Ron held on tight as Shego set her ship down on the ledge next to the Raider's. The landing gear had barely touched down before Shego rolled out of her seat and almost literally exploded out of the hatch. Ron followed but by the time he was out Shego was already running toward the Raider's ship her body almost completely sheathed in glowing green plasma.
The entrance doors were closed up tight and Ron saw no external guardians at this time but he sensed they were being watched. Shego ran up the ramp to the Raider's ship without breaking stride and Ron hoped for all their sakes that if the Raider was present he would simply surrender but somehow he doubted it.
Kim almost couldn't believe her eyes when Shego came striding into the hovercraft. Anne was busy getting Kim cleaned up and trying to get her daughter to drink something. Shego immediately scanned the room for danger as she moved to her wife' side. Kim didn't know if it was the hormones, the fact that her baby had been stolen, or the joy at seeing her wife but she began crying as she reached out to Shego. Shego knelt and took Kim in her arms as Ron, wearing Kim's battlesuit, entered the craft as well. Shego glanced at Anne with unspoken questions.
"Physically Kim is alright except maybe borderline exhaustion. The birth went as well as we could have hoped and Kim isn't bleeding or torn. I should have her ready to move in a little while".
"No I want both of you out if here now. Doctor Director and GJ are about to unleash hell on this mountain and I imagine this place is going to respond in kind".
"I'm in no condition to fly and mom isn't a pilot. Besides I can't leave", said Kim.
"Kim …"
"No!" Kim pleaded as she took both of Shego's hands into her own. "Listen to me. I agree we don't have much time. The Raider took the baby and it was a boy".
"A boy but that's …" said Shego.
"It's the Raider. He modified the Project Cradle device. He has manipulated us this whole time. You, Gracie, GJ, me, all of us have been pawns in this plan of his against whoever is helping Drakken. He took the baby and Gracie went after him. I don't know what he has planned but we have to stop him".
"You let Gracie go after him?"
"I wasn't in the best position to stop her which is why you have to hurry". Shego hugged Kim and stood up.
"Alright but stay here until GJ arrives. Ron let's go". Shego and Ron quickly exited the Raider's ship.
"Mom you have to get me ready to go as quickly as you can", said Kim as she attempted to get out of the bed. Anne knelt next to Kim and tried to hold her daughter down.
"Kim, Shego is right we need to leave if we can, and if we can't you need to stay here".
"I need to help my family and I can't do that from here. Now are you going to help or not?"
As Ron and Shego exited the ship he saw Shego flare up in power as she closed on the giant door leading inside. Shego struck out with both hands embedding them into the door. The metal around her hands began to glow and bubble as Shego released her anger and power into it. She then began to pull back and the doors began to moan and shudder under the strain.
On both sides of the doors, massive energy cannons emerged from the rock face. They turned and trained their barrels on the pair of them at the doors. Ron modified his suit and both of his arms transformed into energy receptors. As both cannons fired he absorbed each blast into his arms and then turned tossing the stolen energy back at their points of origin. Both cannons exploded in turn.
Shego gave a final heave and the doors gave way pulling away from their supports. She raised them up and tossed the torn and twisted metal aside. The hallway into the mountain was dark and cavernous as they both ran inside.
"Don't worry Kim, I will get them back even if blood must fall like rain from the sky before I am through", thought Shego.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The mountain was finally in visual range. A beautiful sight greeted the GJ forces. The mountain was shrouded in clouds but the sunlight that shown through was dazzling in its beauty. Dozens of aircraft surrounded her flight as GJ closed on the site the Raider had led them too. The Director could see the yellowish-red shield covering a good portion of the mountain and its peak.
"Put me through to all units", ordered the Director as she looked on the three-dimensional tactical display of the mountain region.
"You're on", said Agent Du.
"All air support wings are cleared to engage as hostiles appear. Ground support will land on the southern rocky slope with heavy tactical suits in the center and airborne infantry in support. Hold the heavy ground attack units in reserve until I give the all clear. All air attack wings will direct their fire at the enemy's defensive shield. Commence fire immediately and bring that thing down".
The forward air combat groups sped forward as the sky was lit by the wake of dozens of missiles that flashed ahead to impact into the mountain's shield to erupt in crimson fire. The ground assault ships reduced speed and lowered altitude to unload their cargos of twelve-foot tall armored powers suits and squads of armored infantry on the mountain slopes.
At first the shield glowed and faded under the assault but returned to its former brightness even as a second wave of destruction reigned down upon it. The mountain was not silent in its response to this attack. Along the mountain ridge dozens of openings appeared and an army of mechanical monsters emerged. Single seat synthodrone piloted fighter air craft arose into the sky while massive articulated robotic spiders with drone infantry in support flooded the mountain ridges.
"So it begins. All units engage. I repeat all units engage", came the calm voice of the Director.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The Proconsul watched the unfolding battle on the view screens of the main control room. The GJ forces were behaving exactly as he anticipated. The fact that someone had already penetrated his defenses was annoying but not irreparable.
"The project is on-line for minimal support operations sir", said synthodrone 932.
"Not yet. Let them commit fully to the battle. I don't want them to get cold feet". The Proconsul now turned toward his interior monitors. He saw the main time displacement room as he saw the Raider enter the room and try to reach the auxiliary transport platform but the shielding over it stopped him. He then saw the Raider try to manipulate the time displacement controls only to find them inaccessible as well. The Raider then left the room in frustration for areas unknown. "No my friend it won't be that easy for you", said the Proconsul.
"Sir the intruders are advancing on the central core area", said 932.
"Continue to repel all intruders as planned I will deal with our internal problems. Bring the project on-line when I give the signal".
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
With the help of Anne, Kim was able to walk out of the Raider's ship. They began following the trail of destruction left by Ron and Shego.
"This isn't very smart", said Anne.
"Maybe not but there is no way I am sitting this one out. I have to know what is going on in there. Why did he do this? Why did he take my baby? Right now not knowing is worse than anything else".
"We will get them back Kim".
"I know. Besides with what is going on outside we couldn't really get away right now anyway".
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The Director's control plane circled the battle field with an escort of fighters. She watched as her units pushed forward. The aerial battle was occupying the majority of her air support but her ground units were advancing through the legions of synthodrones and robots that opposed them. She had committed twelve hundred of her troops in the initial assault and held three hundred of her heaviest troops in reserve.
"I'm almost disappointed. Is this all your vaunted project could produce. Is this all the technological terror you are able to conjure", thought the Director as she watched the unfolding battle.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
George and Gracie moved quietly through the labyrinthine corridors of the mountain base. So far they had avoided any encounter with the enemy. However Gracie had to contemplate the reality of the situation and question just whose side she was on? Considering the situation her best guess was that win or lose someone important to her was going to be lost today.
The sounds of fighting were getting louder and closer. She could hear the distinct blast and pulse of plasma so she figured Momma and probably Uncle Ron were inside. The floor shook and dust fell from the ceiling so obviously GJ was here as well and probably fighting outside. She didn't have much time if she was going to accomplish her mission.
Suddenly George squeaked in alarm as a squad of synthodrones rounded the corner of a corridor in front of them. They hadn't seen Gracie yet but she didn't have anywhere to go except back the way she came. Before she could decide what to do something grabbed her ankle. She almost yelled out but George clamped her mouth shut. A panel on the wall next to her had opened and someone had reached out to grab her. Gracie quickly ducked inside and closed the panel just as the squad of synthodrones passed by.
Behind the panel she found herself crawling in a small interior maintenance area of the wall. The area was illuminated in a dull red light from various tubes obviously for the transfer of liquids that flowed overhead.
"It's coolant for the plasma power converters", said the figure who crawled before her. Gracie couldn't see his face very well in the dull red light but his color seemed a little off. "You are Shego's daughter aren't you?"
"Yes, I'm Gracie. Who are you?"
"I'm Doctor Drakken. Please follow me". Drakken then began crawling along the maintenance shaft.
"The big blue dork", said Gracie.
"Whoa", said George.
"What was that?"
"It was nothing, sorry. Why are you helping me?" Gracie began following Drakken as they moved through the walls.
"The Raider asked that I help you once the battle started".
"You're helping the Raider? Of course, you're his inside source. But why are you doing this? Aren't you supposed to be working with someone to take over the world?"
"I am no one's sidekick", said Drakken his voice dripping with venom. "When I take over the world it will be because of my genius and not some sideshow futuristic pretender with delusions of grandeur".
"So you're helping to save the world now so you can take it over later".
"Exactly, but I must admit that sometimes the old magic is not there like it used to be. I'm just going through the motions, feels so empty sometimes".
"You miss momma don't you?" Drakken, Gracie, and George continued to crawl through the maintenance areas as the sound of fighting and explosions continued to reach them.
"Yes. But don't tell her that. Unless you think it will spare me from her when she inevitably comes for you".
"Sometimes I think she might miss you a little as well. By the way where are we going?"
"The Raider asked me to take you to the Temporal Displacement room. From there you can override the control room directly from its command console. I don't know what he wants you to do but he said that was where you would want to go".
"What about the Particle Cannon?" asked Gracie?
"It will be there as well. There is a control console on its main support column where you will find a red button. If you press it, then remove as much of its control wiring as possible it should cause the weapon to overload when next it's fired".
"That doesn't sound that bad".
"I expect the cannon and the displacement controls will be guarded and shielded. I would recommend waiting for someone to arrive and clear the guards". Drakken reached into his uniform and pulled forth a necklace with a blue disc and handed it to Gracie. "This should allow you to pass through the shields". Gracie took the necklace and draped it over her neck.
As Gracie followed behind Drakken, she felt the floor shake as she heard an explosion far too close for comfort. Everything seemed to be coming to a head at once and so much of it appeared to be now resting on her shoulders. It was almost too much to bear. Was the Raider right or wrong? What would her parents say and what would they do? Maybe that was the point. Maybe it was time for her consider what she would do and not what everyone else would do. Could she handle the responsibility of that? There was no one else left to ask for help or was there?
"Please God help me make the right choice. For the world, for my family, for my friends… for my baby brother", prayed Gracie.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The Proconsul stood looking up at the Molecular Spatial Disrupter (particle) cannon as it rose up on its central column towards the ceiling from its support base. The particle cannon loomed over the entire time displacement apparatus as it hummed and the formation of a large vertical temporal distortion formed on the primary transport platform.
"Control room you are cleared to proceed", said the Proconsul as he released the weapons safety interlock.
Scarlet energy flared at the tip of the particle cannon as a blinding beam of destruction issued forth only to vanish within the portal.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The initial phase of the battle was proceeding well for GJ. The aerial battle was swinging in their favor and all ground forces were advancing up the mountain ridge despite fierce resistance. The Director was following the battle when her display erupted in static as some form of momentary interference took effect.
Then ten of the GJ air support craft had a brief oval disruption form in the space in front of them and from each emerged a scarlet destructive beam. All ten craft exploded in midair.
"All air units execute immediate evasive maneuvers", ordered the Director. "Don't give them a course to predict and watch out for each other."
About fifteen seconds later another group of portals opened and this time only two aircraft went down this time. The problem was that whilst they were on evasive the GJ air power was unable to continue its offensive actions or to support the ground troops below. The Proconsul's forces began to push back.
Then ten portals opened near the ground and the first ten GJ power suits exploded in as they were simultaneously struck with scarlet beams of destruction. The main line of the GJ assault force began to collapse as the robotic and synthodrone defenders surged forward into the gap created by their destruction.
"Drop the heavy particle heat smoke directly on top of our ground units", ordered the director.
"That will effectively blind our own forces", said Agent Du.
"It will but it will also blind their sensors. The heavy particles will block radar, the heat will block infrared vision, and the smoke visual sensors. I'm betting if they see they can't see, they can't aim that damned thing very well. Tell all ground units to prepare for point-blank hand to hand combat".
"Director our chances of prevailing under those conditions are minimal".
"We have people on the inside. We just have to give them more time. Continue the attack and get me the French President immediately".
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The Raider entered the control room wielding his force batons and leapt onto the nearest synthodrone crashing it into the floor. The drones were a few seconds slow to respond as they were reluctant to leave the controls on the forces under their command. That was soon to be proven a bad tactical decision. The Raider moved through them cutting them down like grass before the scythe. They dared not use their firearms with the base's controls all around them. The Raider showed no such care as he smashed panels and control consoles as often as he smashed drones. The room was finally cleared of enemies as the drones lay dissolving around him. The Raider quickly checked the baby strapped under the shield on his back and found it unharmed.
The Raider checked the surviving screens and found the forces of the proconsul still fighting against GJ and the project still creating havoc as well.
"Sorry my friend but I have transferred control directly to me and my combat AI algorithms will continue the battle outside", said the image of the Proconsul from one of the view screens.
"The last desperate gasp of the defeated", said the Raider.
"On the contrary I am still very confident of my eventual victory. GJ's tactics may slow my forces down but with the Project operational they can't win. With that thought in mind it's not too late for you to join me."
"You were never able to make your conquest of the world work before. What makes you believe you would do any better this time?"
"You could make it better. Be my right hand and help me make it right this time. This world could be ours. You want your family so I will give them too you. It really is the only way because otherwise they will reject you now for what you have done".
The Raider seemed to stop and consider the Proconsul's offer. Then the baby cried and he glanced over his shoulder and then back to the Proconsul.
"If they reject me, then they reject me but I will reap what I have sown", the Raider grabbed up a fallen chair and hurled it at the screen.
"Disappointing", said the Proconsul before the screen exploded.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Shego and Ron pushed deeper into the enemy complex. They were forced to buy every inch of advance in combat through a plethora of monstrous articulated spiders and synthodrones. Ron used his EMP pulses to lower the shields or disable the functions of the robots while fielding the drones on the ground. Shego's plasma finished the robots and burned the drones that made it through Ron's perimeter. They were both covered in sweat and blood as they had each taken several hits, especially Shego, but it was nothing her healing factor couldn't handle.
This whole situation with the Raider and Drakken had been a royal screw up from the beginning, thought Shego. Now she was here with Kim just having given birth not to mention her eldest daughter and now newborn son both lost somewhere inside. Please God, I am here now just give me the chance to end this and bring everyone home.
The fighting had intensified as they neared a large interior complex. Shego punched through the chest of the last defending robot and her claws ripped up through its armor splitting it down the middle as it fell crashing at her feet. Ron joined her as they seemed to have finally fought their way through all the defenders.
"These guys don't give up do they", said Ron.
"These things are nothing. I want their bosses and the Raider", said Shego as she stepped over the remains of her robotic opponents.
Finally Shego and Ron stepped into the larger chamber that the defenders seemed determined to keep them out of. The space was immense with several raised sections and platforms scattered throughout its space. The central area held what appeared to be multiple instruments consisting of computers, power generators, energy regulators, and several components they didn't recognize. All these instruments seemed to be tied together into a single apparatus. Two platforms were connected to the central area and seemingly floating on the larger one was what could only be a tear, or portal, in reality. This tear resembled a dark vertical oval void which occasionally rippled with images of space and color.
Hovering over the entire platform and apparatus was a twenty-five foot tall twelve-foot long particle cannon that pulsed with red light and hummed with power. As they were viewing it the cannon emitted a bright scarlet beam that fired into the portal. The beam disappeared and did not emerge from the far side of the portal.
The platform on the right was lower than the central one and seemed to consist of computers and technical input or maintenance stations with one set of stairs giving access. There was no one currently present at any of the stations.
Surrounding both the central platform and the one on the right was a bright blue energy screen.
The platform on the left had its own bright blue energy screen that appeared to be separate from the others. This platform was different form the other two in that it had no service areas and no clear access.
No one appeared to be present and that worried Shego.
"There is no way this will be that easy", said Ron.
"I hate it when someone says that", answered Shego.
As if in response to Shego's words, the platform on the left began to move and transform. The lowest parts appeared to be a twin set of treads that rotated quickly around multiple gear shafts. The lower central portion narrowed and resembled a joint that swiveled allowing the upper or lower portions to rotate independently of the other. The higher central chest held six arms of which four were longer and ended in sharp metallic clawed appendages while the remaining two sported blaster cannons. In the middle of the chest rode the elderly figure of the Proconsul.
Shego could see that this man appeared to be an elderly version of Drakken. His white hair and light blue skin indicated an advanced age but his face shown with a malevolence and a vileness that the Drakken she knew never had.
"Drakken what happened to you?" asked Shego.
"It's pronounced "Proconsul" now Shego darling. I remember you and you look just like you did long ago when I killed you the last time".
"The last time?" said Ron.
"You're from the Raider's future aren't you? It's been you and him against each other from the beginning. Where is my daughter and my baby?" said Shego as her body began to blaze with green fire.
"Daughter? Oh, that explains the girl. I honestly don't know. They are part of the Raider's agenda and only partially mine. The circle of events must be completed Shego. He didn't tell you who he really was? No, he wouldn't do that, too much chance that you would have already tried to stop him".
"It doesn't matter now what either of you say. This whole place is going down in the next few minutes", said Shego.
Just then the particle cannon fired again and disappeared in into the portal. "I suspected you speak of the brave attack of your friends at GJ. Even as we speak your friends are dying before the might of my creations. Soon the world will be cleansed of any resistance and I'm so glad you could be here to see the end".
Shego reaction was immediate and powerful. She hurled fiery green plasma directly into the Proconsul's face which exploded against the blue energy field. "Ron we have to take that thing out and fast". The Proconsul's robotic construct rocked backwards from the blast but the shield held.
Ron cycled the battle suit to full power and emitted an EMP burst directly into the room but the blue shielding flickered but remained stable.
"History has worked against you", said the Proconsul. "I have learned about your tricks from our previous interactions and have prepared accordingly". The Proconsul rolled forward pressing Ron and Shego back. His clawed arms swept forward from the right and left.
Shego rolled to one side and Ron the other. Shego hurled now an even more powerful plasma blast at the Time Displacement equipment behind the Proconsul. The blast struck the blue field and created a small hole but before she could hurl a second blast of energy the field surged back into the gap and the Proconsul swerved into her path. She and Ron crossed paths again switching sides trying to confuse the Proconsul and she hurled another blast from the other side. This time the Proconsul was faster and backed into her path just as her first blast swept by preventing her from hurling another.
The plasma struck the shield and once again blew a small hole in the energy field. However, this time before the hole in the shield filled in a red form dropped from the ceiling through the hole unseen by the combatants outside the shield.
The Raider landed on the auxiliary transport platform placing the bundle with the baby onto it. He wrapped the baby up as a small hand emerged and grabbed one of his fingers. He stared down into the familiar olive-green eyes of the baby as doubt flared within him.
"No matter how this turns out, I hope one of us finds happiness and that one day you can forgive me".
The Raider then rose and left the baby as he circled behind the Proconsul. It was then that he saw Gracie enter the room.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Drakken finally stopped crawling at a small maintenance hatchway. Gracie could hear raised voices on the other side and then heard her momma's plasma blasts.
"This is the one you want. The controls to manipulate the Time Displacement equipment will be on a platform to your right", said Drakken.
"Aren't you coming?" asked Gracie.
"Yeah", said George.
"Out there! If I show myself he or Shego will surely kill me. No, I have done what I promised to do".
Gracie leaned forward and kissed Drakken on the check. "Thanks Uncle Drakken". George saluted Drakken as Gracie crawled past and exited through the panel.
Drakken rubbed the cheek where Gracie had kissed him. "Uncle… I like the sound of that".
As Gracie entered the room she saw her Momma and Uncle Ron fighting a twenty-foot tall robot that had a little blue man who looked kind of like Drakken riding in its chest.
She was startled by the blast of a large particle cannon that sat behind the giant robot. The cannon fired into a hole that seemed to float in the air over a platform in the back of the room. That must be the cannon and the time project thought Gracie as she hunkered down and tried to move unseen to the stairs of the platform on the right side of the room. There was a blue energy field in front of the stairs and she held her breath as she touched it but she was able to pass through it without harm.
As she climbed the stairs she opened the GJ bag the Raider had given her. She took the Journal from the bag and when she reached the platform she quickly found the control unit pictured in the Journal. She activated the control screen and began following the directions on the Journal.
The sound of the cannon firing again caught her attention and she stopped working and took off her necklace. Then she lifted George up in her hands and wrapped the necklace around him.
"Do you remember what Drakken told us about the cannon?" asked Gracie.
"Yep", answered George.
Gracie looked to the support column the cannon rested on and could see a control panel and the red button about half way up the shaft.
"Do you think you can reach that panel and push that button?"
"No problema", said George giving her a thumbs up. Gracie kissed his nose and George leapt from her hands and ran toward the cannon.
"Be safe my friend", said Gracie as she went back to programming commands into the control console.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The Proconsul smashed a robotic fist down narrowly missing Ron as Shego fended off a sweep from one of his other arms. This was just as much fun as he thought it would be. Their attacks couldn't penetrate his shields and it was only a matter of time before he crushed them.
It was then that the time displacement portal disappeared from the primary transport platform only to reform on the auxiliary platform. The cannon momentarily stopped firing and everyone in the room turned to look at the new portal.
The Proconsul saw the small wrapped bundle on the platform just a few inches from the portal. He then turned to the control platform where Gracie still worked at the control console. "I know you are here somewhere Raider. Using the girl as a ringer, well-played", said the Proconsul.
Shego saw the baby on one platform and Gracie on another. "Ron go help Gracie and I'll get the baby", said Shego.
"Not so fast my little ones", said the Proconsul as the dual blaster cannons atop his suit fired at both Ron and Shego. Both Shego and Ron dodged the blasts but it forced them both back away from Gracie and the baby.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Both Kim and Anne had followed the sounds of fighting for some time now. Kim was using Anne for support as her legs were absolute jelly. When they reached the entrance to the room the sight that greeted them was both spectacular and frightening at the same time.
They saw all the strange time displacement equipment and the large particle cannon that was protected by a blue energy field. Kim also saw Shego and Ron dueling a small man inside a huge robotic suit with many arms.
"Kim look there is Gracie", said Anne.
Kim turned and saw Gracie standing on a platform on the right side of the room as she worked at a computer control system.
"Not so fast my little ones", said the man in the robotic suit as he drove Shego and Ron back with blasts from blaster cannons on two of the robots arms. He manipulated some controls by his left hand and the large particle cannon swiveled around and pointed at Gracie.
"Gracie, Noooo…" screamed Shego as she hurled plasma into the face of the Proconsul but was ineffective versus his shields.
"Gracie look out!" cried Kim but in her weakened state her voice was barely heard over the sound of battle.
"The future now belongs to me", said the Proconsul as the particle cannon cycled to full power and fired.
Author's Notes:
Now just about all the players are present and the final battle can now begin. What would you sacrifice for a better 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.