Kim and Shego were like caged animals thought Ron. They would not sit down and so they paced back and forth as the transport sped back to Middleton. Ron saw the small plasma glow from Shego fade on and off. He recognized her need to strike out and since he didn't want to be the target of her release he sat silent. Kim on the other hand had acted strange since the lab at the DNAmy lair. He was convinced she saw or found something but with both her dad and Gracie in the mix now he filed that conversation away for later.
It was then that his wrist Kimmunicator went off. Both Kim and Shego whipped around so fast Ron had to leap to his feet and hold his arm away to keep it from being ripped off.
"Go Wade", said Ron as he tried to fend off both women at once.
"What's wrong Ron? I can't see you", said Wade.
"Kind of busy right now so just update me".
"Yeah, nerdlinger. Spill already", warned Shego.
"Please Wade", cried Kim.
"That's why I called Ron. You two need to calm down", stated Wade.
"If you don't start talking I will find you and calm you down", said Shego.
"Alright I was finally able to make contact with the Rocket and Science Center. Whatever was jamming everything seems to have stopped. GJ and the local authorities are on site and it looks like the typical work of the Red Raider. The staff on site were incapacitated with violent but non-lethal force. Kim it looks like your father's lab was the place of some kind of battle".
"Is there any sign of Gracie or my dad?" asked Kim.
"Afraid not. I haven't been able to pick up Gracie's Kimmunicator or her personal data chip. It's like she just disappeared."
Shego growled in frustration. Kim had seen her wife like this a few times before and she saw a blow up coming. She reached over and embraced her wife and initially Shego was reluctant to accept it but relented when Kim would not be denied. They held each other until Kim could feel Shego begin to reign in her anger and frustration.
"We will find them. My dad is smart and Gracie is a survivor. They will find some way to contact us".
"Then we will make this bastard pay".
"Shego!"
"No, Kim. I warned everyone that family was off-limits. If I have to fry someone to make that point perfectly clear then I will." Shego kissed Kim and then turned to the transport's cockpit. "ETA to the Science Center?"
"Five minutes", said the pilot.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Dr. James Possible could finally see as the material that covered his eyes was removed. Two of the red uniformed drones now walked away from him. He found himself in a small room with no windows and only one door. It was then that Drakken appeared in the doorway.
"It appears we may not need your technical expertise after all Dr. Possible. My associate is quite capable of melding your regulators to our project", said Drakken looking extremely smug.
"Well with this other person doing all the real work then it seems you have been reduced to the role of sidekick. Congratulations".
"What? It was my…I did the …Without me…I am not a sidekick!"
"Says the man who didn't know if he needed my help. So then why am I here?"
Drakken smiled wickedly and began pacing back and forth before the doorway. "I imagine someone will come looking for you and whoever does so will be in for quite the surprise. I will now leave you here while I move on to make scientific history and change the world".
"Someone will stop you."
"Not this time my old college chum. You see I already know I win".
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
The transport sat down at the Rocker and Science Center and Special Agent Will Du of GJ exited and immediately requested a status update from his agents on site. Team Possible quickly rushed past him and into the facility. The Red Raider had outmaneuvered GJ again. They needed to get out in front of this guy and establish positive control before whatever he was planning finally came about.
Kim entered her father's lab and saw six GJ agents marking and collecting evidence. She saw where an apparent struggle took place as furniture and equipment were toppled or broken. Even though there was no sign of blood or bodies something violent had taken place here. It was obvious that her father's work had been the target of the Raider but why were he and Gracie taken. The Raider had never taken hostages or kidnapped anyone before so why now?
Kim was suddenly embraced from behind and the warm comforting arms of Shego wrapped around her. Kim hadn't realized she was standing there trembling in the middle of the lab. She allowed herself to calm down and turned within the arms holding her to return the embrace. Dare, I tell Shego what I found at the lab. No, now is not the time. The first priority must be the safety and recovery of her family. When her trembling had stopped, she stared up into the emerald eyes of her wife and drew upon the strength and determination she had always found there.
"Are you alright now?"
"Yes, but I am warming to your idea of paying this bastard back as soon we can."
"You may have to stand in line", said Shego with no hint of humor in her voice.
Agent Will Du entered the lab and approached the two women. "The Centers security and surveillance was knocked out during the entire incident. I am currently requesting local surveillance from nearby traffic and businesses but that maybe a longshot".
Just then Ron entered the lab gasping and out of breath. "I may have found something". Will, Kim, and Shego all hurried over to him. "Kim your father's car is not in the parking lot". Kim immediately pulled out her Kimmunicator.
"Hello, Kim. Any news of Gracie or your father?" asked Wade as he came on-screen.
"Maybe. Do you have any way to track my father's car?"
"Of course I do. I had all the Possible vehicles tagged long ago. Now let's see, this is strange, it's in Upperton".
"Upperton. What are they doing in Upperton?" asked Ron.
"I don't know but the car isn't moving. It's on a residential street in a high-end neighborhood. I can task a satellite to give us a better look in a few seconds. There it is, but I see no movement or anyone near the vehicle."
"Wade continue to watch the car", said Kim as she turned to Agent Du. "Will you finish up here and we will check up on this".
"Very well. I will inform Doctor Director".
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
What was I thinking? I am a time traveling villain who has come back in time to keep one particular girl safe from harm. So what am I doing, I am speeding into danger without my strongest tech and her on my hip. At some point I must start to reevaluate my decision-making processes. I still don't know what she is supposed to do to save the world. I still don't know what I am supposed to do to help her.
I'm risking the schedule. The device has not been deployed yet and the project may be moving out of my grasp for the time being. At least I still have the Journal, as he reflexively patted the journal in his suit.
Using the mask as cover the Red Raider was able to view Gracie without being obvious. Gracie now sat still and silent, no longer trying to pull out information or make small talk. She wasn't panicked or as frightened as a fifteen year old should be in these circumstances.
He knew why he had agreed to help her and why he had agreed to bring her. Because he wanted to know her.
"Thank you for helping me in the lab today".
"You had a weird way of showing it", replied Gracie sarcastically.
"Yeah", said George sneering at the Raider.
"I was surprised at your aid. At the time it did not make sense to me. Now I understand your motives".
"I would have helped you regardless".
"Why? Surely you know by now that I fought your parents".
"Yes, and you hurt them".
"I took great care not to injure them badly".
"You think that excuses you hurting them? I am helping you to get my grandfather back but after that we are still enemies".
"I'm many things you would not approve of Gracie but I am not your enemy".
Gracie spun around in her chair then and actually smiled at the Raider. "Then prove it. Let me contact my parents".
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The car had been abandoned on the side of the road. There was no trace of Gracie or Kim's father and dozens of homes nearby without any apparent connection. Kim was soon phoning her mother telling her what they knew so far. Ron was looking through the car for anything that might help in their search.
Shego stood scanning the area. I know they came here for a reason, but what? The Shegophone went off and she reached for it. "Anything new nerd…Gracie!" Shego yelled when she saw Gracie's face on the screen.
"Mom I can't talk long. Drakken has taken Grandpa and someone is helping me bring him back."
"Gracie slow down", begged Shego. Kim ran over to Shego and both parents pressed their faces close to the phone's screen.
"Gracie where are you?" asked Kim.
"I can't say right now. I'll contact you again when I can. Trust me. I love you both". With that the screen went blank.
"No!" both parents yelled at the same time. Kim quickly drew out her Kimmunicator.
"Wade tell me you can get a fix on the Shegophone's last transmission".
"Sorry Kim, The signal bounced off several satellites and the unit itself is still masked from my tracking. Gracie didn't stay on long enough for me to get a fix".
"How could she be so impetuous to run off after Drakken?" asked Kim.
"Your right Kim there is no way we would ever have done that at her age", said Ron.
"Not helping Ron", said Shego. "Did you see the outfit she was wearing? A red and black suit of some sort. Remind you of anyone?"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Thank you", said Gracie, as she handed her Kimmunicator back to the Raider. He took it and once again stored it in his suit.
"Our ETA to target is only a few minutes away", said the Raider.
"How do we plan to do this?"
"The base is underwater in the northern Hudson Bay and at this time of year the bay top is frozen over. We will avoid the main entrance by cutting through the ice and going underwater and entering through the open sub bay".
"Under the water?"
"I have respirators on board and your suit will help insulate you form the cold. You can swim can't you?"
"Yes, I can swim."
"Another thing. In all probability we will meet resistance of some sort so I need to know that you can use that if necessary", the Raider pointed at the gun she wore on her hip.
"I can uphold my end".
Yes, I believe you can but at what cost, thought the Raider. It's not too late to back out. A simple stunning blow would render her unconscious and he could go ahead without her. Was it his instinct or his own selfishness that stopped him from stopping her? He knew this wasn't for her. It was for him. He needed proof that what he was doing was right and only she could give it to him.
"I hate to say this but I don't have a breathing apparatus for your companion."
Gracie looked to George who only viewed the Raider with clear mistrust. "George, I want you to stay here and guard the ship." George shook his head in the negative and looked pleadingly at Gracie. "Please."
"Okay", said George reluctantly. Gracie patted his head and moved to gather her gear.
With Gracie distracted the Raider leaned down to George. "I have it on good authority to trust you. So trust me when I say I will die before I let anything happen to her". George stared hard at the Raider for several moments before nodding his head. Alright that does it I am talking to a rat. I have officially gone off the deep end.
The hovercraft landed on an ice flow within the bay. The Raider confirmed that they were still undetected by the bases security systems. Their suits should cloak them from the scans until they were right on top of the base. They exited the craft and using a small laser torch cut a hole into the ice. The Raider slung one pack of supplies onto his back. He then gave Gracie one pack to carry and her respirator.
"Stay right behind me. If you get lost under the ice you may not find your way out. The respirators only carry a few minutes' worth of oxygen".
"Understood". I can do this thought Gracie. My parents have trained me well. This isn't the partner I expected for my first solo mission but maybe that's appropriate. Maybe this is fate's way of testing me.
Donning his respirator the Raider dove into the hole and disappeared below the ice.
Moment of truth, Gracie. Are you a Possible or not? Gracie drew a deep breath donned her respirator and dove in. The water was like ice. The shock momentarily disoriented her and she lost sight of the Raider. Suddenly she felt something grab her and she was staring into the Raider's mask. He activated a small chemical light and began swimming off into the darkness below the ice. Gracie followed swimming in the cold darkness with only the Raider as her guide until she began to see lights ahead. The shape of an underwater installation began to appear before her. There were only a few lights but they allowed her to orient herself better on their target. They swam by several different levels until she saw the Raider turn and point up into what appeared to be a bay open to the water. The Raider motioned for Gracie to wait and he swam up alone. Floating in the cold water Gracie pondered how if someone had told her earlier that she would be associating with a wanted criminal and breaking into a secret installation she would have thought that exciting. Reality can be so unkind. Suddenly the Raider appeared before her again indicating she should swim up.
She emerged from the water into an open room. It was dimly lit with lights just above the waterline. The Raider pulled himself out of the water and then lifted Gracie out. Gracie scanned the room and noticed four red uniforms and the drones inside them were still in the process of dissolving. He took out four of them in a matter of seconds. Yeah, she thought, I slapped him and got away with it. She pulled her 9mm and checked it to make sure it was clear of water then loaded it, attached the silencer, and chambered a round.
"Only if you must", warned the Raider. "But if you must, don't hesitate. Stay behind me but not too close." Gracie nodded and the Raider drew out knives in each hand and advanced out of the room. They quietly left the sub bay and moved out along dimly lit corridors. Soon they approached an intersection when two drones appeared around the bend. The Raider struck first burying one knife in the first drones chest then following up with a throat strike to the second. The momentum of his strikes turned him around as a third drone emerged behind him. Gracie saw the drone raise a firearm so she aimed and fired as one of the Raider' knives flew by her head. Her shot was true and took the drone directly in the forehead. She turned quickly to see a fourth drone behind her fall with a knife in its eye. All four drones began to dissolve and Gracie stared down at the drone she had shot.
"What do you think happens to them when they die?" asked Gracie.
"The same thing that happens to everything else. It's simply gone. It doesn't exist in that capacity anymore", said the Raider.
"That's cold. Life should make a difference. Even for these things".
"It says much of you Gracie and your upbringing that you care. But I can't afford too."
"So you believe in nothing?"
"I believe all beings wish to survive. I believe a drowning man will reach for any hope to stay afloat and convince himself that he was justified to do it".
"It sounds like you are trying too hard to convince yourself of that".
"Enough, we still have far to go". If it was anyone else but her lecturing me, they would be in trouble. No, this is what I wanted. These are the exact questions I wanted to discuss with her. So why am I so angry at her for posing them? Because you are afraid she is right. What does that make you?
They entered a large open laboratory complex. The room looked to have been recently been used but now everything had been taken out. "It's gone. They have taken it. I need to check on some things. Wait here", ordered the Raider as he advanced through into the room.
Gracie leaned back against a wall where she had a good view of the area. She wished there was more light but only small emergency lights were on and she didn't have anything else. She could barely make out the Raider as he moved through the room. She saw the Robot descend from the ceiling looking like a great spider on eight articulated legs. The eight legs fed into a central body and three red-eye like sensor stalks emerged from the top. The metal monstrosity made no sound as it descended and it almost fell on the Raider before he appeared to notice it. Four of the legs acted as support as it landed. Two of the limbs erupted in blades that began spinning while the last two began glowing red and emitted high intensity lasers that seemed to track the Raider barely missing him.
The Raider rolled, weaved, and somehow evaded the swirling blades, crushing feet, and lasers but was unable to launch any form of counter offensive. Gracie aimed and began firing into the central body. The shots seemed to glance off the armored form without causing any real damage. The robot didn't even pay Gracie any attention as she emptied her first clip.
"Take out its sensors", yelled the Raider over the sounds of battle.
Gracie reloaded and this time took careful aim and her first shot went wide but her second scored a hit on one of the sensor stalks which then exploded. The robot now turned on Gracie raising its two laser arms. Gracie sprinted along the wall as the light beams began tracking her and scouring the wall behind. There is no cover in here, thought Gracie as she ran around the room quickly.
Gracie saw a red and black figure twist through the air and slice through the two laser arms of the spider robot. The Raider now wielded the blade from his waist which shown with a reflective energy sheen. It had cut through the metal of the robot like butter. The robot now turned on the Raider smashing with its walking legs while slicing horizontal with its bladed limbs. The Raider was forced to retreat and the robot advanced driving him back against a wall of the room.
Gracie knelt on one knee and remembered the teaching of her nanny and friend Abigail Normal. Control your breathing, don't rush your shot, and squeeze the trigger don't pull. She took aim at a second sensor eye and fired. The sensor exploded raining sparks down on the rest of the robot. The Raider dashed forward into the rain of sparks and sliced off one of the walking limbs causing the robot to momentarily lose its balance. To compensate the robot chose to spin like a top flinging its limbs out in all directions. It was uncoordinated and off balance but it worked. One of its limbs caught the Raider square in the chest flinging him away from it and into one of the lab walls.
The robot righted itself on three legs and then turned on Gracie. Gracie tried to target the remaining sensor but the robot never offered a clear target. The robot advanced as Gracie tried to move around the labs perimeter to keep her distance. A long bladed knife flew through the air and struck the robot high on its central body. Gracie watched wondering what good that would do until the top of the robots central body exploded. The robot now deprived of its sensors started to careen around the room. Finally it stopped and began shuddering. Gracie stared wondering what was happening when the Raider pulled her down and turned over a lab table and covered her body with his own.
The blast of the exploding robot was deafening in the enclosed room and Gracie couldn't hear anything for a few seconds until she heard the painful cry of the Raider. A piece of elongated shrapnel had punched through the table to impale the left hand of the Raider. As Gracie watched he pulled the metal shard out flexing his hand against the pain. Gracie checked herself out quickly and found she was uninjured and the Raider had escaped harm except for his hand.
"Here, let me help you", and Gracie took the Raider left hand between her own and began her healing meditations. She felt her energy flow into the Raider's hand.
Gracie then felt a hand at the side of her head as her hair was brushed back behind her ear. The touch was surprisingly gentle and almost tentative as the touch of someone familiar. "You look so much like mother", said the Raider.
"Yes, many people say I look like my mother. I take that a compliment". She felt the wound closing and the Raider began to flex and work the hand without the pain he had shown before.
"Thank you", said the Raider as he stood and surveyed the damage caused by the robot's explosion. The hull of the lab had been breached and water was pouring into the facility. "We don't have much time. Let's go ahead to the containment level. If your grandfather is here that is where he will be".
They once again moved through the lair but this time there was ankle-deep water. The containment level had several corridors of doors so they began opening each one as they came to it. Gracie kept opening the doors as the Raider kept watch but no further threats appeared.
"Grandpa", Gracie cried out as she finally opened a door and found Dr. James Possible sitting on a bed.
"Gracie! What on Earth are you doing here?" asked James as he caught Gracie as she ran in to embrace him. It was then that they heard the lair's public address system.
"Security breach. Ron Stoppable protocol has been initiated. Security breach. Ron Stoppable protocol has been initiated."
"What does that mean?" asked Gracie.
"Self-destruct", answered the Raider.
"I'm surprised Drew would think of something like that", added Dr. Possible.
"I'm surprised he remembered the name", joked the Raider. "Time to leave, now."
The trio ran through thigh deep water. The Raider led them up through the lair to the main entrance and then removed a package from his pack and hurled it at the door. The resulting explosion blew a large hole in the entrance and now allowed even more water to enter the lair. Through the water there was a small opening to the night sky. He pulled Gracie's pack off her back and strapped it to Dr. Possible's back. He then activated the Jet pack and it wings and controls popped out.
"Groovy", said Dr. Possible. "Back in my day we….wooow!" yelled Dr. Possible as the Raider ignited his pack and he flew up through the main entrance.
The Raider activated his own jet pack and quickly scooped Gracie up into his arms. "He didn't just say groovy did he?"
"He did", laughed Gracie. Darn, he is strong, thought Gracie, as he swings me around like a feather. The Raider ignited his own pack and suddenly they were airborne flying out of the main entrance. The raider quickly caught up to Dr. Possible and together they maneuvered back to the hovercraft. Behind them the ice erupted in great explosion as the base began to destroy itself.
Once at the hovercraft the trio boarded, much to the relief of George who leapt into Gracie's arms and glared menacingly at the Raider. They immediately took off before the ice flow became compromised. After checking to make sure her grandfather was alright Gracie left him sitting in the central room as she joined the Raider in the cockpit.
"Did you find anything you were looking for?" asked Gracie.
"I guess that depends on what I was trying to learn".
"About how they were able to betray you".
"No, I wasn't able to find out anything about that. Therefore, I will have to hunt them down".
"What else were you trying to learn?"
"I had posed a difficult query to myself on my endeavors and I sought enlightenment".
"Did you find any answers?"
"Yes, and they were satisfactory".
"Then not a total loss", smiled Gracie.
"No, not total."
"May I ask you something personal?" said Gracie turning in her chair to directly address the Raider.
"Yes."
"You said they named you Vega One when you were found as a baby and the villain name you were given was the Red Raider. Which do you prefer?"
"Neither. They both were hung on me by people who had no right to name me. So I tolerate their use which means I have no preference".
"Why not chose a name yourself?"
"Choosing your own name would, in my opinion, be the height of vanity or ego. I don't have time for either of those". Gracie could see that she had touched a nerve here so she let the subject drop. "I will drop you off near Middleton. You can use your communications once I'm gone."
True to his word the Raider landed near Middleton and disembarked his two passengers.
"I apologize once again for the inconvenience Dr. Possible. When this is over if I can return your work to you then I will", the Raider extended his hand.
James took the hand. "You returned Gracie to me. I count that as more important."
"Well it's been fun", said Gracie.
"Yes, it has. If you ever get tired of playing the good girl let me know. I could use someone like you". The Raider tossed Gracie back her Kimmunicator. The Raider closed the hovercraft and lifted off into the night.
"I'm sorry we didn't get back any of your research grandpa."
"Not to worry Gracie. I got it all up here", said Dr. Possible as he tapped his head.
"Are you alright Grandpa?"
"I am for the moment but I'm concerned about what will happen when your parents arrive".
"Oh, don't remind me. You'll put a good word in for me won't you?"
"I intend to save myself, you young woman are on you own".
"Aww, Grandpa".
Author's Notes:
Thus ends the first episodes of the dynamic duo. There was a lot of hidden meanings to the Raider's conversations with Gracie. Hard decisions are in store for our characters in the near future.
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.