Author's note: It's been a while. I was a little disappointed with the results from the last chapter and got depressed, but that is the nature of the fanfiction beast. No real use in complaining, it's how developing your writing skills goes.
The chapter doesn't have a beta so there may be a few landmines remaining. You have been warned.
Drop in Reality
Chapter 10: Triple the Trouble
Beams of ethereal moonlight illuminated the Possible residence. Each window shut, all lights out. All heads lay on fluffed pillows awaiting the next exciting adventure. All aside for one.
The room was cast in shades of gray, eerily shifting as the curtain wafted in the gentle breeze. Dancing moonlight flitted and spun across torn clothes; bedding was strewn about with sheets scattered. Goose feathers peaked from their torn pillow home, each end on opposite sides of the room. Amidst the ruin blinked an incessant flash, a sad phone with a long-jagged crack along its side beeped with many an unheard voice.
Poking at odd angles from underneath the door were letters. Some handwritten, some generic. Though the door frame was filled with them, a splash of several was half torn as if something had made room with force.
The steady chirping of crickets and even the buzz of moths in their everlasting battle against the streetlights were replaced by heavy breathing as a shadow fell across the room. The figure leaned heavily against the window's frame holding onto their side with one hand. Slowly, the opposite hand cracked open the window. Breathing became more distinct, slowing over long minutes. The pause was broken as the figure toppled over with a thump.
Amidst the flailing was a gasp and then silence.
"Get it… together… girl. No time…to be laying down while…" striking green eyes flashed into view illuminated by the moon's touch. There was a quick shake of the head followed by a sharp slap.
Moments later, amidst choice expletives, the lights flipped on highlighting the room's chaos. Amid the mess stood Kim Possible, dark bags under her eyes, hair splayed all over, and a bright red handprint across her cheek. Even her mission gear was ripped and, in some places, suspiciously moist.
She glared, her gaze falling across a familiar sleeping bag. Her eyes slammed shut, tears leaking through. Turning away, her fingers reached into her pocket to pull out her faithful Kimmunicator. As soon as it left its home, it fumbled away followed by more light cursing as the girl crouched, picking up the piece. Flipping it open revealed a concerned face.
"No, go on the Paris trip. What's next?" Kim asked, her tone sharp.
"There hasn't been another sighting, Kim"
The girl's eyes narrowed causing the boy to shrink into himself. "Where… is… the next… sitch?" she demanded closing on the device by the word.
"It's been two weeks, Kim! You nearly didn't make it past that street thug tonight. You need to rest!" Wade implored.
"Rest?!" Kim's eyes blazed as they narrowed. "He's out there, right now!" She jabbed her index finger towards the window. "He made two doomsday devices in hours, Wade. Hours! And now he's been doing god knows what for two weeks. No signs, no demands, no world destruction, nada. I'm left chasing shadows halfway across the world. And…and… and it's all my fault!" Kim stamped around as she exclaimed. "I did this to him! I did it and I will fix it. I will not rest until my friend is back and that bitch of an alter ego is locked away for good!"
Her frosty green eyes seemed to pulse with their own internal light as they locked onto the device, freezing the young boy on the other end. "Now where…Is… The… GOD DAMN SITCH!"
"I'm looking, Kim! I swear I've searched everywhere and… and you've traced everything I could find even things so unlikely…"
"FUCK that Wade! You're a flippen super genius. You've decoded and hacked the highest security in seconds. You've delved into the unknown to find something that no one could know and now you are crapping out on me! If you can't find him, what the hell good are you!" The device snapped from Kim's fingers slamming into the wall with a sharp crack before falling amidst the debris.
Red hair snapped about as Kim smashed her fist into the wall behind her, and chips of paint fell away from the latest indention.
Kim stood there, her fist resting in the half-inch impression, her breath came in gasps as she looked down, her eyes locked onto a flimsy sleeping bag. Lightly, her head rested beside her fist, the energy bled from her as she slowly slumped to collapse next to the bedroll, her hand shaking as it slowly touched the item as if it would vanish.
"You…You were right there. So…so close." She lifted the item, taking a deep sniff, her eyes drifted closed as she slowly caressed it. The pain melted away from her features as she sat there. "I'll find you, Ron. No matter where you hide, no disguise, or technology will shield you. Dig yourself to the ends of the earth and I'll be the one standing there. Because you…you are mine." A giggle escaped her lips, twitching into a predatory smile.
"Kimberly Ann Possible!"
Green eyes flashed, the smile slipping into confusion
There was a pounding on the door. Kim's eyes tracked the noise, pulling the sleeping bag closer to her chest.
There was a pause
"For goodness sake," The voice went distant leaving Kim staring at the door. In a moment, there was an audible click as the lock turned. Kim's eyes widened. She jumped up, only to fall flat, head pounding, she looked up to see another pair of eyes staring down at her.
"Kimmy? What happened…"
The sentence was interrupted as Kim pushed off the carpet with her feet, scrambling. Her hand reached out to the window only to find herself enwrapped in twin arms. The last vestiges of strength evaporated at the soft hug. She dropped limply into the embrace.
"Kim?"
The call brought Kim's head around to stare into the concerned blue eyes of her mother.
"Got to find him. Bring him back. Ron…" the eyes looking into hers blurred as she felt tears trickle down her cheeks. "Just a little more," Kim murmured, weakly straining against her mother.
"No"
The single word sent shivers down her spine, and all efforts to escape ceased.
Kim found herself turned around so that they were face to face crouched on the floor, a torn stuffed animal between them.
"We haven't seen you for days, Kim. You haven't answered your messages. Your friends have been coming by to check on you. I've seen patients on the table for an operation that look healthier. When was the last time you ate or slept?" The barrage passed by Kim's mind as her head tilted away towards the window.
She started as she was shaken.
"Come on." Her mother lifted her, bringing memories of a time long ago. She felt vulnerable and yet safe within her mother's soft embrace. She was carried out of her room and down the stairs to the kitchen. With a shift of a hand and the lights flicked on. She was gently placed at the table.
Stern eyes appeared in front of hers.
"Stay."
Kim blinked as the eyes vanished.
There was a thump as a drawer opened and closed and then she was back. Her shirt was gently pulled up, revealing a thin cut along her side. Her mother frowned as she took out a bottle, upturning it into a cotton ball. She rubbed at the wound causing a hiss as pain seared through her.
"It doesn't look infected." Her mother's neutral tone was out of place, causing Kim to watch as she continued her ministration. A myriad of emotions swirled in those blue eyes. Kim was afraid they may try and stop her.
Another hiss as a large bandage was placed over the cut.
"That should do it for now." Her mother picked up the well-used first aid kit, storing it away. Kim listlessly sat at the table, her eyes drifting close only to snap open. The clatter of pans brought her attention around to find a large bowl sitting on the counter, a pan on the stove, and a heavenly scent filling the air.
Despite herself, she could feel her mouth watering as she traced the flight of a pancake midair.
Another flip and it sat on a plate, one that was in front of her. A bottle of syrup appeared to her right as she stared at the confection. A few more of the delights piled on top of the first.
A clatter and her mother was sitting across from her, placing two glasses of milk, one for each of them. She sat with her own plate, not touching it as she stared at Kim, considering.
"Eat."
Kim gulped, eyeing the food.
"What is our motto?" The soft question drew Kim's eyes up.
"Anything is possible for a Possible." She repeated, her words sounding dead to her ears.
"And it's true." Kim tilted her head away, eyes going moist. She felt smooth hands lightly pull her head back to meet blue.
"Honey, I want you to listen carefully. You are capable of amazing things. You've shown us this many times. But this may be the first time that you've come up against something you couldn't go out and tackle right away. A time when Wade couldn't point you in the right direction. Without that certainty, you've thrown yourself wholly into searching for any shred of a lead. What you don't understand is that you've lost yourself along the way."
"But..."
"No buts. Tell me, if Ron were to walk into the room right now." Kim's eyes lit up as they glanced towards the doorway. Her mother sighed. "Do you think you'd be able to stop him?"
Kim nodded furiously.
"Honestly?"
Kim paused, lifting frazzled hair to her eyes, examined her quivering arms, and finally to the gurgling stomach.
"No." She whispered, more tears coming to the edges of her eyes.
"That's my girl. Now eat up and then get to sleep, I don't want to see you up until at least noon. The world can live for one night without you, dear."
Kim lowered her head, slowly eating pancakes with frequent sips of milk. Tears of frustration continued to creep down her cheeks.
Her mother shuffled around to sit next to her. She tensed as long fingers loosely ran through her hair.
"It will be all right, Kim. You'll bring him back to us. I know it. Believe in yourself and you'll make it happen. Just be sure to take care of yourself.
Kim nodded, her eyes drooping.
"Now, off to bed with you."
Kim stood and stumbled up to the stairs. Mrs. Possible sat watching her with a frown.
There was a beep from the older woman's pocket. She calmly took it out, flipping it open.
"Kim! I was…Mrs. P?" Wade's voice stopped midsentence.
"Wade, I just got Kim down for the night. It can wait for tomorrow say around 1:00 pm, understood?"
"Uh, yes, and thank you," Wade said with relief.
"No, Wade. Thank you. She's going through a very hard time and you've stuck by her. That makes you one of the best friends she could hope for. Please keep looking out for my little girl?" She asked with a small smile. Wade reciprocated with his own.
"Did you make it?" Ann asked.
Wade became jittery as his eyes darted away from her gaze.
"Wade?" Ann asked, her tone going flat.
"Yes," He whispered, still not meeting her gaze.
"Good, please have it to me in the next few hours."
"But…"
"We've talked about it before, Wade. Now, we are just left with the doing."
He nodded before the screen went dark.
Ann pocketed the device before sadly staring at the stairs. "Hopefully, we'll never need it." She whispered.
Ann smiled as a sleepy redhead stumbled down the stairs in a zombie-like trance, plopping onto the kitchen seat with confusion.
Ann bent down and kissed the top of her daughter's head. "I'm glad to see you up at the unreasonable hour of noon."
The announcement shook Kim from her daze. She patted her pants frantically.
"I believe you're looking for this?" Ann asked, setting the Kimmunicator down in front of her. Kim froze, glancing guiltily up at her mom before grabbing for it. Ann snatched it back.
"Uh, uh, brunch first." She said, placing a plate filled with eggs, bacon, toast, and hash browns.
"But Mom."
"No, but Mom. You need to make up for starving yourself. That means plenty of good food and rest. You've satisfied the rest, now it's time to eat. Also, I expect you back for dinner and a good night's sleep tonight or else." Ann leaned down, staring her daughter right in the eyes.
"Ok" Kim's reluctant acknowledgment belied the gusto as she attacked the meal. The second every last scrap was finished, the Kimmunicator vanished from Ann's hand.
"WADE! SITCH!" She screamed.
The unfortunate boy on the other end fell out of his chair. "Whoa, crank it down Kim," Wade said, a hand reappearing on the desk, lifting the boy up and onto his seat. "Good to see you back and looking better." The boy continued quickly when Kim's brow started to tick. "I can't say much has changed from last night…"
Ding, dong
Everyone paused at the unexpected sound. "I'll get it," Ann offered as Kim sullenly looked at the Kimmunicator. Her mother was back a moment later with a confused expression.
"Kim, it's for you and I don't think it was sent via standard mail. Some guy that looked like private security in a three-piece suit."
Kim blinked. "Who?"
"They didn't leave a name. Didn't even verify it was the right address. They placed it straight into my hands, spun around, and walked away."
Kim gingerly opened the manila folder to find a single sheet of paper. Her eyes widened as she read aloud.
"Kim, Kim, Kim. If you've received this message, you are such a disappointment. I gave you plenty of time to track down Ron so we can have our final fight and you've once again managed to screw things up. No worries, I've made a few friends, helped them with a problem or two, and called in a favor to help point you in the right direction. You should find a lead on the opposite side of this message. Don't screw up.
Signed,
Kim"
Kim shook her head. "I don't like her."
Ann nodded rereading the message from behind. "No, I can't say I appreciate her tone and I'm a little worried about these new 'friends."
"Oooooh," Wade's startled expression drew everyone's attention.
"What's up, Wade?"
"I was just thinking, the evil Kim kind of went off the grid for that week. I was curious about what she did."
"What did you find?" Kim asked
"I don't have a full picture, but I noticed some recent updates on the Hench co's servers and found that their entire inventory of attitudinators had been destroyed about three weeks ago." Kim slapped her forehead.
"She destroyed our cure."
"It looks like there's more bad news. All their research regarding it has also been trashed. It would take them years to get back to a working prototype and they've already canned it in favor of other more stable income."
"Great, just great. What else did she do?"
"Welllll."
His hesitation caused apprehension to fill the room. "Come on Wade. What did she do?"
"I can't prove it, but during that week there were a few high-profile assassinations in the government. No witnesses, no evidence, and no group coming forward to claim it. The only remote connection between them all was that they were holding up some legislation trying to pass through an earmark in a bill."
"Wonderful." Kim looked at her two hands. "I may be a killer now."
Once again, she found two blue eyes in front of her own. "No more of that. It wasn't you and you are the only one that can stop her from doing it again if it was. Do you understand?"
Kim nodded.
"So, what was the clue?" Wade asked.
Kim blinked before turning the paper over.
"Find Drakkon, find Ron Stoppable. Hey Wade, there are some coordinates."
"Hmmm," There was a clatter of the keyboard as Wade worked on his computer. "Looks like there's an island at that location with some unusual eruptions these past few months. The seismologist community has been concerned it may blow any day now."
"Active volcano for a lair? Sounds right up Drakkon's lane." Kim whispered with a shake of her head.
"Any ideas about who this source is?" Kim asked, slowly flipping the paper over and over as if hunting for further clues.
Kim blinked as the kimmunicator flashed.
"Taking a spectrum analysis, it looks like it came from a Smarty Mart. Actually, it looks like it came from one a few miles from your school. The ink came from the same location. Looks like it was a cash purchase but there was no video footage despite one over every register. Whoever they are, they put some effort into erasing their tracks."
"If my evil twin wants us to follow this lead, I have a really bad feeling. On the other hand, we don't have any other leads and everything points to her wanting to fight Ron so this is likely the fastest way to get to him." Kim sighed, closing her eyes as she pondered. Finally, she took a deep breath. "There's no use agonizing over it, let's just do it and handle the repercussions as they come. Do you have a ride ready?" Kim asked.
"Yup, should be there any minute." Kim's smile became all the brighter as a very familiar beating of blades sounded overhead.
"You rock, Wade."
Kim was in her element. There was a mission, she was in her gear, and Drakken was going to get a severe thrashing if he dared think twice about refusing her request... and returning Sara of course. Kim hadn't forgotten about the personal assistant that had hired her. Her Mom hadn't stopped talking about the incredulous looks the park gave when they came knocking to ask about the check.
"Game on, Ron!" Her expression deflated as she turned her head to find the missing piece she dearly missed.
With a visible shake, Kim turned to the exit, eyeing a giant plume of smoke escape the volcano below. It would be just like Drakken to set up shop in a volcano. She gave him eight points for originality and a full ten for stupidity.
Taking a last breath, Kim sent herself head first out the cargo-bay door. She relished the rush of air even as she angled towards the glowing entrance lit up by Wade's new sunglasses.
The entrance pulsed once, twice and a crevice dropped to reveal the lair. Kim pulled the cord slowing her descent to a near crawl when she noticed the entrance reverse, closing back up.
"Oh no you don't," Kim whispered. With a jerk of her hand, the chute fluttered away sending her into freefall to slip straight through the entrance just before it rumbled to a close.
Her hands snaked out, grabbing a nearby pipe. She flipped twice before landing in a crouch, arms wide to take on any goons foolish enough to step up.
Even as her breathing steadied, the lights in the hanger fluttered on. Her eyes scanned for opponents before widening as she took in the ash-covered floor. She pulled out the Kimmunicator.
"Kim? I thought you would be busy with the vanguard for at least a few more minutes. Did you catch them by surprise?" he asked.
Kim shook her head, "If I didn't know better, Wade, I'd say I had already been here."
"Meaning?" he asked, motioning with a hand for more information.
"Take a look for yourself," Kim responded as she began to wander. A little camera sprouted out of the Kimmunicator, swiveling and adjusting itself to take a full panoramic view. The walls were covered in black scorch marks, an obvious calling sign of Shego's typical fights.
Interrupting the blanket of ashes were spatters of blood, holes, and odd circular areas cut straight into the basalt. There was nobody in sight so Kim figured the combatants were both alive or one was hauled away. The real question was. "Who did it?" both Wade and Kim asked.
"Jinx, you owe me a soda," Kim said, covering her mouth at the slip. "Sorry. Still, I would like to know who was responsible. Global Justice knew I'd been looking for Drakken so they would have let me know if they had done it. Besides, this looks more like a one-on-one fight." Kim traced the smudged footsteps in the volcanic ash, flipping about until she rested in a single spot. She crouched, eyeing the perfect circle sliced into the very floor below. She raised an eyebrow at all the footprints surrounding the circle.
"This is odd..." Kim said, settling on the ground for a closer look. A click and a small flashlight illuminated the ground.
"What's that?" Wade asked, doing another scan of the area.
"Whatever burned this hole had to be strong. It goes down at least a few feet. Still…it doesn't make sense, what could do that and why use it in a battle?"
"Shego?" Wade asked.
"No, too precise. Looks more like a laser than Shego's standard plasma."
"Stranger yet, Kim, there is no one home."
"What's strange about that? Drakken always turns tail and runs when he's defeated." Kim responded still examining the multitude of footsteps surrounding her with a frown.
"Yeah, but this time, he left everything behind."
Kim stood taking another look at the various boxes with little labels for parts and even pallets of molded food strewn around. "You're right, even if someone beat him, he would have been back for his supplies which means he was taken, but if that's true..."
"Why didn't they take everything?" Wade finished.
"I have a bad feeling about this," her eyes narrowed as they returned to the fight scene.
"How right you are," Kim jumped coming around in a crouched combat stance. Her eyes widened as they saw Ron leaning against the far wall, one leg casually over the other, arms folded. Her eyes trailed over him. The clothes looked near identical to his old mission gear except somewhat glossy. When she reached his expression, she frowned at the knowing smirk so reminiscent of his bad boy episode. Her stomach flipped. She had heard people describe a feeling of butterflies, but what she felt seemed more like a migration of them through her stomach. Her heart sped and her eyes widened to take in just a little more of the boy.
"Ron," Kim whispered, her hand reaching out.
Ron tutted as he shifted away from the wall, walking absently as if down the street in their neighborhood. Her mind replayed countless times she had seen that same slouch walking with her to school. That endearing happy-go-lucky expression.
"You're late," he pronounced, pacing back and forth, always facing her with his hands in his pockets. "You must be slipping; you should have reached this point a week ago." He stopped. "I hate being kept waiting. Unfortunately, there has been plenty to keep my attention in the meantime, but that is neither here nor there."
"Please, Ron, stop this. I'm here now. Together we can find a way to turn you back. Find a way to fix me. Bring everything back to the way it was. Just…Just come home…" Kim whispered, both arms now outstretched.
Ron's short laugh caused her hands to slump. "…and what, go back to boring old Stoppable? The pitiful sidekick to the wonder girl Kim Possible? Stay in your shadow for the rest of my existence? The dunce to magnify your brilliance?" Ron sniffed in disdain. "I think not. I've cut my own path in the world. Bent it to my will. Nothing is holding me back anymore. No more pointless adventures. No more losing my pants. No more being a simpleton of a lapdog at your beck and call. You'll have to excuse me if I find I rather enjoy my new life."
Tears welled in Kim's eyes as every word struck needles into her heart. "It's just the polarizer talking. My Ron would never say such things. We love each other and I will do anything to fix my mistake and bring him back!" Kim sprang into action. She flashed through the air, his expression blinking in surprise. Her rebellious arms came around halfway to strike half in a flying hug. Their eyes were level. She braced for impact, ready to grapple like her life depended on it. And then he was gone.
Kim flopped onto the ground in an undignified heap. She raised her head as she heard laughter echo through the cavern, Ron leaning down just above her.
"Did you think Wade was the only one capable of generating a hologram?" Kim's lips trembled; he was so close. If she just reached out, she could touch him.
"I did say there weren't any signs of life," Wade reminded Kim. She stood up, making a show of dusting off the ashes that now covered her. In truth, she was trying to hide the war raging inside. He may not have been physically there, but she knew he was controlling the illusion. She hadn't been this close since that hated night where she had... Kim cut that line of thought off. She couldn't afford tears here. She needed to keep her game face on.
"I doubt you've been waiting all this time just to say hi to your girlfriend. What do you want?" Kim asked, deciding that getting his intentions out could help her tease out some method of bringing him back.
"As an old acquaintance once said, always to the point. I too appreciate that trait. You don't bother with all of the yapping some pretenders are so fond of." With a snap of his fingers, a world globe appeared, encompassing the entire room. Kim was awestruck as half of her now encompassed the Antarctic, a miniature cargo plane buzzing by her left eye.
"Your alter ego challenged me and I do like to step up. I've established three bases around the globe," points appeared in a deep crimson, spread equally across the map. "In roughly eight hours, each of them will have a surprise for the Earth. You know the standard fun stuff. Even by the fastest means of travel, you will have only enough time to disable one. If anyone not you attempts to disable a location, they all will go off. No countdowns, no waiting, instant boom. Kimberly Ann Possible, you are renowned for accomplishing the impossible daily. I lay before you my challenge, perform your miracle not once, but three times." Ron turned away, heading towards a doorway. He stopped just before exiting. "Oh, before I forget, I managed to acquire the lovely VP you've had Wade searching for. If you wish to save her, she will be at one of the locations. I will be at another and finally, a surprise awaits you at the third. I greatly look forward to the anything is possible for a Possible accomplishing the truly impossible." As he finished stepping from the room, his form vanished at the transition.
Kim's hand came up, instinctively trying to keep him from leaving, but in a flash, his laughing features were gone.
Kim sunk bonelessly to her knees, stunned. She stared blindly at the spot where, moments ago, her boyfriend stood. Her most important person. The one she had betrayed. And now he was playing games with her. Kim's lips thinned, her brow hardening. 'So be it, if this is the condition I have to meet to win back my boyfriend/ best friend then I will go through hell and high water.'
"Kim, are you there?" Wade's soft voice brought her out of her revere, her determined expression transferring to Wade.
"Sure thing, give me a breakdown, Wade."
The genius' hands flew across the keyboard, not even bothering to pay attention to his drink. "Fortunately, he gave us all the locations. Unfortunately, they are scattered across the globe." Wade examined his computer screen with a slight tilt of his head in contemplation. "I hate to say it, Kim, but he has a point. I don't see how you can get to all of them in time. Maybe you could take one and let Global Justice handle the others?"
"No, he already said if GJ shows up, he'll activate them all. It has to be me," Kim said with a frown.
"Then how are we going to do it?" Wade asked perplexed.
Kim's eyes went distant as she reflected on the problem. "He said I could take down one of them… If only there were three of me," Kim muttered absently.
"That's it, you've got it!." Kim's attention was drawn back to the frantically typing boy genius.
"What are you talking about? There is only one of me and I kind of like it that way."
"As I said before, Drakken left all of his stuff. From what I can see from my scan, one of them happens to be that cloning device he used on Bonnie."
Kim cringed, "You mean the one that made all those Bonnies that ran around barking like dogs... actually not too different from the original," Kim said with a brief smirk.
"That's the one," Wade replied.
"Hmmm, that may solve the numbers problem, but even if we do use it, two barking Kim's isn't going to help much."
"Not by itself, but tied in with the mind transfer device…" Wade's tongue peeked from the corner of his mouth as he frantically typed. "Change out the buffer and… That's it! I can set it to send a copy of your mind that the clones would then pick up. They would have identical memories and capabilities. We really can save the world three times over!" He exclaimed in delight.
Kim lightly bit her lip, "I don't know, is there no other way?" Kim asked hesitantly.
"Short of hacking in and launching missiles and praying they destroy whatever he has cooked before it can go off…" Wade responded apologetically.
'Ron'
Kim frowned determinedly, "I'm in."
"Quick, we don't have much time. Go through the door in front of you." Kim suited words to action, sprinting through a door that opened automatically, and racing through the following corridor. She could see bootprints covered by a thin layer of ash. The dust itself flew into the air as she zoomed past. She would go down one pathway and then the next following Wade's instructions, navigating the many intersections until even she didn't know where she was. She skidded to a halt as the temperature soared, and the dimly lit hallways shone with a fiery haze.
Kim found herself in the final room, the actual core of the volcano. High above was the cone's exit, a small splotch of blue in the suffocating red surrounding her. Protecting her from the constant barrage of ash and flecks of lava was a clear half-donut dome that circled the perimeter overhanging the bubbling mass below. She stared breathlessly as a column of ash explode past, nearly throwing her back. When she steadied herself, she noticed a collection of various pieces of equipment, left to gather dust. On the far side, she spotted pipes of a greenish tinge dipped into the lava connected to a machine on this side. A generator, she supposed.
"Ok, Wade, now what?" Kim asked as she looked over everything, recognizing various pieces of equipment by experience. Instead of answering, the Kimmunicator jumped out of her hands. Two corded arms extended out to fly between two pieces of equipment. Its arms were a flurry of activity as it connected various parts.
In less than two minutes, they both hummed to life, three booths highlighted in an ominous pink hue.
"Ok, Kim, just step into that first booth," Wade instructed from the screen silently floating in front of her. With a nod, Kim entered, looking up at the bland wall, her breathing increased as long seconds stretched. 'What is going to happen? What will it be like having exact clones? Maybe like having sisters?' She flinched as the sound of static picked up in pitch. The hair on her arms all rose with a tingle. Kim covered her ears as an impossibly loud screech grew ever higher. Just as she thought her mind would split, the whole booth shook violently and then there was darkness.
Kim held her head, shaking it as flecks of black flashed across her vision. She put a hand down only to find that the ground was rather soft and moaned at her touch. Shaking her head again, she looked to find her hand on her leg… well it looked like her leg. Looking further up, she found herself meeting another set of confused green eyes that suddenly brightened.
"It worked," the other said, "With these clones, saving Ron will be a cinch."
Kim shook her head. "Wait, I'll be able to save Ron with you clones." The other stared at her blankly.
"Wait, how do we tell who the clones are?" Turning around, Kim found herself talking to another Kim completely dressed in mission gear as she was. Looking between them and the destroyed booths, Kim took a large gulp.
"This…could be a problem."
Author's end notes: The first iteration had Kim distraught about ever finding Ron with no leads coming up. Once I circled back, I realized that Kim wouldn't do that. She would give a 110% to solve the problem. That left me wondering just what that would look like if the wall she was trying to overcome didn't go down as it usually does. It may very well leave a few cracks. I kind of like how it turned out.
As usual, this doesn't have a beta. If someone is interested in betaing, let me know.
