Legality: Kim possible and all characters associated with it are the Copyrighted property of the Disney Corporation and the creation of Bob Schooley and Mark Mckorkle. Any characters of Disney's Kim Possible are used without their permission but for non-profit purposes.
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Life is a journey that must be traveled no matter how bad the road and accommodations. (Oliver Goldsmith)
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (Earth – Upperton – Just before the comet's impact on Mars)
"Are you having any luck?" Lyra Possible entered the secret security control room of her Upperton mansion. She was carrying two steaming cups of tea and she set one down next to the central computer screen as she squeezed her very pregnant self into one of the nearby chairs.
"Thank you", said Wade Load as he reached over and picked up the offered cup of tea. "We've had a little bit of luck but the work is progressing very slowly and tediously".
"Anything I can do to help?"
Wade took a second to look around to make sure Millie wasn't sitting nearby. "You are helping just by sitting around and looking very pretty".
"Oh stop it", Lyra playfully smacked Wade across the back of his head. "I look like a huge inflatable parade float". At nearly twelve weeks of pregnancy Lyra was definitely beginning to show a distinctive baby bump.
"Nonsense you are healthy, happy, and expectant mother to be. I can't think of a more beautiful image of a woman".
"Well thank you. But if you continue this flattery then I will be forced to inform your wife".
"Don't do that, Millie might kill me".
"It will be our secret then but seriously I am starting to worry about Kim. We've been at this for almost two weeks and if we don't start to find something soon she's going to break something or… someone".
"She's just worried about Jim and Tim. So am I. I've been able to isolate the majority of the satellite signals returning from Mars to somewhere in the American continental southwest. I should be able to get a more accurate reading…" Suddenly several loud beeping alarms went off and the data streams Wade was monitoring began to fluctuate rapidly. "What the hell?"
"Is something wrong", Lyra pushed herself up from her chair.
"Go get James!"
The seriousness of Wade's tone convinced Lyra to not question him further. She left to find James while Wade franticly searched the data streams before him and switched between several different Martian and Earth satellite feeds.
Lyra returned with Millie Load and James Possible in tow.
"What is it? Have you found something?" asked James as he took the seat next to Wade.
"Don't know yet. But you better call Kim and Shego and tell them to come over as soon as they can".
"Why?"
"Because some of those signals from Mars you had me monitoring just registered the massive impact of a large foreign celestial object on the surface of Mars".
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (Mars – Operation team survey site - just before the comet's impact)
Lieutenant Lucas Hunter was collecting Martian soil samples into clear plastic containers, which he found intensely boring. The rest of his team Cpt. Oliver Brand, Lt. Gabrielle Ocypete, and Sgt. Raj Indivar were busy collecting their own samples or making sure Rover Two was fully operational for the return trip to the landing site. The other two teams, command and science, were spread out at two different sites performing their own scientific analyses. Rover One had been stationed with the command team after dropping off the science team at their site.
Their surface environmental suits were less bulky than their open space counterparts but Lucas still felt a little stifled inside of his. He had inspected his suit much more than he was supposed to and had found an inordinate amount of unusual electronic gear that wasn't present in the normal suit specifications. At first he thought these might be simply redundant safety systems but he had begun to suspect they were part of some secret design. He hadn't said anything to the Major yet but he had tinkered with the strange gear inside his suit as much as he could without risking being noticed.
"Captain you really need to look at this", Gabrielle was pointing up at the sky in the direction of the other teams.
Lucas turned head in the direction Gabrielle was pointing and quickly began to question his eyesight. "Oh my freaky god!"
The Martian sky was lit up like a twirling rainbow umbrella. Sparkling and swirling colors of all variations surrounded a central mass that was streaking towards the surface. It was painfully clear the object was headed straight for them.
"Captain what is that?" Raj questioned while moving to stand next to Lucas.
"Everyone calm down and stay on station", commanded Oliver. "Let me contact the Major". Oliver switched to the command channel. "Major are you seeing this?"
"I am Captain. Keep your team under control and on station. It's too late for us to do anything else but wait and watch anyway", Oliver detected just a hint of fear in the Major's tone but he was much too professional to mention it.
"Copy that. Standing by", Oliver switched back to his teams com channel. "Major says to…"
'Screeeeechhhh!' Whatever the captain planned to say was drowned out by an intense high pitched whine that filled all their communication channels.
The entire team was affected and Lucas was staggered and fell to his knees while trying to endure the insanely loud racket in his helmet. It was then that very painful electric impulses suddenly ran through his body. Barely holding his eyes open he watched as bluish colored static charges coursed through his suit and that of the rest of his team.
Suddenly the noise and shocks stopped and profound relief flooded Lucas's body even as he residually jerked from the strange blue electrical discharges.
'Stand', sounded an unfamiliar voice within his helmet. Lucas couldn't help himself. He felt an uncontrollable urge to obey the voices command. He climbed back to his feet and noticed that the rest of his team doing the same. 'Now turn and face the comet'. Lucas turned and faced the descending celestial object even though he couldn't understand why.
'You are fortunate to have been chosen to be my champions. Those of you who survive will be blessed with the power to finally unite the Earth under one glorious rule, mine. Therefore you will remember that it is only my voice that you will hear and obey. There will be further messages for you in future. Wait for them and be ready to carry out my commands when called'.
The sound of the voice burned like fire inside Lucas's mind and he felt his self-control slowly fading away. Finally his entire world became nothing more than a desire to hear the sound of the voice.
'After the comet's impact you are to take those who survive back to the habitat and await further orders. Rejoice your time of greatness has arrived, now stand and face your destiny'.
A small part of Lucas's consciousness that was still his own shrieked and clawed at his shackled psyche. It wanted him to run, to flee, and to scramble away but it couldn't break through the control of the voice. That part of Lucas could only stare in horror as the comet struck and even through the steel hard mind control of the voice he screamed.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX (Mars – Science team survey site – just before the comet's impact)
Cpt. Lisa Staples, head of the science team, had also heard the call of the voice from inside her environmental suit. She now stood in the basin of a small valley facing the comet with the rest of her team. They were much closer to the comet than Lucas's team and its bright colorful brilliance filled the sky. Lisa was one of the few who actually knew that their primary mission on Mars was to be present when the comet struck. But now faced with the reality of the situation her heart nearly stopped dead in fear.
Like a colorful shooting star the comet dropped slowly from the sky streaming a trail of bright particles and gasses in its wake. Its glow spread both long streams of light and deep patches of shadow as the comet passed by high mountains as it entered their valley. Lisa watched in awe as the comet barely nicked adistant peak and bore through it like a speeding bullet. The crash sent the mountain tumbling down as the comet veered ever so slightly in its course. The change sent the comet even closer to where her team stood waiting. She could only stare in increasing horror as far down the valley the comet finally struck the Martian surface.
Sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, words, or even thought all proved an inadequate medium in which to interpret the comet's impact. A massive burst of light came first that burned her eyes even through the protective lenses of her helmet. Then brilliant waves of rainbow colored energy preceded a dark red cloud of expanding gases which roared down the valley towards her. A multicolored lightning infused mushroom cloud rose from the valley floor high into the Martian sky.
Lisa eardrums had burst from the sounds of her own screams and blood ran from her eyes where the glare had burned them out. She felt her body lifted from the ground by the gale of the onrushing wave of Mar's thin atmosphere. Then the wave of brilliant rainbow energy reached her and she felt her mind and body expand beyond the point where feelings or thought could adequately comprehend it. Raw and unchecked power flooded into her being and for a moment she felt in contact with the entire universe. In that small instant she found a treasured moment of peace. Then the explosive shock wave of the comet's impact reached her and the universe as she knew it and her life exploded.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX (Earth – Mission Control – the present)
The mission control room was absolute chaos. Vicky Essex kept trying to restore order but even she couldn't stem the tide of screaming, shouting, arguing, and blaming that was going on. Technicians, scientist, and controllers were yelling at each other claiming this disaster wasn't their fault and constantly asking why others hadn't done their jobs. Jim and Tim Possible sat silently staring at their control consoles in shock and dismay.
"Silence!" General Stone's voice cascaded over all others from the back of the control room. Everyone in Mission control immediately stopped talking. Generals Stone and Hall stepped into the room and walked slowly but directly down to the Mars holographic projection.
"Anyone whose job duties don't require them being in this room right now should leave immediately or they will be put under arrest. Do I make myself clear?" General Stone shouted the last part into the now silent room. Two-thirds of the personnel in the room quickly vacated Mission control.
Stone leaned over and whispered into Hall's ear. "Lock down the entire facility. Nothing… I repeat nothing gets in or out until I say so". Hall merely nodded and followed the technicians that were already leaving the room. The general then moved over to Jim's control console.
"Report!"
"Sir if I may…" began Vicky but Stone held up a hand silencing her.
"Report… now". Stone towered over Jim as he sat almost slumped in his chair. Jim glanced over at Tim as his brother could only shrug and shake his head in reply.
"Approximately eighteen minutes ago, on mission date sol 13, during our normal routine monitoring of the Mars expedition we detected an unknown celestial object enter Mar's atmosphere. Due to its size we judged the object to be either a comet or large asteroid". Jim set forward and deftly triggered some controls and the room's central holographic projection began to replay the comet's entry from the moment of first detection.
"For reasons yet unknown the object was not detected until it entered Mar's atmosphere. At that time we determined that it would impact the surface and we triangulated its projected course to the approximate present location of our landing teams at Arabia Terra", Jim exhaled deeply and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
The holographic projection of Mars and the comet stopped when it struck the surface and dissolved into static.
"Go on", ordered Stone.
"We attempted to send an emergency message to Major Powers warning him of the approaching danger but the comet struck the surface at least two minutes before the message would have been received".
"So what is our present mission status?"
Jim turned his chair around with his face set in an angry scowl. But before he could sound off his brother Tim chimed in from across the room.
"It's too soon to tell sir. Almost every signal coming from Mars has been disrupted so we will need to time to determine what if anything survived the comet's crash. Give us an hour and we will give you and updated report on mission status".
Stone set glancing back and forth between the brothers until he turned his attention the rest of mission control. "One hour then in my office", Stone made a show of checking his watch. "Ms. Essex come with me right now". Stone strode purposely out of the room with Vicky following quickly behind him.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (Earth – secret Mission Control Room)
Stone slammed Dementor against the wall of his private control room. "What the fuck just happened on Mars?"
"A successful target exposure to the comet's cosmic energy signature", Dementor even smiled up into Stone's furious face.
"How can you call what happened a successful exposure? We don't even know if anyone or anything survived. How are we supposed to retrieve our people much less the comet itself?" Stone punctuated his question by once again slamming Dementor into the wall.
"General Stone!" Vicky moved toward both men but it was difficult to tell whom she intended to aid.
"Calm yourself mien General", Dementor's gaze never left Stone's but he held up a hand stopping Vicky from intervening between them. "I told you it was impossible to predict every variable in this scenario".
"So you're telling me you just don't know?"
"I'm informing you that it is too early to judge that we have failed. Give your people here time to evaluate the situation and time for the Mars contingent to contact us". Dementor pulled himself away from Stone and straightened out his lab coat. He moved past Stone to sit in his control chair before the holographic projector.
"It looks like the comet disrupted all communications. Even if someone survived this we may not be able to contact them again?" Stone stood still his anger smoldering just barely under his control.
"They are well trained professionals that should be more than capable of continuing to carry out this mission on their own", Dementor leaned back in chair as if in deep contemplation.
"What if they can't make it back to the Aethon? If so what possible solution could still lead us to a successful conclusion?"
"In that case mien general, we will most definitely require a 'Possible' solution", Dementor's hands rose up and he made air quotes around the word possible.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (Earth – General Stone's office – one hour after the comet's impact)
Jim and Tim Possible stood outside General Stone's office waiting to be called inside.
"You need to calm down Jim".
"Don't tell me to calm down. I told you something was wrong with this Mars mission job for some time now but nooooooo… you didn't listen".
"I've heard everything you've said. But we volunteered to be a part of this because we thought it was important and I still do".
"Well your important project just fell down and went boom", Jim waved his arms above his head.
"I know but now we have to try and fix this mess".
"Do we? Do we really? You know as well as I do there is no way that comet got that close to Mars without us seeing it. That means someone here deliberately kept us from seeing it".
"I know… I know. But there still could be people up there whose lives are depending on us doing our job".
"True. But have you begun to wonder what exactly our job really is all about in this endeavor?"
Before Tim could answer the door to the Stone's office opened and General Hall motioned them inside.
The brothers moved inside, past General Hall, and found General Stone alone and sitting behind his desk facing away from them. Each brother took one of the two empty chairs in front of the desk and sat down. They each pulled out a small handheld computer and waited. They did not wait long.
"Report", Stone's voice sounded cold and tired.
Both brothers looked at each other and Tim decided to be the one to start. "We have confirmed that a foreign object of yet undetermined size did indeed impact Mars at the time and place we observed."
"Seismic analysis scans from several Mars orbiting satellites calculated that the object's impact was equivalent to a ground burst explosion of about five kilotons of TNT", said Jim.
"So the equivalent of a small tactical atomic device?" asked Hall.
"Yes sir. But in addition to the blast the object's impact released a tremendously powerful electromagnetic pulse and cosmic radiation surge. In fact this radiation surge was of a type not previously encountered and was so powerful that all of our scanners and analyzers were overloaded. That means we can't accurately determine the type of radiation, its strength, or any long term effects it might have on our people that were exposed to it", said Tim.
"Speaking of our people, what do we know?" asked Stone.
"The incident has left a cloud cover of over thirty kilometers in radius around the impact site. As far as we can tell this cloud is composed of high energy particles, tachyons, severe electrical discharges, and millions of tons of debris. None of our scans or signals is presently getting through that cloud".
"The cloud is also totally obscuring our satellites and preventing us from getting any images of the impact site, the landing site, or the surface habitat at Hades Prime".
"So that means even if the Mars surface teams survived they probably can't get any message out to us and we can't see them".
"That is correct sir".
"Do we have any clue as to if any of our people did survive?"
"Before we lost total contact we received several partial or garbled data feeds from the surface. None of those feeds were directly from the surface teams but one was a standard atmospheric opening cycle notification from Rover two", said Jim.
"That message is a routine one that is sent every time someone opens the access door to the Rover Unit. Rover two was stationed with the Operations Team which was the furthest one from the impact site. Since this message was received after the object's impact it suggests that at least someone from that team survived", said Tim.
"But we don't know for certain?" asked Hall.
"No sir, we do not".
"What about the surface equipment? The Rovers, the Habit, and the Phlogeus", asked Hall.
"With our inability to send or receive signals or images we have no way of knowing their current status. However, given the size and strength of the EMP and radiation surge we observed it's possible, if not probable, that nothing with an active circuit or power source survived undamaged".
"So even if our people lived through the impact they could still be stranded on the Martian surface?"
"That is correct sir", said Tim.
Stone turned his chair around and faced the brothers. "What is the status of the Aethon?"
"We are receiving normal maintenance updates from the Aethon and the Conabus and both vessels are responding to our signals and operational commands. Therefore it appears that both were unaffected by the adverse effects of the object's impact on Mars", said Tim.
"If our people are alive down there could we remote pilot the Conabus down to the planet?" asked Stone.
"No sir. The signal lag time from Earth would prevent any operational course changes or corrections that would surely come up in performing a soft landing of the Conabus on Mars", said Jim.
"We do still have the ability to bring the Aethon back to Earth on remote but that would effectively strand the entire crew on Mars", said Tim.
"And they wouldn't have the supplies to survive until we could return?"
"No sir", said Jim.
"Not a very satisfactory situation", Stone began to rhythmically drum his fingers on his desk.
"What if wait until the cloud dissipates or the surface teams contact us?" General Hall walked past the brothers to lean on Stone's desk.
"We are going to do that anyway. But we need to start laying the groundwork on contingency plans in case they can't contact us or leave the Martian surface", said Stone.
"Excuse me sir but what contingency plans?" asked Jim.
"Well for starters I wanted to know if you two were serious about having a ship that could get to Mars faster than the Aethon." Both Jim and Tim stared dumbfounded at Stone who merely leaned back in his chair and smiled.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (Earth – secret mission control room)
"You shouldn't have let him treat you that way", said Vicky angrily.
"Don't worry yourself my dear. I've taken far worse and from far better than him", said Dementor as he studied the view screen on his console which showed the radioactive cloud on Mars. The image was generated from the Aethon as it passed over the comet's impact site as it orbited Mars.
"But I could have…"
"I am quite aware of what you can do my dear. But General Stone is not and I would like to keep him in the dark about your abilities. But fear not, when the time comes I will happily unleash you upon him".
Vicky walked up behind Dementor and soothingly rubbed his shoulders as he worked. "What do we do now?"
"We wait for the seed of the idea I have planted in Stone's head to germinate. If my prediction is correct then we may be afforded the opportunity to test our new soldiers against our true enemies far sooner than expected".
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (Earth – Upperton - the present)
Ron Stoppable stood poised and prepared as his sweaty palm tightly gripped the knife in his hand. He studied his target with a keen warrior's eye and waited patiently for the precise time to strike. The sounds of shouting and commotion attempted to confuse him as the smell of burning flesh and dark smoke tried to dampen his senses and cloud his mind. But his control was absolute and all distractions fell away as the moment of action arrived and his arm shot forward. The blade hissed through the air and tender flesh was cleaved apart and dark red blood ran like a river down the razor-liked edge of his blade.
"Steaks are on! How do you want yours Wade my main man?"
"Medium Ron", said Wade as he sipped ice tea sitting next to his wife Millie at a long outdoor picnic table at James and Lyra's house in Upperton.
The Possible Autumn family cookout was on in full force. The party was spread all over the house's grounds. Ron and James, the host, stood behind two large brick lined grills that were overflowing with meats, vegetables, and other delicious food stuffs. Yori Stoppable, Ron's wife, stood attentively next to her husband holding a large platter that he filled with food as he was satisfied with its preparation on the grill. Shego Possible stood looking rather bored holding a similar tray next to her son as he also placed finished delectables upon it.
Lyra Possible sat at one end of the long picnic table surrounded by Dr. Anne Possible, Joss Possible (Kim's cousin), Millie Load, June Possible (Kim's aunt), and Larry Possible (Kim's other cousin). Kim herself sat at the other end of the table talking to Wade Load and her sister's in laws, Krystal and Karen Possible. Kim's young toddler son Nicholas played next to the table in a small sandbox playground that his brother James had built for him.
Further out from the table a volley ball court had been set up where a game was underway between Emily Possible with five of her uncle Wesley Go's facing off against Ron Stoppable Jr. (RJ) and five of her uncle Wilfred Go's. Standing on the sidelines of the game was the cheering section of Emily's sister Zoe Possible with her uncle and self-appointed game referee Henry Go.
Janice and Janet Go, Wesley and Wilfred's wives, were unfortunately away at genomic scientific sabbatical in California.
James's GJ assistant Tabitha Soto also stood watching the game as she was being hit on by James's Uncle Michael Go. James had spent the day calculating exactly how long Tabitha's professional manner would tolerate Michael's advances before she clobbered him. He and Ron had made a bet that Michael wouldn't last through lunch.
Strangely absent from the get together were Kim and Shego's longstanding friends Abigail and Seamus O'Sullivan. The former nanny of Kim's young children and her husband were touring Europe on an extended vacation.
Finally there was Gracie Possible sitting off by herself and sort of half-way watching the volleyball game. Sitting next to her and soothingly rubbing her arm was her constant friend and companion George the naked mole rat. James could see there was something troubling his sister as she had barely said anything since arriving and it didn't take him long to find out what that problem was.
"Billy Murphy's father was offered a promotion and a chance to run his own police unit in California so their entire family is moving out there", said Shego as she stared helplessly at her eldest daughter. "He broke up with her just this last week".
"It's a shame I liked that boy. It's a tough break but Gracie is a big girl. She'll deal with it", said James.
"Is that what your extensive experience of growing up with young girls and relationships has taught you?"
"I grew up on a battlefield mamma and the only relationships that counted were survival or the grave".
"Damn son you don't have to be so dramatic", Shego bopped James upside the head with one of her hands. "I'm only saying that she's getting to that age where things like relationships and feelings are much more difficult for girls".
"I didn't think you had any relationship troubles at her age".
"I didn't because I was far too mature for such things but believe me I know all about the chaotic emotions of teenage women".
"From your dealings with mother?"
"You're damn right from dealing with your mother. I swear to God she was a teenage firecracker that nearly drove me to and early grave".
"Was that before or after you married her?"
"Both! But you and I both know I wouldn't trade her or any of my children for anything regardless of how much you guys irritate me at times".
"Speaking of irritation mom said she got a call from her brothers, my uncles, last night".
"Yeah Tim called last night when Kim's parents, Slim, and Joss were over at our house. Your grandfather James and great uncle Slim left quickly after talking to him and we haven't seen or heard from them since. Tim promised Kim that they would come by your house today so now we are just waiting for them to show up".
"What about Aunt Krystal and Karen?"
"Jim called and talked to them. He told them the same thing Tim told Kim".
"Do we know what they said to Dr. Possible and uncle Slim?"
"No idea but I believe your mother plans to bring up that very point when they show up".
Before James could reply the sound of a beeping alarm rang out from the side of the house and then everyone began to hear the heavy thumping rhythm of a low flying helicopter. They all stood up from the table and the volleyball game ground to a halt as a large transport helicopter flew just over the house. It quickly pivoted and spun over their heads and began to land in a large open area just outside of the where they had set up. The wind of the propellers scattered plates, utensils, tablecloths, and other items all over the yard.
James leaned over and spoke to Ron and Yori. They both waved RJ over to them and the three of them turned and dashed into James's house.
Kim glanced at Shego and then began to stride directly toward the landing helicopter. Shego ran and scooped up Nicholas as she waved over Gracie, Emily, and Zoe. George rode atop Gracie's head as he stuck out his tongue and shook an angry fist at the helicopter. When she had all the children together she spoke into Zoe's ear and the four of them disappeared in a flash of light as Zoe teleported them away. Shego then moved to follow Kim towards the helicopter.
James and Henry both flanked Kim as Michael disappeared and over a dozen Wesley and Wilfred's spread out in front of everyone else at the picnic table. James signaled to Tabitha who fell back near the house and pulled forth her com unit to begin calling GJ for back up.
Anne and Joss moved to stand protectively next to Lyra as June hugged Larry to her even though her son kept trying to get a better look at the descending helicopter. Wade quickly moved Millie, Krystal, and Karen behind the cover of the brick and steel grills.
The moment the helicopter touched down twenty heavily armed U.S. soldiers piled out with weapons raised and trained them on Kim and everyone else. Another soldier remained in the door of the transport behind a high powered eight barrel Gatling machine gun and the two pilots remained at the controls. When the soldiers finally cleared, Tim Possible emerged and jumped down to follow them.
All the troops bore the insignia of U.S. Army Rangers and Kim could see their weaponry was state of the art physical projectile and some light energy particle projection units. She hardly thought this was a social call.
A tall muscular dark haired man who looked to be in his early forties strode purposefully up to Kim. He had to shout to be herd over the whirl of the helicopters rotors. "Ms. Possible I am Colonel Daniel Reed United States Army Rangers. I require you, your wife Shego Possible, your son James Possible, and Mr. Ron Stoppable to accompany me on my transport right now".
"What's this all about?" asked Kim.
"National security mam. I need you to accompany me right now".
"Tim what's going on", Kim directed her attention to her younger brother who had moved up behind the Colonel.
"It's important Kim. I'll tell you all about it on the way. But believe me we need…" Tim was going to continue but Colonel Reed turned and waved Tim to silence.
"I don't have time for debate. Will you accompany me now or not?"
"Colonel Reed the General said we are only to implore them to come with us", pleaded Tim.
"To you perhaps, my orders were specifically stated, by any means necessary".
"And if I refuse?" Kim closed the distance until she stood just before Reed.
"You really don't have that option Ms. Possible", Reed raised an electrostatic pulse stun gun and aimed it right between Kim's eyes. "I've never been shot with one of these things myself but I've heard tell it hurts like hell". All of the soldiers behind the Colonel raised their weapons and trained them on everyone around Kim.
Kim took notice that not all of the weapons carried by the soldiers, which were now trained on her family and friends, were non-lethal in nature.
"This doesn't have to happen this way Colonel. If you take a moment to give me a good reason then I will accompany you. But I will not tolerate threats to my family", Kim's tone had turned icy cold and she could barely be heard above the helicopter. Shego, James, Henry, and Reed were the only people close enough to hear Kim.
Shego exchanged worried glances with her brother and son before she looked hard into the Colonel's eyes. What she found there she didn't like. "Oh, hell no!"
Colonel Reed's eyes hardened ever so slightly and the tendons in his wrist tightened just a bit before he pulled the trigger.
Kim's head dodged to the side as her left hand shot up pushing Reed's gun arm slightly up causing the electrostatic stun bolt to pass harmlessly over her. An instant later a long black arrow passed directly through the Colonel's hand causing him to drop his stun gun.
Pandemonium ensued.
Yori knelt on the second story balcony of James's house, facing the confrontation on the grounds below. She carried a long thin black recurve bow and a slender quiver of arrows from which she pulled and loosed shafts with astonishing quickness and precision.
"Booyah!" The amplified voice of Ron rang out as he leapt from atop the roof of James's house clad in his black and grey powered armored suit. His armored form came crashing down in the middle of the soldier's formation and as a unit they turned their attention to him. Ron gave off a shiny blue glow as he weaved and dodged among the soldiers as high velocity armor piercing rounds, particle projection beams, and a plethora of other kinetics were loosed upon him. Most shots missed but some hit glancing off the armor as Ron's fists and feet leveled soldier after soldier.
Yori continued to rain down arrows that sliced through rifle barrels and pinned feet to the ground as Ron's actions proved the perfect distraction for Kim and everyone else as they joined the action.
Colonel Reed only had a moment to cry out in alarm at his injured hand before Kim had spun him around trapping his other arm behind his back and wrapping a hand around his throat. She used his body as a shield against the nearby soldiers who couldn't target her without hitting their commander.
Their hesitation proved costly as Henry hurled the volley ball he had been holding in a super strengthened throw into one soldier that glanced into another. Both soldiers were blown off their feet as Henry tackled two more, driving them hard into the ground.
James shed a yellow glow as he charged a trio of soldiers. The first two he struck down before they could train their weapons on him but the third managed to shed a flurry of armor piercing rounds into him. The bullets barely dented his super dense skin drawing small trickles of blood before he ripped the weapon away and backhanded the soldier across his yard.
With an almost animalistic roar, Shego rushed to Kim's side and began hurling plasma blasts. She superheated one of her arms and used it as a screen to deflect and melt incoming rounds. With her other arm she hurled targeted shots at the ground beneath soldier's feet. The resulting blasts hurled the soldiers away like broken dolls.
A swarm of Wegos rushed forward following the others causing the soldiers to twist and turn as they tried to answer threats from all sides. Many of the glowing red twins took fire and went down but the soldiers were now too spread out and disorganized to mount an effective defense. Despite their losses the Wegos eventually began to get through and take them down.
A shimmering yellow glowing field of energy had snapped into place between the immediate area of the battle and the rest of the party the second Kim had took action. Random bullets and energy charges impacted and ricocheted off the field as the soldiers began to fire in all directions. Lyra was pushing herself to the limit to extend such a powerful protective screen to cover such a large area. She began to collapse next to the picnic table and only Anne and Joss kept her from falling to the ground.
"Kim, James we have to stop this now!" Anne shouted in warning to her daughter and grandson as she lowered Lyra to the ground and cradled her head.
"Stop, stop, stop! We have to work together", shouted Tim as he stood in the eye of the storm jumping up and down in a tight circle with his arms raised in the air.
The soldier behind the Gatling machine gun on the helicopter activated his weapon and the barrel began to spin as he tightened his finger on the trigger while searching for a target. Michael Go suddenly resumed normal size directly behind him and struck at the base of the man's unprotected neck. The soldier collapsed into his arms and Michael hurled him into the helicopter's cockpit. The limp body crashed into one pilot smashing him into the windshield and both men dropped in a tangled heap. The second pilot tried to draw his sidearm but Michael was upon him before he could turn and he rammed the man's head into the forward control panel. The second pilot then slumped unconscious in his seat.
"Who says shrinking isn't a superpower", Michael snapped his fingers in the faces of the downed soldiers.
Kim tracked the progress of the battle and it was clear that her side was winning but she knew she had to shut this down before someone got killed. Twisting the Colonel's wrist and neck she forced him down towards the ground. Once down on their knees Kim reached down and picked up the Colonel's electro stun sidearm and placed it directly against his temple.
"Order your men to cease fire, lower their weapons, and stand down or I'm going to educate you in how getting shot by this thing feels". Kim's voice was steady and even though Reed glared back at her with clear disdain he didn't dare chance that she was bluffing.
"Cease fire… cease fire, disarm, and stand down. That's an order!" He yelled out over the diminishing sound of battle and all the remaining soldiers immediately complied.
Lyra's barrier collapsed and Kim motioned James back to his wife. He ran scooping Lyra up into his arms. Anne and Joss quickly led him back into the house and its medical station.
Shego, Ron, Henry, Michael, and the Wegos moved through the soldiers removing weapons and making sure no further aggression was forthcoming. Krystal, Karen, and Millie Load rushed forward and began administering medical aid to the injured soldiers. Even though there were several injured, amazingly enough no one had been killed.
"Ms. Possible I have contacted GJ and medical units are on the way, ETA two minutes", shouted Tabitha as she stood atop the picnic table with her sidearm drawn still covering the soldiers.
Kim lifted Reed to his feet by the arm she still had twisted behind his back. She pointed a single finger at Tim. "You begin talking quickly, clearly, and to the point or I swear to God I will give you the spanking mom and dad always should have".
Tim lowered his arms and wiped the sweat from his forehead. He wasn't a gambling man by nature but he didn't believe it was time to test his sister. "Jim and I have been working on a classified military project for over a year now. I can't go into the details here but the mission has encountered serious problems and we need your help. Or some good people are going to start dying".
"And this is how you ask for my help?" yelled Kim as she twisted Reed's arm again eliciting a cry of pain from the Colonel. The look she gave Tim was so hard it even made Shego take a step back from her.
"It wasn't supposed to happen this way. But this is important I promise you", Tim's back seemed to straighten some and he faced his sister's look with his own steely resolve. "Both dad and uncle Slim are already helping us".
"You got dad involved in this?"
"Yes. When I explained this too him he believed it was important enough to offer his assistance. Please we need you".
"I will not be shanghaied into service or taken under threat", Kim released Reed shoving him back towards the helicopter.
The colonel turned on Kim but this time it was Tim who put his hand in the Colonel's face shutting him down. "You've done enough Colonel. One more word out of you and I will let my sister finish her fight with you".
Tim turned back to Kim. "Alright I understand. I need you, Shego, James, and Ron to meet me at the southernmost radio tower at the Karl Jansky Observatory in New Mexico at 9:00 AM tomorrow. I will tell you everything then… and tell James to bring your suits and any equipment he needs to modify them".
Tim watched Kim's eyes glance back and forth between him and the Colonel as she crossed her arms and frowned. "Fine. Once your wounded are taken care of I want you and these morons out of here".
Kim could see the hurt in her brother's eyes at his dismissal but he led Reed back to his troops as the soldiers began loading their wounded on the helicopter.
"Damn! The press always says that I am the hotheaded one", said Shego as she moved up beside Kim while surveying the battle damaged yard around them.
"I love you dearly Shego but I'm really not in the mood for your banter right now", said Kim as she rubbed her eyes with the palms of her hands.
"So I've noticed. We could have just gone with them Kim. This didn't have to happen".
"They were spoiling for a fight already".
"Doesn't mean you had to go ahead and answer them in kind".
"I couldn't help it, I got mad. Nobody walks into my house, puts a gun to my head, and threatens my family. Nobody!"
"Well technically this is James's house…"
"You know what I mean!"
"Yes I do and I agree with you in that sense but…" Shego was stopped as Kim grabbed her and wrapped her arms around her. Shego just held Kim for a bit until she heard the wail of approaching sirens as police and medical units began arriving. "What do we do now?"
"First we check to make sure Lyra and everyone else is alright. Second we make sure these idiots leave and then we talk to James about getting our suits ready".
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Anne examined Lyra and after an intensive examination concluded that both mother and babies were fine but she ordered Lyra to bed and rest. No one else at the party was injured but Kim apologized to everyone for endangering them. Everyone immediately rebuked her saying they didn't mind and only wished Kim had beaten that man worse than she had.
Because Kim and the others would be leaving in the morning Shego's brothers decided to stick around for a while and since Slim Possible was involved Joss chose to stay and offered to help Lyra while James was gone.
Yori Stoppable volunteered to help Gracie watch over the kids while Kim and Shego were gone.
Krystal and Karen Possible went home but Kim promised to keep them updated with whatever she learned from her brothers.
Wade and Millie said they would stay at James's house and continue looking into the data they had recovered from the Mars satellites. Wade also promised to monitor them tomorrow when they met with Tim and the military.
It took several hours to explain a suitable cover story to the local authorities and to calm down James's neighbors who had heard the commotion of the battle. Afterwards Kim and the others were up late in the night getting their powered suits ready. Later it was Ron who summed up their work best by saying, "It's always smart to dress for success".
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (New Mexico – present)
Early the next morning a GJ hover transport sped across the plains of New Mexico. Tabitha Soto sat at the piloting controls as James, in his red and black powered armor, stood watching over her shoulder. Kim, Shego, and Ron surrounded a small table behind them which featured a holographic map of the state. Ron had on his black and grey armor from the day before while Shego was wearing her green and black suit. Kim had donned her blue and white armor but stood holding her helmet as one hand traced the map before her.
The face of Will Du filled one screen and Wade Load another on the control panel in front of Tabitha. "I have two tactical squads standing by in hovercraft that can be on site with you in two minutes".
"Thanks Will. Offer the Director my appreciation as well but I hope we won't need them", said James.
"Once you guys get inside I will using your suit's transmission abilities to begin hacking into their systems", said Wade.
"Don't give yourself away too quickly Wade. These guys are good", admonished James.
"Piece of cake. They'll never know I'm there", Wade winked and then his screen went blank.
"The observatory is the only thing showing up. There is no base or installation indicated on the map", said Ron.
"That doesn't mean one isn't there", answered Shego.
"Oh they are there all right. They're just not advertising it. Agent Soto please take us to the coordinates my brother indicated", said Kim.
"Yes mam. It's kind of tight maneuvering down there with all the radio receiver towers", Tabitha looked up at James with a hopeful expression. "Sir may I…"
James chuckled patting his assistant on the shoulder. "Go ahead Tabitha put on a show for them".
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Tim Possible stood in the early morning sun shivering slightly in the cool early autumn air. The large radio towers loomed high over him as he waited all alone for his sister and the others to arrive. Generals Stone and Hall had been surprisingly quite when he had explained to them what had happened at James's home. When he told them Kim and the others were coming here of their own accord, Stone had merely nodded and told Tim to proceed. He had expected a more explosive reaction and the general's calm demeanor worried him immensely.
Then he noticed a hovercraft appearing on the far side of the observatory. It skimmed across the ground at fast, one could say even reckless, level speed. The craft moved into the field of radio towers and began maneuvering back and forth between them. The pilot was swerving and barely missing the towers by the barest of fractions as it closed on Tim's position. He didn't know whether to admire the pilot's skill or admonish their recklessness. Maybe both.
The hovercraft finally cleared the last tower and spun in a tight circle directly over his head before dropping down right on top of him. In fact Tim had to scramble out of the way to keep the craft from landing on him.
He picked himself off the ground and began dusting himself off as the hatch to the hovercraft opened and Kim, Shego, James, and Ron stepped out. Each wore their armor and each carried a large shiny metallic suitcase with them. Inside the cases were the equipment necessary to alter the offensive and defensive capabilities of each suit.
"Agent Soto take off but stay on station nearby. If you lose contact with us or we don't report back, you then follow the orders I have given", said James.
"Aye sir", the hovercraft lifted up and then accelerated off once again dodging in between the radio towers.
"I would say good morning little brother but you probably know I'm not really in the mood for niceties right now", said Kim as she stood suitcase and helmet in hand.
"Yeah I suspected that. But thank you all for coming none the same. After I explain everything I think you'll begin to understand why Jim and I are doing this".
"Good so start talking already", said Shego.
"It's a small walk to the entrance of the base. It will give us time to talk along the way."
They began walking away from the observatory and into the New Mexico country side. Tim began telling the whole story. He explained how Jim and he had been contacted by military representatives to assist at the highest levels on a maned Mars Mission. Using their own skills and some of the tech from their father's work they helped finish the construction of the Aethon at its orbital base station called Elysium. Then they had helped plan the mission and take charge of monitoring its progress towards Mars and the eventual landing on the planet itself.
He then told of the missions work on Mars and of the detection of the comet and the subsequent effects of the comet's impact. He explained how the mission and the crew of the Aethon were in direct peril. Presently they had no way to contact the crew and no way to ascertain if the crew could escape Mars on their own.
"So why are we here?" asked Shego.
"Jim and I, with dad's help, have been working on designing our own interplanetary space vehicle. We have cobbled together everything NASA and our own project here has left behind or failed to use".
"Are your telling us you stole leftover space construction material and equipment owned by the U.S. government?" asked Kim.
"No… yes… it's complicated. The material was only going to be thrown away or recycled anyway. So we just repurposed it… for our own use. We named our ship the Nirvana".
"So how does this involve us?" asked Ron.
"Jim, dad, and uncle slim are working right now with hundreds of the best engineers in the country to get the ship ready for launch. However, the problem is that Earth and Mars are now out of optimum position for launch so getting the Nirvana there in the time is going to present certain problems".
"What kinds of problems?" asked Kim.
"Stress level I would expect", chimed in James. "In order to reach Mars in a timely manner the ship will need to accelerate, maneuver, and decelerate at such extreme speeds and stress levels that ordinary humans couldn't survive".
"He's right. I've ran multiple tests simulations of the flight plan we will need to get the Nirvana to Mars and the only ones capable of doing it are extraordinary individuals such as yourselves".
"Wait just a goddamned minute. Are you telling us you brought us here so we could volunteer to ride in your experimental toy spaceship to Mars", Shego's tone was both mocking and incredulous.
"Yes. You and James are meta-humans with physical endurance stats that are well off any measurable charts. Ever since Ron acquired his mystical monkey powers his physical capabilities are far beyond that of any other normal human. Kim… well she has always been exceptional. It's not just your physical abilities but it's also the suits James made for you all".
Tim stepped up to Kim and ran one of his hands up and down one of her armored arms.
"These powered suits are decades ahead of anything we currently have access to. My data indicates that with them reinforcing your own inherent abilities you four will be able to handle the stress levels necessary to reach Mars and rescue the mission team".
"The suits aren't presently designed for the pressures of deep space", said James.
"Can they be modified to handle the pressure and temperature requirements?"
"Yes given time. How long before you are ready to launch?"
"Two days".
"Two days! Are you insane?" yelled Shego.
"We aren't already agreeing to doing this are we?" asked Ron.
"Not yet. I want to hear more before I commit myself and my family to this", said Kim.
"This is the only chance those people have got Kim. I've ran the numbers on this dozens of times. No other scenario works in time".
Kim stopped and looked up into the sky for several long moments seemingly lost in thought. She then turned to look at Shego, Ron, and James in turn before looking back to her brother. "Tell us about your flight plan".
"We plan to launch the Nirvana in two days. The ship will dock and refuel at the Elysium station and then the trip to Mars will take eight weeks".
"Eight weeks that's impossible", sneered Shego.
"The Nirvana is small. Only able to handle a crew of four. She's mainly an engine with a small living quarters and pilot area. This will allow her to reach the speeds required to make it to Mars in time to rescue the crew. Once on Mars you will locate the mission crew and move them to the Aethon and they will use that to return to Earth. You will return on the Nirvana and hopefully be back in time for James to be there for the birth of his children".
"Who is in charge of this whole operation and why haven't we heard anything about it in the press?" asked Shego.
"Because it's all secret and classified isn't it. James and I have been tracking you and this project for weeks now and have barely found out anything about it", said Kim.
Tim stopped and touched a small control on his belt. In front of them a large section of ground suddenly dropped away angling down towards what appeared to be a large garage/hanger bay below the ground.
"Generals Stone and Hall can be a bit peculiar about secrecy and security. Their waiting to see you below".
"Good because I won't give you my final answer until I talk to them", said Kim as she donned her helmet and stepped past her brother on the way to descending the ramp into the base.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The five of them descended the ramp into a large deep bay that was filled, to the left and right with all manner of vehicles. Hovercraft, armored carriers, tanks, and some utility vehicles lined the walls. Standing in front of these vehicles were about one hundred armed troops. There were about two dozen military grade powered suits and the rest wore light battle armor and carried an assortment of light and heavy weaponry. Kim counted rifles, machine guns, particle weapons, rocket launchers, and a few even she didn't recognize.
General Hall stood in front of his assembled men and Tim led Kim and the others right up to him.
"Quite the welcoming committee. One could think we weren't completely trusted or wanted", said Shego.
"General Hall this is my…" began Tim.
"I know who they are. I guess you thought you were pretty smart humiliating my men in Upperton Ms. Possible. You would not find that task so easy here and now", said Hall.
Kim sat down her case and the move was followed by Shego and the others.
Kim looked around and then nodded toward one of the nearby tanks.
Ron immediately sped off in a blue blur as he moved through the line of soldiers so fast the human eye could barely follow him. He leapt into the air and landed on the front of the tank. He arm slashed sideways across the tank and a blue beam arced out slicing through the tanks almost indestructible armor severing the turret away from its body. Ron then smashed the front of the turret launching it into the air to spin out in the bay.
All eyes followed the turret as it flew through the air only to be caught by James. James spun the turret as if it were a paperweight and broke off the barrel tossing it too Kim. He then proceed to crush and pound the turret until it was the size of a large beach ball. He then tossed the crushed armored sphere to Shego.
Shego caught the crumbled armored shell and her arms ignited in bright burning plasma. The sphere of metal began to glow a bright green as it simply melted away in seconds raining molten metal down upon the hanger's floor.
Kim turned to General Hall as she slapped the barrel of the tank into her open palm like a baseball player slapping a bat.
"General if you want to turn this into a dick measuring contest then let me save the trouble by just assuring you that my mine is… bigger", Kim's smile was almost criminal.
Everyone appeared too shocked to move for several seconds as Hall's mouth moved but no words came out. Then the moment was broken as the sound of a single person clapping was heard to reverberate throughout the hanger bay. All eyes turned to General Stone as he stood alone farther down into the bay.
"Wonderful Ms. Possible. Absolutely wonderful. I so infrequently get to meet someone who actually matches up to their reputation. General Hall stand down from full alert. I will be escorting our guests into the facility from now on".
"Yes sir", said Hall as he and his men stepped aside and allowed Kim and the others to pass. Kim just 'accidently' dropped the tank's barrel on the general's foot as she passed him by. Shego laughed as his cries of outrage and pain followed after them as Stone led them deeper into the base.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"I just wanted you to know that I have followed your career with a great deal of interest", Stone said as he looked back towards Kim.
"I'm always pleased to meet a fan", the sweetness of Kim's drawl was not lost on those around her.
"Of course. For a short time several years ago, before you were married, I contemplated recruiting you into some of our covert operations".
"Why didn't you?"
"Ideological reasons mostly. It was assumed that you would not be willing to participate in some of our more… clandestine operations".
"Well a girl has to have standards. But maybe you should tell me about this one particular operation".
"I assumed your brother has brought you up to date on our mission profile and what we require of you now that we have encountered… complications".
"I'll say complications. You want to strap us to a rocket like the coyote chasing the road runner and blast us off to Mars to fix your fucked up operation", said Shego as she tried to mimic Kim's sickly sweet speaking tone.
"Actually quite so", smiled Stone as he lead them into the base. "I believe a short tour will help you understand things more clearly. If you would Mr. Possible", Stone indicated for Tim to take the lead.
Tim began leading them on a tour of the base. He showed them the labs, technical bays, research classrooms, and finally the mission control room itself. Here Kim and others saw the holographic projection that showed Mars and the still obscured landing site and the comet's impact site.
Also on a large wall screen in the mission control they could see Jim, Kim's father Dr. James Possible, and Kim's Uncle Slim Possible along with about a hundred others crawling all over a sleek vertically inclined space vehicle. The word Nirvana was painted along the side of the ship and its overall size was about two-thirds the size of the old U.S. space shuttles.
The tour finally ended as they entered Stone's office which overlooked the Mission control room. Stone entered and sat behind his desk as Tim sat down in a chair in front of the general and everyone else just stood.
"How did you get funding for something like this, it must have cost millions?" said Ron as he looked once again out over the control room.
"Billions actually Mr. Stoppable. Fortunately it has been easy for people like me to slip money past governmental oversite for many years now. However this is the largest project I have ever undertaken and it was no small miracle to keep this operation a secret", Stone said smugly as he leaned back in his chair.
"So you admit you're not legally sanctioned by the U.S. government to carry out this operation", said Shego.
"Of course not. Getting permission for something like this through proper channels would take years if not decades. During that time we would have changes of administrations and possibly differing political priorities which would cripple any progress we would have made. They would have shifted our funding to health care, infrastructure repair, global climate repair, or any other perceived political crisis. I simply removed such distractions so we could move forward".
Kim walked up to Stone's desk and leaned down upon it until she stood looking down upon the much larger man. "So what would happen if I told my team to take this facility apart and drag you before congress and expose what you've been doing"?"
"You and your team are exceptional Ms. Possible. I imagine you could probably defeat the combined security forces I have assembled here. Then you could easily drag me before the authorities. Shall I tell you what that would accomplish?"
"Please do".
"The U.S. government in its wisdom will hold meeting after meeting and hearing after hearing. The process will drag on for months before they agree on any consensus action. They will be more interested in covering their own butts than in any coherent plan. Everything we are doing here will grind to a halt. By that time the brave men and women that are presently trapped on Mars will die and I will end up spending the rest of my life behind bars. The only true concession I will have in this is that your brothers will be sitting in the cell right next to me". Stone crossed his legs and steepled his hands under his chin as he smiled up at Kim.
Kim glanced over to Tim who couldn't meet her gaze as he rubbed his hands together and stared at his feet. As Kim turned her gaze back to Stone she stood back up and cracked her knuckles even through her armor.
"Kim… " Shego said warily from behind her wife.
"Mother… " James moved up to flank Kim and stand next to Tim.
"KP are you alright?" asked Ron.
Before anyone else could move Kim's right arm snapped up and came crashing down in the center of Stone's desk. The large desk split down the middle and each portion crashed to the side as Kim strode through the debris to loom large over Stone as he sat in his chair.
"I think your bluffing".
Amazingly Stone didn't flinch at all as Kim stood like an avenging angel over him. If anything his smile broadened as his head tilted slightly to the side.
"Perhaps Ms. Possible, Perhaps. But can you afford to take that chance".
No one in the room dared to breathe for almost a minute as Kim and Stone stared hard at each other. Then Kim finally backed away from Stone. She turned and knelt next to Tim as she took his hands into her own.
"No I can't. You're not worth it", brother and sister finally looked into each other's eyes and found agreement. Kim stood back up and searched the faces of the rest of her team.
Ron nodded first and James shortly thereafter. Shego and Kim looked at each other for a long while before she gave the barest of nods.
"It looks like we're in", said Kim.
"Nice to have you and your team on board Ms. Possible".
Kim ground her teeth together in frustration at the sound of Stone's smug tone.
Author's Notes:
I apologize for the lateness of this positing. I am over two weeks late in getting this chapter out and it was all due to my on laziness. I got 90% of the way done and then just sat on the end.
This chapter went on longer than I anticipated but I finally got to where I wanted to end it.
Be on the lookout for the next chapter of "Mirror of the Soul' which I hope to get out soon.
Next Chapter: Up, Up and Away