Behind Doors

The sound of scrapping furniture on a marble floor cut the sound above the voices of the henchmen. Shego groaned as she got off the vintage chaise lounge she'd been relaxing on while the henchmen moved items around in the manor. She rolled her eyes as she walked around the corner to where the henchmen in question were attempting to set up a living space.

"Hey! These floors have withstood decades, can you lugs not destroy them now," she snapped. Her eyes widened, "Who painted over the wall mural?"

"Dr. Drakken told us too," said Davis' quickly, "We left the ceiling part untouched."

"Yeah, and the gorgon was kinda creepy," added Lucius.

"I thought she was hot," muttered Mitchell.

"I don't care... that's why I liked it," glared Shego as she moved passed them, "Okay, in case you all forgot. I am in charge of anything and everything being done with this manor. Or do you need another few warning shots as a reminder."

She flared her hands and watched the henchmen scatter. After they were clearly somewhere else in the manor she let the glow fade before looking around the living space. The room was still grand and the white paint made the large window light seem even brighter. The marble and gold and velvet green furniture looked perfectly in place without the massive tiled wall mural. Her brows narrowed.

Drakken said I had control over this...

With a sharp turn she headed to the cellar exit versus the cliff walkway they'd added to easier reach the manor above. The cellar exit wasn't nearly as decayed looking anymore, Hector and his cleaning crew had spent almost and entire week on it, finding the stairs not to be dirt or simple cliff rock, but some sort of obsidian like stones that shimmered in the new overhead lights.

"It still smells though," she sighed.

She made her way onto the platform outside the lab and hit the entrance button, which had been about three days of attempting to fix. She didn't wait for the entrance to fully open as she ducked under the moving door and into the lab. Her eyes still narrowed as she scanned the room to locate Drakken. She heard his humming before she saw him, sitting on the floor surrounded by several file cabinets worth of papers and designs.

"First you paint over my mural and now your defiling my files," snapped Shego.

"Gah!" Drakken spun around in his spot, "Shego! Don't do that!... Wait. What?"

She gestured to his mess aggressively.

"Oh," he looked around him, "I seemed to have gotten carried away... I'll put it back."

"No you wont," she huffed, "Whatever, I'll deal with it later. Why did you have the henchmen paint over that mural?"

"Because you said it was creepy," Drakken looked confused.

"Yes! I liked it creepy," Shego crossed her arms, "Regardless if I didn't like it... you gave me full reign over the manor construction."

"I felt more like that conversation was one sided when that was talked about," muttered Drakken. Shego's glare deepened, "Listen, if its such a big deal, they can take it off. It's tile and I made them use latex paint on it so it would be preserved."

"Well that's something," grumbled Shego, "Waste of time-"

"Speaking of which," Drakken cut her off as he stood up, "Just how much time, money, and henchmen is being put on this little project of yours?"

"So you agree its mine," smirked Shego. Drakken shrugged and began picking up papers to put away, "Well apart from the mural defacing, the downstairs is done with some minor rearrangements. The top half is still being cleaned."

"Mhmm, so a little over halfway done?" asked Drakken. Shego nodded, "Okay, so... money?"

"No where near half a moon laser," muttered Shego.

"Nghn! Shego!" Whined Drakken, "You can't use that every time to win an argument!"

"Did you want to continue to discuss it?" asked Shego smugly.

Drakken glared before muttering under his breath and cleaning up his mess.

"Point made," snickered Shego.

She leaned against his desk and watched as Drakken began putting files away. She was more than certain they were slightly off and he just didn't want to hear her vocalizing her annoyance at the mess. She rolled her eyes, and made not of which cabinets she'd have to go over again. She leaned down and picked a few papers up and smiled slightly at the fact he was going over his own work for once. A gloved hand came into view and the papers were gently tugged away the papers. With a smirk she looked up to see his still pouting face and sighed. The annoyance completely fading with the clarification if she wanted, the wall could be put back to the way it was in the manor.

It does look nice without it too.

"Well while you've been making a mess, I have made a disaster in housekeeping into a beautiful elegant living space," Shego gestured upwards.

"You mean you lounged around and bossed around the henchmen where to move things?" asked Drakken. She saw the smirk in his forced uninterested expression.

"Hey, I worked hard figuring out where to move that heavy chine cabinet in the dining area," shrugged Shego.

"How many times did Williams have to move it?" asked Drakken as he closed a filing cabinet.

"Only four and Lucius helped him," Shego rolled her eyes, "Whined the whole time. Honestly since they became paid workers instead of lack luster henchmen, they've gained a lot of opinions."

"They've always had opinions Shego," said Drakken as he put the last few papers away, "They just waited until you were out of ear shot to share them."

"Oh really?" asked Shego. She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes, "Like what?"

"Shego, I am not at liberty to expose them to your wrath," said Drakken, "Mainly because I only walked in on one of their little pow wow sessions and they raised some valid points- Ow!"

Shego swatted his shoulder.

"That didn't hurt, you big blue baby," Shego scoffed and close his cabinet, "So anything worth making yet?"

She watched his eyes dart away from her direction and his brow slightly knit.

"Not at the moment," he cleared his throat, "Besides, you know I have deadlines for other things. I'll work on a worth while one in the winter... more down time."

"We live in Greece. Our winters are most people's spring," Shego sighed, "Do you want my speech again from the other day?"

"Mmm, Pasadena, " hummed Drakken, "Speaking of work, perhaps I can take a look at that security device-"

"Or you could come marvel at what was behind decades of filth and revel in grandeur," grinned Shego, "Whoever owned that place had taste."

"You've become quite involved with that project," Drakken began walking towards the entrance towards the hidden stairwell.

"Yes, well, as much as I like reading magazines and watching your cute face before it gets all frustrated because you forgot to carry the one on your equation... I do get bored from time to time," said Shego.

"I suppose that's fair," said Drakken as Shego hopped on the platform, he following after.

It was silent as they began walking up the hallway steps, then Drakken glanced at her with a smirk.

"Think I'm cute, huh?" asked Drakken.

"I thought you knew I was only dating you for your looks," teased Shego. She watched Drakken roll his eyes.

"Interesting... because I remember a time where you lost my body and-"

"We decided never to talk about that," glared Shego.

"Yes well, you pull Moon Laser card. I pull 'You lost my body' card... its a fair trade," Drakken stated smugly as they walked out of the wine cellar entrance, "We should really think about adding an elevator."

Shego shook her head as she moved ahead of him to begin her tour of her current project.

The sound of hammering was the only sound Shego could zone in on. Really, because it was the only sound filling the old manor. Drakken hadn't said a word as she'd pointed out how luxurious the place was looking under her instruction. She rolled her eyes as he looked at the grand staircase, that was still no where near its potential. The knowledge that he was less than thrilled with her need to restore the place due to its possible previous occupants, radiated through her head. Shego knew he was most likely humoring her in walking around and nodding as she's prattled on... she herself wasn't even sure why she was fixating on restoring the old place.

She nudged the bench near the staircase back into place and her thoughts froze.

Wait...

She looked around her, a month of tedious choices in décor and painstaking pallet color choices. Her eyes fell to the ceiling high elaborate curtains she'd spent almost a day deciding over. This wasn't a lair she was spending time on, something she barely gave a second thought too... she was decorating a home.

"Oh god," Shego muttered to herself and quickly glanced at Drakken.

He was halfway up the stairs to where the hammering was coming from.

Am I going... domestic?

She shuttered at the thought, more so at how little it seemed to bother her. Because she couldn't help thinking about the color of the staircase needing to be cleaned up.

Too much time in the lair.

She nodded to herself as she walked up after Drakken.

"You're right, I should give the project a rest," said Shego, "Give you back your henchmen."

"I didn't say that," Drakken raised a brow as he looked at her, "I simply asked how long and how much... till I saw it... it looks very..."

He trailed off and looked over the banister at the finished areas and smirked.

"You," he finished, "I knew you had a very grand aesthetic, but you have a knack for this whole... domesticated charm... not just lairs."

Shego felt a shift of discomfort flicker through her at his words.

"Yeah, well... the lairs were getting blown up on a weekly basis, not putting effort in to that," stated Shego, "And its not domesticated anything... its just... style."

"Why are you so defensive all of a sudden?" asked Drakken, "Its because I said 'Domestic' isn't it?"

"No," lied Shego. Drakken paused on the stairs, "Just because I'm decorating this place out of boredom, doesn't mean I'm some sort of Suzie Homemaker or something, okay!"

"You seemed to think I'm saying things I'm not and I don't think this anger is warranted," stated Drakken calmly. Shego raised a brow, "I'm using words, Shego."

"I just don't want you thinking I'm going to stating cooking and cleaning... or baking cakes," glared Shego, "I don't do cakes."

"Shego, I've seen the way you clean... it involves plasma blasting dust," said Drakken, "I will continue to employ a cleaning staff instead of repairing the floor every few weeks."

"So long as that's clear," said Shego. She crossed her arms as they continued walking again.

"Shego?" asked Drakken. She looked at him, "You baked me a cake."

Shego slowed her pace and felt her face grow warm before turning away and continuing upwards.

"Yes, well. I was trying something... Won't happen again," she said confidently.

"Hmm, really?" she ignored Drakken's smug look as they reached the landing, "Well this looks horrible."

Shego glanced at the mess of boards, clutter, and garbage that was scattered all over the upper level. The argument that she was rearing to start at dismissing his statement further... fell away as she looked around at the mess. The sound of banging still echoing down the halls.

"I told them to clean it, not tear it apart," growled Shego, "What did you boneheads do!"

Shego moved towards the end of the hall where the hammering had briefly stopped.

"Shego, one of the meetings was not calling them names," sighed Drakken as he followed behind her.

"I didn't attend it," replied Shego, "So it doesn't apply to me."

"Yes, about that-"

"Drakken."

"Fine, another time then," sighed Drakken.

Shego's eyes narrowed as she saw why the hammering had stopped. She watched as Mitchell shoved the hammer he held into Lucius' hands. Who was standing purposefully against the wall with a nervous grin on his face.

"Why is there stuff all- what are you hiding?" asked Shego.

"Ohm, we were organizing the mess so we can just move it all at once when everyone gets back from lunch," said Mitchell as she leaned next to Lucius.

"What's behind Lucius?" asked Drakken. Shego saw his amused expression.

"A wall," said both the henchmen.

Shego rolled her eyes as she saw the crack still forming behind Lucius' bulky frame.

"I can see it," snapped Shego.

"See what?" asked Lucius as he moved slightly, "Shouldn't you two be having a nice lunch or something?"

"Yeah, Davis made something that smelt amazing," added Mitchell.

Shego looked at Drakken and gestured to the two men.

"Alright, so boneheads isn't really the insult you should have used," Drakken shrugged.

Before Shego could decide if she just wanted to turn around and not deal with the idiocy or threaten them... the crack grew behind where the two leaned against the wall. Shego watched the arching lines calmly before with a final scattering of plaster, a large chunk slid off behind Lucius, causing the two to jump.

"Alright, go to lunch before you bring the whole place down," sighed Drakken.

Shego's hand flared at the exact moment Drakken's hands found her shoulders and moved slightly in front of her. She gave him a dark look which didn't seem to phase him as the henchmen sprinted past them. When they cleared the stairs, she yanked away from his hold and moved away from him. Reasonably she wasn't too angry with the henchmen, but the fact Drakken had prevented her for terrorizing them had shifted her current emotions.

"I wasn't going to shoot them," glared Shego, "You didn't have to block them... might shoot you."

"I'm merely preventing any legal claims," sighed Drakken, "Also, I'm now curious as to what Davis' cooked."

"It's a wall. I'm not that crazy," Shego rolled her eyes. Drakken raised a brow, "Besides your paying for the repairs so really you should be mad."

Shego watched Drakken's expression shift before he glared down the stairs.

"Bet you wished you hadn't stopped me," smirked Shego slightly.

She didn't hear Drakken's response as she looked over towards the wall and noticed something off. She knew Drakken was talking to her but she was focused on the change of the wood grain beyond the damaged wall. She glanced into the rooms on either side of the hall and then back at the half cracked plaster. A thick vertical slab of wood was behind a few small and brittle supports. Shego looked at the wall and used her plasma to concentrate a few hits to weaker point of the remaining plaster.

"Shego!" yelled Drakken, "You are making it worse."

Shego gestured to the now fallen plaster as her thoughts were confirmed.

"There's a door here," said Shego, "Probably why the wall gave."

"So the plan is to... open a mysterious sealed off door?" asked Drakken, "Shego... do you remember the many horror movies you felt the need to terrorize me with?"

"Nice try, you chose just as many as I did. Yours was just more robots and technology horror," scoffed Shego. She stared at the door, "It could be an empty room."

"Or unspeakable cursed horrors... which may I remind you... you have banned me from. So I feel that this is a joint deal," said Drakken as she held up a board.

Shego looked at the door, torn between a festering need to see behind it brought on by curiosity... and to take the board Drakken had and add a little more support to its hiding. She mulled over Drakken's reasoning and felt agitated at the fact he was the one voicing reason, normally she was the one reasoning with him being irrational. Her mind raced with the possibilities behind the door, knowing this was one a house of the Company... ledgers, pictures, logs, contracts even. While it was something long gone and shouldn't be bothered with... her need to know more about something she was denied... something she had in the Team Go days had wanted to understand... was overpowering.

I'm not going to take the fall for this argument if it turns wrong.

"You're right... its probably just filled with old tech blueprints and devices... nothing worth opening it for," shrugged Shego, "What would we do with old novelty guns ans lasers."

Shego shrugged and turned to walk towards the stairs slowly. She glanced Drakken's scrunched up face as he looked at the door. The wheels turning so hard behind his head that Shego could see it in his eyes. His arms crossed as he began hesitantly walking with her, the sigh he gave almost earned an eye roll from her at him not doing what she'd hoped... A smirk fell across her face as Flower can shooting out from the collar of his coat and in the matter of a few seconds has removed all the remaining wood from the door and was tugging at the handle.

"Flower!" yelled Drakken as the door was practically ripped off, "I did not- Shego this doesn't count."

"Looks like you opened it to me," said Shego as she walked passed him and swatted Flower gently away, "Any curses is on you."

"That's not fair!" whined Drakken, "Flower did it!"

"Flower does not act independently... Flower represents your subconscious thoughts... Just like the flowers outside are effected by your emotions," shrugged Shego as she waved away some cobwebs.

The inside of the room was cast with an eerie glowing green as she flared her hand to see in the darkness. There was cobwebs and dirt brought in by vermin in its decades of being closed off... at least that was Shego's conclusion as she cringed at the scatterings on the ground. She moved her hand to continue casting light on old filing cabinets, some with emptied open drawers and other with papers sticking out of the tops that had seen better days. The light cast to an old desk with a lamp that looked out of place from an old black and white movie.

Drakken's voice cut the silence.

"This doesn't look right out of a horror movie, at all," said Drakken with sarcasm.

Shego smirked as she pulled the cord to the lamp.

"We'll just have to wait with bated breath to see the outcome," snorted Shego as the light actually came on and she turned towards Drakken, "Some horrible- Ahk!"

Shego jumped as she looked above Drakken's head atop the cabinets. There sitting was the creepiest doll Shego had ever seen, and given her personal history on Team Go... it was a very concerning thought. It was large and sitting, with a dirty worn dress that showed off metal and wooden parts of its legs and arms. It face looked like a normal doll or even a marionette, but it was incomplete. The same metal and wood could be seen behind what looked like was a hard fabricated hair piece. Drakken turned to follow her gaze, but he made no sound of being startled unlike Shego. He moved with lightening speed to grab the doll thing with and almost soft movement despite his previous darting.

"What is that?" cringed Shego. She looked to see Drakken was smiling at it, "Don't look it at like that... look at it with proper revolution."

"This is a Automaton," whispered Drakken as he looked it over, "It even has a little gas pack... or oil... it varied."

"Interesting... put it back," shuttered Shego as she went to move a large chair to sit at the desk, "It's creepy and unsettling- What are you doing?"

"Shego," said Drakken as he knelt down with it, "Do you know how rare these are. Most got destroyed, if not made of pure wood, to be melted down during wars. These were one of the most advanced toys of the industrial revolution, above windups mind you even."

"Uh huh, charming... still creepy," Shego rolled her eyes as she opened the drawer, or rather yanked at it, "So the person who lived here collected toys-"

"I don't think you understand how intricate and amazing this one is... look at all the wires... there's a few loose... but the gears and the pullies. This was an advanced one... Did you know the original design for them is believed to come from Ancient Greece, but the burning of Alexandria said to have erased many of..."

Shego looked up as Drakken trailed off.

"And?" asked Shego.

Drakken was looking at the back of the doll.

"I need something to turn the gear..." he trailed off again.

"You were in the middle of a rant... is it over?" asked Shego as Drakken began looking on top of the cabinets. The doll leaned against them, faced towards Shego, "Uhg, its so creepy."

"These were the original bases for robotics, a mixture of power, metal, and human familiarity," Drakken rambled, "Drat. I need pliers."

Drakken made no motion to leave, but only to drop back down by his new fixation of the day. Shego rolled her eyes as he muttered under his breath and she riffled through old papers, and letters. She placed them down as she pulled out a black leather box and undid a leather clasp. Her brow raised as all that was held in it was an old letter, a photo, and what looked like a piece of metal shaped like a wined up key. She tossed it towards Drakken.

"Catch," she said casually as she looked at the photo, "Looks like this was a gift for some kid."

"Lucky brat," muttered Drakken as he examined the key, "You know I almost had one once as a child."

"Hmm, really?" asked Shego as she idly looked over the letter.

"Yes. My grandmother made one before her accident. She gave it to Emily, which she'd given to me for Christmas... but Eddie existed so it lasted for an hour," grumbled Drakken, "Baby or not, I think it was intentional to toss it down the stairs. It was a very intricate one... designed to look like a doctor. It would move its hand and tilt its head to look like it was trying to listen to your heart."

"That sounds nightmare inducing," snorted Shego as she picked up the photo again.

It was old and slightly worn from time, but it was clear the leather box had protected it. The dates on it and the letter made it clear it was a keepsake rather then something newer. The notes and letters were dated from the 1950s at the latest... but the letter in the box was from 1931 and the writing was very elegant and elaborate. The young boy in the photo held the Automaton tightly, which looked far better than its aged self in front of her. The dark haired boy in the photo made her curious, something about the image drew her attention.

"Ezra, 1930," shrugged Shego, "Well the thing is at least from the 20s then."

"Amazing, its nearly eighty years old then," grinned Drakken, "I hope it works."

"We both know if it doesn't, then you will be tinkering with it for at least a month," said Shego as she looked at the letter, but her eyes still fixated on the photo.

Kinda looks like Mego...

She looked up from the photo as she heard Drakken give a gleeful laugh as the sound of metal and springs suddenly took over the old space. The Automaton had sprung to life from the windup key Drakken had played with. Her brow raised as it made stiff movements, strings and wires pulling to make the motions of a hand wave. The bottom of what she assumed was supposed to be a dress-form began to spin in banded section, showing the fabric was adhered to more metal pieces. It gave a slight illusion as if the old toy were dancing.

Shego tilted her head as she tried to get over the unsettling way its eyes moved and metal lids made it look like it was blinking, the jaw moving as if at one time sound came out.

Frankly, it gave Shego the creeps. But, she could also see the fascination with something so intricate, designed and created in a time where robotics and technology were simply a fantasy. While Drakken was capable of making things far more complex then this simple dancing doll and all in a day... she could see the appeal it had on him. She smiled slightly at his excited and cheerful expression as the Automaton waved and attempted to spin in place, but the grinding noise as it halted, proved its dated existence.

"It must be out of whatever powers it," pouted Drakken. He grinned up at Shego, "You can't tell me that wasn't fascinating."

"Oh, it was," Shego shrugged, "I can see the appeal... and I'm sure whoever this Ezra kid was spoiled to have one."

"Spoiled? You said it was a gift, right? These were made specifically for a person, so it would have been either very pricey or the creator gifted it," said Drakken. He looked thoughtful, "Which makes sense... if they were a part of the Company... they would have been well connected."

Shego only was half listening to Drakken rant as she looked over the letter more closely. The wavy lines and words were hard to make out in some parts, as the cursive was far more of an art form than she was used to seeing... and the slang words of the era was dashed with what she was sure was broken English. It referenced a letter from a close family friend and she made out the word Leviathan. She looked in the box again and found a pocket under the lid where a very small note was tucked away.

"You said you've seen one before?" asked Shego as she unfolded the note.

"Yes... Shego I just finished telling you- You weren't even listening," he grumbled and went back to looking at back of the doll.

Shego looked at the small letter in even smaller writing, scanning to see anything about the Company or its namesake when he eyes fell to the signature below. She pulled it closer to the light to double check what she was reading.

"Dr. Drakken," Shego read allowed.

"Shego." stated Drakken with a grumble, "We going formal again... because if so-"

"No. That's who made it," said Shego as she held up the letter.

Drakken's brow shot up as he quickly moved to grab the letter himself. Shego let him snatch it away as she began looking over the other letter, attempting to decipher words on it, but her mind was looking at the dates and times. It was an easy assumption that whoever this Ezra was had to have lived in the manor at one point or given the Automaton to someone else eventually... as she saw a letter dated from 1964 at the far bottom.

The Company ended in 1966.

She nodded to herself as she looked around. It made sense that after the end of it, they would have hidden anything away in connection to it.

I'm sure Botox was on the hunt.

Shego let the photo fall back into the drawer as her mind began racing as she recalled the conversation in Botox' Tibetan lair. Imagining that the very boy in the photo might have grown up to be one of Botox's creations. She told herself it was unlikely, but the curiosity she'd had a short while ago was replaced by unease. The images of children playing together and a happier connected time of villainy suddenly becoming a nightmares of revenge and corruption all due to ethics left a bad taste in her mouth. She looked at Drakken who was staring at the letter intently.

"I think that's enough time in here. Too much dust, how about lunch," said Shego quickly, "Grab your doll-"

"They weren't stories," said Drakken as he got up, holding the letter and the Automaton.

"Nope, doesn't look like it," Shego moved to escort him from the room.

Drakken looked up at her, his eyes reading her face.

"Shego, when you mentioned my grandmother and Dr. Drakken... what exactly brought that on?" asked Drakken as he blocked the doorway.

"When?" asked Shego.

"After Tibet," said Drakken, "You asked questions about the Company, my grandmother, and the stories..."

Shego's jaw tightened and she shifted uncomfortably.

"Things were suggested... but you didn't want to talk about it then," Shego crossed her arms, "Has that changed?"

She watched Drakken's expressions shift and she waited. Mentally praying her didn't want to discuss it, because with the unease, the setting, and the doll in his arms... she was not in the mindset to drudge up ancient history about his family secrets and events. At the same time, something in the back of her throat made the words burn in anticipation at a release.

You let it go this long, just forget about it again.

"No," was all Drakken said as he stepped out of the doorway. He looked at the doll as he walked ahead of her, "All I know is this Dr. Drakken wouldn't have gifted this to anyone."

Shego paused her steps for a second to shake her head.

"I'm pretty sure it was made specifically as a gift," said Shego. Welcoming the topic change as they walked towards the stairs.

"Yeah, it would be a gift to myself if I had made it," snorted Drakken. He paused, "I wonder how many of those stories were real and exaggerated... because there might be a giant laser at the bottom of the ocean-"

"We're not looking for it," stated Shego. Drakken looked at her, "Last time we dug up anything from the bottom of the ocean you got possessed... not repeating."

"But, Shego... A giant laser," grinned Drakken. Shego stared back at him.

"A giant outdated and rusted out laser that would deteriorate if we tried to pull it to the surface," countered Shego.

Drakken pouted.

"Fine... but only because I don't want to deal with aquatic life," grumbled Drakken.

"Swim naked and you'd blend in," suggested Shego. Drakken stared at her.

"It wasn't funny when you made that joke in the underwater lair, and its not funny now. I do not blend in with water or all shades of blue," snapped Drakken.

"The henchmen and I thought it was funny," teased Shego as they headed down the stairs.

Shego listened to Drakken gripe, but slowed her walk as she glanced back down the hall at the opened doorway. She wasn't certain what the room might contain, but she knew the curiosity would return later. She looked back to Drakken who was giving the room his own glance before looking at her again. It was a reality that there might be more than Drakken let on about just how curious he actually was himself.

He didn't exactly destroy the old portraits now did he?

"Do you think there's more stuff like this in their?" asked Drakken as he held up the doll.

Shego rolled his eyes.

Of coarse... he just wants the toys.

"Maybe... but were still not looking for things that may or may not exist," stated Shego.

Drakken grumbled and then he smiled.

"Shego, we should go on a cruise-"

"Nice try, at least wait a day to hide your motives," snorted Shego. Drakken shrugged.

"Ah, you are correct," there was a pause again, "How do you feel about hiking?"

Shego looked at him.

"No."

"Pfft, fine. Excuse me for trying to be adventurous," huffed Drakken.

"Yeah right," scoffed Shego.

The teasing argument would continue well through lunch with a compromise on humoring Drakken in helping fix up the Automaton in loo of an ulterior-motivated date adventure. It was hard enough with Shego trying to make her motives known on their evenings out, she didn't need a scientific adventure one added on.

For now.

Perhaps Adventures in the Future?