The Fox and the Sloth
Chapter 8
Yakov ran ahead of his men as they reached the hallway where they knew the other two agents had not only captured the bomb but deactivated it. Just as he turned the corner of the hall to see one of the terrorist lying on the floor take a shot at someone down the hall. He hurt a female voice call out in english. Since one of the other agents was a female he very quickly assumed she was one of the two down the hall. He turned his sub machine gun on the terrorist and fired. His bullet tore the man's torso and he dropped to the floor. He continued running up the hall yelling for his men to check and make sure the rest of the terrorist were dead. In front of him he saw a man he recognized from the pictures from his briefing. He was the male portion of the team they were seeking. The man was bending over a young woman lying on the floor. She had be shot in the shoulder and the leg before being hit in the head by the last terrorists shot.
The other agent was cradling her head in one of his hands as he groped for a medical bandage. Yakov fell to his knees and took the young lady's head in his hands. The other man took a look at him and nodded.
"I see the cavalry was a little late this time but it is good to see you. I am Henry."
Yakov glanced down to see the the bullet had hit the young lady's head at an angle. It didn't appear that the bullet had actually penetrated her skull but he really could not tell because of all the blood. He looked up at the other agent.
"She is badly injured. We have a medic but she needs more care than I believe that he can give."
Ron nodded and spoke into his mike.
"Wade. We have a problem one of the goons was not permanently down and he got a shot off. Karen is down and down hard. One of my new friends here says he has a medic but Karen needs more care than that."
Wade came back over the radio.
"Medivac is on the way. Get her to the landing strip. Your new friend is Yakov. He and his men will help you and take over the bomb. Another team will meet you on the surface and help get Karen to the medivac."
Ron stood up as more men appeared with one carrying a stretcher that he apparently gotten from somewhere. The men got Kim onto the stretcher and began to carry her off. He tried to follow but his legs would not allow him.
Yakov watched as his men took care of the young lady and placed her on the stretcher. Just as they started to move off with her the man collapsed. The medic quickly looked him over and glanced up at his commanding officer.
"Sir, he is wounded and has lost a great deal of blood. He also needed immediate care. I have plasma with me but he needs blood as quickly as possible."
Yakov nodded and spoke into his radio.
"Both agents are down. We will secure the bomb and bring them out. We will need the medivac there when we get there. Have surgical teams ready when they arrive."
Jason heard the radio report and turned to signal his men.
"Finish taking the field, we need room for a medivac asap!"
The fight for the field was quickly over. There were few of Brotherson's men left and the few that were left didn't see in the need in dying over someone who had left them behind. All of the them dropped their weapons and raised their hands on the approach of the American Special Forces. Jason pointed to two of his men.
"Put them on ice in that hangar over there. Get this area cleared and ready for the dust-off."
He turned to his radio.
"All Stations, airfield is clear repeat, airfield is clear to receive medivac."
His radio crackled for a moment then a voice came back from the ship.
"Roger, airfield is clear, medivac in route."
Yakov's voice came on quickly.
"We are approaching the field. Hold your fire."
Jason snapped his head around in the direction of the estate buildings. He could see a number of men struggling to carry two stretchers toward the field. He motioned of most of his men to continue to cover the field while he and few other ran to assist the Russian soldiers. Jason helped to grab the stretcher that Yakov was helping to carry. Looking down he could barely recognize the girl who had taken he and his team down earlier. She didn't look good. He glanced over to Yakov.
"Medivac inbound."
Yakov nodded.
"They need it badly. How are you and your men?"
Jason turned to see two helicopters flaring in to land just ahead of them.
"I got one KIA and a few wounded, but they can wait till these two get some help."
Yakov nodded.
"Da, same here. I hope to be able to meet these two under better circumstances at a later date."
Jason agreed.
"What say our two little groups give these two a party to remember."
Yakov grunted as they reached the helicopters.
"It would an honor and a pleasure."
Two medical teams grabbed the stretchers carrying Ron and Kim and pulled them into the helicopters. The doors slammed shut and the engines roared as they tore into the sky and headed back for the ships.
Yakov waved and muttered. "Dasvidania, oohdachee"
He turned and patted Jason on the shoulder.
"Come my friend, we have much work to do."
The two men turned and called their men in as more helicopters landed to disgorge more troops. The extra troops quickly fanned out over the area.
Monique and Bonnie stood by Tara's bed looking at the small blond haired bundle nestled in her arms. Josh sat tiredly in a nearby chair wearing a set of wrinkled scrubs while Bonnie cooed at the little bundle.
"He is soooo precious."
Tara sighed happily.
"He looks like his daddy for sure."
The TV show switched off to reveal one of the more popular news anchors.
"We are interrupting our normal programming to bring you a special bulletin. There are reports out of Turkey of a major confrontation between a group of terrorists and a combined force of U.S. and the Russian Special Forces. Early reports have mentioned the possibility that an atomic device is involved. We had a news team on special assignment in Trabzon, Turkey and they were in the area taking some local footage when the attack on a local estate occurred right in front of them. We are just now receiving some live video from the area. We go now to David Bryant just outside of Rixe, Turkey. Can you hear me David?"
The screen changed to show a very harried looking reporter with his back against a mangled fence.
"I can hear you Edward. We were just outside of Rixe on the coast filming some of the landscape when we started hearing gunfire and explosions. We followed the noise to a large estate where it is rumored that a man well known in weapons trafficking was rumored to live. When we arrived we noticed smoke coming from what was apparently the main residence. We noticed two different groups of men attacking the home and a nearby private airfield. Before we could get a camera into position a member of the U.S. Special Forces approached us and blocked us from filming. He was concerned about our safety as well as the safety of the forces making the attack on the home. It was at that moment we saw a small private jet take off and disappear over the Black Sea. It was very soon after that that the fighting came to a stop. It was at that point we were able to start filming and we now have that."
The screen split and a scene of a large Mediterranean style home was shown. There were a number of fires and columns of smoke coming from several windows. Soldiers could be seen running back and forth outside of the home as a helicopter came flying in and landed. Two groups of soldiers came running out of one of the buildings carrying two stretchers. The camera zoomed in on the two stretchers as they were loaded onto the helicopter which took off and flew back out over the sea.
The reporter came back on the screen.
"It was only later that we learned that the owner had been suspected in arms trafficking and was apparently planning to sell an atomic device to an Islamic militant group. The two special forces groups assaulted the home in order to stop the sale. The helicopter that we saw was taking two of the wounded in the group to medical care. The plane that we saw earlier taking off apparently belonged to the owner of the estate. There are now rumors that the plane crashed soon after takeoff. We will continue to work on this story and bring you updates and soon as we can."
The anchor came back on the screen but Josh already had the tv control and switched the channel.
"Let's have little peace. I don't need to know how crazy the world is getting. I have something special to celebrate."
He turned to see tears coming down from Tara's face. He quickly stepped over to her.
"Tara, honey, what's wrong?"
She sniffed slightly.
"I was just thinking of Kim and Ron. That would have been them stopping it. May be it was them!"
Josh gently took her hand.
"Honey, we talked about this."
He turned to Monique and Bonnie.
"We were at a show in Paris several months ago. There were two people there that Tara swore were Kim and Ron."
Tara turned her head to look at him.
"Josh, I know who I saw. I didn't tell you but I set up a camera to monitor you exhibit. I checked the tape when we got home. I saved a screen grab from the video. Get my pad from your bag and look under my pictures. Check the folder under "curious" and the file parisshow3."
Josh rolled his eyes but knew when his wife used that tone he best do as she asked. He pulled her pad from his bag and started it up. Within moments he had the picture on the screen. He stared for several seconds then started to rub his forehead. Bonnie and Monique noticed his expression and walked over to look over his shoulder. Bonnie's eyes went saucer wide and Monique let out a little screech. There in the picture were two people that were dead ringers for Kim and Ron. Josh looked at Tara.
"Honey?"
Tara smiled.
"See what I mean? Now tell me that those two are not Kim and Ron. If they aren't then they are the most realistic copies I have even seen. Bonnie, Monique, you two knew almost as long as we did. What do you say?"
Bonnie stared at the picture on the screen.
"Wow, just...just..wow. Kim is like...and RON! Hot city! If it isn't Ron let me find his address, hubba bubba."
Monique elbowed Bonnie.
"Stop drooling over the picture! I don't know Tara. I don't think it could be them. I mean I talked to Wade. He helped identify them. He confirmed to me that they were dead."
All of them nodded as Monique continued.
"Nobody else here would want or hope that they were alive more than me. Those two were my best friends. But, I made myself realize that they were gone."
Tara nodded.
"Yeah, I guess you are right. But it is a little fun thinking that they made be alive. But just as a thought, I saw something in the video that maybe you didn't. Since when did members of the Special Forces or the Russians have members of their group with long red hair? One of those people they put on the helicopter had long red hair."
Covington moved quickly to the ship infirmary. The helicopter that picked up Fox and Sloth was given clearance to fly straight in to land. The doctors had already spoken to the medics on both teams and the medics on the helicopter. They knew what they would be facing and were ready. Shouts were heard up the gangway and he turned to see two teams of corpsman carrying the two stretchers toward the doors. He stood there and got a close look at both of them as they passed by. Kim was pale under a cover of blood. Ron was even paler his chest wrapped in blood soaked bandages. The doctor at the door nodded to him as he shut the door.
"I'll keep you informed, but I think we need to get them to better care than they can receive on this ship. Get us somewhere we can transfer them to a full hospital."
Covington nodded and turned up the gangway. He had not gone far when he walked into the command center. He turned to the captain.
"Get us out of here, flank speed."
The Captain nodded and began to shout orders. The stern of the ship seemed to settle as the engines went to full power. It turned and headed out away from the other ships.
Ann Possible walked along one of the streets of Birmingham, England. She and James were taking a break from the symposium she had been asked to speak at. It had only been a short while since they had been on a vacation in England but that time most of their time was spent in and around London. Tim and Jim were in school back in Colorado. They had used their intellect and love of their sister to drive themselves forward. They had finished high school easily and now were making their own way in the world. She and James had also made new steps in their own lives. Before they had not been interested in any political or government appointments but when the Governor of Colorado had forwarded their names to the President of the United States to serve on a couple of panels they knew that this was one way to keep Kim's memory and mission alive.
They had enjoyed the past few days. While the symposium had been an honor and enjoyable, they were also enjoying visiting the British countryside. She had taken the chance to visit a couple of the hospitals, but now they were heading for a delightful dinner at a local restaurant. They were just about to the restaurant when two men in dark suits approached them. They pulled id's from the suit jackets and showed them to them. The first turned to Anne.
"Doctor Possible, there is an emergency at the military facility at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. They are in need of your skills."
Anne hesitated for a moment before looking at James.
The second man spoke up.
"The other Dr. Possible is also requested."
They looked at each other uncertain to what was going on. A black sedan pulled up to the curb escorted by two police cars. The first man gestured to the door as the second opened it.
"Please Dr. Possible. This is very important."
James took Ann by the arm and pushed her toward the car.
"Let's go dear. They seem to be rather insistent."
They climbed into the rear seat. No sooner had the rear door closed the car pulled into traffic with two more police cars pulling in to escort. The car accelerated quickly as they settled into their seats. A man in the front seat turned around to hand Anne a file.
"Doctor Possible. The President of the United States has been asked by the Prime Minister of England if you would volunteer your services. A pair of Special Agents of the British Isles had been seriously injured in an operation. One has been treated for numerous bullet wounds but the second has a serious head wound. The staff of the hospital was aware you were in the area and has asked for your assistance. As with some of your work you are asked not to speak of this incident. The President has asked to me to say "So not the drama".
The code words the man spoke to them shocked both of them. While they were on different advisory boards for the President they had both been asked to work on a special team in case of national emergency. The code words the man had just spoken were his notification to them that what they were getting ready to face was very important and most likely critical. James took Anne by the hand and nodded. They would face this together.
Anne opened the file and found is a was like a medical file except that a great deal of information had been redacted. Even the picture of the person had be covered over. She settled down to read. The first subject was a male 5'11" and 81 kilos. He was 22 years old. His wounds were two bullet wounds to the chest, one to one arm and another to a leg. He had lost a lot of blood and had a collapsed lung. The medical team had stopped most of the blood lost and had reinflated the lung. He was still in bad shape but with a little extra care he would be okay. The second was a young woman also 22 years old. She was 5'5' and 55 kilos. She had a number of bullet wounds but the most serious was a bullet wound to the head. The medical team was unsure if the bullet had entered the brain but there was a lot of intercranial pressure.
The car they were in pulled into the hospital emergency unit where a number of security personnel waited for them. The car was barely stopped when they yanked the doors open. Anne and James were surprised when armed troops surrounded them as they started to run into the hospital. A team of medial personnel motioned for Anne to follow them while James as escorted to a room down the hall. He expected this and it had happened before. There were a few other people in the room. Dr. Director and three other men were that. One of the them looked especially haggard. Dr. Director stepped over to him.
"Dr. Possible, welcome. We hate to be the ones to disturb your vacation but some events have occurred that warrant your wife's skills."
She turned to introduce the three men who had stood up and were standing nearby.
"Let introduce my collegues. This first gentleman is Mr. Basil Covinton. This gentleman is Alton Brannigan and this gentleman is Ivan Krashtinov."
All three men shook James hand, then Alton gestured to a table with a number of chairs.
"Come sit down Dr. Possible. It may be some time before your wife is through assisting with our teams."
James had a feeling that something was up. He remember Ron calling it is "wierdar". He took a chair and looked at the three men and Dr. Director. He turned to face Betty.
"Okay, I might be the epitome of the absent-minded professor, but when my wife and I are called off vacation by some men one of which gave a code word that very few people know to use and can only be used in certain situations. Then I am escorted into a room where I am met by I assume someone from Britain, the States and Russia. A very special young man in my past would say that the stitch was several miles of bad road."
Dr. Director sighed.
"I know that this might seem strange to you. But I think we will be able to answer your hunch. Mr. Covington is very involved with the situation while Mr. Brannigan and Mr. Krashtinov are here because the situation also effects their respective governments."
She nodded and gestured to Alton. Alton reached down to pick up a briefcase that had been sitting unseen on the floor. Opening the briefcase he pulled two manila files out and handed them to Basil. Basil handed them to him. James glanced down at the two files in his hands. They had "Top Secret" all over the covers. There were names on each of the files. One said "Blue Fox" and the other said "Pink Sloth". James searched his memory knowing that he had heard those names before. Then he remembered years before Kimmie had played around with the name in some fad of the time. He opened the file named "Blue Fox".
He took a deep breath for in front of him was a picture of what he would expected his Kimmie-cub would have looked like if-. He continued to read as his breaths started to come quickly and his heart rate rose. Tears started to flow after reading just a bit and he started to get up. Basil placed his hand on his shoulder as he handed him a handkercheif.
"Please James, if you will allow me to call you that. I believe I have a lot to explain, my friends are here because this can effect their respective governments."
James looked over at him.
"H.h. ?"
His eyes went wide and he stood to run toward the door.
"I'll got to tell Ann. She..."
Basil held on to his arm.
"She will know soon enough. It is your daughter that she will be working on."
James sat down hard in his seat.
"But how?"
Dr. Director gestured to Basil.
"I beleive I will let my British freind tell you a story."
Ann stepped into the operating room after scrubbing up. A nurse helped her with puttin on a gown and gloves. Walking over to the screens where the x-rays were displayed she took a close look. She turned to speak to one of her collegues who had scrubbed up with her.
"Daniel, it looks like you are correct. While the bullet did break through it does not appear to have actually entered the brain. Either it was the angle that it hit or this young lady has the hardest head in human history."
Ann stopped for a moment and took a closer look at one of the other x-rays. This one was of the head and shoulders. She paid particularly close attention to a few of the bones of the shoulder. She thought to herself. Kimmie broke those same bones in a cheerleading accident just as she had started cheering. Ann shook her head. Kim had been gone these many years. She stepped over to the operating table. The young lady was already prepared. Her head was draped and her hair had been shaved off. The open wound lay before her. She held out her hand.
"Okay ladies and gentlemen, let's see if we can help this young lady. Scapel!"
Ann stripped her bloody gloves and dropped them in the bin. While the operation had been detailed, it had not be very difficult. It had been very detailed. The bullet had struck the young lady's skull at an angle, fractured the skull as much as burrowed a hole through the bone. The bullet had then come to rest just inside the skull. There had been little to no brain damage, though there would be some intercranial pressure. The drugs they were already using would easily handle that. She stepped over to look at the face of the young lady as the nurse undraped her face. Ann's eyes went wide and she when she pulled one of the drapes on the chest back she saw the small birthmark that Kim had been born with. Before she could say anything, two men she thought and had been told were residents observing the operation stepped over and took her arms as she fainted.
Ann opened her eyes to see the concerned eyes of her husband looking down at her.
"James!"
She sat up quickly and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I saw Kimmie and don't tell me it wasn't I want to know what is going on how did this happen who is responsible."
Before he could answer a voice from the past spoke out.
"James already knows, it is who you think it is and as to who is responsible, I had a part in it but Mr. Covington here had the biggest part."
Ann snapped her eyes in the direction of the voice to see Dr. Director standing with three other men. One of them stepped forward. He spoke with an British accent.
"Doctor Possible, I am Basil Covington, and I am the creator of Blue Fox and Pink Sloth. We have been speaking with your husband and he already knows part of the story. I would like to tell you the entire story. I owe that to Kim and Ron."
Basil stopped as he spoke the two names that he himself had forbidden anyone to ever speak.
"After we talk, you can make a decision. You can become a part of their lives again or as they don't know that they are even here you can remain separate from their lives."
Ann's voice filled with ice.
"Remain separate from their lives. I have lived in hell over the past few years that my only daughter was dead along with a young man I loved as a son. How could you even ask?"
James touched her arm.
"Honey, just listen to them first."
Anne turned her fury toward her husband until she looked into his eyes. They had been married long enough that she could tell a lot by just looking him in the eye. The look they were giving her right now showed a world of pain along with something else. A fear that brought her heart to her throat. There was something to this story that really needed to be told. She turned to the men.
"In the words of my daughter. What's the stitch?"
Ron slowly opened his eyes and looked around. He apparently was in a hospital somewhere. Shifting his weight he tried to see if he could move. His answer was yes he could move, but only at extreme pain to himself. A voice called out from his side.
"Well look who is awake."
He knew then he was on some type of megadrug because that voice belong to one person and one person only and there was no WAY that Mrs. Dr. Anne Possible was in the room.
"Long time no see HENRY."
He turned his head as the speaker had place a lot of emphasis on his name. His eyes nearly bulged out of his head when he looked into the tearful aqua blue eyes of Kim's mom. He started to speak but she put a finger on his lips.
"Shhhh, don't speak quite yet. You have been a busy young man. If the medics had not gotten as much plasma in you as they did we wouldn't be having this conversation."
Ron croaked out.
"KP?"
Anne's chin started to tremble as she heard a voice that she thought she would never hear again. It was an older voice but there was only one Ron Stoppable. She reached over to caress his forehead. All these years and all the things they had been through, they both nearly get killed and his first thought was of her daughter. She sighed as she continued to gaze into those brown eyes.
"She'll be okay. She is resting right now. That Possible hard head of hers helped. I'll make sure that you get to see her as soon as possible."
Ron nodded as he relaxed. Kim was okay that was all that mattered. Another familiar voice came to his ears.
"Well, Ronald. It truly is good to see you."
Ron turned his head to the other side of the bed to see the man he considered to be his second father. Mr. Dr. Possible was standing there. James reached down to take his hand.
"You have certainly grown up. Some friends of yours were telling us what you have been doing all this time. We are certainly proud of both of you."
Ron relaxed and closed his eyes. There will be time for a better reunion later.
Kim's head swam as she lay in her bed. She knew that she had to be in a hospital. The last thing she remembered was the terrorist shooting at her. After that nothing. Opening her eyes, she turned her head to see Ron sitting next to her bed. Her heart flew to see that he was alright. She raised her hand to him. Ron saw her moving and grabbed her hand.
"Hi there pretty eyes. You have been asleep for awhile. But the docs say you'll be alright. There is someone here to see you."
He looked over to the other side of her bed. She slowly turned her head to see her mom and dad standing there, tears flowing from their eyes. Tears started to flow from Kim's eyes.
"Momma, Daddy?"
Anne's composure broke at the sound of her daughter's voice. She rushed her daughter's side and gathered her in her arms shuddering as she cried.
"Oh my baby, my baby."
Ron quickly stepped away so James could slid to his daughter's bedside. Kim reached out to gather both of her parents in a hug. All three crying so hard they could not talk. Ron stepped out of the room. This was a time for the three of them.
Betty met him outside.
"Henry, Basil and I would like to speak to you."
Ron fell into step beside her. She walked down the hall and entered another door. He could see it was a meeting room for doctors and families of patients. Covington sat in one of the seats on the other side of a small table. He gestured to the seat across from him. Betty took a seat beside Covington.
"Henry, we kept tabs on your family for security purposes. We didn't want you meeting them by accident. As the situation of the parents has changed with Karen's parents here we thought you deserved an update."
Basil hesitated for a moment.
"As you have been told your parents emigrated to Israel within the year after your "death". They lived there quite happily having put your "death" behind them. They were quite honored in the area where they lived as they were known as the parents of the famous hero "Ron Stoppable". They took your work to heart and worked tirelessly to help those in the area where they lived. This regretfully brought them in the spotlight of persons who did not wish to have any type of hero around. A terrorist group in that area exploded a bomb in their car. We have only recently made a full connection to the person to planted the bomb that killed them. Do you remembered the man you shot when you were after Habari?"
Ron nodded. The young man's faces was burned into his memory.
"That was the man responsible for your parent's deaths. He was with his brother as a reward for his first successful bombing."
Ron stood up and walked to a nearby window. Tears flowing from his eyes.
"How good is this information?"
Basil held up the file.
"We only just learned of the connection while we were researching the results of your last mission. Habari's group was decimated by this last action and the rest of his group has struggled to reorganize. They have not been as concerned by security as they rebuilt and this made it easier for us to infiltrate the organization. One of our operatives has been able to fully access the records of the group and found out the connection to your parents."
Ron nodded as Basil finished.
"Thank you for letting me know. I'm going back to be with the only family I have left and God help anyone who tries to get between us or hurt them."
Before Basil or Betty could reply Ron walked out of the room. Betty stared at the closed door after Ron had left.
"Do you really think it was wise to tell him? He may go after the rest of the group."
Covington shook his head.
"Nope, he didn't go off after Karen with orders or planning. He will not now. Those two have already damaged the group almost beyond repair. Our operative will keep a check on them. If they decided to cause a problem I'll just give him the mission to take them out."
Betty snorted.
"That could get really ugly."
Covington shrugged his shoulders.
"We are in an ugly business. Yet those two are our best chance to clean up of part of it."
Ron reached the door to Kim's room and listened for a moment. The sound of soft conversation came to his ears. He knocked. Kim's voice came to his ears.
"Come in."
Ron pushed open the door and stepped into the room. The head of Kim's bed was raised while Anne sat on the side of the bed. James was sitting in a chair beside his daughter's bed. He quickly wiped a tear from his face as he walked across the room.
"Karen. How are you feeling?"
Kim smiled that smile that caused his heart to race.
"Better now that you are here."
Anne took a second to look at her daughter's face when Ron came into the room. There was no doubt in the change. Even though she was happy to see them, there was a sense of completeness, a sense of contentment crossing her face when he came in.
Ron smiled as he crossed the room to stand at the side of the bed. James immediately got up and gestured for him to take his chair.
"Have a seat Rona..., uh … Henry."
Ron placed his hand on James shoulder as he passed to sit down.
"Don't worry .P. It took us a little while to get used to it."
James turned and gathered Ron into a large hug.
"We have missed you son."
Kim squeezed her mom's hand.
"Mom, you haven't given me the full story as to why you are here."
Before Anne could answer there was a knock at the door and Covington opened the door.
"May I come in?"
Kim and Ron nodded.
Covington stepped into the room pulling in a chair. He took a seat and motioned for Anne and James to do the same. James picked up an extra chair in the room while Anne took her seat not letting go of Kim's hand.
"Karen, Henry. I am sure you were both shocked to see Anne and James here and that they had some knowledge as to your activities. One of the reasons they were brought in was that we didn't know your full condition and we were not about to lose you. If we had to bring them in to save your life then we would deal with the security of the situation."
Anne faced Covington.
"What happens now?"
Covington looked straight at Kim and Ron.
"That is completely up to Fox and Sloth. We have discussed some ideas with both the American and Russian governments to in so many words "bring them back to life". They could go back and attempt to regain their lives as before. However, their lives as agents would effectively be over. The sensation of them being found alive would negate the chance of them ever being able to do missions. Not that that would be bad. This last mission nearly costs them their lives. They could go back to a relatively calm life."
He paused for a moment.
"They could also return to the lives they have known for the last few years. This would mean any contact would have to cleared through the governments and even then contact would have to be limited."
Tears started to trail from Anne's eyes and she looked down at her daughter.
"Kimmie?"
Kim reached over and took Ron's hand.
"Mom, dad, Henry and I had a little discussion before we disappeared. We knew that it would hurt a lot of people to leave. But, it would also set us up perfectly to stop the bad guys. If they think we were dead then they would not expect us to try and stop them. I know this hurts, but I think I speak for Henry and myself but I think we will stay with what we are doing. I know it hurts but, this is our life now. I love you, but this is the only way."
James turned to stand up and look down at his daughter.
"Now wait a minute Kimmi..."
Kim's voice came firm interrupting her father.
"Excuse me for interrupting Daddy, but your Kimmie-cub "died" years ago. I love you but that is a life I left behind. I can't tell you all the reasons but I left Kim Possible behind. This was the only way that I can keep you and everyone else safe."
James stopped with tears pouring from his eyes.
"But we just found you again."
Kim smiled.
"That is true, and I am sure we can make use of the time that we have."
Kim turned to Ron.
"Henry have you thought of seeing about your parents?"
Ron started to shake as he bowed his head. Kim squeezed his hand.
"Henry?"
Ron raised his head and looked at Kim with a face so full of sorrow that it broke her heart. It was then that he told Kim and her parents the story of his family. When he finished he lay forward on Kim's bed. Kim pulled her to him and cradled his head on her chest. Anne and James quickly made their way around the bed to join in holding on to him. Tears were shed by all.
Kim and Ron waited in a small side room in the White House. It had been more than a month since their last mission. The results of their last mission had worldwide consequences. The Russian government was a little embarrassed that one of their nukes nearly ended up in the hands of people that they really didn't want of have one. All countries were putting even more restrictions on their weapons and there was a major push among the members of the United Nations for further nuclear weapon restrictions. Kim's parents returned to the U.S. sworn on their own lives not to reveal that the two of them were still alive. It had taken them sometime to recover from their injuries and Kim's hair was just starting to grow back good. It would take several months for her hair to grow back to the length she liked but that was okay. The doctors had cleared them for duty again but no missions had come along. They had be secretly shuttled into the White House on this day to meet the President.
They were wondering when someone might come to get them when the door opened and Brannagan motioned for them to follow him. They were ushered down several halls until they entered the room they both recognized as the Oval Office. The President walked over to greet them.
"Henry, Karen, please allow me to welcome you to the White House. It is a pleasure to meet you. Mr. Brannagan, do you have the awards?"
Brannagan handed two folders to the President. He took them and faced Kim and Ron.
"Karen, Henry, although you are not publicly citizen's of the United States. I have signed special executive orders recognizing you alive and citizen's of this country. Know that at whatever time that you desire you may return to this country to receive the accolades that you so richly deserve. In addition to that order, you are recognized as ex-officio members of the CIA. In recognition of your service in your last mission you are hereby awarded each an Intelligence Star and an Exception Service Medal. Karen, Henry, the United States government thanks you."
Kim and Ron took the certificates as the President handed them to them. He stepped back and saluted both of them. They looked around the room and noticed every military officer in the room was at attention saluting them.
Kim sighed as the car they were in pulled up to a hangar at a U.S. base in England. They were getting tired of all the traveled and well-meaning accolades from the U.S. and Russia. They appreciated the thoughts but could not forget that the prior governments of those nations had ruined their lives as they knew them. Now they hoped that this was at least a briefing for a new mission. Covington had told them that this meeting was important. Ron stopped the car at the front of the darkened hanger and got out of the car as Kim did the same on the other side. They shrugged their shoulders before they entered the small door of the hangar. As soon as they entered they were shocked as bright lights came on amid loud cheering. As their eyes adjusted to the light and their ears rang from the noise they looked around to see the makings of a rather large party. A large banner hung across the room with the words "Thanks to the Fox and the Sloth". Two groups of men approached them and saluted. They recognized the two groups of soldiers who assisted them on the mission against Brotherson. The Russian and U.S. Special Forces soldiers held the salute for a moment then broke into cheers as they rushed forward to gather the two of them up onto their shoulders. They were carried toward several tables of food and large cake and a rather large bar with everything thing to drink one could think of including several kegs of beer.
Kim rolled blearily over in her bed back in their apartment. She waited for a moment then covered her mouth and ran for the bathroom. After a few moments she stumbled back into the room and fell on the bed. She noticed that her hair was rather sticky and she had a very sweet smell around her. She then noticed Ron was lying face down on his bed looking slightly green.
"What did we do?" She moaned.
Ron groaned.
"I think we set world records at the biggest combined party in the history of U.S. Russian relations. If someone mentions to me vodka or bourbon whiskey anytime in the near future I will hurt them badly."
Kim moaned.
"I did really get on top of the main table and do a swan dive into the giant cake they had?"
Ron nodded and belched.
"Yep, they all gave you a ten for the dive. Did I really get into an eating contest with both squads?"
Kim moaned as she rolled over in the bed.
"Yep, there was a special table of the hottest sauces know to man. You beat both squads."
Ron moaned.
"Hurray for me. Ohh...oh boy..."
He got up and ran for the bathroom shutting the door behind him. Kim could hear him muttering.
"Why do they make belts and zippers so complicated?"
She heard a slamming sound of the toilet seat being put into position. There was quiet for a moment until she heard.
"Oh...oh... it burns gosh almighty it burns."
Kim's stomach gurgled again.
"Oh...mannnn..HENRY YOU BETTER GET OUT OF THERE IF YOU DON'T WANT COMPANY!"
I'll leave Kim and Ron to their misery for now. The mission is over and they are recovering from both the mission and the party. Now Anne and James know that they are alive. Will they become part of the team or will they stay away? Only time will tell.
I must say that it has taken a little time to work this chapter out. The main thing was the appearance of Kim's parents and what part they would have. I thought long and hard about and thought that it would help the story. I also concluded that Kim and Ron would not go back to the U.S. and would stay as operatives.
I hope that you enjoyed this installment of "The Fox and the Sloth".