Special Global Justice Agent in Charge Will Du stood in the hospital ICU thumbing through the doctor's medical reports. He had agents staked out at every entrance to this hospital just in case. He glanced up and through the glass of the ICU ward and looked at his medical charges. Kim and Shego Possible lay in hospital beds next to one another. It had taken every ounce of his diplomatic skill and finally concluded with him threatening to take them off this case to make them calm down. The elevator behind him signaled its arrival and he reached down and pick up a cup of coffee and held it out beside him. The elevator opened and its occupant emerged and quietly approached taking the offered cup.
"Status update", asked Doctor Betty Director of GJ.
"No casualties among GJ personnel but we were unable to prevent the theft of the radioisotopes or to apprehend any of those responsible."
"How about our personnel here?"
"Both Mrs. Possibles were wounded by the assailant known as Red Raider. While the wounds were deep they were not life threatening. The wounds were made with surgical precision missing all major organs and causing no internal bleeding. "
"Accidental?"
"One wound that incapacitates and causes no real damage I might pass off to chance but two?"
"I see your point. So what went wrong? Why didn't we stop them?"
"The plain and simple version is we underestimated the Red Raider. He had no tactical reason to engage our personnel. The data we have obtained shows he had secured the isotopes before we arrived. If theft was his only goal then he could just as easily have fled and avoided engagement altogether. Which is exactly what he had done in all his previous criminal undertakings."
"So why was this one different?"
"I can only surmise at this point but I believe his reasons were personal."
"Good."
"Director?" Will turned to his GJ superior with an arched eyebrow.
"The second it becomes personal these guys lose their edge and it gives us the advantage. It is time to play whack a mole with the Raider. The next time this filth shows his head I want the full weight of GJ to drop on his head like a hammer."
"Understood director."
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"Don't worry nurse I heal really fast", argued Shego as she lay in the hospital bed.
"I give up maybe you can talk some sense into her", said the nurse as she left the room.
"They're just doing their job Eme", said Kim as she stretched out her hand. Shego reached over and took Kim's hand in her own and squeezed.
"I know but I just hate hospitals."
"That is not what is really bothering you."
Shego let go of Kim's hand and scowled her face in irritation.
"Don't make me do it. You know I will", as Kim began to stick out her bottom lip in the classic PDP.
"Don't you dare? Alright, I'm embarrassed that's all. I can't believe I let that metal moron get the best of me."
"He got the best of both of us ad GJ included" pointed out Kim. Shego climbed out of her bed and climbed into Kim's. As they lay face to face staring into each other's eyes. "You frightened me today."
"He didn't hurt me too bad," said Shego indignantly.
"But he could have hurt both of us. You and I both know that he played with us today."
"Next time we will not play with him. We will both wear our battle suits." Shego lifted her head and looked out the room's window to see agent Will and Doctor Director talking.
"Think they are going to take us off the case?" asked Kim.
"Not if they know what's is good for them." Kim face furrowed in irritation at her wife's comment. "Doesn't matter really because I imagine Betty will be as anxious as us to get this guy now."
"That's me Ms. Anxious", stated Kim.
"You know being anxious makes me rather…," and Shego ran her hand up and down Kim's leg and began to nibble on her neck out of site of the windows.
"Shego we are in a hospital, we have been impaled, and the entire medical department of this hospital and the head of GJ is outside watching."
"Prude", chided Shego.
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Gracie cut the connection after saying good night to her mothers. She was glad that both of them were alright. Kim had told her that they had been moved out of ICU to a private room, at Shego's insistence, but the doctors wanted them to stay overnight for observation. Gracie wasn't worried because for as long as could remember her parents had been invincible. One trip to the hospital wasn't about to change that.
Having them out of the house for the night did offer some opportunities. Abby was downstairs with Nicholas and her sisters were in their room playing. This was the perfect time. She took out the flash drive and turned it over in her hands studying it.
"What do you think, George?"
George, the naked mole rat, made a choking motion and twirled and then fell down.
"Very funny." George stood up and took a bow.
She pulled out her Kimmunicator and punched up her uncle Wade. Almost instantly the face of Wade appeared on her screen.
"Hello, Kiddo. How are your parents?"
"They're alright and if know them being particularly bad patients. How's Minnie?"
"Minnie is as gorgeous as ever and you're probably right about your parents. What can I do for you?"
"I need a favor and I need you to keep it just between us." Wade raised an eyebrow and leaned into his camera feed.
"I won't lie to your parents' kiddo."
"I'm not asking you to. I'm just asking you to keep this between us unless they ask about it."
"This doesn't have to do with a boy does it?"
"Certainly not! Besides I'm quite capable of dealing with boys on my own."
"I remember your mother saying the same thing", said Wade rolling his eyes.
"I want you to scan this." Gracie held up the flash drive so Wade could see it.
"A flash drive? That's it. You had me scared there for a moment." Wade proceeded to have a mock heart attack.
"Laugh at me after you have examined it. I think it has been modified or something."
"Alright. Plug it in and I will begin the scan." Gracie plugged in the flash drive and Wade began manipulating his controls on his end. Gracie waited and she saw the expression on Wade's face change from amusement, to interest, and then to concern.
"You are right this has been modified. It has been encrypted at multiple levels. Where did you get this?"
"What kind of encryptions?" asked Gracie pointedly ignoring his question.
"The first appears to be a genetic encryption and the second appears to be a time or date oriented encryption."
"That means the data could only be accessed by a person with a specific genetic pattern at or after a specific date or time, clever."
"Exactly, this is state of the art technology. I doubt my existing systems could crack these encryptions."
"What would happen if we tried to bypass the encryptions?"
"My guess would be the data would be erased or corrupted. Can I have this drive for examination?"
"I don't want to risk it right now. Besides can't you use the scans you just did?"
"Yes, but having the actual drive would be more helpful. Gracie you still haven't told me where you got this?"
"Please trust me and continue to see if there is any way we can bypass the encryptions." Wade sighed staring hard at the screen and seemed about to waver. Gracie sat back and began to pout and Wade caved.
"Alright I'll keep this between us. For now. I will continue to work on these scans and if I come up with anything I will contact you."
"Please and thank you."
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Instead of music the elevator in the lair played animal noises and ambient nature sounds. The Red Raider sighed and rested his armored head against the door of the lift and hung his shoulders in remorse. He hated manipulating Amy Hall (DNAmy) but he needed her to finish the device. The doors opened and he walked through the mainly empty corridors until he reached her lab. Surprisingly the lab was a swirl of activity as Amy sat before a computer punching in commands as several large genetic incubation chambers bubbled and gurgled around her. As the Raider approached she swung around in her chair and then leapt to her feet. She quickly closed the distance and wrapped her arms around him in a hug.
"This is just wonderful. I have been preparing all the things you asked for. Come and see. Come and see" said Amy excitedly as she led the Raider up to her work area. "I have prepared several genetic incubators as you requested and I have completed the hardware portion of the device." Amy pulled forth a small box about the size of a wrist watch container and opened it up. Within was a device that looked like a hand buzzer.
"Excellent. You are sure this looks like the ones you made before?" Amy merely nodded her head enthusiastically. The Raider opened up a panel on his armor and pulled forth three blood specimen tubes. He handed her the first two. "These are the sample I want you to program the device for. If you run into complications with them use this third sample as a road map." Amy took the samples and her smile faded.
"You know the specifications you've asked for are way beyond the original design for Project Cradle. What you are doing is a mutation of a mutation. The farther we go from the center the harder it will be to predict the results. Using a device like this will only work for the subjects programmed and the results could be potentially dangerous."
"Don't worry my dear I have faith."
"What exactly do you have faith in?"
"First of all I have faith in your work. Secondly I have faith in a mother's love."
"That's very sweet but it doesn't explain what you want this device for in the first place."
"I require it for family planning purposes."
"You're joking."
"I assure you I am quite serious."
"Who are you?" said Amy as she stared up and down the armored figure with concern.
"By trade I am a soldier. By reputation I am a villain. By your genetic definition I am an abomination. But I am also your friend. How long will you require for finishing the device?" Amy hesitated a few moments as she stared at the samples she was holding.
"A few days at least this will require some of my best work."
"That should be adequate. Now I have the genetic codes for the incubators I asked you for", the Raider now pulled forth genetic data disks and handed them to Amy.
"Ooh, what have we here", Amy smiled as she took the discs back to her computer.
"For my plan to work I will need to provide the proper atmosphere and misdirection. I believe these will prove adequate. I was watching a movie about a land called "Oz" and I just thought of you."
"Oh, yes this is very doable," said Amy as she began to punch data into her computer.
"I need to return to my other project; contact me when you are ready." Amy was already lost in her work as the Raider walked out of the lab. The Raider raised his right hand and stared at it. It would work he knew it would work. He had initially considered only the danger to himself. Now he was purposely placing people into danger for his plan. Did he really believe he could pull this off without casualties?
Author's Notes:
One of the basic strategies of chess is knowing which pieces to sacrifice in order to win. Which ones do you believe the Raider will chose?
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.