesitation.
Within seconds, the room housed only Kim, The Real Sidekick and the mystery man.
He pushed back from the table and walked confidently to the window, the view only showing the iridescent pink energy shield covering most of Los Angeles.
"I didn't want it to come to this," he remarked to his reflection.
Sidekick shot Kim a look of confusion as they both struggled to place the voice they both had heard before.
"So much death," he remarked, his back still to them, "If only we'd been faster..." He trailed off as Kim felt the euphoric feeling return.
She looked up as she felt the feeling bubbling over, "What's happening to me?"
The man smiled, "So you feel it after all?" a half smile graced his face and he turned his head slightly for Kim to see the glint in his steel blue eyes, "I wondered if bringing you here would remember that feeling Sidekick," his gaze fell on Kim, "But I guess it only happens to a prime."
He touched a button on his watch and their handcuffs fell to the carpeted floor with an electronic click.
"Do you know what you've done?" he asked, rage seething from his voice.
Sidekick shook his head as he rubbed his wrists, "I've saved Kim."
The man shook his head, "Wrong," his gaze never left the horizon, "You've killed us all."
"Who are you?" Sidekick asked.
The man refused to answer and crossed over to the large glass window that overlooked the city. He touched another button on his wrist and a holographic map of Los Angeles appeared in the center of the room over the table.
Sidekick cocked his head to the side as he neared the table and noticed several locations on the map had been marked.
"My apartment?" he asked, "Mark and Bob's houses," he looked at Kim and pointed at a circle with an 'X' through it, "Christy Romano's house?"
The entire room went silent as they waited for the man to say something.
"I've thought about what I was going to say for a very long time," the man said softly, his voice filled with anger and malice.
He was silent for a heartbeat, the silence magnifying the screams and terror from the other side of the pink shield.
"You don't have any idea what you've done," he paused, "Do you?"
The Real Sidekick stepped forward, "Who are you?"
The man didn't answer, "Sit down."
Kim and Sidekick didn't move.
"I said 'sit down'," he ordered, a sharp edge in his voice that suggested this was not a time to test his patience.
Sidekick looked at Kim who nodded silently and together they eased into lavish executive chairs at the table.
"Who are you?" Sidekick asked quietly as he sank into the comfortable leather chair.
"Do you know where we are?" the man asked as he continually ignored Sidekick's questions.
Kim shook her head, "No."
The man turned ever so slightly, "Not even a hint of an idea?"
Kim felt the euphoria rising in her stomach again, "What is this place?"
He smiled, "This is where you were born Kim."
Kim's eyes looked darted around the conference room, "What do you mean?"
He chuckled as he watched Kim's reflection, "I'm sorry, where are my manners? I know you didn't raise me to be a complete savage, Dad."
Sidekick shook his head in confusion, "What are you talking about?"
"What' the matter Dad?" the man asked, "You don't recognize your own son?"
Sidekick's eyes widened as the realization dawned on him and Kim at the same time, "No..."
The man turned from the window and glowered at his Creator.
"Kimberly Anne Possible, welcome to where you were born," Tam Agmiln laughed as he turned with his arms out stretched in a welcoming gesture, "Welcome to Walt Disney Corporate Headquarters."
Disclaimer: I own Nothing. Disney owns the rest.
Author's Notes: Before you ask, no. The Brontosaurus contributes nothing to the plot, I just wanted to have one destroy Los Angeles.
500 S Buena Vista St, Burbank, CA is the address of Walt Disney Corporate Headquarters. All decisions about shows, movies, and anything else has to go through that address. Just your random fact for the day.
This chapter was especially hard to write. It was the first new material for the story I've written in a long time but getting it out on paper was a great accomplishment and it got the ball rolling for the remaining chapters and what's to come until we make it to the end.
Special thanks this week goes to CajunBear73 (Tip of the hat to the South for you), Sentinel103 (Just because you called the Nothing a blob I gave it some speed), Joe Stoppinghem (Interesting theory, I'll give you that), Eddy13 (When has anything ever gone according to plan here?), Darev (Be honest, when hasn't a story gotten away from the author?), Twuscany (Oh you know, shake things up, that's me), and Wanderer of the Mist (I was just asking).
And to you, the silent reader. Thank you for tuning in on a weekly basis and staying with me to the bitter end. If you have a comment, question, concern or simply wish to sing my praises, give me a review. I'll respond as quickly as I can.
Until next time,
TRS