Contamination
Ron sat in the lotus position and tried to meditate on anything other the fact that folding his legs like that hurt like hell! Still and serene was what he was going for, not pissed and in pain. Doing his best to ignore it he focused on his breathing and recalled what sensei had taught him, breathe in fresh air, breathe out negativity.
A soft blue glow outlined his form as he and his naked mole rat partner began to float in place, opening themselves up to the universe… It was probably the worst possible time for him to face a mental attack of any sort, so naturally that's when it happened.
An explosion of gold flames outlined his face momentarily eclipsing the blue before becoming hopelessly muddled together and winking out, dropping him on his ass with a thud. "Ow!"
"You ok?" Rufus asked, looking at him curiously.
"Five by five," he replied absently as he untangled himself and stood up, looking around his room as if he was seeing it for the first time.
"Five by what?" Rufus muttered confused.
"Means, I'm good," he promised as he began going through his clothes to find something that fit a little better. He'd never been all that fond of baggy jeans and hoodies, but fortunately he had some jeans that fit and a good collection of Hawaiian shirts in the closet.
He frowned at the lack of weapons, as he didn't even have a pocket knife in his room, but he supposed Middleton was pretty safe.
"Ron!" someone called from outside.
He opened up his window and stuck his head out, seeing Kim waiting for him next to his scooter. "I'll be right down," he promised, ducking back inside to grab his backpack. "See you after school, Rufus."
The mole rat waved and hopped on the computer, to see if he could beat his score for pwning noobs on Counterstrike, cause on the internet nobody knows you're a naked mole rat.
Kim was a bit surprised to see Ron had switched from baggy cargo pants to tight Levi's and Hawaiian shirts, but figured it must be laundry day so she didn't comment as she hopped on the back of Ron's scooter and rode to school.
"I really should get a better bike," Ron said as they stowed their helmets in the 'trunk'.
"I suggested moving up to at least a Mo-Ped, but you said it got great gas mileage," Kim pointed out combing out her hair to get rid of the helmet hair.
"A motorcycle for sunny days and a car for the rest," he decided and after a moments thought added, "or a van."
"New look, same old loser," Bonnie said as she showed up with Tara who gave him a timid wave.
"I know you've no doubt heard it before," Ron said shaking his head, "but your last name really suits you."
"Rockwaller?" Tara asked.
"Rhymes with Rottweiler," Ron nodded.
"Attack dog?" Kim guessed as she looked at Bonnie Rockwaller.
"I was going for complete bitch, but whatever," Ron said, not noticing the shocked looks on the girls' faces as he left for class.
"You have been crackin' on him kinda hard," Tara pointed out.
"Yeah, but Ron's always just waved it off before," Kim said shaking her head. "Bonnie, have you done something to really offend him lately?"
"I - I don't think so," she said wondering what she could have done to get such a vicious response from one of the most inoffensive people she knew!
"I'll talk to him," Kim promised hurrying to catch up.
Ron found himself so bored in his classes he guessed what the homework would be and completed it during class, when even that didn't eat up enough time he translated it into various languages as well. He'd never realized how boring his classes were and decided to bring a book to read from now on. The bell rang and Ron let out a relieved sigh, lunch had arrived and the school day was half over.
"Ron," Kim said tapping him on the shoulder to get his attention.
"Yeah, Kim?"
"What you said to Bonnie was really harsh. Did she do something really mean to you lately?"
"I meant it the same way she did, calling me a loser," Ron said mentally going over what had happened and realizing he had gone a bit overboard, as they seemed to keep the insults to one another solidly in the G rating.
"Well it really upset her."
"I'll track her down during lunch and apologize," he promised.
"Good," Kim said relieved, just before her kimmunicator went off.
"I'll find her quickly," he said rushing off to catch her before she got too far. "Hey, Bonnie," he called out when he spotted her in the hall.
On seeing him Bonnie stopped and hugged her books to her chest. "What?" she asked nervously.
"I apologize for what I said earlier," he told her, before wrapping his arms around her. "You are a beautiful young woman and certainly no dog."
"As if I care what a loser like you thinks," she replied, making no move to shrug him off despite her words and looking much happier.
"And now I have to go fight some supervillains," he told her, "but know this, if I die before I get the chance to make it up to you, my ghost will haunt the spot where I fell for all eternity."
"I forgive you!" she exclaimed wide eyed.
"I'm happy to hear that," he told her, "and now I must away!" he said dramatically before sweeping off.
Bonnie just stood there blushing heavily.
"Told you he didn't mean it," Tara said, "He's way too nice a guy."
Kim sighed in relief when Ron returned. "Draken and Shego again, down in South America on the island of Sivante there's an experimental geothermal station. We'll get the rest from Wade enroute."
"Global Justice?" Ron guessed.
"Bingo. We've got a chartered jet out of the Midville airport on the runway."
Bonnie and Tara had trailed after Ron unnoticed and entered the classroom.
"Have I ever told you how much I enjoy jumping out of a perfectly good airplane and parachuting into dangerous situations to fight complete lunatics who should really be on heavy Thorazine regiments?" he asked sarcastically.
"I don't think so," Kim said wondering if he was getting cold feet after all this time.
"Good, I'd hate to think I'd lied to you. The only thing I enjoy is making a difference," he admitted. Catching sight of Bonnie and Tara he decided to ham it up a bit. Turning to the two girls he put his arms out so he could lay a hand on their shoulders as he squeezed them together in front of him. "For you girls I fight. To keep your lives free of tyranny I face death." Ron placed a kiss on both their foreheads. "If I fail to return, know that I regret nothing!" As he turned and rushed off the two red faced cheerleaders sunk down to the floor with hearts in their eyes.
"When did Ron become so romantic?" Kim wondered aloud as she hurried after him.
*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*
"The island of Sivante is near the arctic," Wade lectured over the Kimmunicator.
"I thought it was South America," Ron interrupted.
"No, though that is the local climate, thanks to the active volcano in the middle of the island," Wade explained.
"I heard South America and tuned out," Ron admitted with a shrug.
"Well the usual weather is about what you'd expect from the area, ice, snow, and more ice. The volcano in the middle of the island keeps the island at a sweltering one hundred and twelve degrees even with the geothermal tap," wade continued.
"Geothermal tap?" the two chorused.
"Yes, an experimental energy extraction process that succeeded despite even the inventor of the process saying that it was a long shot," Wade explained, "Before the tap was in place there was a permanent fog bank enshrouding the area, but they managed to disperse that by draining energy from the lava flows that fed it."
"The Island's going to explode and we'll be stuck in the arctic dressed for summer," Ron predicted.
"I actually took that into account and packed an escape raft with cold weather gear," Wade promised, "Now, Draken has a device that allows him to open teleport gates, but the energy costs to fuel the device are obscene."
"So he took over the research station and plans to launch his attacks via teleport gate," Kim said.
"Exactly, and from what the scientist saw before they were evacuated, he has some of DNAmy's cloning machines and a plethora of Kim clones," Wade finished.
"Joy," Kim groaned. "Well, best to relax and do my homework while we're waiting." Kim got out her school books. "Aren't you going to do yours?" she asked Ron.
"Got so bored I did it in class."
"But they don't tell you what it is until class is over."
"I guessed and while I did more than was required a few times I never did too little." he replied with a shrug. "I found it all easy and boring," he admitted.
"I thought you had problems focusing," Wade said.
Ron shrugged. "Everything just seems so simple today."
"You have been acting strange," Kim pointed out.
"How so?" Wade asked before Ron could.
"He's dressed differently, wants to buy a motorcycle, and insulted and then flattered Bonnie, not to mention the schoolwork," she listed off.
"Wow, I'm surprised you didn't rattle off my blood pressure as well," Ron joked.
Kim grinned, "You've been my best friend since forever, of course I notice when you act differently."
"Well I've been trying to master the primal powers I've been handed and that may have made me a bit more aware of the world around me and cut down on my ADD. The baggy pants and hoodie were always catching on things leaving me standing in public in my boxers. My scooter was fine for putting around in, but going grocery shopping or to the drive-in would be a hassle, not to mention bad weather, and finally I was trying to give Bonnie back the same attitude she always gives me, but I overdid it so a sincere and honest apology is the least I owed her! And again, thanks for pointing out that I upset her."
"So the mystic monkey power is at fault?" Kim asked.
"I'm growing up, that causes changes without adding in mystic powers," he pointed out. "Combine the two and just say I'm evolving a bit."
"Well you charmed the hell out of Bonnie and Tara," Kim said with a smirk.
"Ron?" Wade asked in shock.
"Left them staring after him breathless," Kim confirmed.
"And thus the need for a car," Ron said putting his hands behind his head and leaning back in his seat, "Fitting all of us on a scooter just won't work."
"Ron!?" Kim exclaimed scandalized, but only a soft snore answered her as he'd already fallen asleep.
Wade laughed. "Remember to get some sleep yourself, it's another four hours before you reach the jump point."
"As soon as I finish my homework," she promised, "Possible out!"
Typing by: Stephenopolos
TN: he has me chained to a keyboard with substandard burritos for food! help me! jk...