Boilerplate Disclaimer: The various characters from Kim Possible are all owned by Disney the great and powerful. Any and all registered trade names property of their respective owners. Cheap shots at celebrities constitute fair usage.
I try to set my stories within the time frame of the original series, which premiered in 2002. Which is to say this story is set around 2009/2010.
Misery Loves Company, or, at the very least, wants to share.
Officer Pérez knew why she was talking with Kim Possible. The law student had more experience apprehending Camille Leon than anyone else in the country. Of course Leon appeared to have altered her usually behavior – she was working with someone and the theft of... Imari wasn't entirely sure what Camille, in the guise of the mayor's wife, had lifted at MIT. Still, it was worthwhile to talk with Kim for possible ideas. Unfortunately talking with Kim meant the pardoned criminal staying with Kim was also there for the interview. The courts might have declared the woman's name to be Sierra Knight, but to the police officer she was Shego, and a pain in the ass.
Kim knew geniuses, but none were in a position to help the Boston police.
"Hey, if there's technical shit and a criminal you need an evil genius," suggested Shego. "I got one you can ask."
"Yes?" a wary Imari asked.
"Please," Kim told her, "don't suggest Drakken."
"No, not him," Shego assured her.
"The police are a bit desperate," confessed Officer Pérez, "who is this person? And I'm not making any promises."
"Her name is Edith Eichmann. She's a genius and, unlike Kim's friends and family, would be happy to take a job with you."
"She's not much of a genius if she's out of work," Imari snorted.
"Well, she's currently in prison. But she's due to be released in a couple weeks. Might be your chance to hire some first-class tech help before private industry scoops her up."
"She's in prison?" Pérez asked in disbelief that Shego could consider a prisoner being consulted.
"Is that Nosey?" Kim wanted to know.
"Nosey?"
"Hey, it sounds like you need an evil genius. She's one," Shego told the officer. She looked at Kim, "Yeah, it's Nosey."
Kim shot Shego a look of mild disgust and explained to the officer, "Nosey was a nickname Shego put on the woman. I am told she hates it and you shouldn't use it if you hire her."
"The city of Boston will never hire an incarcerated felon," Imari assured Kim.
"The city of Boston will never hire an incarcerated felon" Shego commented with a sarcastic tone as she waited with Kim and Imari at the Boston airport with two uniformed male officers.
"Shut up," grumbled officer Pérez. "Why would anyone take a suggestion from you seriously?"
"Well, you didn't need to pass it on in your report," Shego pointed out smugly.
"Omitting it from my report would have been dereliction of duty... And, in retrospect, a Hell of a good idea."
"Have you been officially put in charge of the case and dealing with Ms Eichmann?" queried Kim.
"Officially? No. Senior officers have just barely stopped calling me a rookie. That's the level of my authority. But I'm getting responsibility dumped on me from having arrested you – and interviewing you when you turned out to have the most information on Leon – and taking in the suggestion of Ms. Green Ass–"
"It's pronounced Knight," Shego reminded her. "And why did you have to ask us along to meet her?"
"Misery loves company. Besides, I need your help to make sure your 'evil genius' isn't Camille Leon in disguise."
"Don't worry. If what Kim said was true there's no way in Hell Camille could pass."
"What do you–"
"Wait," suggested Shego, "looks like her plane just got in."
A short time later a surge of people descended into the baggage claim area.
"There she is," Shego commented.
"Where?" asked Kim, curious how Shego could pick out anyone in the crush of humanity.
"The tall woman, white hair."
Kim estimated the woman's height at six foot four inches. Kim couldn't see much more than the woman's head and shoulders above the crowd, but she appeared in good physical shape for an old lady.
When the tall woman, with her escort of two police officers, reached the Boston officers Kim realized the hair was not white with age, but an incredibly pale platinum blonde. Kim guessed the woman's age at somewhere in her thirties with the face of a movie star and body of a goddess. Kim almost wondered why the woman wasn't in movies, and decided she would tower over the leading men.
"Imari Pérez?" the male officer asked as the female officer unlocked the cuffs connecting her with the taller woman. Imari nodded and was given a form to sign assuming custody of the tall woman.
One of the male Boston officers pulled out a pair of handcuffs.
The blonde raised an eyebrow. "If you wish for my help you only get it without handcuffs."
Kim and Shego had been standing slightly behind the Boston officers. Shego moved to the side for a better view, "Nosey! Good to see you again!"
Edith snorted and turned to the officers who had escorted her to Boston. "I've changed my mind. I'll finish out my last few weeks in prison."
"Is that any way to greet an old friend?" demanded Shego.
"I don't see an old friend present."
"Please, Ms Eichmann," Imari pleaded as she tried to assess how much authority she had in the situation. She knew that, technically, she had none. She also knew she was expected to bring in a scientific advisor. "If you say no handcuffs there'll be no handcuffs." The tall woman had been described as a model prisoner. She had expressed an interest in the money Boston was willing to pay for professional services. She didn't have any sort of additional warrants out on her. Imari crossed her fingers and held her breath.
"But–" protested the officer holding the cuffs, who'd been told to put them on the prisoner when she arrived.
"She doesn't want them," snapped Imari. "And, after this morning, we need help."
"This morning?" asked the curious blonde.
"May or may not be related. We need someone who can evaluate the situation."
"Ah, c'mon Nosey," urged Shego, "stay. You'd hate to see the police beg."
"Shut up," ordered Imari.
"Why is Shego even here?" The blonde demanded.
"Hey, I put in the good word for you! They needed a genius and I said you were probably the best one available."
"We can get a court order," suggested officer Pérez, "the courts can order her to stay away from you."
"And slap her ass in jail if she violates the order?"
"Yes!" promised Pérez, who would be happy to stick Shego back behind bars.
The tall woman thought a moment. "Tempting... But I was recommended to you as an evil genius?"
"I didn't take the term seriously. I was just told you were–"
"Nevertheless. As an evil genius I require henchmen. And since the police would not function in that role I will settle for one, her," the blonde pointed at Shego.
"I'm out of henching... I was never a hench! I was an associate!"
"Oh, the shoe doesn't quite fit – it appears to pinch."
"Look, I have my pardon! The police can't order me to do anything, and I sure as Hell will not take orders from you!"
"You've been pardoned for all the crimes for which you were convicted," threatened Imari. "You sure they got everything? You turn Ms Eichmann down and I'll start looking for anything that was missed – anything at all. I'll have you arrested for an overdue library book if we find one."
Edith looked at Shego and smiled, "I'm sure they haven't found everything, have they? While you are working for me you may call me Master."
Shego gritted her teeth, "I'll go back to prison before–"
Kim spoke up, "Can we find a name for Ms Eichmann that everyone will be comfortable with?"
The blonde stared at the redhead and asked Imari, "Who is this, and why is she here?"
"This is Kim Possible. She's had more encounters with Camille Leon than anyone else."
"You are Kim Possible? You're only a child."
"I'm a grad student at the law school."
"You're still a child. How old were you when you sent Shego to prison?"
"I was a–"
"You leave Kim out of this!" sputtered Shego.
The blonde addressed the officer again, "What is the relationship of these two?"
"Well, they share an apartment. I don't know exactly what their–"
"I said leave Kim out of this!"
"There were rumors about you," the blonde yawned. "I didn't believe them, but unless she's your probation officer, from the fact you two share an apartment I'm going to change my mind."
Kim sighed, "Can we have peace? The police would like Camille Leon arrested and to know if there's any connection between something today and an earlier crime. Officer Pérez? Boston needs Ms. Eichmann. Ms Eichmann, I know your sentence is almost over, but this is still getting out of prison a little faster and being paid for your time. Shego? Did they really try you for every crime you did?"
"Yes!" Shego lied. "But, um, I'd like to see Leon put away. Can't risk her impersonating you again."
Kim turned back to the blonde. "Is there a name you'd like to use? What's your middle name? Could we use that? Your initials?"
"Leave my middle name out of this," growled the tall woman. "Eve? Everyone down with Eve? Short and simple."
Kim stuck out her right hand, "Pleased to meet you, Eve."
After Eve shook hands with Kim, Shego extended her hand, "Uh, thanks for having my back a couple times, Eve. I'm now Sierra Knight."
The blonde didn't take the offered hand, "I noticed the officer and Kim both called you Shego."
"Yeah, but I'm trying to get past that."
"I'll remember that when you are no longer henching for me."
"Could you drop it in public? I'm Coach Knight now and don't want any of–"
"In public you're Sierra, okay?" Eve extended her hand. They shook. Eve turned back to Imari. "You spoke with me about the police needing help understanding the criminal potential of a research theft?"
"Yes. And this morning we had a robbery, a big robbery. The wall just... It crumbled. We don't know why. We're wondering if there could be some connection."
"Any reason to believe there is a connection?"
"No... But when you've got several weird things going on at once you need to check and see if there's one."
"And you're interested in the Leon person," Eve said with a wave of her hand. "Something that destroys walls should be a higher priority... You said crumbled? Not blown apart with an explosive?"
"Well, no evidence of an explosive."
"Acid?"
"None detected."
"We'll start with the stolen research, if it is connected with the disintegrated wall it is best to go in forewarned. Shego? Attend me."
"I'm useless with high tech shit! There, I said it. Happy? I won't be able to help with research."
"A good henchman does not question orders," Eve reminded her.
"Then Shego was never a good henchman," commented Kim.
"I was an associate!" protested Shego.
"I will require you take notes for me," Eve told Shego. "I wouldn't want to risk getting ink on my hands."
Imari grinned and suggested to Shego, "Count to ten."
"More like ten thousand," muttered Shego.
Kim went along with the police team. Officer Pérez, like Shego, made notes when Eve ordered Shego to write something down. Shego didn't know what any of it meant, and didn't even know how to spell half the words. She struggled to try and record the way they sounded to her. When she glanced over at the police officer Imari looked equally lost.
The two policemen stayed with the women as they found a coffee shop after the meeting at MIT. They watched Eve closely. Kim wasn't certain whether they were simply doing their job or enjoyed watching the striking woman.
"I don't know how to turn these notes into a police report," Pérez complained. "Can you break it down for me? Little words I can understand?"
"I am not responsible for the limitations of your vocabulary," the blonde retorted. "I noted that two or three areas of research and a couple experimental tests have the potential for criminal use."
"Could they be related to the stone crumbling?"
"Perhaps. I'll need a number of instruments in order to see if the effect might have been related. Shego?"
"Yes?" the green woman grumbled.
"I need a little list for the good officers. Please write it out as I tell you what I'll need. And, of course, you'll come with me to the scene of the crime. I'll need you to carry everything."
"Oops, so sorry. I'll be coaching until four."
"It will probably take the police several hours to assemble the equipment."
"We'll pick you up at four-fifteen," Eve told Shego. "Right Officer?"
Perez growled slightly but confirmed, "Sure. Main gym?"
"I don't like cops standing around waiting for me when I get off work."
"Tough," the tall blonde smiled. "Maybe you should have thought of that before you addressed me in the airport."
"Too late to apologize?"
"I fear you're too late for a heartfelt apology, and your pride won't let you grovel."
"True... So, do your genius stuff and let's get this over so we all can never see each other again... Kim excluded, of course."
At four p.m. the police and Eve were waiting at the gym. Kim ran in a few minutes later, although her presence was not required. Officer Pérez was fairly certain two other police officers weren't required, Eve seemed willing to display her genius to the police, and receive a reward for it and would probably not bother attempting to escape. Orders, however, were to always have one officer assigned to watch the blonde. In addition Eve had nailed it – there was a lot of testing equipment to haul to the robbery site, and at the moment two officers were needed.
As they waited for Shego to appear they were all startled by a loud shout of, "Eddie!" and turned to see Coach Miller.
The blonde raised an eyebrow. "You look somewhat familiar."
"Miller, Frank Miller. Ninety-six Olympics... I..." He turned to Dennis Plavets at the desk. "Donald – you're a fencer right?"
"Dennis, Sir, yes."
"Eddie Eichmann. She was robbed of the gold."
Eve shrugged, "Sinus infection kept me from the finals."
"She was incredible! Her reach? Man she was tearing through the competition. Oh, Pei Wang is coaching our fencing team!"
"He's still alive?"
"For sure! He'd... Uh... Can I ask why you're here, with the police? You okay? I heard you, um, had some trouble..."
"I am currently acting as special consultant to the police on a case. I'm out of prison."
"That's wonderful. Hey, while you're in town any chance I could take you out for dinner or something?"
"There's an offer I haven't heard for a few years."
"But every guy on the ninety-six team probably asked. Oh, we have a coach here who just spend some time in..." He took his eyes off the blonde for a fraction of a second and noticed Kim. He turned back and asked the blonde "You know Coach Knight?"
"Oddly enough, I do."
Shego entered the foyer as they were speaking, "You two know each other?"
"Not as well as I'd like," Miller told her. "Of course that was true of every guy who..." He turned back to the blonde, "Dinner? Drinks? How long have your been... Can we celebrate or something?"
"Let me think about it. The answer is probably yes." She turned to Imari, "Can I go out without a chaperone?"
"You're really pushing the boundaries," Pérez complained. "No. There will always be an officer assigned to accompany you."
"I work better when I'm happy."
Imari frowned. She was in charge of the case, and therefore had a certain amount of discretion in what she could allow. She had a felon consultant who made unreasonable demands because she knew she was needed. And, of course, there was the loose cannon formerly known as Shego. Officer Pérez wondered if she could emerge from this case with her ass intact or would it be chewed off by some supervisor. "Carry a GPS monitor. I'll suggest he give you some distance."
"Give me your number," Eve told Coach Miller. "Better yet, give it to Sierra here. She's going to be helping us. Right now we gotta roll."
The women filled one car. The two male officers rode in the van with the test equipment.
"You really know what happened to the wall?" Imari demanded.
"No."
"Then why are we–"
"To test a hypothesis. I may be able to determine if it relates to the MIT data breach. The research and tech stolen from MIT related to resonance frequency, and isolating harmonics of different materials."
Pérez shook her head to indicate she wasn't sure what the blonde meant.
"Seen sound used to break a glass? You find the harmonic frequency which causes the glass to vibrate and eventually it shatters."
"These weren't glass walls."
"No. But many different materials have their own resonance frequencies. Some of the stolen tech related to defining the harmonic frequency of different material. Let's imagine that some of the material within the construction could be shattered like the glass. If it is a large enough, or vital enough component of the material it will lose its structural integrity."
"So... How do you check for that?"
Eve laughed, "I don't know, at least not for certain. But you thought your police lab was competent enough to check for acid or other obvious ways of destroying a wall. I can eliminate those as possibilities and focus on the breakdown of particular materials – if I find that's the case it ties the robberies together. If I don't find that to be true the two robberies may not be related."
Police tape kept the public back from the crime scene. There was still an opening in the wall of the jewelry store, and several curious onlookers and members of the press were outside the crime tape.
"We kept it clear, in case you wanted to see it," Imari told Eve.
"Thank you."
"We already have samples of everything at the crime lab."
"But you didn't know what you were looking for."
"You said you didn't–"
"Officer Pérez," called a reporter. "Have the police determined what happened to the wall? Who's the blonde?"
"Any announcement will come from the chief of police, either at a press conference or in a press release. I am here with a special scientific consultant who has agreed to join the investigation."
"And the other two women? The redhead looks like the first face your suspect was wearing. Is this connected with the face-changing robber?"
"The police are investigating all possibilities – including the chance that the robberies are related. I am unable to make any statements in regard to an on-going investigation.
The media took pictures and video as Imari's escorting officers hauled in the scientific equipment. Eve took measurements, and samples from where the wall had disintegrated, where it was crumbling around the edges, and beyond the area of destruction where the wall was still sound. She ran preliminary tests in the field and seemed pleased with the results.
"Well," Imari demanded. "Got anything?"
"Not with one hundred per cent certainty. But nothing that eliminates my initial hypothesis. I'll need a few hours more tomorrow in the lab."
"Can you work on it tonight?"
"In a word, no. I've had a long day. I need to unwind. Tell your men to start packing up the equipment."
The blonde cautiously approached Shego as the police worked. "So, uh, Sierra. I, ah, thanks for having my back in prison."
"No problem. Thanks for having mine. Sorry about this morning. I have enough of my own issues I should respect yours."
"So... A question. Frank Miller. How well do you know him?"
"Not well. I mean, I work with him most days and will call him a friend. Not a good one, but a friend. Why?"
"Oh, he asked me out... Just wondering if he's mentioned a wife."
"An ex. She has the kid."
"Thanks for the intel."
The next morning Shego had the television on NBC for news and weather as she worked in the kitchen when she heard the robbery mentioned. Turning off the stove she hurried to the set to see pictures of Edith, herself, and Kim on the screen. "Last night the police examined the scene of yesterday's robbery with Edith Eichmann, former Olympic fencer and criminal who has just finished her sentence; Sierra Knight, formerly known as Shego who has also served time in prison; and Kim Possible, the young woman who put Shego behind bars and is currently a first year law school. The discussion here on Channel 10 is whether the police actually have a plan in place or are wildly desperate. My personal thought–"
Shego picked up the remote and hit 'off'. "Shit."
