I Do Not own the rights to Kim Possible, any of the other characters from that show, nor those from other media I may reference.
00X0X0XX0X0X0X0X00X
Bernadette Barr tried to focus on her cellphone despite the wind whipping through her hair. Every time she looked at the speedometer, it looked like they were under the speed limit, and it was true she hadn't been in an open-topped vehicle in a long time, but somehow she still couldn't help suspecting that Shego was bending the laws of time and space somehow.
They were about forty miles from the Los Angeles city limits after a three hour drive from the closest place where Shego felt it was safe to land the Roller Coaster Ride from Hell, and get a car for the ride in from someone she trusted to keep their hands off the RCRH.
At least on this second flight, Bernie had taken a good twenty seconds less to get her legs steady enough to walk on. She supposed after fifteen or twenty more trips she would actually be able to stand up immediately without fainting away. Maybe.
Shego had been nearly silent on the whole trip from Morocco, beyond making safety checks, etc. She had spent a long time conversing with the owner of their current ride, A Royal Blue Hemi 'Cuda convertible from the early 70s, if Bernie remembered correctly. And they'd made the whole trip so far with the roof open.
And it wasn't a popular vehicle to one group they'd passed, who screamed slogans and invective concerning air quality as they vainly tried to keep up with them. Afterwards, Shego had told Bernie that in truth, the engine had the same old roar, but modifications her friend had made had reduced the car's 'carbon footprint' to less then that of any current model car. That still used gasoline, that is.
And Bernie had chosen to remain silent on the trip, sending and receiving texts as she tried to find out if a certain suspicion of hers was well-founded. And now she shook her head in frustration. "Don't want to go that route!" She muttered to herself.
Her head shot up as Shego spoke for the first time in maybe two hours. "Listen, if the thing with Kimmie is bothering you, I can handle my business myself, you know. So you go ahead and play chaperone, it's okay by me."
Bernie shook her head. "You're too focused on that problem, you don't seem to see that this might be a matter of interest to you, too!"
"What are you talking about? Why would Kimmie being in LaLa Land matter to me?"
Bernie rolled her eyes. "Because it's a school day, because it's not a mission, because Ann Possible had to sign off on it, who could arrange something like that, where her own mother couldn't or wouldn't object?"
Shego's brow furrowed as she tried to shift mental gears. But Bernie ran out of patience. Cueing up a number on her phone, she hit dial. "I'm thinking Global Justice." She then winced as the car made a wild swerve before Shego regained control, comprehension dawning.
"Hello?" Came a familiar female voice over the phone, again distracting Shego, though with slightly less fish-tailing this time.
"Hi, Eileen, it's Bernie." The nurse spoke in a friendly manner not matched by the regretful look in her eyes.
"Hi, Bernie! I'm afraid if you're looking for Drew, he's not available at the moment!"
Bernie grimaced, but plunged on in the same tone. "I know that, Eileen! I'm on my way to chaperone Kim, just wanted to know if you wanted me to pass any messages to Drew when I see him!" If there had not been a windshield in front of her, Shego would have certainly swallowed a few bugs.
"Oh! Well, I didn't get to talk to him before he left, but Miss Hogan explained...maybe I shouldn't have mentioned her, I'm not sure!"
"That's okay, Eileen, I know what's going on." Bernie reassured her, noting that from her expression, Shego had connected the dots as well. "So, anything that can be delivered second hand?"
There was what might have been an amused noise, then, "Just tell him I love him, and I hope this business is over with soon! And you take care as well, if both he and Kim are in the same place, somehow I suspect some madness will turn up!"
"I will, and you take care of yourself, too! Bye Eileen!" After Eileen replied in kind, Bernie disconnected and mimed throwing her phone away. "Gods, that was...I don't know, sitting here with you, whatever I say, you can probably top it!"
Shego's expression was back to what it had been back in Morocco when Bernie had showed her the text message from Wade Load. Some weeks previously, in order to repay a favor to venerable actor Timothy North, Kim Possible and Shego had posed in the costumes of, respectively, Ferret Girl and Ferretwoman, the first a character from the 'Fearless Ferret' television show that Ron had once been obsessed with, and a new character created for a movie version of the franchise.
Shego's costume had been, to say the least, a bit risque. But Timothy North had promised that the photos were exclusively for his private collection, not for distribution in any form!
But apparently, that promise had been circumvented somehow, hence Shego's bad mood. And Bernie had yet to tell her that there was some speculation on the Internet that the ex-villainess was considering an acting career. But now, that problem had been pushed aside due to another one rearing it's ugly head.
"So, those GJ idiots are finally doing something about the Cyclops' old deputy?! How long does their 'due process' take, anyway? Whenever they had anything on me, it didn't take them a day to decide how to proceed, and it's been months with that guy!" Shego shook her head angrily, "And why the Doc, and Kimmie? What are they supposed to testify about? Even if we're right about that clown experimenting on them, they'd hardly need their testimony, that would compromise their own security!"
"Well, we can speculate as much as we want, maybe I'll find out something when I meet up with Kim. In the meantime, you decide which of these two problems is your priority today."
"Hmph! Don't they usually come in threes?" Shego sarcastically quipped.
At which point Bernie's cellphone went off, sounding the tones from Close Encounters of the Third Kind. "What the? I never assigned that ringtone to anyone!" The nurse muttered, then checked the Caller ID. Then she gave Shego a stern look.
"NEVER tempt Fate, it's got no self-control!"
X0X0X00X0X0X00X
Kim hadn't much enjoyed the flight from Middleton to Los Angeles. The plane was certainly well-appointed and comfortable, but the atmosphere wasn't. She sat at the very front of the small executive jet's cabin, with Brenda Core seated next to her, and Will Du across the aisle.
Doctor Drakken sat all the way at the back, flanked by two Global Justice agents that Kim couldn't recognize. And when Kim had asked to use the facilities at the rear of the aircraft, the two agents had both made gestures to Drakken to stop the small talk that had been going on between them. And Kim clearly saw one pay close attention to the Mayor's hands, as if watching for a signal to be made to her.
And of course she was worried. Worried about the school she was missing, and even more worried about Ron. He was liable to be worried despite her leaving with GJ Agents, because he didn't like mysteries that involved her. And she didn't appreciate not being allowed to contact him after school hours, Wade's communications system was probably more secure then Global Justice's!
But the most frustrating thing was the refusal of both of her 'minders' to confirm the reason for all this! There was only one rational reason for inconveniencing her and Doctor Drakken this way, but they kept telling her she'd have to wait until they reached their destination! She appreciated their need for secrecy about problems within their ranks, but really, who would be interested outside Global enough to warrant this kind of security?
And then they had arrived and things had gone to the next level of weird. They landed at one of the smaller airports in the LA area, one whose runways were just adequate for their transport. They then taxied into a hangar, then had to wait for the doors to close before disembarking. But Kim saw a helicopter through the window sitting alongside them, two pilots in the cockpit. But the rear cabin had such heavily tinted windows that the interior was completely hidden. Kim wondered if they were transferring to the copter. If so, things would be a lot tighter if all six of them traveled in it.
But that idea left her mind as she stepped down the stairs. She now saw not one, not two, but three SUVs with drivers sitting in them inside the hangar. And again, the interiors of the vehicles were hidden by heavily tinted windows. "Wow! Are they taking decoys to an extreme, here?"
But the agent who met them didn't lead them towards any of the four vehicles, but instead headed for a large storage locker in the back corner of the hangar. Even though it looked like an open cage filled with various apparatuses, as they got close to it Kim began to think this was an optical illusion, of a type she'd encountered before.
And she was right. As they approached, another agent opened the 'cage' to reveal a set of stairs down into the earth. They had to descend single-file and then entered a wider, well-lit tunnel. Kim heard the engines of the vehicles above start up, even the helicopter, before the cage was closed and cut off all sound.
"Just the State in which I'd like to take a long underground stroll in." Drakken commented dryly. But then Kim heard a faint buzzing, and a vehicle appeared from far up the tunnel. It approached at quite a rate before decelerating quite quickly. And it wasn't touching the ground! Kim now noted a pair of metal strips, or possibly the tops of embedded rails in the floor and nodded in understanding.
"Interesting," Drakken observed, "Is this per chance based on Wilhelm's design you acquired...two years ago?"
"It certainly looks like it." Kim replied, "I remember Ron and I trying to use it to escape with Ron at the controls, Professor Dementor kept reversing the polarity, and Ron kept reversing the controls...I was starting to feel like a crash test dummy when suddenly one of them faked the other out, and we took a long flight into the middle of that lake!" She sighed, "And it wouldn't have been that bad if not for the floating stage where they were performing Der Ring des Nibelungen on in front of about 5000 people on shore!"
"Half of whom were equipped with their own video cameras, of course! I'm sorry to say I was actually quite amused when I saw some of those recordings, Kimberley! And amazed at that violinist who never stopped playing during his entire flight!" Drakken sounded apologetic now, but based on their relationship then, Kim suspected he had enjoyed the spectacle far too much!
Kim noticed that Drakken's two escorts were swiveling their heads to follow the conversation while scowling mightily, as if they thought the pair were communicating in some form of code.
The vehicle that had arrived had four padded seats, so Kim with her two escorts climbed in. It then pivoted in place, and headed back the way it had come. Neither of her companions had activated any controls, so Kim assumed the vehicle was being piloted from elsewhere, or on an automated program.
It only took about a minute to reach their destination, a somewhat more spacious room with only one exit, with several agents in uniform present. One sat behind a desk with several monitors arrayed in front of her. As Kim, Will, and Brenda exited the vehicle, the agent behind the desk studied each of them in turn, then looked at one of the monitors. Feeling a bit of static electricity, Kim turned to see the car heading back, obviously to pick up Drakken and company.
Will led the way to the desk, where they were each handed an identity badge that had some heft to it. Too much to hang from the collar of Kim's blouse comfortably, so she affixed it to her belt instead, which the agent approved with a nod.
They then passed through the exit and entered a long, well-lit hallway. They passed through two intersections before taking a left at the third. Kim looked back as they turned the corner, but saw no sign of Drakken yet, which caused her to frown.
And when her eyes came back to straight ahead, they widened at the sight of Doctor Elizabeth Director apparently waiting for her.
"Agent Core, Agent Du," she greeted her escort, "Welcome to LA. I'd like a moment alone with Miss Possible, if you don't mind?" The two stepped aside as Betty indicated an office door open alongside her.
Kim was much more then a little tense at this point. Her last encounter with Doctor Director hadn't ended on the best of terms, and she wondered how this one was going to start. Nevertheless, she preceded the woman into the office, not turning to face her until she heard the door close. She then braced herself for whatever was coming.
Betty looked completely composed and serious. After studying the girl for a moment, she cleared her throat. "Kim...if at any time I thought the story of you, Miss Rockwaller, and the Nanomoths was at all funny, I heartily apologize!"
XX00XX0X0X0X0X0X
"Well, where are they!" Shego complained loudly as she paced restlessly back and forth, unlike her companion, who leaned comfortably against the Barracuda.
Bernie sighed and looked heavenward. "Well, based on your previous relationship with them, they probably have some trepidation about approaching you directly, Ana, and that didn't help!"
The pair were parked well out of sight of the highway, at the location designated by their alien contact over Bernie's phone, and had been there for nearly twenty minutes. Which as far as Shego was concerned was plenty of time for people with their kind of technology to put in an appearance.
But the woman realized that Bernie was right, she had on previous occasions threatened these idiot aliens with violence. She shook her head. If it took a proclamation of peaceful intentions to get them to show themselves, so she could take her frustrations at the delay out on them, so be it! But then she looked at Bernie and grimaced, she'd never hear the end of it, either!
"Actually, I have been present this whole time!"
Neither woman reacted violently, though Shego's fists clenched as she suppressed her reaction. But Bernie didn't even turn to look at the being who had just stepped forth from the brush surrounding them.
It stopped in it's tracks. "And I receive the impression that you knew I was here?"
Bernie just shrugged. "As a babysitter, I learned to hear small stealthy movements quite well, Thank You! Also, white is a terrible camouflage color around here."
The alien stood about four feet tall, wearing an off-white, semi-rigid suit with a full helmet with no visible openings. Neither of the the two women had ever seen one of the aliens outside it's suit, and had no idea whether they were actually humanoid or not. They were responsible for the creation of Team Go, as a means to generate some good will on Earth that they could then exploit, probably in an entirely mercenary manner. Though in truth the five members of the Team had not been the intended recipients of the powers, but, with a little accidental assistance from Ron Stoppable, there plans had gone a bit astray.
Now the alien raised his arms and dropped them again. "Yes, I can see how that would be the case!"
Shego smirked, "So, you can ask your three friends to either step out, or beam back to your ship, whichever you prefer!"
The alien appeared to sag, but then made a dismissive gesture, and a sharp buzzing sound came from three locations around them, followed by three flashes of red-tinged light from the same places.
"They were just a precaution, I'm sure you understand!" The alien addressed Shego, "And we don't actually have a ship anymore, we..." He broke off as a faint buzzing came from inside his suit. Then another, sounding distinctly different. And then both alternating in varying lengths before the alien with them suddenly spoke aloud in English, "Well, if you wanted things done just so, why aren't you here instead of me!"
Since all the aliens looked and sounded alike, neither Shego nor Bernie could tell if this was one they'd met before. But obviously he wasn't the leader, who they believed they had met previously.
Finally the alien straightened up and turned to face them. "Let's just ignore that last bit, shall we? We actually need your assistance, ladies, and believe that our problem is of interest to you, too!" Seeing two thoroughly puzzled expressions directed his way, he continued. "Let me explain, one of our crewmembers has gone...I believe the term is AWOL? And he's currently in the same city you're heading towards, Los Angeles?"
"And this is of interest to us how?" Shego asked suspiciously.
"Oh! Well, he seems to have come in contact with someone in the villain business, and may use his questionable scientific knowledge to aid said villain in their current scheme!"
Now Shego shrugged. "Hello? Ex...well, maybe ex-villainess here? Unless you're saying that he might make LA go up in a mushroom cloud, why would I be interested?" Bernie shot her a scowl, but she ignored it.
"Actually, that's not entirely out of the question...well, what if I told you this villainess is interested in the movements of Kim Possible and your friend Drew Lipsky, which she seems to have been able to track, possibly due to our shipmate?"
Again the lack of visible expression on the alien's part put Shego's nerves on edge as she replied. "So you're saying that your 'shipmate' has become a partner to a villainess who's after Kim and the Doc?"
The alien hesitated briefly before responding. "Well, in the infrequent intervals where he forgets to consciously block us out, he thinks he's a partner, but I get the impression that the woman thinks of him more as a 'pet', actually."
"Not a child?" Bernie asked curiously.
"Oh, she's already got two offspring, Miss Barr." He leaned back slightly as he saw two shocked looks appear on the women's faces. "So, should I assume you know this individual?"
They both turned to face each other. And Shego threw her arms up helplessly. "Do you think if I tapped my heels together three times, I could wake up back in that hotel room in Morocco?"
"Try it, and if it works, send me a text and I'll be right behind you!"
XX0X0X0X0X0OX0X0
"Miss Possible, I believe you may be actually challenging the world record for longest jaw-drop in history." Doctor Director tried to keep her expression neutral as she said this, but it was quite difficult.
And it hadn't been that long, after all. Kim did close her mouth, but the incredulous look on her face took a bit longer to disappear. Then she blushed. "I...I'm sorry I didn't do anything more to help when they got loose in that lair under Upperton, Ma'am, it had already been such a long day..."
Betty's lips twitched. "Perfectly understandable, Kimberley...and I really mean that!" Now she grinned openly. "I hope that broke up some ice between us!"
Kim couldn't make eye contact for a moment, but then met the older woman's gaze directly. "Maybe so, Ma'am, but I'm afraid there are still some trust issues, I'm sorry."
Betty made a dismissive gesture. "Nothing to be sorry for, I doubt anyone else would have acted differently!" She shrugged, "I certainly wouldn't have!" She shook her head. "Better get down to business, Kim, I have some my own to attend to regarding this mess!"
"That's one thing that puzzles me, Doctor Director! Why are me and Doc-Mayor Lipsky here? If this is just about your former Deputy, I'm not sure either of us can give any testimony to prove he did anything wrong!" She crossed her arms but broke eye contact. "But if it's specifically about something that happened to us..."
"Hold it, Kim!" Betty interrupted her. "You're not here at my request, or Global Justice's! Believe it or not, it's my ex-deputy that requested your presence as witnesses!" She shook her head, "Through his attorney, but we know it came from him originally!"
"But why?"
Betty rolled her eye. "No one has figured that out, yet! We know he's up to something, though. He's already exhausted every angle he could to delay his Tribunal, including his choosing of a legal counsel."
"How did he manage that?" Kim asked, intrigued.
"Well, by submitting candidates for the job he knew would fail the required security checks, which would take some time to complete. But that came to an abrupt end for some reason, and he suddenly chose his current counsel. Not sure why he didn't continue the stall, he could have stretched it out longer...never mind, the hearing is set, I should be satisfied with that!"
"And you think he's got something up his sleeve, involving me and D-Mayor Lipsky?"
Betty shook her head, "No, I think he and his attorney have got all their sleeves stuffed with tricks, Kim! But yes, one must involve the two of you. And by the way, you can call him anything you want in front of me, I won't lecture you on it!"
Kim blushed, "I suppose, it's just I'm really trying not to sound as if I don't think he might be going legit, that's all! Opposing him was a big thing in my life for a while, I don't want people to think I'm...not sure what to say, actually!"
Betty began to reply, but was interrupted by her comm unit sounding off. Frowning, she checked the source, then answered. "Yes, Miss Hogan?" Kim regarded the comm sourly, she had had both her regular cellphone and her Kimmunicator confiscated, for 'security reasons'.
"Boss, I just had a call from Bernadette Barr, and it isn't good news!" Abby Hogan sounded very concerned, which escalated Betty's tension significantly.
"I take it the news is not that she won't be able to chaperone Kim?" Seeing how concerned that made Kim, Betty hesitated, then put her comm on speaker.
"Not even close, Betts! She admits her source is a bit odd, but she believes it's reliable, and it's telling her that your sister-in-law is in LA at the moment!" There was a brief pause as that sank in, then, "And as added information, Miss Barr is currently traveling with Shego to LA, and if I'm right about the reason, there could be some bloodshed!"
Betty was matching shocked looks with Kim at the first news. Hildegard Demenz-Director was Professor Dementor's sister, who had secretly married Betty's brother Sheldon, better known as Gemini, Head of the World Wide Evil Empire, or WWEE*. Since Gemini had been captured by Global Justice the previous Halloween, with the unofficial assistance of Drakken and Kim's parents, Frau Hildy, as she preferred to be called, had been running his empire, and far more efficiently then he had, though with many problems.
After her marriage, which had been a secret to Betty until recently, she had partially supported WWEE with funds siphoned from her family's fortune without her older brother's knowledge, until she had managed a hostile takeover of his company, after which she had found things much easier.
That is, until her marriage had been revealed and the company's possible connection to a terrorist organization had caused her ouster from control in favor of her brother, who now operated under some degree of supervision from Senior Senor Senor. And then her little 'nest egg'(About 13 billion dollars), set aside for such emergencies, had been pilfered by an alliance of what she considered 'minor' supervillains acting in concert, forcing her to downsize WWEE to stay in operation. And to further confound her, they had given the money back to her brother!
In addition, when Sheldon had originally been arrested, WWEE had fragmented briefly, and had not wholly reassembled under her control. There was now a rival organization, known as EWWE, Evil World Wide Empire**, headed by Gemini's former number two, Agent Alpha.
Just three weeks previously, an attempt to raise funds with a telethon on VillainNet failed spectacularly due to Alpha's interference, as well as some from Kim and Ron that Hildy knew nothing about. And worse, a couple of perfectly good agents had been signed to show business contracts based on their performances, giving up the pursuit of World Conquest in favor of fame and presumably fortune!***
As the shock faded, Betty practically growled. "So now we have to wonder what she's up to, as well as my former Deputy! That's all I need! And what's Shego's problem, by the way?"
Abby explained about the photos of Kim and Shego circulating, causing Betty to give Kim an incredulous look that produced a significant blush. But at the end she shook her head. "I honestly don't think there'll be bloodshed on Shego's part, Abby! However far she takes it, we'll leave the matter to the local police, unless they request help. Now let me go give the local Global Agents and the Tribunal Judges the good news, you see what you can develop from your end!"
X0X0X0X0XX0X0X0XOX0X
Down the corridor from their location, Drew Lipsky was ushered into another office alone, and the door closed behind him. One look at the sole occupant of the room was enough to tell him he was in no danger, despite sharing the room with the head of Global Justice's Inspector General's Office, his uncle, Frederick Isidor Lipsky.
Frederick Lipsky was taller and more broad shouldered then his nephew. He was in his early sixties, with a neat grey beard and close-cropped hair. And in his official uniform, he cut quite the figure. He was currently standing behind the desk, which was obviously not his own, there being two framed photographs featuring children with an adult couple smiling happily.
Drakken moved towards one of the two comfortable looking chairs in front of the desk. "Uncle." He greeted the man behind the desk.
"Let's not bring up my ancient past, if you don't mind." Frederick responded as he sat down. The comment caught Drakken halfway into his own seat and caused him to freeze briefly, then chuckle. "Yes, Sir!" he snapped out with a grin.
Frederick relaxed and smiled back. "So, Nephew, an invitation to the wedding was out of the question?" He asked with a shrug of his shoulders.
Drakken's eyes widened briefly in surprise, as if wondering how serious his uncle was, but then he shrugged. "Awkward, at the very least!" Then he frowned. "Didn't Mother contact you at all?"
His uncle nodded. "As a matter of fact she did, four hours before the ceremony! And though I can requisition a sub-orbital flight, I wouldn't for something like your wedding, no offense!" When Drew shrugged good naturedly, Frederick frowned. "Besides, I hate riding in those things! Just made the one trip, and didn't like it a bit!"
Drakken nodded. "I developed a quicker way to make the trip, but I'm pretty sure you wouldn't like the descent part, either!"
Frederick frowned. "Really?" To Drakken's discerning eye, he seemed genuinely surprised. "I hope it was an old project you finished, not something new?"
"Oh, it's been finished for nearly a year, well before my career was sidetracked into politics! Sometimes I think I should have stuck with villainy, so much more freedom to deal with irritants!"
His uncle regarded him dourly for a moment, then shook his head slightly. "Well, I hope this business doesn't keep you away from your wife for too long, especially under the circumstances...I hate to ask, but is Emma campaigning for you to name a boy after me?" He added the last a bit warily.
Drakken chuckled again. "She's mentioned it, but only once in my presence, I haven't asked Eileen whether the subject has come up in my absence, but now that you mention it..." He trailed off thoughtfully.
Frederick his head. "I thought as much! Well, I don't expect you to let her efforts affect your choice, Drew, no matter what she may say to you! But let's get off that subject and onto those of immediate concern, such as your presence here!"
That caused Drakken to become much more alert. "I take it by the way you said that, that you don't approve of my presence? Which in turn makes me wonder who requested it?"
Frederick then repeated the same information that Doctor Director had shared with Kim. Drakken mulled it over for a couple of minutes, then gave his uncle a curious look. "I don't suppose you'd know what may have caused him to abandon the attorney stall, would you?"
Frederick regarded him steadily for a moment, then abruptly shrugged. "There's a slim possibility that he may have heard a rumor that the prosecuting counsel was about to ask for an extension himself..." He trailed off while watching his nephew's expression guardedly.
Drakken slowly nodded. "Which was only likely if the prosecuting counsel had found new avenues of inquiry to follow, possibly leading to additional charges against...you know, I still don't know that man's name? And by now I should, don't you think?" He was intrigued when his uncle winced at that. "How bad is it?"
Frederick shrugged. "His name is Jackman Daw."
Drakken's eyes widened. "Jackman? Never heard that as a first name before...Jack Daw, Jackdaw, a member of the crow family? An opportunistic eater, if I remember correctly, and this man is nothing if not opportunistic...'Deputy' Daw? Oh, I know where that takes my mind! Add one more letter..." He shook his head vigorously, then scowled. "And he wants me and Kimberley here for some reason? I can't wait to learn what, if only so I can get back to Middleton sooner!"
Frederick sighed and nodded agreement. "Well, for the moment, you're in a secure facility, and I suppose you took notice of all the diversionary efforts made at the airport?"
"Yes, I did!" But then Drakken frowned thoughtfully. Behind him the office door swung open to reveal a man in GJ uniform, fist raised to knock on the door, before Drakken's next words stopped him.
"I'm afraid I may have already noticed a weakness in your security system, especially against one particular opponent!" Then Drakken saw his uncle frown as his gaze shifted towards the opening door. And then he heard...
"Oh, is that so, Doctor Drakken? And why would you be interested..." The nasal voice broke off suddenly as it's owner saw the frown Frederick Lipsky was directing his way. Almost by reflex, his raised fist knocked on the door, before he grimaced sheepishly and lowered it.
"It was just an observation," Drakken said calmly, "And since my early career, when I overlooked so many obvious flaws in my own protection, including from my own experiments..." He pointed to the scar on his cheek, "I've taken such matters much more seriously!"
"Oh, is that your story?" The man shot back. There was absolutely nothing striking about the fellow, he was physically average in every way, and trying his best to hide encroaching baldness with a wholly inadequate amount of remaining hair. "In my opinion this hearing should have been held in a more remote place, since the judges are free to move about since they have completed their recording..." He broke off with the color rising in his face, which now sported an alarmed look.
"Nephew!" Frederick grimaced at his sharper-then-necessary tone, "What is this 'flaw' you spotted? And which enemy might exploit it?" And the lameness of his attempted diversion didn't make him any happier.
Drakken decided to pretend no interest in the new arrival's slip, instead turning his attention fully back to his uncle. "Well, Global Justice has not been above, and this is no criticism, believe me, using some of the technology that they have confiscated from various villains for their own purposes, such as the transit system that moved us from the airport to here, an invention of Wilhelm Demenz, I believe?"
Frederick nodded slowly, and Drakken suspected that his uncle's mind was now on the right track, and closing fast. "And therefore during the time when she ran the company, it is possible Wilhelm's sister became aware of the system, and may have suspected that it might be put to use by you..." A severe scowl was now forming on his uncle's face, "And for obvious reasons, asked her scientists to come up with a way to detect and track it!" Drakken had cut his speech short, in the hope he'd reached the finish line ahead of his uncle, which he now recognized as utterly childish, and kept his face straight with great difficulty.
His uncle was nodding now, his usually impassive demeanor absent. And then the man in the door unwittingly nominated himself as a candidate to receive the displeasure building up in Frederick.
"That whole idea is utterly preposterous! A series of baseless presumptions piled on top of each other! What does she do, scan every area where she thinks a Global Justice Base might exist? Do you think she has scanned the entire Los Angeles Basin since you've arrived? The whole thing is a fabrication to distract us from whatever purpose this so-called 'Mayor' has up his sleeve! Why, I'd be willing to wager..." He broke off as he realized someone was standing behind him, he spun around and frowned at the individual. "This is a private conversation!(Ignoring the fact he hadn't closed the door behind him), what are you waiting there for?"
Kim Possible grinned weakly and shrugged. "Waiting to see if you were going to put your foot all the way in, before giving you guys some really bad news?"
X0X0X0X0X00X0X0X0X0
This is looking like an old Marvel comic with all the asterisks!
*I'm used to writing it like this, I know it's really WEE, Worldwide Evil Empire. I think.
**Explanation for the alphabet nonsense is in Chapter 22 of His Honor the Mayor, Drew Lipsky?, the start of this storyverse.
***I once planned to do a story about this Telethon, which would have explained where Kim and Ron were on Drakken's Wedding Day, but never did. I doubt I will, now, so there's a plot bunny for someone else to adopt if they want.