X-Possible

005: Treat


[Russian Translation]

Thought

"high/low freq dialogue"

Texting and titles


This morning…

Kim's eyes narrowed, when she heard her arch nemesis make a pass at her best friend, Did Shego just make a pass at my Ron? "Let's go Ron, we've got things to do back home," and so grabbing him by the hand, she drags him out of the restaurant. Kim and Ron dashed out of the restaurant as it came crumbling down around the two villains, and Shego. They skidded to a stop, turned, and looked back at the restaurant, luckily nobody was hurt too badly as there had been just enough time for a full evacuation. Kim looked back just as she heard Drakken throwing a tantrum. Kim smiled as she heard him go nearly apoplectic in impotent rage. "At least he's alive, I wouldn't want his death on my conscience." Kim was thankful to the Lord that none of her missions, thus far, caused any deaths, though she knew that someday soon, that may change.

"I'm with you there KP," Ron agreed, as he too understood, intellectually, that on missions to save the world, the lives of billions rested in their hands. A few lives compared to multitudes, even their own, could become a small price to pay, for the right to remain free. Ron brought his watch up and pressed a button, but instead of Wade's face, the mug of an old soldier filled the screen, "Uncle Nick?"

"That's Colonel Fury, when in the field soldier," The Unseen ordered his nephew, "I've got your ride, meet it five mikes north of your position in thirty minutes."

"Whatever you say Uncle Nick," Ron responded, and heard a sigh over his Ronn-watch, "we'll be there, but we're only gonna need twenty." Signing off with his surrogate uncle, Ron turned to his best friend, "well, you heard one of our CO's, KP," he said, dropping into a running stance, "let's book."

"I'm with you Ron," Kim replied, and together running in step, sprinted toward their destination.


Five mikes north, was out in the middle of nowhere at night in the Saharan desert. Thank God, they both had night vision built in, or they would never have made their pickup point. As it happened, they were ten minutes earlier than Nick ordered, giving them enough time to scout the area as they were taught in Boot, for any signs of trouble, or surveillance, SHIELD is a covert agency after all. Twenty-nine minutes after Nick's call, the skies around the drop-point were as empty as always, exactly one-minute later a slightly modified Boeing C-17 Globemaster III military transport aircraft filled the skies above Team Possible.

Over the years, after getting rides from all kinds of pilots, and aircraft, Kim, and Ron have become quite familiar with a wide variety of them, and Globemasters were no exception. They noted the lines and features of the aircraft, which had all the common features of the Boeing C-17, with an additional pair of engines and half-length wings, located at the tail section of the fuselage, below the standard, elevated tail section. The craft came in for a landing, and as it did, the six Pratt & Whitney F117-PW-100 turbofan engines, tipped themselves-up vertically, killing forward motion, and coming to a landing a hundred yards in front of them. At the back, the cargo bay doors were open, and as the plane touched down, the engines tipped into their proper configuration, and the plane continued forward, as a woman stood at the opening, and beckoned to them.

Team Possible began running, as soon as wheels-down, covering the gap between them and the craft efficiently. Ron and Kim were having no trouble keeping up with the plane, and stepped up into the cargo-hold. Ron could have Divine Stepped them on the plane, but there is no reason to get lazy, now that he has an easy way to travel. Just as they stepped up into the cargo-hold, the bay doors began to close. They turned around to see the woman, or more correctly the young woman, not much older than them, if appearances were to be believed, standing there, arms crossed under her womanly bust, not that I notice such things especially on her, she'd kill me then tell my mom, who'd also kill me. Ron began to grin as he looked at the woman, because he knew her, she was the first girl he had a crush on, even before Kim.

She stood two inches taller than Kim, had red, almost scarlet hair, and wore a dark, synthetic, leather-like, form-fitting, stretch fabric bodysuit. Wrapped around her wrists, were metallic gauntlets that resembled a series of tubes, which Ron knew contained the tools of her trade as an assassin, and spy, including her Widow's bite. The belt on her waist carried her weapons, two collapsible, electroshock batons in back, two pistols on her hips, and wore a dual shoulder-holster, which carried another two pistols. They were staring at one of the most talented spies and lethal assassins in the world, Natalia Alianovna Romanova, also known as, Black Widow, considered one of their most dangerous operatives by the KGB and SHIELD, and…

"…Auntie Nat," Ron said with a blush, before remembering his uncle's call for professionalism. He popped to attention, and saluted, "Team Possible reporting as ordered Black Widow."

The grin that had been forming on her lips, died when he went formal, with a grim expression she stomped over to the teenager and grabbed him by the collar of his turtleneck, bringing him down to meet her eyes. By now, Ron had reached the six-foot mark in height. "You don't ever have to be so formal with me, Ronnie," she said, in slightly accented English to him eye-to-eye, "no matter what happens you're still my malen'kiy brat, [little brother]," she then kissed him on the cheek.

"Sorry, starshaya sestra [big sister]," Ron replied with a goofy grin, "but the Colonel was being extra authoritative tonight, insisted I call him by rank, I ignored him of course, but only a fool ignores Black Widow. So, I thought you might want some of the same professionalism." Ron brought his arms up, and enfolded his aunt in all but blood in a hug, and kissed her forehead. They stepped away from each other smiling then turning, and Widow walked over to her friend, looking her in the eye as well, "Hey Kim," she said hugging the other girl, "you keeping him safe," Romanova asked?

"I do my best, Nat," Kim nodded, "but there's only so much one woman can do," she added smiling. "Actually, on this last mission he took on Shego, by himself and was able to knock her down for a brief moment."

The older woman turned a proud smile on her nephew, who scratched the back of his head modestly. "I think it was mostly luck, and because she made me angry by confusing me with Sabretooth for some reason." Then looking around the plane, I felt the craft begin a steady climb, as they made their way into the passenger area, "so, this is the Bus. I must say it's not everyday Team Possible gets such first-class transportation, and a ride from SHIELD's most dangerous agent, or did you just happen to be in the area?"

"No, I didn't just happen along, I was tasked to this area to get you," Widow told him, "we did some checking on the Centurion Project," she said pointing to the bracelet on Kim's wrist. They reached several seats and took them, with Kim and Ron sitting together while the master assassin sat facing them.

Kim looked down at her wrist, at the bracelet on her right arm, "what about it," Kim asked?

"The company who invented it," Widow told them, "aren't the ones who want it back."

"What do you mean, sestra [sister]," Ron looked confused, as he asked for clarification, "we did our due diligence by making sure this wasn't some rival entity looking to pirate another company's invention?"

"That's right, we even had Wade hack into their computers to see if the company who hired us was actually the one who invented it," Kim added, "they had the patents, and the early concept design work, which from being around scientists and inventors all my life is proof-positive that they invented this thing," Kim finished by waving her arm for emphasis. "We even used GJ/SHIELD resources, to make sure we covered all reasonable bases."

"We know, but it's not your due diligence that's coming into question," Natalia Romanova held-up a placating hand, "when I say the company that invented it doesn't want it back, I mean just that. In fact, the theft of this product is viewed as a boon to their business, apparently the Centurion Project was such an abysmal failure and waste of money that, having it stolen would be the only thing that would allow them to see any profit. Even if they deemed it a liability, it was still heavily insured."

Ron smacked his forehead, then dragged his hand down his face in consternation, "Don't tell me we walked into some corporate insurance fraud scheme!"

"It's not that either," Widow responded, "we asked Global Justice to look into it, but if there was an attempt to defraud an insurance company, there was no evidence of it."

"Then who contacted us," Kim asked bewildered?

"That's the $64,000 question," Nat replied. They were all silent for a few moments, then Black Widow spoke up, after letting her news sink in, "is it true your contract usually states, that until you turn it over to the rightful owner/client, you are considered owners of the object you retrieved?"

"It gives us discretion over the object," Kim answered absently, while they both nodded, "and it allows us to make one last attempt, to determine if the object truly is going back to its rightful owner."

"Then you could sell it, right now," Black Widow asked, cocking her head to the right, and stared at them steadily?

"Yes," Kim said absently, "we probably could, and should. We would possibly even earn more by selling it ourselves," Kim looked at Ron, who seemed lost in thought. "At least, with us we won't just sell it to anybody, I'm sure Stark Industries R&D would like to have it, and probably make it work"

"Aside from the investigation," Widow began, "which is largely an academic exercise for me," she added, "I've also been tasked with making an offer for the device." Team Possible curled one eyebrow each in mild surprise, "SHIELD would pay double for the Project, than what your contract states."

Kim was about to open her mouth to reply, but Ron beat her to it, "Unfortunately, we cannot do that," Ron told his aunt, "we're still under contract with our current client." Kim nodded, that was exactly what she was going to say, they've been together so long they were beginning to think alike.

Widow's eyes widened, "but, the parent company who invented it doesn't want it back," she reminded them.

"Maybe," Kim agreed, "we still have a client out there somewhere, and until he or she reveals themselves we are still obligated to them. When they reveal themselves, that's when we'll decide if we should sell their object/intellectual property back to them or keep it, and either destroy it, or sell it to a third party, and for consideration we give our client a quarter of the proceeds for the sale."

Ron was nodding along with standard Team Possible policy, then added something else, "besides I think we'll want to hold onto it for at least the weekend."

The women looked at Ron in perplexity, "why," Kim asked, though Nat just nodded?

"Look, we know of at least two, maybe three parties who want this thing," Ron began explaining, then turning to his big sister, "if you're right and we're being played, this gives us an opportunity to see who else wants it."

Natalia spoke up with her hands on her knees, "how do you propose we do that, brat [brother]?"

"It's the weekend, I'd say it's the perfect time to go fishing," the tiger-haired blonde grinned.


In the Possible family kitchen

Kim sighed, "Go infrasonic," she told them. They looked at her weirdly but complied with their daughter's wishes, "what I'm about to tell you is top secret, you can't reveal it to anybody." Anne pressed one of her earrings, and James placed an ear wiig in his ear. When at twelve, your daughter learns that she can communicate in vocal tones beyond human perception, you can do one of two things: forbid her from using such vocal tones, and hope she complies with your wishes, or if you are a scientist you can build a device that adapts her voice to your ears. The two devices take Kim's voice and modulates the frequency up or down the Hertz scale, so her parents can hear their daughter, no matter what frequency she communicates with. "While the party is legitimate, the taking kids for T-or-T is not, here's what's really happening."

"On the way back from Africa this morning, we were contacted by one of SHIELD's top agents, Ron's aunt codenamed, Black Widow," Kim told her parents. "She informed us that the company who developed the device known as the Centurion Project, was not the one who wanted it back. They are not our client, in other words," Kim clarified, "we don't know who our client is, and for all we know could be another villain trying to acquire the device for their own ends."

"Why wouldn't the inventors want their invention back," her dad asked, "wouldn't they take a loss?"

"From what our source told us, the inventing party viewed it as a failed project, which cost the company millions," Kim responded, "and the only way they'll make a profit is through the insurance on the device."

This time Kim's mother spoke up, "your client could very well be the insurance company, hoping not to make a huge payout."

Kim thought, "hm, I hope you're right mom, our standard contract fee is 1% what the object is worth, and the client said the Centurion project was worth at least five million. Since we own it, buying it back from us would be cheaper than paying-out such a huge amount, even with the overnight fees we charge."

"Then why lie to us about going trick-or-treating," Jim asked, barely masking his disapproval of being lied to?

"We're using the device as bait in a sting operation, to see which criminals would be interested in getting their hands on the device," Kim explained. "Ron calls it 'Going Fishing,' but SHIELD gave it an operation name, they're calling it, 'Operation: Trick-or-Treat.'"

Later in Kim's bedroom…

Kim's family had already left for the Scare-For-Care Haunted House, her dad was somewhat mollified about Kim's dishonesty. Kim's dad was honest to a fault and had difficulty understanding the need for deception, and double-dealing, which in his world of rocketry and science, was unnecessary because to a scientist, even a null result was still a result. Anne understood a little better than her husband, about not telling the whole truth. As a doctor and surgeon, she had to walk a fine line between telling her patient or their family the whole truth about a procedure and telling them the truth that they could handle.

Right now, Kim was alone in her bedroom talking to her new girlfriend, Monique, "Guess who's garage band is playing at my party," came an excited teen girl's voice?

Then a voice came over the airwaves, "Let me guess," came the voice of Kim Possible, "who is Josh Mankey, Alex," Kim said in a deadpan voice?

"Got it in one Miss Possible, that's two hundred dollars going to you," said the other teenager.

There was a beeping sound coming from Kim's side of the call. "Hold on," Kim said, "Wade, cool costume," she complimented, "wait a second, you're gonna leave your room," Kim asked in astonishment?

Over the line a low frequency message was sent to her in Wade's voice, "I'm reading several taps on your phone line, Kim," Wade told her with a nefarious grin, "it seems your bait is getting a nibble." "No way," the boy named Wade replied quickly, "I do it all online."

"Think you can identify the tappers, and trace them back," Kim asked? "You got an update on this bracelet," Kim asked, cutting to the chase?

"Yes, I can," Wade replied, "the question is, should I, because when I do it'll knock out the taps for a few seconds, and it might alert them that we're onto them." "The update is," he said reticently, "no update. I left them a message at the lab."

"Go ahead and do it, we'll see who really wants this thing, and how gullible they are," Kim replied in low freq. "Okay," Kim replied in resignation, "I've got Monique on the phone, page me if anything changes."

"There were about five taps in all on the phone, two led overseas in opposite directions, one to Eastern Europe, somewhere in Poland, and the other seemed to lead to Asia, Japan specifically, I can't go any further than that with those lines. There were three more which have remained domestic, one of which led me into a DIA switchboard, given a little more time I'll be able to track that one back to its source, but the two which concern me the most, were local, and mobile, so mobile in fact they're probably in Middleton airspace as we speak." Wade did not have to say who he thought was on the other end of the line, one or more villains had their own aircraft.

"Thanks Wade, keep on that DIA tap, and if you find the source, give what you got to Global Justice," Kim asked him, "it seems some people in our government don't like following rules. As GJ-SHIELD agents our conversations are considered beyond the scope of national security, our oversight comes directly from the directors of the two agencies that employ us."

"On it Kim," Wade replied in normal freq, "and I'll check Ron's line too, just to be safe."

Kim smiled, "and vibe me on the Kimm-watch if any of the taps are re-established, please and thank you?"

"Will do, Kim," Wade replied smiling, "Wade, out."

"So," Kim asked Monique, "Josh Mankey is going to be there," she asked with only mild curiosity in her voice? She felt two vibrations coming from her Kimm-watch.

"Yes Kim," Monique replied, "Josh is going to be here." Then sounding exasperated added, "gee Kim, you could sound a little more enthusiastic, I mean I've heard rumors that you had a crush on Josh Mankey, just last year."

"I know, sorry," Kim replied, "you're right, I did have a crush on Josh, and if you'd told me this just nine months ago, then I would be more excited about meeting him at the party," Kim Possible admitted. "Now, however, while I look forward to hearing him play, my interest in him is just about how good he is as a musician." There was a beep on call-waiting, and Kim beeped out with, "incoming."

"Kim," came her Ron's voice over the line, "I'm about to head over to Temple in a few secs, do you wanna meet me there or walk with me, tonight?" "Kim, Wade told me about the taps, he didn't find any on my line, or my mom's, it seems I'm still under the world's radar."

"Ron," Kim exclaimed as her voice rose a few octaves, as she blushed subconsciously, "I'll meet you there, I want my costume to be a surprise." "I'm going to be morphed tonight, I'll explain any height and strength change as a Wade hook-up,"

"Is that thingamabob still on your wrist KP," Ron asked? "Coolio, we both get to be ourselves, that's why I love Hallowe'en, you can be as freaky as you want, and just explain it away as your costume," then scratching his head Ron added, "I like seeing you in your true beauty, KP."

"Yes, it is, but the Centurion Project won't interfere with my costume," Kim replied, and blushed even redder at his compliment. "Thank you, Ronnie," she said sincerely, "and I like seeing your true form too, it gets my heart racing when I see you in your natural form. It looks so dangerous and menacing, especially when your eyes glow." Kim felt her Kimm-watch vibe again and looking at it, saw a message that read: taps gone, Kim; from Wade. Switching back to normal freq, Kim continued, "Wade says, the taps on my phone are gone."

"They must have gotten what they wanted," Ron surmised. "Anyway, I'm going to call my costume a dybbuk, like a hobgoblin from Jewish folklore," he told her, "how are you going to pass yourself off?"

Kim fingered her chin, "I'm thinking space alien, there's an example of cat-like aliens called Talz, in the novel series for Sun Conflicts (Star Wars)," Kim answered.

"Oh, that's a goodun, too bad I didn't think of that before I made my costume, or I'd do the same thing," Ron enthused. Ron paused for a minute, then went on in high freq, "I placed one of my ticks on Shego this morning and keyed it to my watch, and Wade also has the tick frequency." Then continuing in normal freq, Ron added, "Whatever happens, please stick to the plan, I'll alert you if I notice any activity," then in a beseeching voice, "please do the same Kim, and have faith in me, just as I do in you?"

"I won't promise anything Ronnie," Kim returned in a gentle voice, "regarding the plan, I may need to call an audible, we both will, no battle plan ever survives first contact with the enemy, I've learned that much from history class." Kim's voice becomes sultry, "as for having faith in you, my Ronnie," Kim's voice caresses Ron's ears, "you don't even have to ask, the day I lose faith in you, my Ronnie, will be the day I die." Then in her mind thought, If only I had the courage to tell you, I'm starting to feel things for you, that I have never felt for any man, ever. "I'll see you at Monique's tonight, when it is done," was all Kim Possible added to her declaration.

Ron felt himself blush at her tone of voice, and his face heated, "We'll arrive together KP, or not at all."

Kim smiled and then noticed the call waiting, "Gotta go Ron, Monique's still waiting on the other line," she informed her best friend, who in her heart was fast becoming more to her.

"Okay, KP," Ron conceded, "I'll talk to you later."

"Bye," Kim called, then clicked over to Monique, "hey Monique, sorry I was talking to Ron, but I've gotta go get ready myself shortly."


Trick-or-Treating

"Time to go sidekick, you're coming with us," Shego quipped in a self-assured grin.

In the past, Ron would have tried running as fast as he could in the opposite direction, not anymore. Ron lowered his face until only his glowing eyes were visible as they peaked out from the hood. Ron raised the Ronn-watch to his mouth and keyed it, "Dire Wolf to Rouge," he said in a growl, "I've got Trick-or-Treaters." Two ways I can play this: with defiance or compliance. If I defy them and try to fight Shego, I would be vulnerable to Drakken, and whatever weapons are on that craft. Even worse, Ron looks around as he notices some trick-or-treaters already making their rounds, he could turn them on to the kids. Compliance on the other hand makes me a Trojan Horse, "I'm coming, Shego."

Ron walked forward calmly, which surprised the green villainess, because in the past he would have either attempted to run or make some comment to make them drop their guard. Now, he simply walked over as if the choice to go with them or not, was totally his decision. He looked her in the eye as he walked by her, there was neither fear nor animosity in his gaze, as if his capture was just a means to an end for him. They boarded the hovercraft and sat him in the back seat. He held out his wrists to her, this gave her a real good look at his hands, if she did not know any difference, Shego would say the pigment on his skin was his natural color, not body paint. "Do you wish to bind me, Shego," Ron broke into her thoughts?

His attitude was unnerving to Shego, it was as if capturing him was a minor inconvenience. "Uh, sure, Stoppable," Shego replied, as she took out a pair of handcuffs and placed them on his wrists. He tested them to see how much give they had, then settled his hands in his lap, and grinned at her, his canines – looking almost like fangs – glinting in the moonlight. Ron's eyes seemed to blaze like two amber-gold moons, when he turned to look at her. His gaze was not like a prisoner to guard, it was more like, like work buddies from a rival firm.

Drakken, of course, was oblivious to Stoppable's change in demeanor, so while Shego was getting the prisoner situated, her boss put the hover car in gear and sent it soaring into the sky. Once they were high enough, and at a safe cruising altitude, Drakken placed the car into hover mode and went back to gloat to his prisoner. He found the boy whose name always escapes him, sitting in the back and Shego doing her job and watching him like a hawk. "Well-well-well, if it isn't Kim Possible's sidekick…" he began, then paused as if trying to remember something, "whose name I can't remember."

"Well-well-well, if it isn't Drew Lipskey, the college dropout who can't build a robot," Ron quips back to the mad scientist. "He also can't seem to remember small details like his enemy's name," he adds, "my name Drew, is Ronald Victor Stoppable, or you can call me, by the codename I was given at SHIELD, Dire Wolf."

Drakken gnashes his teeth, "My name is Dr. Drakken, and I can build a robot!"

"Then what happened with the Bebes, Lipskey," Ron asked?

"That was just my point, they worked, and they were perfect," Drakken argued, "too perfect!"

"Whatever, Drew," Ron said while lifting his hand up, palm facing the mad scientist, which, handcuffed as he was, lifted his other hand slightly as well, and brought his clawed hands up to Drakken's eye level, "talk to the hand."

Drakken must have thought them a part of Stoppable's Halloween outfit, because he gnashes his teeth harder and clenches his fist, "Stop calling me, Drew, I have given up that name, I am now, Dr. Drakken!"

"When you remember my name, Lipskey," Ron says defiantly, turning his head away in the direction of Shego, "I'll call you any name you want, but until then, you're Drew Lipskey to me." Shego was listening to the exchange, the moment it began she knew exactly what Stoppable was doing. He was saying things to keep her boss off balance, stalling Drakken. Then she remembered what she heard during the exchange.

"Wait, did you just say SHIELD," Shego asked in urgency?

Leaning closer to the criminal, Ron whispered in her ear, "that's right, Michelle," Stoppable replied to the green skinned woman, "Kim and me, went through a basic training camp over the summer, operated jointly by Global Justice and Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistics Directorate, better known in some places as SHIELD." Shego's eyes widened, nobody was supposed to know her real name, her home was destroyed by the very same comet that gave her her powers. Before Shego could do more than gasp, Ron suddenly brought his eyes up to Shego's with them spinning rapidly, she saw a bright flash, before wilting to the floor, unconscious.

Ron shut-down his eyes as he stood, and looked at Drakken, as he casually opened his hands, allowing the cuffs to fall to the floor. Drakken saw this and his mouth hung open, he trembled and in a small voice said, "but, you were bound?"

Ron smiled an enigmatic grin, his shadow loomed over the hapless Drew Lipskey. Who stared into the brightly shining eyes of the teenager, Drakken thought he had just captured. The look Ron Stoppable gave him was the look of predator to prey, Ron drew close and whispered into Drakken's ear, "say my name."

"S-s-s-Stoppable; Ron Stoppable," Drew Lipskey stammered before he promptly fainted.

Ron stood up with a self-satisfied smirk on his lips, before grinning and yelling out at the top of his lungs, "BOOYAH!"


Kim was walking out of her house when her Kimm-watch chirped, "Dire Wolf to Rouge, I've got Trick-or-Treaters." Kim's pulse quickened when she heard that, her Ronnie has made first contact with the fish, then she heard, "I'm coming Shego." Kim tapped her watch and brought up Wade's face, "Ron's made first contact, and it's with Shego," Kim said making a conscious effort to control her tone of voice, "Ron said he placed one of the ticks he's been developing on Shego this morning, said you'd have the freq and be able to track it." Kim looked around her neighborhood and did not have to wonder why Ron did not put up a fuss over going with her arch-nemesis. She saw the trick-or-treaters going from house to house, and if they were out on her street, they were out on Elm, oh Ronnie, you always put others before yourself, which is one of the reasons, I think I was beginning to fall for you, even before the Wannaweep sitch, I just never realized it.

"Yes, I do Kim," Wade's voice was heard saying, and a tapping was heard as he brought up the frequency of the tracking tick, he also brought up the frequency of Ron's Ron-watch and they both heard the exchange between captor and prisoner. "Do you wish to bind me," they heard Ron's voice ask?

Those who knew him as well as they did would notice, despite his calm sounding voice, Ron truly was afraid, he was just doing his best to mask it. "Uh, sure, Stoppable," came Shego's reply, as the jingle of handcuffs was heard. They could hear the uncertainty of Shego's voice, then they heard the sound of wind accelerating. I didn't hear the click of the handcuffs as they locked into place, Ron must be using his Heavenly Eyes on Shego, she's usually too meticulous to let such an oversight happen.

"Cool, Ron programmed the tick, to not only transmit his location along two axes, but all three, plus a time component as well," Wade told her, then as the sounds of acceleration ceased. "Hmm, from these coordinates I'd say Ron is one hundred feet above his original position, which was just outside of his house."

"I guess, Ron is on his own for now," Kim concluded, "will you send his location to mother hen, they are supposed to have air assets in place to assist in the event of an airborne sortie." They heard Ron ridiculing Drakken about what to call him, leave it to Ron to insult his captors, then Ron mentioned their SHIELD-GJ status, and they could hear the apprehension and astonishment when Ron called Shego by her true name, then they heard her moan, then the sound of a body hitting the hovercar deck.

They heard, a metallic clatter as the handcuffs hit the deck, and the tremor in Drew Lipskey's voice, they heard him say, "but, you were bound?"

Ron's footsteps sounded ominous even to the listeners, as he marched over to the hapless scientist, and over the airwaves they heard, "say my name," even Kim and Wade shivered at his voice.

"S-s-s-Stoppable; Ron Stoppable," Dr. Drakken stammered before they heard another body hitting the floor. Wade looked up at Kim, "I didn't hear the sound of a blow," then he asked, "what happened?"

Kim smirked, knowing how spineless her biggest pain in the ass could be, without Shego to back him up, "knowing Drakken, he probably fainted." Just then out of the night sky and over the airwaves they heard, "BOOYAH!"

Before they could celebrate any further however, Wade's voice broke in, "Kim, I'm getting a hit on the site." Kim looked at Wade who went on, "It's from Duff Killigan," then typing a series of commands the mad golfer's face came on screen.

"Hello, Kim Possible," Duff began with a devious smile, "yeh've gut somethin' uh mine," he said in a sweet voice before continuing this into a growl, "an' uh wan' et back," then panned to a wide shot showing Josh Mankey tied at the back of the blimps cockpit, "unless yeh don' mind nuthin' hap'nin teh yer crush."

Kim was confused for a moment, crush on Josh, that's so five minutes ago. "Wade, do you have a fix on his location," Kim asked the eleven-year-old?

"Yes, but it's not like he's hiding, he cannot make the exchange with you if he goes into hiding," Wade answers.

"Good, get Ron to try piloting that hover car here to get me," Kim ordered.


Somewhere over Middleton airspace

Team Possible were in the air over Middleton, they had long since located Killigan's blimp, which was not exactly a stealth aircraft. They were trailing the dirigible in stealth mode, and just to be on the safe-side were hovering just below the cabin. When Ron had brought the hovercar in to land outside her house, SHIELD Operatives moved in to arrest Drakken and Shego who had returned to consciousness by then, Kim filled him in on the sitch, including her bewilderment over Killigan calling Josh, her crush.

Now they were getting ready to assault the airship, and were just now concluding their discussion, it had only been a few minutes since leaving the scene. "Not to say I still wouldn't go to Josh's rescue regardless of the answer, but you mean you really don't have a crush on Josh anymore," Ron was asking? There seemed to be a note of hope in Ron's voice that Kim did not miss, yet being in mission mode as she was, refused to allow it to interfere with her mission.

"Seriously Ron," Kim answered, "the crush on Josh, was so five minutes ago. I've moved on to more important things," Kim said, then continued in her mind, to my feelings for you, which are so much stronger than just a crush. "And, I know you would go save him, even if I said I was madly in love with him," Kim admonished him, that's one of the reasons, among so many that I love you so much, Ronald Victor Stoppable.

Ron grinned from ear-to-ear, "Okay KP," and he did not try to hide his enthusiasm, "let's rescue Josh Mankey!" Ron maneuvers the hovercraft to right below the cabin. Kim places her hands on the underside of the cabin, and lets her feline tactile sense tell her everything she needs to know happening within. Duff was manning the helm and venting to himself about how daft the lass is, to risk giving up the game for a crush. If it was for the one person I truly loved Duff, she thought looking over at the back of the blonde, carefully piloting the hovercraft under the blimp, I wouldn't even bat an eyelash, because those you love are worth any sacrifice.

Getting her head back in the game she called out via low freq, "Ready Ron," Kim asked her Ron!?

Ron answered with a thumbs-up, and in the same freq, "Ready KP," while not taking his eyes off the instruments, or the proximity of the floor of the blimp cabin!

At Ron's confirmation, Kim leapt through the floor of the blimp, phasing through instantly and when she landed, only the soles of her feet were tangible. She was right behind Duff and with very little weight, landed quietly behind the deranged Scotsman. Of course, Josh Mankey gasped, when she came through the floor, which caught Duff's attention, "Whut d'yeh want now, laddie," he said turning around, and his eyes became as wide as dinner plates when he saw the anthropomorphic state of Kim Possible? He did not even have time to scream out as Kim grabbed his tartan sash and lifted him up, with her tiger times three strength, more than enough to easily lift one man, and rammed his head, sharply into the roof of the cabin. She checked his pulse then smirked, sweet dreams Celt, then she dropped him unceremoniously onto the floor.

Kim turned around to look at Josh Mankey, a few months ago she would have been a trembling, blushing basket case, at just being in the same room as this boy. Now, as she moved over to untie him, she noted his handsome features only in passing, and felt nothing more than ambivalence in his presence. "Hello Josh," Kim said.

"Kim, is that you," Josh asked in surprise?

"This was going to be my costume for Monique's party tonight," Kim answered his unspoken question.

"But, how has your height changed, and the floor, and how you took him out," Josh asked?

"To answer your questions in the order they were received," Kim quipped, "Wade, Wade, and adrenaline." Then went over to the out-cold golfer and tied him up, with the cord from her grappling hook.

"Since, you saved me, may I reward you with a dance later tonight," Josh asked as she finished securing the prisoner?

Kim looked up and grinned, "I'm flattered, really," she admitted, "but I'm sort of coming with a date tonight."

Josh looked slightly disappointed, then brightened with a chuckle, "Does Ron know you consider going to the party tonight a date," he asked slyly? That caused her to blush and Josh to laugh even harder.


On board the Bus…

Shego was sitting alone in an interrogation room. When she regained consciousness after getting knocked out by Stoppable, of all people. That is how she would tell it, she would never live it down if anybody found out she fainted like a lily, in front of Ron Stoppable. She and Drakken had been separated and placed on separate transportation, she did not really know where she was, she did know from the movement of the room and inertia that she was on a mobile platform of some kind. The room she was in was unlike any she had ever seen, and she had been in her share of interrogation rooms, as a hero and a villain. It reminded Shego of the padded cells she had seen in mental institutes, only instead of white, squared padding, this cell had metal-colored hexagons. It was mostly dark with four sets of lighting fixtures located in the corners of the, nine by sixteen feet square, room. The only furniture in the room was the table where she sat, with the two chairs, and looking around, a cot on the wall away from the door.

The door opened and in walked two women, a blonde-haired woman with brown-eyes, wearing a standard SHIELD combat uniform, no weapon of any kind was visible, that Shego could see. The second was the same height as Shego, had red, almost scarlet hair, and wore a dark, synthetic, leather-like, form-fitting, stretch fabric bodysuit. Wrapped around her wrists, were metallic gauntlets that resembled a series of tubes. The belt on her waist carried her weapons, two collapsible, electroshock batons in back, two pistols on her hips, and wore a dual shoulder-holster, which carried another two pistols. Shego, of course knew who this woman was, by reputation to say the least. Shego was of two minds about finally meeting one of the few people on the planet that scared her even a little. One; she was happy to finally meet the master assassin, known as Black Widow, and two; meeting her like this was not how Shego would have chosen to meet the Widow, for the first time.

The ebonette woman walked in and sat down, facing the villainess. Under her arm, she carried a file, she sat down and opened the file and began reading, "Michelle Go, born 11 March, 1977, to Peter Francis and Barbara Candice Go (Deceased), the second child after Herman Go, alias Hego, born 5 November, 1975; fraternal twin to Melvin Go, alias Mego, born 11 March, 1977; older sibling to identical twins, Walter Edward and Wilbur Elvis Go, aliases Wego, 27 March, 1989. Parents died in the same incident that gave you and your brothers your cometary powers. You left Team Go, in January, 1998, for undisclosed reasons, then became a mercenary within a couple of years. You are currently wanted in 11 countries for theft of various varieties."

"Yeah, that's my history, lady," Shego replied before running her fingers through her ebony hair. Then lazily turned her head over the red-head in the room, "got enough guns, there Widow, it's just lil' old me here, don't you know," Shego asked?

Widow laughed, "the guns aren't here for you, Ms. Go," she answered in a devious grin, "they're here to protect you," then raising her hand to point it at the woman across the table, "from her." Shego looked at the woman across from her, who just grinned, and Widow continued, "you did attempt to kidnap her son tonight after all."

"Stoppable," Shego asked, "wait Ron's your son," she asked in astonishment? The other woman just nodded.

"Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Victoria Stoppable," Vicky declared.

"Hey, I would never have allowed any harm to come to him," Shego held up her hands, then indicating the file, "that should indicate that I have never taken a single life, in any of the phases of my life. The most I've ever done is put a few people in the hospital, with nothing more serious than a concussion, some burns, and a broken bone or several. The most we would've done to Stoppable, is rough him up a little, I promise."

"Which is why you're still breathing on your own, instead of through a tube right now," Vicky Stoppable growled! Then taking a deep breath to calm herself, "and the only reason, you're being given a one-time only offer."

Shego looked puzzled, "What offer?"

"To join SHIELD," Ron's mother answered.