Doctor Betty Director of GJ sat in her office at the end of the day thankful that she was about to have a break. Maybe something Italian tonight with a little wine and who knows maybe some company. God knows, it had been long enough since her last outing.
There were a few reports left to go over but nothing that couldn't wait until tomorrow if it had too. She was distracted by the sound of cheering in the distance. I guess I'm not the only one who is happy the day is almost over. As she got back to reading another report she heard the cheer again. Something wasn't right so she pressed the summons button for her aide. There was no immediate response. Well that damn well wasn't right, so getting up from her chair she strode to the door of her office ready to chew someone out. When she opened the door she found her outer staff gone.
Then she heard the sound of cheering again only louder now. It was coming from the tech area so with quick purposeful strides she set off in that direction. All the offices and rooms she passed along the way were empty of any GJ staff.
She finally found her people, about fifty of them, packed into the tactical viewing room all staring at the large viewing screen. Special Agent Will Du was in the center of the mob actually smiling up at the screen. As she entered the room someone saw her and motioned to Will and the large screen went blank before she could see what was on it.
"Would someone like to explain to me exactly what is going on?" asked the Director.
"Excuse us, Director. We were just reviewing some footage from the Arizona Motor Ed incident", said Will as several GJ personnel started to leave the room.
"Nobody leaves this room is that clear," shouted the Director. "I haven't yet viewed any of the footage from that incident. Perhaps I should view it as well".
"Director now may not be the best time", said Will.
"I said now Agent and from the beginning".
"Yes director".
Everyone turned to the large viewing screen and after a second the scene changed to what looked like an aerial view from a GJ hover transport.
"What footage is this?" asked the director.
"It's video from Mr. Stoppable in his team's pursuit of Motor Ed", said Will.
The video footage was sloppy and often erratic but it showed several ground and aerial vehicles in pursuit of a large APC. The Director watched as the APC shot down a pair of helicopters and proceeded to trash several military and civilian vehicles. As the crowd around her watched the scenes unfold an almost sporting event like feeling began to grow in the room. As the APC crushed or wrecked other vehicles the staff began to groan and shout. The scene changed and focused now on a motorcycle that approached the APC from the rear. The Director saw that Agent Normal and the Raider were aboard the bike. She watched as agent Normal leapt upon the APC and was aided by a backside assist from the Raider. The staff around her cheered when Agent Normal was assisted up. She continued to watch as Agent Normal battled a pair of women and she saw first one woman kicked from the APC and Mr. Stoppable shoot the other from his transport. The crowd cheered when the two women were dispatched.
Then she saw Agent Normal trapped by Motor Ed and then Mr. Stoppable drop smoke bombs on the APC. With a bit of shock and no small amount of respect she watched as the Raider played chicken with the APC and then rescues Agent Normal and Motor Ed before the APC ran off a cliff and exploded. The crowd of GJ personnel around her cheered again when the APC was destroyed.
Then the scene changed to a much closer view of Motor Ed and Agent Normal wearing little more than a few conveniently placed pieces of string. She watched as Agent Normal punched Motor Ed rendering the subject unconscious. A boisterous cheer went up from the GJ personnel when Normal struck Motor Ed. Agent Normal was then seen chasing Mr. Stoppable and the Raider presumably to stop them from continuing their recording.
"Agent Normal is most definitely out of uniform", said the Director.
She was sure this would be the end of the viewing but the scene changed again. The scene changed to the inside of a bar where Agent Normal, while still out of uniform, yanked the Raider on to a dance floor. Then after some initial confusion on the Raider's part they began to dance. Then Agent Normal kneed the Raider in his genitals and left the bar. The crowd of GJ personnel erupted in cheers when the Raider was incapacitated. The playback ended after that.
"I see most informative. I suspect that everyone here does have some duty they should be performing", a chorus of affirmative answers was received. "Then I shall not keep you from those duties any longer". The crowds of GJ personnel quickly began to exit from the room. The Director stopped Agent Du from leaving but waited until they were alone.
"Make sure I get a copy of all that".
"Yes, Director".
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"Can we see it again?" asked Shego.
"Come on Eme do we really have to torture the poor woman?" Said Kim as she sat on the sofa next to Shego as her wife played with the television remote control. Abby sat on the other couch reading a magazine. It was late and all the children were asleep.
"Oh, let her Kim and maybe she will get it out if her system".
"Get enough of you crushing the Raider. I don't think so". Shego emphasized her words with raising her knee as if she was hitting someone.
"I got mad and I shouldn't have done that. He did his job and better than almost anyone else could have done".
"From what you said he was being an arrogant prick and he got what he deserved", said Shego.
"What if I hit you every time you were being arrogant?" Kim laughed at that and Shego frowned at Abby.
"It's not arrogance if you really are the best, which I am", said Shego.
"I swear you and he are alike in so many ways", said Abby.
"Hey Normal! I will take a lot crap but that is going too far".
"Would you prefer that I hit you instead?"
"In your dreams".
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It had been three long weeks since the Motor Ed incident. The Raider sat on the GJ transport with a dozen special operation commandos. They had just spent the morning checking out a lead that turned out to be drug cartel front. The Raider suspected that Doctor Director was using him as hired muscle. He didn't mind as he was fighting for time, literally. The longer he kept GJ chasing its own tail the more time he bought the project. He just needed to find it and the Proconsul.
The Transport was nearing Middleton. It was always his favorite time as he would look out a window and wonder what they were doing below, especially her.
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"Team leader subject one is in play as we expected".
"Attention everyone we have a green light on operation Journal. Begin phase one".
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It was the next to last period of the school day when Shego received the call. GJ had a confirmed lead on the whereabouts of DNAmy. Even though she had stayed off the radar these past few months she was still high on the wanted list. Also Shego had her own reasons for wanting to talk to Amy and they were none of GJ's concern.
Shego called Ron and arranged to rendezvous with him at the Possible Palace. The good news was that the Raider was on another mission so she didn't have to put up with him on this mission. As Shego climbed in her car and sped out of the school parking lot she didn't notice the line of nondescript cars that waited just outside of school grounds.
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"Subject two has left the school. Subject three and four are still on site. Phase one complete", said the passenger of the lead car outside the school.
"Status of subject one?"
"Subject one should be passing over Middleton shortly".
"Good, inform interior teams proceed to phase two".
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Mary Stewart closed the locker after putting her books away. She was anxious for her last period class to be over. When she turned from her locker she noticed the school corridor was almost empty. As she rounded a corner toward her last class she ran into two unknown men. They quickly grabbed her and covered her mouth to keep her from screaming. They quickly exited the hallway down a stairway.
Gracie Possible had just sat down in her last period class when one of her classmates handed her a note. When Gracie questioned them about the note they said a man had asked them to deliver it to her. Confused Gracie opened the note, which contained a recognizable piece of Mary's hair, and quickly her confusion turned to fear and then anger.
Gracie Possible we have your friend Mary Stewart. If you alert anyone: classmates, teachers, administrators, GJ, or any other authorities we will kill your friend. When class is over wait for the school to clear and come to the gymnasium women's locker room and bring the Journal. If you fail to comply your friend will die. Know that you are being watched at all times and any action you take other than to comply with our demands will result in your friend's death.
Gracie read the note three times before she could truly believe what was happening. She knew her momma had left but she still had her Kimmunicator. But if she called someone then that might get Mary killed. Also there was a light on her Kimmunicator that had been blinking for weeks now and she didn't know why. No time to worry about that now. She began looking around the classroom and outside the windows but couldn't see anyone. Still she couldn't take the chance that she wasn't being watched.
Gracie took some paper and began writing on it while keeping it out of view below her desk. When she was done she folded the paper into a small note and waited for the end of class. Time seemed to move very slowly as she waited and she kept watching hoping to get a glimpse of someone but no one ever showed up. As the bell rand signaling that class and the school day was over she quickly got up and moved across the classroom to her friend Billy Murphy's desk.
"Hey, Gracie will you be needing a ride home?" said Billy as he gathered his things.
"No, thank you Billy. I'll be fine", said Gracie as she placed her Kimmunicator and her note on his desk. Billy turned appearing confused until her saw Gracie's face and he sobered immediately. She nodded at the note and then turned and left the classroom. Billy opened the note and read it.
Billy I don't want to scare you but I am in trouble. Someone has kidnapped Mary and is using her to coerce me into doing something for them. It is something I can't do. I need you to go to my locker and find an unmarked Journal. This mustn't fall into anyone else's hands even the authorities. Take this Journal and hide it. Don't give it to anyone except me or the Raider (scary guy in red armor). Please don't call the police or anyone else because they will hurt Mary. With the Journal safe I will be free to help Mary. I will explain as much as I can later so for now you have to trust me. Gracie.
Billy reread the note and then stood up to look for Gracie but she was gone. Billy stepped into the school corridor and saw the other students beginning to file out of the school. It was then that Billy saw his friend Jimmy Fiddler and he quickly motioned him over. Jimmy came over and when he saw Billy's face he grew concerned.
"What's wrong man?"
Billy pulled Jimmy into the now empty classroom and gave him the note Gracie had given him. Jimmy read the note as Billy continued to watch the school corridor for any sign of Gracie or anyone else.
"Is this on the level?" asked Jimmy.
"Yes", said Billy.
"We have to get some help".
"Not yet. First we have to do as Gracie asked then we will see".
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Inside the school's gymnasium's women's locker room thirteen men and one girl waited. Twelve well-armed men carrying a variety of weapons waited while their leader a bald-headed man in a business suit paced back and forth across the room. Two of the men stood over a very scared Mary as she sat on the floor crying.
"Subject one's plane should just be passing by Middleton now sir", said one of the men who was sitting before a small communication set up.
"Excellent. You four go make sure the school is empty and remove any remaining school staff from interfering. You six go get me the girl. You get me the Raider on that damned thing."
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The Raider stared out the transport's window at the site of Middleton below. He couldn't make out any specific structure from his viewpoint it was just the knowledge that they were below that interested him. It was then that the pilot yelled back to him and the GJ team.
"Lieutenant we are receiving a signal from someone asking to talk to the Raider", said the transport's pilot. The lieutenant in charge of the GJ team looked at the Raider who only shrugged his shoulders indicating his ignorance of the call. They both moved toward the cockpit of the transport.
"Is it coming from GJ?" asked the lieutenant.
"No sir. It's coming from a civilian channel and we are having difficulty tracing it".
"Put it through", said the Raider. The pilot looked to the lieutenant who only nodded.
"Greetings am I speaking to the Red Raider", came a male voice on the intercom.
"Yes, who am I addressing", answered the Raider.
"Who I am is not relevant. What is relevant is that I have Gracie Possible and her friend at Middleton high school. If you alert GJ or any of the local authorities I will kill both of them. I want the Journal and am willing to trade these girls for it. I will allow you to come to the school but if any other GJ personnel show up I will kill the girls. If I hear one siren or see one agent the deal is off and the girls will die. Do we understand each other?"
"I understand".
"Good if you're not here in the next thirty minutes the deal is off and the girls die, goodbye".
The Raider quickly checked his watch and marked the time. He surveyed the team and quickly started to form a tactical plan.
"What is this Journal?" asked the Lieutenant.
"Important intelligence that I can't allow to fall into their hands", said the Raider.
"We must inform GJ and the Director at once and request instructions".
"We can't because it will force her to respond and I can't risk harm to the girls".
"That is not your call".
The Raider turned to the GJ officer and drew himself up to full height and was forced to reign in his temper. "We have an effective team here now and with your help we can move on these bastards. This is Kim Possible's daughter we are talking about. Surely that should mean something to you guys".
The Lieutenant pulled his sidearm and pointed it at the Raider. "We have protocols to follow. I am placing you under arrest until we have further orders from the Director".
"Lieutenant, I am going to ask only once more for your help. After that I am going to make you pull that trigger", said the Raider in a low a dangerous voice. The rest of the GJ agents all got up and drew their weapons. There were twelve of them all heavily armed and trained to fight as a team.
They never stood a chance.
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Billy and Jimmy got to Gracie's locker. Billy opened the locker as Jimmy kept watch. The hallways were empty as the students and teachers had all left. In fact they hadn't seen anyone around for some time. When the locker was open, Billy looked through it finding normal school books and supplies. He finally found one unmarked folder that looked like a journal. He opened it to find it full of pages upon pages of unrecognizable data and writings. He quickly closed it up. Probably better I don't know what's in there, Billy thought.
"Jimmy I want you to take these things and get out here", said Billy as he handed him the Journal and the Kimmunicator.
"Why me? I want to help the girls too. Mary means a lot to me and Gracie as well".
"I know but Gracie wanted us to keep that thing safe and we can't do it if we both stay. Get out of here and find someplace nearby to hide. If the girls and I aren't out in thirty minutes call my dad and he will bring the police. But whatever you do don't let anyone else have that Journal even the police until we talk to Gracie".
Billy could see his friend wanting to stay but eventually he nodded and turned toward the exit. Billy waited until Jimmy was safely outside and he turned back and began to quietly begin searching for the girls.
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The buzzer on her desk sounded and Doctor Betty Director of GJ noticed it was the level one alert alarm signal. Raising her eyebrow in wonder she contemplated what could be happening to elicit such an alarm. She pressed her answer button.
"Director here what's the problem?"
"Director this is air control services and we have an apparent problem with one of our inbound flights".
"What do you mean apparent problem, do you or don't you have a problem?"
"Director it's the flight carrying the Red Raider and it has deviated from its course over Middleton and we have received no update from the flight and we have been unable to contact it ourselves".
"Have we lost the Raider's tracking signal?"
"No Director we still have him on the flight".
"What deviation has the flight taken?"
"It's losing altitude quickly but it seems to be a controlled descent".
"Where is it coming down?"
"If it maintains its descent path it seems to be coming down on top of Middleton High School".
Gracie, it has to be Gracie. But why would he be going there now. He isn't trying to hide and an obvious move like this isn't his style. Unless he knows something we don't.
"I want the Middleton branch of GJ mobilized at once. I want to converge on Middleton high as soon as possible but tell them to do it quietly. I don't want to alarm the Raider or whoever else might be there. Oh, and until I say otherwise the Raider is to be treated as non-hostile but I want him recovered and in our custody as quickly as possible".
"At once Director", and air control cut the call. Betty jumped and pressed the call for her aide.
"Yes, Director".
"Contact Special Agent Du and get my personal team together we are going to Middleton immediately".
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The two men were obviously professional mercenaries. They covered each other as they moved down the school hallway searching for something. Gracie imagined they were looking for her. She was crouched above the lockers along the hall and as the men moved below her she dropped on the first. She drove her knee in his back driving him to the floor and he let out a strangled cry as she smashed his head into the hallway floor. His partner turned quickly but Gracie sprang forward off the first and kicked his rifle wide and continued her spin to bring her leg around to catch him across the side of the head. He dropped down and she finished him with a scissors kick.
Gracie quickly looked around to see if anyone else had seen her but she was still alone. The two men were out so she searched both of them. She found handcuffs on both and used them to secure their arms behind their backs and threw the keys away. Abby had taught her how to use and disassemble guns so she broke theirs apart and scattered the pieces. She found a collapsible fighting baton on each man so she took those and continued her hunt.
The next pair she found outside the cafeteria and ambushed them from under her favorite table. She left them as cuffed and incapacitated as the first pair. The third pair she found inside the gymnasium and surprised them from the top of the bleachers. They were left cuffed and out under the bleachers. Gracie disarmed them but this time she kept one of the assault rifles. She didn't like to use one of these things but she was nearing the women's locker room and she didn't know how many would be in there.
She heard some voices coming from the locker room and when she burst in through the rear door she found six of them there and Mary sitting on the floor in the middle to them.
"Nobody move or I fire," shouted Gracie. The six men all froze and Mary looked up with hope and then horror. Gracie wondered what was wrong until she was hit from behind and everything went black.
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Gracie regained consciousness when someone threw water in her face. She sputtered for a moment and then her focus returned. She found herself seated next to Mary on the floor of the locker room looking up into the face of a bald man in a suit. Surrounding them were the six armed men she had seen before. The bald man slapped her hard and her check hurt and her teeth rattled from the impact.
"Think you're pretty smart you little bitch. Since my men haven't returned I figure I have you to thank for that. Well we will see how you hold up now". The bald man now stood and pulled on a pair of black gloves as he opened a black case of metal surgical instruments. "If you tell me where the Journal is I promise you and your friend will keep yourselves intact but if not then I will remove a piece of you at a time".
"You don't have to threaten us. The Journal is in my locker", said Gracie.
"You give in just like that. I don't think so. That is not the Possible reputation".
"I can take you straight to it". The bald man seemed to consider Gracie and then nodded his head.
"Very well but if it is not there then I'm afraid your friend here will pay the price and it will be a painful lesson. You two stay with her". The bald man and four of his men escorted Gracie from the gymnasium to the hallways outside. As they passed the school offices Gracie saw bodies lying in the rooms and she could not tell it they were dead or alive.
When they reached the hallway with her locker, she could see that it stood open. She indicated the locker and the bald man pulled everything out of it. He angrily threw everything to the floor and then strode back over to Gracie slapping her again. Gracie almost passed out again from the blow.
"There is nothing here".
"As you can see it looks like someone else got here first", said Gracie as she shook her head to clear it. "If someone took the Journal then Mary and I are useless now in finding it".
"Maybe but I bet you know who took it and where they might be".
Everyone now heard the sound of something landing in the parking area outside. One of the men with the bald man rushed to a window to see. 'Sir, it's the Raider's transport".
"You four bring me the Raider either willing or unwilling. The girl and I have some unfinished business back in the gym". The four men quickly ran towards the parking area while the bald man twisted Gracie's arm behind her back and marched her back to the gym.
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The Raider set the transport down in the high school parking lot. The transport looked like a war zone. The crumbled bodies of the GJ commando team lay everywhere. The transport almost went down due to the damage caused by the fight. No one was dead but several would be many days recovering as the Raider had to pull no punches, literally, to win against so many. He suspected his arrival had not gone unnoticed so he knew GJ would be coming as his tracker was still activated. He didn't have much time.
The four mercenaries watched the GJ transport for signs of movement and saw a small turret on the top rotate and discharge several globes into the parking lot. These globes exploded into gas clouds that totally obscured the transport from view.
"We can't see him we should fall back", said one of the mercenaries.
"Don't panic he still has to come to us", said another.
The gas cloud expanded and reached the schools doors and still the mercenaries saw nothing.
A round object suddenly crashed through one of the glass doors and rolled around at their feet. The four men didn't recognize the device and it didn't look like a grenade. The device sat for a second and then began emitting a deafening sonic wave. All four men grabbed their ears in pain as the Raider came through the door and was now among them.
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The Bald man threw Gracie back in the locker room. He then undid his tie and took his suit jacket off.
"You come with me", he indicated one of the remaining men. "You stay with her. I'm going to teach this little girl some manners before the Raider arrives".
The man he indicated picked Gracie up and followed the bald man as he walked to the other side of the locker room where Mary could not see them.
Billy crept quietly into the locker room. He now carried a baseball bat that he had found in the men's locker room across the gym. He saw Mary sitting on the floor and one man standing over her. The man's attention was fixed at something on the other side of the room so he had not yet seen Billy. Billy moved closer and swinging as hard as he could struck the man in the back of the head. The man collapsed like a cut tree and Billy waited a second to see if any alarm was raised but no one appeared to notice. Mary jumped up off the floor and into Billy's arms.
"They have Gracie over on the other side of the room", Mary whispered.
"How many of them are there?"
"Two".
"Mary I want you to leave and go out the back entrance to the school. Jimmy is out there somewhere find him and when you do get him to call my father".
"I can't leave you".
"I have to help Gracie and you need to get somewhere safe, please".
"All right be careful", said Mary as she quickly fled from the locker room.
Billy reached down and pulled the sidearm from the man he had knocked down. It looked like a 9mm pistol and his father, being a police officer, had taught him how to use a gun at a young age. He quietly chambered a round and began moving toward the other side of the locker room.
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Gracie was roughly thrown to the floor and held down by the mercenary with the bald man. The bald man reached down and pulled off Gracie's shoes. He started to remove her pants and Gracie became aware of what they might now intend. Horrified she began to thrash and kick but the bald man succeeded in removing her pants.
"So little girl are you ready to tell me who it was who took the Journal from your locker and where they might be found?" The bald man now removed his pants and Gracie could now see him completely and his state of arousal.
Now clothed from the waist down in only her panties she cried out and spat into the face of the mercenary holding her. The man struck Gracie hard upside the head and she lost consciousness.
"You idiot she's no good to us like that", said the bald man as he removed Gracie's panties and knelt between her legs. "Well I figure she'll wake up pretty quick once I stuff this big boy in her".
Billy struck the mercenary holding Gracie down with the bat even harder than the man he had hit earlier. The man fell forward and to the side of Gracie. Billy now held the gun pointed at the bald man's forehead with a look of absolute rage on his face. Billy had never in his life felt the all-encompassing murderous wrath that now racked his mind. Seeing his Gracie lying there looking like that with this worthless animal atop her. He pulled back the hammer on the pistol and could see the fear in the bald man's eyes.
"Billy….Billy Murphy". In the middle of Billy's rage he heard a soft male voice that he didn't recognize. His rage did not lessen but he now saw a man in red armor carrying a sword enter the locker room on the other side of the bald man.
"Who are you", said Billy without taking his eyes from the bald man.
"I am known as the Raider and I am an associate of Gracie's. I know you care for her and so do I".
"He was going too", and Billy's hand shook with rage.
"I know what he was going to do but he isn't any more, you and I won't let him. Billy listen to me. You stand on the brink of the abyss. A pit of darkness from which there is no return, I know this Billy because I fell into this hole long ago. This piece of filth is not worth it. Gracie wouldn't want you to do it".
The Raider advanced slowly up to the bald man who still knelt between Gracie's legs but now his state of arousal was much less evident. Billy lowered the gun as the Raider placed his sword along the bald man's throat.
"Back up right now", the Raider told the bald man. Billy heard the Raider speak now with such contempt and hate that he was surprised because he had spoken so calm and softly earlier. The Raider picked up Gracie's clothes and handed them to Billy. "Take Gracie outside and no matter what happens don't come back in here".
Billy picked up Gracie and her clothes and quickly left the locker room without looking back. The Raider watched Billy go and when they were alone again he turned back to the bald man.
"So you're the Raider. If I didn't recover the Journal and I met you I was to deliver you a message from the Proconsul".
"I'm listening", said the Raider as he moved his sword under the bald man's chin.
"The Proconsul says that there is still a place for you in his future. You can be at his right hand. He says he will do it smarter this time and that the future will be better. All you have to do is bring the Journal, the subject, and whatever else you have collected to him and all will be forgiven".
"Where is he?"
"I don't know where he has the project but I met him in Paris and he gave me this assignment. If you agree I was to return with an answer".
"I will send the Proconsul my own message, thank you. You see I can't let you tell GJ what you've told me here. If you know of the Journal, the subject, and the rest you know too much. Also you did just try to rape my SISTER!"
"Your what?" said the bald man suddenly realizing the horror of his situation.
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Jimmy Fiddler sat across the street from the high school watching for any sign of his friends. He had seen the GJ transport set down in the parking lot and the huge cloud of smoke that came up after it. The cloud had cleared and he was just to the point of calling for help when he saw Mary walking around the outside of the school. He immediately broke from cover to wave to her. It took Mary a few moments to spot him but when she did she ran over to him. Jimmy could see that Mary had cried but otherwise she looked unhurt.
"Are you all right? Did you see the others?" asked Jimmy as Mary crashed into him all but knocking him to the ground.
"Billy helped me get free but they still had Gracie so he sent me out here while he stayed to help her. He said for you to call for help as soon as I found you". Jimmy led Mary back behind cover before someone spotted them. Jimmy was just about to try to work the Kimmunicator when he saw Billy come out the school entrance carrying Gracie.
"Mary look", said Jimmy as they both got up and began waving toward Billy. Billy saw them almost immediately and ran as quickly as he could while carrying his friend. Gracie was just starting to come around when Billy reached them. Gracie began to thrash and fight as she came around.
"Gracie it's us. You're all right", pleaded Billy as Gracie quieted down and began to cry in his arms. Gracie's check was swollen and one of her eyes was already starting to darken. All three of her friends embraced Gracie and held her until her struggles lessened and her crying began to end.
Billy looked up toward the entrance of the school and saw the strange figure in red armor emerge from the school dragging several bodies behind him. The figure, the Raider he believed he was called, piled several bodies before the school entrance and then sat down on the front steps of the school.
"Tell me what happened after I was out, Billy?" asked Gracie as she began to put her clothes back on. Billy told of what happened after he freed Mary and of his encounter with the Raider.
"Gracie there's the Raider", said Jimmy.
"We need to get the Journal to him before the authorities arrive", said Gracie as she stood up and took the Journal from Jimmy. She quickly led her friends back to the school grounds and moved around the GJ transport and up to the school entrance. The Raider didn't move but simply sat on the steps and pulled a metal flask from his belt and sipped from it.
As she and her friends all knelt before the Raider Gracie took the Journal and threw it at him. "Here take the damn thing. It could have gotten us all killed. You didn't say anything about people coming to take it from me".
The Raider caught the Journal and quickly placed it inside his armor. "I didn't believe anyone would connect you to the Journal. I was wrong. I'm sorry".
Much to the surprise of her friends and the Raider Gracie jumped up and hugged him. "Apology accepted", said Gracie. Then in a low voice only the raider could hear she continued. "Thank you for coming for me and for helping Billy. You were right I wouldn't have wanted him to do that. By the way what happened to that piece of filth?"
"Don't ask questions you don't want to know the answer too". Gracie stared hard into the mask of the Raider and even though see couldn't see his face she felt his anger and his shame. She nodded in understanding and went back to join her friends in front of the Raider. The Raider now leaned forward and addressed them all.
"Now listen to me, any second GJ and who knows who else will descend on this place and me in particular. The one thing I ask is that you not mention the Journal or that you had possession of it. Tell them these idiots asked you for it but you had no idea what they were talking about. What it contains is too dangerous for anyone else to have at this time. The fact that these men were willing to kill to get it should explain that".
"You want us to lie", said Mary.
"I want you to omit".
"A lie of omission is still a lie", said Mary.
"I trust the Raider and if he says we have to do it that's all I need to know", said Gracie.
"Me too", said Billy.
"For helping us today I will do as you ask", said Jimmy.
"I will as well", said Mary.
The Raider and the others looked up and saw several vehicles pull up to the school and dozens of GJ agents began pouring out of them.
"Looks like our time is up. Stay here I will go talk to them", said Gracie as she headed toward the onrushing agents.
"I could have done it you know", said Billy as Gracie left.
"I know but at least you were smart enough not to. You did far better than me the first time I faced that decision. I should have known my Gracie would have good taste in men", the Raider held out his hand to Billy. Billy took the offered hand and gripped it tightly.
"I owe you, so if you ever need my help just say so", said Billy while Jimmy and Mary nodded in agreement.
"Know that I collect on my debts. If you would pay me back do this for me. Gracie went through a lot today and even though she may not know it yet she will need the support of good friends. Be there for her and any debt you owe me is paid".
It was then that the Raider noticed Gracie's Kimmunicator that Jimmy was carrying stuffed in his belt. He noticed a light blinking on the device.
"May I see that", asked the Raider and Jimmy looked at Billy who shrugged and Jimmy handed it over. The Raider took the Kimmunicator and punched in a series of commands that the kids couldn't follow. "Who would be sending a message to me this way?" The Raider seemed confused and then he actually laughed. "I'll be damned".
Billy leaned forward to see the display on the device. He didn't see the message the Raider had seen but he did see the Raider's response. The message the Raider typed was "Stall, need more time, contact no one else". The Raider then pressed a few commands and the message disappeared and he handed the Kimmunicator back to Jimmy.
Anything further they might have said was interrupted by a dozen GJ agents surrounding them. The Raider merely lifted up his flask and took another sip.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Doctor Betty Director stepped out of her transport as soon as it touched down at the high school. Her people had cordoned off the area as a large crowd of spectators had arrived. She was approached by the on site commander as she walked toward the school.
"Greetings Captain, status report?"
"Well Director it seems that a band of hired mercenaries tried to kidnap several students and coerce intelligence from them. Specifically from Gracie Possible the daughter of Kim Possible".
"I know who she is Captain".
"Yes Director. They also attempted to contact the Raider and coerce the same intelligence from him by holding the students hostage."
"What intelligence were they trying to collect?"
"All we have learned so far from the mercenaries was that it was some kind of Journal that held information important to their employers".
"Who were their employers?'
"The ones we have questioned claim not to know and only their leader had that information".
"Where is their leader?" The Captain did not immediately answer and the Director stopped and turned to him with a critical eye.
"The subject allegedly tried to sexually assault the Possible girl and then tried to assault the Raider and the Raider killed him".
"How?"
"According to the coroner and I quote, "he gutted him like a fish".
"Were there any other casualties?"
"No Director. The remaining mercenaries have all been taken into custody and the several members of the school staff were incapacitated but unharmed".
"Where is the Raider?" The Captain indicated where the Raider still sat on the school steps surrounded by more than two dozen GJ agents.
The Director walked through the lines of agents and stood before the Raider. The Raider merely offered her his flask. The agents surrounding the Raider were surprised when the Director grabbed the offered flask and took a drink. She handed it back to the Raider.
"Would everyone please give us some space?" asked the Director and the dozens of agents moved back but kept their attention on the Raider.
"I'm waiting".
"These fools contacted me demanding information and threatening Gracie if I did not comply. I did inform you of how important Gracie is to me".
"You did".
"Your babysitters did not agree with my plan and their actions could have threatened the hostages so I had to take measures. None of your people were permanently injured".
"What of the leader of these men?"
"He went too far and he paid the price".
"Up until now you have been adrift in the safe harbor of my patience. Know now that the patience has run out. My people are not toys for you to play with nor are our rules amusements for you indulgence. This intelligence they wanted do you know of it?"
"Yes".
"Do you have it?"
"Yes".
"If I asked for it?"
"You know why I can't give it to you".
"Very well. Any good credit you had has been used up. Captain when we are finished here the Raider will accompany us back. He is our guest and not our prisoner but see that he doesn't get lonely".
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The Raider continued to watch the activity as he sat on the school steps. He never had a school like this growing up in the military machine that was the Proconsul's education system. He saw the crowd of people gathered outside and he saw the parents of the children begin to arrive.
He saw Kim Possible move through the crowd with ease even being more than twenty weeks pregnant. She found Gracie and embraced her. She then began to check Grace's injuries and he saw the Director approach them.
He felt her before he saw her. Shego's power was almost elemental in nature and when she was angry the Raider could feel the waves of her power even at this distance. The crowd parted for Shego like water before a speeding ship. She reached Kim and Gracie and embraced them both and then began animatedly waving her arms as she talked to Kim and the Director. For many minutes this went on and during this time Gracie pointed at him several times. When she did the other women would look at him and he felt their scrutiny. Kim wrapped her arm around Gracie as they tuned to leave. Shego said something to Kim and then turned toward the Raider and began to walk over to him.
Damn I've never been so popular, thought the Raider.
Shego approached him and without saying a word sat beside him on the school steps. She took the flask from his hands and in one swallow downed its remaining contents.
"Bourbon and good by the taste of it", she said.
"Twelve year old from Kentucky", said the Raider as he took the empty flask and put it away.
"Did he deserve it?"
"Yes".
"Did Gracie... did he?"
"No". Shego appeared to visibly relax at the Raider's answer.
"Thank you. But I still don't trust you".
"Nor would I. There are many things you could do for me Ms. Possible but thanking me is not one of them".
Shego turned now to face the Raider and crossed her arms. "I'm tired of this. When this threatens my daughter it has gone too far. What are you really after?"
"Please excuse me for answering a question with a question. Do you believe in hell?"
"Yes".
"I as well, but I believe that our definition of it may vary. I have seen living hell. I have seen a world without hope. I will do whatever is necessary to prevent that world from happening".
"You're trying to alter the future?"
"Yes".
"How do you know your future will be better?"
"I don't. But it's what I chose to believe".
"Why?"
"Because I have faith in Gracie".
"Gracie why, I don't under…..She sent you back didn't she?" Shego now stood up standing over the Raider.
"Partly, yes".
"That's why you protect her?"
"Yes".
"Does your enemy know how important she is?"
"No. They are ignorant of her involvement and it needs to stay that way. They only know of her as my ally. The only one they know that important is me".
"So why haven't they just come for you?"
"I am not the me that is important?"
"The what… the what… and the what?" said Shego in confusion.
"Sorry temporal joke and a bad one. In order to stop my hell I must complete my mission even if have to go through my enemy to do so and even if I have to go through you".
"I'm not such an easy person to go through", said Shego drawing herself up to her full height and igniting her arms in plasma fire.
"Indeed it may very well come down to you and me in the end. If it does, know that I can't think of a better person to go down fighting against".
"Whatever. Just know that if it comes to that I will not hesitate to take you out".
"I'm counting on it". The Raider offered Shego his hand and she took it.
Author's Notes:
Another long chapter. This one was bit darker than my previous chapters. I hope I didn't scare anyone off. Don't worry it's not all gloom and doom remaining.
I had this chapter planned from the beginning of the story but the dynamics of writing it became far more complex when I actually sat down to do it. I find the crime of sexual assault so infuriating and horrible that writing about it was far more difficult than I imagined. I found myself between the paradoxes of being too dark for the enjoyment of the story and cheapening it and not reflecting how terrible such an act truly is. As this is my first FanFiction story I didn't have a good barometer to gauge my writing. I would appreciate any review on how well or bad I managed the compromise.
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.