They were holding their ground but just barely. Any offensive action was impossible with those damn time portals opening everywhere unleashing destruction. The situation was becoming untenable and if she committed her heavy reserves then she would have no effective strike force in the end.
"Are you still there Mr. President?" asked Doctor Betty Director.
"I am here Madam Director but I am still hesitant to order such destruction down on my country", said the French President.
"I understand Mr. President but I am unsure how long I can contain the situation with the forces at my command. If GJ loses control of this site you must order the attack or risk this destruction on a global basis that will far exceed this singular strike".
The Director watched the tactical display and saw another wave of portals opened that rained destruction down on her people. She glanced to Agent Will Du who only shook his head in the negative when she asked her unspoken question.
"Mr. President I'm sorry but…" the director looked away from the tactical display and her heart fell at what she knew she must do.
"Wait, Director. It's stopped", said Agent Du.
"Stand by Mr. President", the battle on the ground and in the air continued but time passed and no new portals forming. Without the constant support offered by the portals the Proconsul's air and ground forces began to fall back.
"Your orders?" asked Agent Du.
"I'm going to take the chance this isn't a trick. Order the heavy reserve unit forward and have them hit that shield with everything they have. Bring it down."
"Yes director".
"I'm sorry to delay you Mr. President but for now postpone the launch. I will contact you again if the situation changes." With that she cut the signal and once again concentrated on the tactical display of the battle. "Get me down on the ground".
"Director you are too important to risk..."
"I gave you an order. Our people inside have given us this opportunity and I will risk just as much as they have".
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
George raced along over the top of the strange time displacement equipment. He reached the particle cannon and quickly began climbing up the support column. Why were his human friends always getting themselves in these hazardous situations? It would seem counterproductive and against most good animal sense but often they did accomplish good things. He was a swift mole rat and he would help his human friends even if their actions confused him. He had almost reached the panel with the red button when the device he climbed trembled with power and began to glow a dangerous crimson color.
George continued his climb but glanced back at his most important human friend. She had her back to him and the cannon and continued her work. She was brave and good so George would be fast enough for her. He knew he would be.
He was wrong. The canon released it bright scarlet beam and George knew he had failed.
"Gracie noooo…." Shego screamed as the scarlet beam tore across the room toward Gracie. Not my Gracie, please God not my daughter.
Ron raced toward where Gracie worked but knew even with all his speed and power he would never get there in time.
"Gracie look out", said Kim who in that moment knew her darkest terror. That she would fail her family in the end.
Out of the corner of her eye Gracie saw the cannon turn. But she continued her work. She saw the cannon charging up to fire. But she continued to work.
"The future now belongs to me".
Gracie heard the Proconsul's arrogant proclamation but she continued to work. She saw the cannon fire. Please God I hope my future self was right. The scarlet beam cut through the blue shielding over Gracie like paper without even slowing down.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
All this time of not knowing. All this of not understanding. All this time of searching for the single defining moment of his existence. Regardless of planning, preparation, inspiration, destiny, or just plain luck he found himself exactly where he was meant to be.
"For the future", screamed the Raider.
The Raider flew like a red torpedo his shield held out in front of him as he intercepted the scarlet beam. The shield held for only a hundredth of a second before it exploded.
Gracie felt the heat and force from the explosion wash over her. She glanced up and saw in slow motion the Raider, his left side blackened and burnt, spin over her head to finally impact the far wall behind her platform.
"He saved her", said Anne not comprehending why the Raider had done what he did. Yes, he had thought Kim and in the midst of the battle a dark and terrible understanding began to form in her mind. There was no reason for the Raider to do what he did. Or was there?
"Whose side is he on?" asked Ron.
"The same side he's always been on, his own", said Shego.
"Ultimately futile", said the Proconsul as he charged the particle cannon for another shot.
"Uh-uh", said George. You will not hurt my human friends, thought George as scrambled up the last bit to the particle cannon's control panel. He pushed the red button and with an animalistic fury few would have suspected George began ripping all the controls and wiring apart that he could reach.
"Ron get Gracie out of there before he fires again", shouted Shego as she ran forward crashing into the Proconsul's energy shield and rocking his entire robotic mechanism. She continued to hammer away with plasma powered fists causing the screen to glow and surge in response to the attack.
Ron ran up the stairs of the platform to Gracie just as he saw the cannon glowing as it did before. "Gracie you have to go", said Ron as he grabbed Gracie's arm.
"No, I have to finish this" said Gracie as she pulled away.
"We are out of time!"
"No, we aren't but we will be if I don't finish this".
Ron looked back seeing Shego pounding on the Proconsul with little effect and the cannon about to fire. He didn't know if the suit's energy collector could take the power surge from the cannon but he was going to try.
It was then that crimson sparks erupted from the cannon and the entire mechanism began to sway dangerously as it began to spin out of control.
"Boo-yah", cried George as he held on tight as the column supporting the cannon rocked and swayed beneath him. The cannon fired and continued to fire without stopping. The energy surge first hit the ceiling and massive rocks and debris fell glancing off the blue shielding below. The entire support column began to turn and the scarlet beam swept the room with random destruction. The beam narrowly missed Ron and Gracie and then Anne and Kim had to fall to the floor as the beam passed over their heads. The cannon finally focused on the Proconsul's robotic form. His energy shield was now caught between Shego's relentless assault and the particle cannon. It was a raw surge of energy the field was never designed to take and it flared and exploded outward before falling dead.
Shego was thrown back by the field's discharge but she quickly righted herself as she heard Gracie scream.
The particle cannon finally had expended all of its energy and its spinning now became worse as the entire mechanism erupted in flame. Finally its momentum could not sustain it any further and the cannon collapsed narrowly missing the time displacement equipment. The cannon fell into the wall just beyond Gracie in a heap of smoke and flame with George still clinging to its side.
"George!" Gracie screamed as fresh tears ran down her face. I'm so sorry George but I have to keep going.
The particle cannon's mad fury had disabled all the shields in the room except the one over the time displacement equipment.
From the smoke and flaming debris of the cannon emerged the Raider. His left side from his leg to his mask was blackened and burnt from where his shield had exploded but he moved as if unharmed. He drew his sword activating its cutting force edge and left his force batons on his back.
"Impressive most impressive", said the Proconsul.
"You have already lost you fool. Your weapon is disabled and your lair is compromised. The project will soon be out of your control or reach", said the Raider as he moved cautiously in front of Gracie and her work on the control platform.
"Gracie what is your situation", whispered the Raider.
"Not finished yet. This is not that easy you know".
"Gracie why are you helping him?" whispered Ron.
"Do you trust me Uncle Ron?" asked Gracie without stopping her work.
"Yes", said Ron with some obvious trepidation.
"Then trust me now. Help the Raider stop the Proconsul because if we don't we won't be able to save my baby brother".
The room shook as the mountain was rocked by an explosion from the outside.
"Looks to me like you're loosing this battle", said Shego as she circled the Proconsul toward the Raider and Gracie.
"Everything can be replaced and now that I know how, I can rebuild the project wherever or whenever I like", preached the Proconsul as he drew his robotic creation up to its full height. The six arms rose as large bladed claws extended forth from the lower four and the upper two blasters glowed with raw power. "But before I abandon this failed site I will complete the circle and send you all to your last reward".
Ron jumped down the stairs from the platform that Gracie was on. "Is he serious?"
"Yes he is, if we let him escape this could start this all over again", said the Raider.
"His shields are down so let's take him", shouted Shego as she sprang forward.
"Take out his blasters", shouted the Raider as he charged the middle as Shego went left and Ron right.
Kim saw them charge the Proconsul as Anne helped her up from the floor. "We have to get to the baby". Anne held Kim back as her daughter tried to move into the room.
"The baby is on a raised platform across the room, through the battle, and behind a shield. He may be the most protected person here right now. Certainly better than you".
"He needs me", protested Kim.
"He needs a living breathing mother and not a dead one", said Anne as she held Kim back.
The Raider flipped over the first robotic claw and his sword intercepted the second. The robotic arm and the Raider stood at a stalemate for a second or two until a third claw backhanded the Raider across the room toward Kim and Anne.
Ron bobbed and weaved throwing the Proconsul's aim off as he began to glow with blue radiance. When the fourth claw arm swung at him he met its swipe with his hand alone and broke off two of its clawed fingers. He used the momentum of the arm to swing up onto its elbow joint and run up the arm. One of the blaster arms swung in his direction and fired but Ron rotated out of line of fire leaving a trail of blue radiance in his dance. When the blaster tried to keep up with his movements it got too close and leaping high he came down in a mystical monkey powered martial strike right at the base of the blaster's connection to the arm. The joint exploded and the weapon fell away.
Shego took a more direct route. Seeing the Raider and Ron occupy the robots claw arms Shego ran up the left side motor tread and leapt straight at the other blaster arm. The blaster swiveled to her and fired just as Shego let loose a plasma discharge directly into it. The resultant energy blasts met at close range just before the arm and exploded. The effect shattered the blaster and crumbled the end of its arm.
"Eme!" screamed Kim as the blast blew Shego backwards towards Kim and Anne. Kim watched in horror as Shego careened towards the floor only to be intercepted just before impact by the Raider. Shego and the Raider both crashed to the floor rolling in a heap.
Shego shook her head clearing it from the impact just in time to see the Raider pulling his hand from her suit just between her breasts. "Just what the hell are you doing?"
"Well at least I didn't ask to touch your hair", said the Raider as he got back to his feet.
Ron saw Shego take out the other blaster arm and be blown back. He now turned to the Proconsul himself and leapt from the disabled arm down toward the chest of the robot where the Proconsul rode. He was seriously creeped out by the aged and infirm looking Drakken figure who was fighting so hard against them. As Ron descended he locked eyes with the Proconsul who still didn't seem overtly concerned at the peril of his situation.
As Ron descended down, his enhanced monkey senses noticed the Proconsul activate a new display on his right control panel. Just as he reached the apex of his leap another blue barrier arose around the Proconsul. This barrier was smaller and seemed to only cover the central portion of the robot. There was no way for Ron to evade and he struck the new shield and was violently rebounded away from the robot. The effect was not as violent as Shego's had been; consequently Ron miraculously righted himself in midair and landed just in front of Shego and the Raider.
"Damn this guy is tough and he doesn't give up", said Ron as he rose up popping his neck and back.
The Raider leaned down and offered Shego a hand up but she waved off his aid. "I have a plan", said the Raider as he leaned in and whispered to her. Shego's expression contained so much contempt that most individuals would have withered away from the sight but the Raider just leaned back brandishing his sword toward the Proconsul.
"Fine we can try that. But you know that even if we win you and I are destined to have a throw down that is going to level this mountain", said Shego as she advanced next to the Raider. The Raider barely spared her a glance as he acknowledged her challenge.
"Never figured it any other way", said the Raider sounding rather sad. "Mr. Stoppable can you distract him from us for a little while".
"Sure thing, just make it fast".
The vertical oval time Portal on the auxiliary displacement platform seemed to solidify and began to ever so slightly advance toward the baby. Gracie kept turning from page to page in the journal following the directions as she programmed the time matrix. She could already tell the target was a time and a place in the not so distant future. She kept sparing a glance or two at the cannon wreckage but no sign of George could be seen. She had trusted George to do his job just as the message said but she was devastated with the loss of her friend.
Kim heard the sound of approaching feet as half a dozen armed synthodrones arrived behind her and Anne. Baby or no baby Kim took a fighting stance and as the drones advanced a small round device rolled within them and began emitting a silverfish gas. When the gas hit the drones they began to convulse and dissolve until none were left. It was then that Drakken emerged from the shadows with a look of sadness mixed with pain.
"You …" said Kim her face curling into a snarl.
"I surrender", said Drakken as the ground shook again from an explosion on the surface.
"You have proven quite amusing but I'm afraid the game is now all but over", said the Proconsul as the trio of Shego, Ron, and the Raider closed on him. The Proconsul's blaster arms were gone but the claw arms spread out before him to receive the trio like the embrace of lover. However, no warmth of feeling and only the cold pain of death awaited in the embrace.
This time the trio seemed to attack as one instead of as three separate parts. Ron took the center and drove toward the robot's chest. The Proconsul's clawed arms swiped and lunged at the dancing monkey master as the robotic treads rolled and twisted to keep up with the attack. Ron's martial form was perfect as he weaved through the arms blocking and dodging but ultimately not closing and the Proconsul realized too late he was the distraction.
The Raider went left and his sword met a swiping claw in midair causing a glancing metallic ring to sound through the room. The force of the glancing strike drove the Raider further around the robot and he surged forward below the blue shield that protected the robot's center. Instead he attacked the robot's tracks on the left side. Using his sword he sliced into the teeth of the gears and rotary mechanisms. The armor was incredibly tough and he was unable to do more that break the teeth from many of the gears. He finally reached the main central gear and drove his sword into its center and then retreated away. As the gear and the blade rubbed against each other the left side tread didn't stop but slowed considerably.
Shego went right and stayed just beyond the reach of the sweeping claws and hurled plasma blasts into the right side treads. The right side was below the blue shield as well and though the armor resisted the initial blasts without the shield to protect them the gears began to fail. The right side tread now began to slow as well and the Proconsul's movement was slowed now almost to a crawl.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The energy field finally succumbed to the onslaught brought against it. The effectiveness of the mountains defenders had decreased considerably. They're tactics had gone from being a cohesive fighting force to a bunch of random fighters who seemed to just react to the last stimulus they encountered. This allowed the remaining GJ forces and the heavy reserves with their Mark VII heavy battle suits to sweep the field and drive on the entrance.
Doctor Director surrounded by her personal guard moved toward the ledge were the Raider's and Shego's ships had landed. She saw the doors had been literally ripped from the mountain side. Probably Shego's doing thought the Director but that didn't matter now because they needed to get inside.
Drakken, the Raider, and whoever else was involved in this fiasco would pay. She was through being taken for a fool.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The Proconsul was no fool and this battle was not going entirely as he had planned. His personal defenses were holding but the larger battle was now beyond hope. Delays delays. Well once the circle of events was complete he would leave and build again. You learn from your mistakes and it was a mistake to leave the Raider in this game for as long as he had.
The Proconsul entered a new command and an undamaged section of the roof began to open revealing a tunnel to the open air outside. Then portions of the robot's chest opened revealing rockets and wings. But before he left he had some loose ends to finish off.
"Hey guys I think he's planning to rabbit on us", said Ron as he dodged another claw swipe.
The Raider and Shego both came running back toward the Proconsul. The two locked eyes as the Raider slid under a robotic arm to stop before the robot facing away from the Proconsul and cupping his hands low to the ground. Shego ran at the Raider and at the last second leapt into his lowered hands. The Raider then using strength that would have impressed Hego himself hurled Shego up toward the ceiling.
After launching Shego up, the Raider drew his force batons and with Ron close behind charged the Proconsul.
The aged villain didn't understand their tactics and he didn't really care. He concentrated on the obvious threat before him knowing whatever Shego was doing couldn't penetrate his shield. He was wrong.
Shego descended like the burning comet that changed her life so long ago. She fell trailing green flames as the Proconsul could no longer maneuver quickly enough to dodge. When her fall reached the glowing blue shield, she passed right through it and landed just in front of where the Proconsul sat.
"Impossible", said the Proconsul sounding all too much like a much younger Drakken.
"Boob-yah", said George as his head peeked out from Shego's suit just between her breasts. The little mole rat still had the blue necklace tied around him. At the time he hadn't known exactly why the Raider had placed him inside Shego's suit but he was now quite happy about the outcome.
Shego reached forward grabbing the Proconsul's robe and pulling him up out of his seat. Her eyes were filled with the most loathing hatred the Proconsul had ever seen. Shego waged an internal war against herself about the fate of this mongrel and in the end she lost the war.
"Shego play nice", cried the Proconsul in abject terror.
"Playtime is over", whispered Shego as the central portion of the robot exploded in the green plasma fire.
Kim watched in horror as the robot exploded, its arms falling to the floor in a heap and the central part collapsed in on itself and a small burning figure fell from it to crash lifelessly to the floor. For a moment she was afraid it was Shego until the emerald warrior emerged from the wreckage standing atop it like a mountaineer who had reached the summit at last. Kim's exhaustion finally began to catch up with her and she was now being supported by Anne on one side and Drakken on the other.
"Boo-yah", shouted Ron as he pumped his fist in the air.
Gracie didn't witness the Proconsul's fall as she was still worked diligently and had almost completed her task.
Shego turned toward the time displacement equipment and saw the blue shield over it begin to collapse as the Proconsul's robot burned beneath her. It was then that everyone in the room heard the crying wail of the baby.
The Raider was the first to move. He struck Ron in the chest and then the head with his force batons. The blows spun Ron and sent him stunned to the floor. Shego turned and was about to leap to Ron's defense when she heard Kim's yell. George squirmed out from Shego's suit and raced toward Gracie.
"Shego the baby", cried Kim.
Shego turned and saw the baby still lying on the platform before the oval time portal. She leapt/climbed down from the ruined robot and ran up the stairs to the middle platform. She raced along the small catwalk toward the baby when the Raider swung up and landed on it before her.
"I'm sorry but I can't let you have him", said the Raider as he flipped his force batons into a defensive stance.
"The Proconsul whoever he was from whenever he came is gone. You've won. Now get out of the way of my son", said Shego as she ignited once again in green plasma flame.
"Now I must make sure this victory is lasting. The circle of events must close. Gracie how are we doing?" the Raider raised his voice on the last sentence.
"Almost there just give me a few seconds", said Gracie from the control platform.
Kim still being supported by Anne and Drakken turned toward her daughter. "Gracie what are you doing?"
"What I have to mom. What I have chosen", said Gracie. Gracie knew that her choice no matter how this turned out would hurt her parents greatly. She knew her choice would forever change all their lives and she would have to live with it. God forgive me, she asked.
"I must complete my mission. I told you that if I had to go through you to do it, then I would", said the Raider to Shego.
"I told you that if it came to that I would not hesitate to take you out", said Shego. Just then the baby cried out again and Shego screamed as she leapt forward. The Raider had tricked, had threatened, had kidnapped, and just been an annoying prick long enough. That would end now. Only ten feet or so from her son, she would no longer be denied.
They met, Shego an irresistible force and the Raider an immoveable object, their joining lead to the obvious outcome. Unbelievable pain. The Raider's force batons blocked most of the plasma energy but not all of it. Shego's claws and suit protected her from the worst of the force baton strikes but not all of them. Their battle was titanic as Shego would not retreat an inch with her son so close. The Raider would not give an inch so close was he to finishing his mission.
"For all the love you bear your wife. For all the love you bear your children you must let him go", said the Raider.
"Fuck you and the time portal you rode in on", screamed Shego as she finally began to push the Raider back. However the portal had advanced to only a few inches from the baby.
What train ran me over thought Ron as he got up from the floor? That bastard sucker punched me. Ron took in the sight of Shego and the Raider fighting near the baby and the time portal. What are they fighting for? Haven't we won?
"Ron help Shego get the baby", cried Kim as she and the others finally came into the room.
Ron ran forward and using his suit leapt toward the platform where the baby lay.
The Raider saw Ron coming and grabbed a small device from his chest and hurled it at him. The small device elongated in flight forming a circular spiral of long strands that struck Ron around the legs and wrapped tightly around them. The devices impact caused Ron's leap to fall short of the platform as he crashed in the side of it and fell to the floor.
The Raider's move was perfect and had taken only a few hundredths of a second to perform. It was all the opening Shego had needed.
She deflected the arm high that had thrown the device and stepped into the Raider's guard and drove her flattened palm under his chin. The blow stunned him for only a moment but Shego was relentless and her right leg shot behind him and tripped him and Shego used the momentum to hurl him over the platform.
The Raider recovered just in time to grab the edge of the platform as he fell and swung back up on it. He was however now in no position to stop Shego from reaching the baby.
"Got it", said Gracie as she finished.
Shego lunged just as the portal surged forward and swallowed the baby. A moment later the portal shimmered and disappeared leaving nothing behind.
Kim Possible saw the baby disappear and her cry of pain was soul crushing in its intensity. It was a cry from the darkest most painful region of Hell. No one present would ever forget the sound of that cry for as long as they lived. It was the call of a lioness who had failed to protect her cub. Kim collapsed to the floor as Anne and Drakken tried to support her.
The cry of Shego was blood curdling. It was a cry full of fury from the most hateful region of hell. She turned on the Raider with the look of a wild animal. She was an entity of pure rage that knew no pain, no remorse, no pity, and no mercy.
"You DIE!" screamed Shego as she charged the Raider.
Ron finally got himself free from the Raider's toy when he heard Kim and Shego's cries of pain. He glanced first at Kim and saw her collapse and then he turned to Shego. He witnessed her wild charge at the Raider. Ron had been in the hero business for decades now and had become a more than skilled fighter in that time. He saw immediately that Shego's attack was all rage and no skill. With his batons the Raider could block her attack a hundred different ways.
The Raider dropped both of his force batons.
Ron knew that even without the batons the Raider could dodge Shego's attack a dozen different ways with only the most simplest of movements.
The Raider stood stock still.
"What the F…" said Ron as Shego struck. What followed could never have been called a battle. It was a slaughter nigh on apocalyptic in proportion.
Her first strike, a right cross, caught Raider right on the jaw and the force of the blow rocked him backwards toward the edge of the platform. The Raider's arms bent forward from the momentum of the blow. Shego grabbed his right wrist with her left hand and yanked the right arm forward. She then struck the outside of the elbow with her right hand blazing plasma. The armor buckled and the arm broke and bent at a horrible angle it was never meant to reach.
The room shock from an impact tremor obviously from the battle that still raged outside.
Gracie heard the Raider's arm break from across the room. Oh my god, he's not fighting back. "Momma stop. You don't understand he is your (Boom)" Gracie yelled as the room shook again from another explosive impact.
Now that her initial rage was spent Shego's attacks became far more skillful. She pounded his chest with rapid strikes that crumpled the Raider's armor and she felt his ribs breaking from her blows. She switched low and smashed the Raider's left knee with a cross scissors kick that caused the limb to bend and the joint to break. Before the Raider could topple she lifted him up by the front of his blackened, melted, broken armor and proceeded to pummel his face again and again. She released him and the Raider teetered like a marionette while Shego spun on her heel and round house kicked him. He flew from the platform pin wheeling in the air to impact the far wall.
"Please momma don't hurt him", yelled Gracie as she ran to the edge of her platform tripping over the large GJ bag she had dropped before.
Kim didn't know what scared her worst, the sight of Shego out of control or her daughter begging for the man who had kidnapped her baby. Anne held Kim close as tears continued to flow down her cheeks.
"Shelia what have we done to you", said Drakken in awe and regret at the sight of his former sidekick and friend.
The Raider slid down the wall leaving a black and red streak in his wake. Miraculously he remained standing on his one remaining leg. "Is… that… all you have. Is… this… all your anger… amounts too", said the Raider spitting blood from his mask.
Shego's roar of rage was primal and final. She gathered a huge glowing ball of plasma before her and dove from the platform straight toward the Raider.
"Momma for the love of God stop!" yelled Gracie.
Ron could only watch in horror as Shego descended her plasma blinding him from looking directly at her. When she hit the explosion was incredible throwing rocks, debris, and a red mist across the room. Ron wiped his face and it came back red as blood began to fall like rain.
Author's Notes:
Decided to leave it at a little of a cliffhanger. Don't worry the story isn't over by a long shot. Remember I said I like happy endings. I didn't say I was going to provide one.
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.