The stone wall fizzled as another line slashed across its surface. The neon green glow burned it, while the pointed tip of a razor-sharp nail scratched and erode the surface, leaving an imprint. It marked day twenty two of Hell.

Drakken had failed again, and Shego was stupid enough to continue her partnership with him. She started to feel like her whole life took place in jail. Though she was certain they would find a way to break out eventually, Shego couldn't help but think of her mortality. Will her entire life be one plot after another to take over the world, get caught, be thrown in jail, and find another way to escape? She was human, even though she had powers. Will she be a villain ten years from now, or twenty, or thirty? What did she really want in life?

If there was a time where I'd doubt my life and feel like an idiot, it's going to be here.

The bell rang for breakfast. An officer strode carefully over to Shego's cell, and nervously opened her door. He handcuffed her, and escorted her to the cafeteria. All of the jail guards were afraid of her the most. It put pride in her doubtful heart. Breaking out would be easy. She could have attacked the guard, but she didn't have a plan. She figured she had to speak with Drakken first. Pathetic as he was, Shego didn't have the heart to leave him.

Shego embraced herself for another day of disgusting jail food. Everything was guaranteed to be made with preservatives, hydrogenated oils, concentrates or artificial flavors. The meat was always processed, and Shego could never tell what animal it came from. At least the jail had the decency to leave out any names. The inmates had to always guess if something was chicken or beef or pork, or fish. There were no labels, just a plop of unidentified mush on your plate, and you were forced to eat it, or you wouldn't eat at all.

As she stood on line, she tried to scan the room for Drakken but couldn't find him. The only one she recognized in the room was Monkey Fist, and somehow he managed to score a banana with his lunch. Where did he get it, and how could she get one? Shego would kill for some natural fruit, but she wasn't going to bring herself that low to go over and ask. She had a reputation to keep.

BANG!

Shego swirled around, her raven hair flying through the air, as she saw where the loud noise came from. It was the door to the cafeteria, and the guards had forced it open so much that it hit the wall, hard. They had thrown a new inmate into the café, and by the looks of it, there was some sort of struggle.

It was Killigan.

He yelled something at the guards in his ridiculous Scottish language which she couldn't understand. Shego wondered what he did this time to be thrown in jail again, like her. She figured he must have been caught just last night. She hadn't seen him in the three weeks she was here.

Shego watched him. Instead of heading to the end of the lunch line like everybody else, he sat down in the corner of the room on one of the sofas.

Plop.

The green goddess looked down at the shit on her plate. It dripped from the serving spoon as the cafeteria worker jerked it twice to get any remaining goop onto her plate before scooping it again into the pot for the next inmate on line. Shego stared at her plate. She could swear it moved.

Eventually, after getting some water, she just stood in the middle of the room and stared around, realizing there were no more empty tables.

Great. Now I have to sit with someone. I could go over to monkey boy and ask him about that banana, but the more I think about it, I don't really want to know where he got it. Maybe ill go ask Killigan what he did this time and find out some gossip.

Striding over to the corner of the room, she sat down next to the Scotsman, who was reading some book. He looked angry, like he didn't want to be here no doubt, and he looked even angrier when she sat down.

"So, Killigan, what did you do? Drakken and I got busted for a brain washing machine attempt…you know Dr. D and his crazy ideas. I think I heard monkey boy got caught for kidnapping some intelligent space ape."

Duff said nothing and continued to read his book, ignoring her. Come to think of it, Shego hasn't heard from Killigan since last Halloween. It was now spring. It was like he fell of the face of the Earth, but he does that quite a bit. He's nothing like Drakken, where life revolves around finding some way to take over the world. Duff Killigan only did things if it involved some sort of robotic technology. He seems to be into that stuff.

"Helloo, did you hear me? C'mon it's not a huge deal you got caught, don't be such a wet blanket. Tell me what you did."

"If ye don' mind, eh'd like te be left alone. Eh can't concentrate on reading if yer yappin in meh ear."

"Well excuse me…what are you reading anyway that's so important?"

"Nuthin' ye need te worry about. Go bother someone else."

Shego inclined her head to try to read the book cover. Instead of a normal English title, there were strange symbols on the front. It didn't look like any language she's ever seen. Certainly not Chinese, or Arabic, or anything. She was curious now.

"What language is that?" she asked.

Thump

Duff closed the book. He got up from the sofa and walked over to the lunch line, leaving Shego alone, confused, and hungry for information. She took a sip of bottled water. It tasted heavenly but didn't quench her thirst. She got up as well, and followed right behind Killigan.

"Someone's acting suspicious." She poked him. "what you do, invade Atlantis and steal it's library?"

He didn't say anything.

"Hey!" she pulled him around. Her emerald eyes shot daggers into his onyx ones. "You're hiding something, and I'm gonna find out what it is."

His eyes narrowed. His voice was low and menacing. "An' whut exactly are ye lookin' for, lassie?"

Shego heard the door again, and some guard pulled her away.

"C'mon, your time is up! Don't interrogate the guy, we don't want a repeat of this morning!"

She never left Killigan's gaze as she was pulled away. His eyes were dark and powerful. She couldn't get them out of her head. They must have been a dark brown, but they looked like slick black to her.

Suddenly she was out in the hallway. She didn't even get a chance to eat. It was a good thing, but she knew she would get hungry later and regret interrogating Killigan. But the way he kept to himself just screamed mystery. Maybe the guard would know a thing or two.

"What do you mean a repeat of this morning?" she asked, as she was escorted to her cell. The guard gave her a look, like he wasn't sure if he should be having a conversation with her. But considering he was afraid of her, he wouldn't hesitate telling her anything she wanted to know.

"He just resisted. The guy wouldn't sit still. He threw punches around like confetti and almost killed one of the guards."

"Say what? Killigan almost killed someone? I never took him as a violent guy. Guess I never took the kilt thing seriously."

Again, the guard hesitated before speaking, like it was top secret. He was also being careful not to get distracted "He kept saying he 'couldn't leave her' and he 'had to get back'. If you ask me I think he's mad."

Couldn't leave who? Get back where?

"Do you know what he did to get in here?" Shego pried.

"I'm not too sure. Something about illegal technological experiments."

"Experiments? What kind of experiments?"

"Not too sure. All I know is he was working with certain materials he wasn't allowed to have in possession. A minor crime."

Yeah. Minor as an elephant. The guy is working on something big, and I want in on it.

The guard left her in her cell to ponder. She tried to think of ways to get Killigan to spill the beans. Drakken was always so obvious and wacked. Killigan had interest in technology and robotics. He was being discreet, and discretion is a secret weapon in the big book of villainy. He was working on something huge, and she was going to do anything she could to find out what it was.

A few hours later….

Dr. Finkleburg was a lanky yet graceful, intelligent man. He was certainly over six foot, and thin as a popsicle stick. Despite the irritating class he instructed, he knew what he was talking about. No one in the room wanted to admit it, though.

Shego sat on the left side of the circle. All she could think about was the stench.

You would think humanity of today was civilized enough to discover the benefits of bathing. I feel like I'm sitting around a bunch of cavemen.

Because she had now entered the "peace room", as the therapist called it, fighting of any kind was not allowed and strictly punishable, as in no access to the outside area for the rest of the week. And lounging around inside a rock for a week is enough to make you go crazy. So, because of this, Shego had to restrain herself from exploding when Motor Ed sat right next to her, and he was the smelliest and sweatiest of them all. He spent all his free time at the gym section.

Ew. I think the only clean ones here are me and that blonde chick. Monkey Fist bathes, I think, but he still always smells like monkeys. Killigan seems to shower only when he wants people to go near him, and Drakken no doubt is afraid of sweat. His mommy stapled hygiene a bit too hard on his brain. I feel bad he has Motor Ed as a cousin…the guy forces him to be his work out buddy. And I don't even want to know what that stench is around Lucre's general direction.

It was the six of them, plus a few other low-key nobody's. They all seeped into their chairs, as if they were among Gods. They weren't bad enough to even call themselves criminals. And these guys were sitting beside those who were worthy of being called Villains.

"Alright, let's start with a relaxing meditation. Let's try to get all the negative energy any of you may feel replaced by peace. Breathe," the doctor began. Everyone in unison inhaled deeply. Shego looked around the room. Everyone had their eyes open, looking around the room just like her, feeling stupid. All except Monkey Fist, which she could understand, and Killigan, for some reason. This was the first time she has seen him frequently, and the more she saw him, the more questions she had. Who knew? Maybe Monkey Fist got him on some monkey dharma path. Dr. Finkleburg began.

"Today I'd like to go around the room and ask people to open up about their childhood memories. I think its important for us to acknowledge who we were in order to understand who we are today. Maybe by reflecting on your lives, some of you can see how and why you became society's criminals. I'd like for us to think about nature vs. nurture. Naturally we all want you to become better citizens and certainly none of you would like to spend your entire lives in jail? I'll bet deep down all of you just want peaceful lives and to be loved."

"Hippie…" someone murmured.

The doctor cleared his throat. "Yes, well. Drew Lipsky, why don't we start with you?"

Drakken looked up, surprised. He didn't expect to be first, but he was always picked on the most, so in a way it didn't surprise him. He was obviously nervous and fiddled his thumbs. Sweat poured from his brow.

"What is there to say?" he began. "I'm sure like any of us, I was tormented as a child. My mother was very…protective of me, and I think, as a doctor myself, I can pinpoint everything to her."

"In what ways was she protective?" the therapist asked.

"She would do everything for me. My laundry, pack my lunch, pick out my clothes, gave me a hard time leaving the house…she embarrassed me and treated me this way up until college. My classmates always made fun of me and I never had the courage to fight back or even defend myself. I've been hurt so early on and for so long, I think I've been conditioned to be weak."

A small, sarcastic noise came from Duff.

"And do you blame your mother for the way you are today?"

"No, I don't blame her. I love my mother, I always have. I think she acted the way she was towards me because of my father. He left us when I was young, I don't remember him. But I think my mother tried to be perfect so I wouldn't leave her too."

"Thank you for that Drew. It was very brave of you to share that personal information with us. Understanding your past and connecting it with your present is very important. Do you think you want to stop being evil?"

Drakken was silent for a long time. Shego felt like the room was one big giant oven.

"Well…I want power. I want to show the world I'm in control. I understand why I want this psychologically, but it doesn't change the fact that I want it."

The doctor nod his head. "Understandable. But keep in mind, Drew, there are other ways to be in power, like business. It shows not only power but stability. Did you ever think that you are looking for fear as well? Most people look at dictators in negative ways, not positive."

Drakken was silent. The doctor made his point.

"Let's move on. Miss León, why don't you share your story with us?"

Camille León had been distracted by looking at a compact mirror. She looked up, closed the mirror, and flipped her hair.

"I don't need this. These jail people should really hire someone with better taste. I mean, look at that suit!"

Practically everyone in the room rolled their eyes.

"Please, Camille. Try to open up."

"Why? Everyone knows who I am already."

"Yeah, you're a spoiled bimbo heiress who lost her cat food fortune." Shego stated. "But what the guy is asking, if you were listening at all, to tell us why you became a villain by looking into your past."

Camille narrowed her eyes. "Looks like someone isn't seeing the sunlight."

Damn! Shego forgot about the rule.

"Ladies, stay calm. Camille, tell us about your parents." The doctor tried to bring the conversation back under his control.

"Well…my mom died when I was three from a disease she got from her pregnancy with me, and I grew up with my dad Arlo and my uncle Umberto."

"How did your dad and uncle treat you?"

"I loved my uncle. He took care of me when my dad was at work. He was my only friend growing up, since I didn't, like, go to some gross school. I was tutored by the finest teachers,"

"Look how that turned out…" someone mumbled.

Camille didn't seem to hear. She continued. "He would comfort me whenever my dad got drunk or mad, and he hit me a lot. Uncle Umberto also gave me Debutante as a present. My little baby was taken away from me and is all scared in some pet shelter…"

"Camille, why do you think you got the surgery to change your face?"

"So I wouldn't get caught stealing. Hellooo, if they saw me doing it they would blame me."

"Yes, but psychologically I mean."

"Dude, you're wasting your time with the chick." Motor Ed stated. "I think she's missing her engine. Seriously."

"Give te lass a chance." Duff defended her.

Camille looked down. Anyone could tell she was hurt. She tried to fit the pieces of her life together.

"I guess…like…I wish I could live someone else's life and be someone else…"

The doctor smiled. "Good, Camille. This is progress. It's like Halloween. For one day, all of us get to pretend to be someone else."

Duff cleared his throat. "The origin of dressing up fer Halloween was te disguise yerself from evil spirits who wished harm on ye before tey crossed over."

"Maybe I'm disguising myself from…like…myself."

"Huh?" someone said.

"I don't know what just happened, but I think it was deep." Drakken stated, specifically to the therapist. He acted as if he were his partner.

"Well…okay. Great. Who's next? How about you, Miss Go?"

"Pass."

"Drew and Camille were brave enough to share their stories. Are you afraid of something?"

"I'm not afraid of anything, Doc. My life was simple. I had four annoying brothers. We got powers, we became heroes. I liked fighting evil. I became evil."

"Do you know why you liked being bad? Do you think it's because as a hero you were too good, and never did anything bad before? Because being evil it was something new and exciting, maybe?"

"Don't know, don't care. The powers switched our personalities. Before when I was normal, I was a sweet, innocent little angel. Now I'm the opposite. It's nature, not nurture. There's your answer."

"Okay, Shego. One last question to think over. Do you want to be evil for the rest of your life? Is it who you want to be, or is it just who you are at present?"

"I….." the hard work, the constant failure, the jail time, the struggle for something that is always just out of reach. "I want to succeed."

Dr. Finkleburg looked at her. He could tell she was thinking things over, and he was finished speaking with her for the day.

"Alright. We have time for one last person. Mr. Killigan, would you like to reflect upon your past for us?

Duff looked up.

"Family seems to be a predominant theme here today. Tell us about your family."

It was about three minutes before Duff spoke, or at least it felt that way. "Eh lived wit meh father, mother, grandmother, brother an' sister. Eh had eh big fam."

"Was your family close?"

"Tey say many things abou' te Killigan line. Te men are cruel an' vicious, an' te women are as gentle as lambs. Eh loved meh grandmother, an' meh mother, an' especially meh sister. Meh older brother an' meh father abused meh. Meh Pa would extinguish his cigar on meh bare chest, he fed meh whisky instead o' milk when eh was eh babe, when meh Ma wusn't around. He hit meh until he saw blood, simply because he thought eh was weak, and too girly for eh boy. He hated tha' eh loved te cook wit meh mother an' sister, said it wus women's work. Fer Christmas he bought meh books when eh couldn't read, while meh brer got toys. Meh brer, William, only encouraged the abuse an' attacked meh whenever he could. Eh had te be homeschooled, because all meh classmates would throw rocks at meh. They hated meh family. Everyone did."

Dr. Finkleburg was silent for a few moments. "But…you had your grandmother, and your mother and your sister to comfort you."

Duff said flatly, like he was trying to teach this doctor that there was nothing he could say that would help. "Meh grandmother died when eh was six, meh mother died when eh wus nine, and meh sister died eh few years ago. Her death wus te reason eh became eh villain. After her death, eh lost it. There was no reason fer meh te be te victim anymore. Eh wus bein' good fer her sake."

Was his sister the 'her' the guard mentioned earlier? Shego thought. He said Duff was yelling, "I can't leave her" or something like that. If his sister was dead, maybe he really was insane?

"I'm…..sorry, Duff." The doctor had nothing else to say. He was blank for words. The session had ended. Duff's life had no mystery to it, no psychological evaluation to be made. His past was so terrible, it made him a terrible person. It was that simple, and everyone in the room felt it. "You've had a hard life, that is clear. Do you ever think you can mend your broken heart and forgive? Think of what your sister would say if she saw you, looking down from heaven? Do you think you can heal yourself for her soul's sake?"

"Te day she comes down from heaven wit wings will be te day eh reconsider meh ways."

The room was silent for about five minutes. It was so still, like time was frozen.

"That's it for today everyone. I'll see you all next week."

Dr. Finkleburg got up and walked to the door. The guards that were standing at the edges of the room came over and handcuffed each inmate, and everyone was once again escorted back to their cell. Shego and Duff were the last to leave the room. Shego was just stepped through the door when she heard a grunt, and a loud struggle. Both she and the guard turned around to see Duff strangling his guard with the handcuff chain. His grip was tight. The guard had his hands to the chain around his throat, and his legs dangled and danced in the air, kicking for life. Shego's guard ran to attack Duff and pulled out a gun. But before he could fire it, Shego blasted him with her green rays. He fell to the ground, and the guard Duff strangled fell just behind him.

Shego looked down at the two men. One was dead, that was certain. The other she wasn't too sure of. She looked up at Duff in shock. She never knew him like this.

"What the hell was that for?"

He gave her a look, as if he was surprised she, of all people, was asking that.

"Ehm getting' outteh here. Ye comin' or whut?"

Shego smirked. She found her new Drakken.