My thanks to Eddy13, campy, CajunBear73, Bobtrumpet, kriitkko, Kelly (aka Captainkodak1), Quathis, and mit1 for their reviews and to everyone for reading.
Thanks also to everyone who has added this story or author to their favorites or alert lists. I really appreciate it!
A thank you, too, to those who read or reviewed "Picture This".
With this installment, WTAM passes the 80 000 word mark, which really doesn't signify anything other than that I am not very good at estimating how long a story will be. Whether this one will reach 90 000 or even 100 000 is anybody's guess. We'll see where things go …
And, oh yes, last but not least, thanks to campy for looking over this chapter.
KP © Disney. But you knew that.
Chapter 34: Trafficdammerung
I.
"Well, somebody's been busy," Kim said archly, before she shook her head in disappointment at the scene down on the streets of Manhattan. Otto Bahn seemed to be more of a poseur, admittedly a talented one, than a bona fide super villain.
"Yeah, you don't see that every day," Ron offered. "I think somebody is looking for some attention …"
The two college students-cum-heroes were looking out the small window of the air transport from which they were about to jump at a huge pyramid of vehicles. The multi-colored metal mountain filled Times Square and was the source of the gridlock affecting Midtown Manhattan.
"… And we're going to give it to him," Kim said and she turned to ensure all of her equipment was in order.
As the plane approached, they saw news helicopters circling the mess. In addition, there was another craft that caught Ron's attention. "Hey! Look, it's the Pop Pop Porter Blimp!" he squealed as he pointed at the corn dog-shaped, helium-filled advertising dirigible that was joining the fray.
Kim rolled her eyes. "Bad guys now, corn dogs later, Ron."
His smile fell. "Man, villains ruin everything."
She looked at her boyfriend fondly and took his hand in hers. "Oh, I don't know about that. If it weren't for the bad guys, we might not have gotten together."
"Okay, that time, evil ruled," Ron said, his smile restored.
"But this time, not so much," Kim said, now in mission mode. "It's go time."
II.
Bam.
Bam.
Bam.
Bam.
Bam.
Bam.
Bam.
Bam.
Bam.
The tall, handsome man allowed himself a small grin as he took in this handiwork. Nine shots, nine bull's eyes. He leveled his gun and prepared to fire off another round when he felt a tap on his shoulder.
"Senator," the aide said.
He lowered his weapon, took off his ear protectors, and turned to the woman. "What have you got?"
"Mr. Perkins met with your son—"
"And?"
"Your boy is, uh, well …"
"Dumb as dirt?" Senator Troy Bell, Senior observed with a hint of resignation. "Junior may have books smarts, but he's not that sharp when it comes to the real world."
"Uh, yes, sir," the aide replied. "Mr. Perkins thought you'd want to know that things might be a bit more complicated than we thought."
"How?"
"It seems Kim Possible is involved."
"The girl who saves the world?"
"Yes, sir."
"How?" Troy suspected he was about to get a migraine.
"She seems to have rejected your son's advances, prompting him to become involved in a plot to, uh, incapacitate her."
Senator Bell sighed as his head began to hurt. Still, a problem was just an unrecognized opportunity. "So she's a loose end?"
"You could say that, sir," the aide answered.
Troy turned to face the target again. He fired and scored his tenth bull's eye.
"Then find something on her and take her out."
III.
From street level, Kim surveyed the mess, watching as Otto Bahn stood atop the pyramid of cars and trucks, raving about how he was 'Der Kaiser of der Autobahn.' Ron stood by her side, lost in thought and rubbing his chin. She wondered whether he, like her, was assessing the situation – or looking at the Bueno Nacho across the street. His concentration suggested the latter.
Kim coughed to gain his attention. "Ron, you remember the sitch with Warhok and Warmonga?"
"Uh, yeah, kind of hard to forget," he said, suddenly looking uneasy.
"It's okay," Kim said with a reassuring smile. "Early on during the fight, we exchanged a look and you just knew to blast off and launch me onto Warhok's back."
"That was kind of cool," he said.
"So cool," she agreed.
"Wait, you want to try that again?"
"The alien bad guys not so much. The being so totally in sync thing, yes. You up for it?"
"Sure," Ron said, though he was unsure of how to do what Kim wanted. Then his eyes opened wide. "Hold on. I'm not wearing a jet pack … Whoa! You want me to use my monkey powers? I, I guess I can try," he said before he panicked and blurted out, "but if you don't want me to, I, I won't!"
Kim looked at Ron, who was now visibly agitated. She knew why: he didn't want her to feel superfluous. She had had time to think about this in the months since the mission in the Pacific and the events of the summer. What mattered was that she – no they – helped people. If he stepped up, she wasn't going to be churlish or insecure, but use that to their advantage. That approach had worked in Go City earlier that fall and after Tim had struck. She reached up to cup his cheeks and drew him in for a kiss. "You're pretty amazing, Mr. Stepuppable. Don't you forget that."
Ron relaxed, and grinned dopily at her. "Hey, I've had a good teacher, KP."
"I'm so not into flying today," she said as she held his hands.
"How about a monkey-powered boost?"
"Please and thank you," she said with a grin.
"Okay. The Ronster is ready to roll," replied with a confident smile.
"Spankin'. Time to take down the bad guy," Kim said, wearing a determined expression known by all too many villains and henchmen.
IV.
"It's over, Otto," Kim snapped as she completed her flip and landed in the flatbed of a truck that was resting precariously on top of the huge, ungainly pyramid.
"Kim Possible? How did you get up here?" the German asked, his Teutonic accent as improbably annoying as Dementor's. "It iz impossible!"
"Impossible? Check the name," she said dismissively.
"Vell, zen I am mistaken," he said, before he bowed. "Mein apologies."
"Accepted," Kim said, mildly surprised by Otto's courtesy. Still, she remained in the zone and with her arms now crossed, observed, "I've got to give you your props on your mess."
"You are zpeaking of Ze Trafficdammerung, no?" Otto reached into his pocket and withdrew a device the size of a smartphone. Then he threw open his arms and chortled. "It iz impressive, no?"
"Impressive, not so much. Over the top, most def."
"You zay that now, but vhen ze gridlock zpreads from here to ze rest of ze island and beyond, you vill be impressed."
"Try again," Kim said, distinctly unimpressed.
"Hmmm, zen let's try a different approach." Otto flashed a rakish grin. "Vould you like to go for ze dinner?"
Kim now took a good look at her opponent. He was a prime piece of European manhood: 6' 2", blond hair, blue eyes, chiseled jaw. Admittedly, a hottie. And she so wasn't interested. "Sorry, but I don't date bad guys and I've got plans with my BF."
The two had finally moved from banter to fighting stances and found themselves facing off, warily circling one another. "BF?"
"Boyfriend," she answered.
"Vhat iz with zis? It has not been on ze internet or ze new shows?"
Kim rolled her eyes. "Tell me about it. Ron and I have been a couple for a year and half and other than Paula Pandowdy they still haven't gotten the message."
"Who iz dis Ron? Zurely, you don't mean zat goofy froobkin who iz alvays following you around like ze zad puppy dog, do you?"
Kim bristled and her patience had come to an end. "Yes, I do," she said as she lashed out and punched Otto across the jaw. He crumpled to the ground as Kim stood over his prostrate form. "And he's so not a froobkin."
"And, once again, Kim Possible One, Bad Guy Zero," Ron said as he clambered into the truck bed. He panted a few times, tired from the climb then noticed Otto. "Man, you came to play today."
Kim continued to look down at the wannabe villain's prone form. "I so don't like it when they diss you. And then there was the hitting on me thing," she said. She bent down, picked up the device Otto had used, then stood up and looked around at Times Square, and shook her head. "What was he thinking?"
"Yeah, as far as plots go, this is kind of lame," Ron said. "New York traffic is bad enough as it is."
"I was thinking about the mess," Kim said archly.
Ron gulped. "You don't think we're going to have to clean it up?"
Kim shook her head, reached up and mussed his hair. "C'mon, I saw you looking at Bueno Nacho earlier."
"What? How'd you know?" he asked, a look of being caught out writ large on his face.
In answer, Kim rolled her eyes and smirked. "Best friend girlfriend who can read you like a book?"
Ron rubbed his neck. "Guess you got me there."
"And don't you forget it," she said as they slowly and carefully began their descent to street level.
V.
Tim and Amy stood behind a large console, each wearing a pair of retro goggles, simply because they could. The moment had arrived: they were going to try to revive Monkey Fist.
"When I give the say so, press the lever," Tim said.
"Are you sure this is what we should be doing?" Amy asked, worried about what the procedure might do to her beloved Montykins.
"As sure as I can be, Aunt Amy," Tim replied, trying to be as confident as possible, which, under the circumstances, was not actually easy.
The two looked at the lumpen form of the former Lord Montgomery Fiske. Tim thought about how far the mad nobleman had fallen; Amy just longed to fawn over her crush.
"Now!" cried Tim.
Amy slowly moved the handle forward and Tim began to recite the incantation. The words sounded like gibberish and he felt foolish. But slowly, an otherworldly light began to fill the chamber as he spoke.
He continued to chant.
As Tim and Amy watched, they were filled with awe as a warm glow began to surround Monkey Fist, then they gasped as a brilliant flash filled the room.
All was silent. And standing before them stood a bemused Monkey Fist, in his pre-Yonofied form.
To Be Continued …