Yay, Ron's back in Middleton and the air port is icing up. (Just thought I would toss that in there!)
I want to thank everyone who has read yadda, yadda, yadda. (I think I wanted to skip the boring part..) And I want to thank CB73 for all his work over the years.
Oh, if everyone remembers the disclaimer on the first few chapters in book one, I never said that this was going to be rated 'K', the villains are rough, they are somewhat competent and for the most part they don't care if they hurt people. They want to make money and have power.
Replies to reviews: Uberscribbler, yeah, yeah about time….three rivers of red dye. Oh, you have me wrong I am simple minded, but when I decide how I am going to go with a story I usually lock in on it; CB73, Eric/Hans's plans are moving forward, somewhere about chapter 20 expect our less than favorite villain to return Kimmies pendant to Ron; Anon451, if it gets too bad let me know and I'll let you know how it ends. My brother-in-law did three tours and was sprayed with Agent Orange and although he doesn't have cancer, we are keeping our fingers crossed.
Bobtrumpet, how did you get an email, I never did! Oh, get ready for a rough ride; Jimmy1201, think about this as a runaway train; Szajbus321, thanks but at times this one is gonna suck; George Cristian810, I never said this was gonna be a fun ride, it's just gonna be a ride.
Okay remember this tale is not going to be fun, and originally, I thought about 45 chapters, looks like about 55 now (I have 18 written).
Let's get this on the road,
ST-103
The Hunter: Book Two
Chapter Two
On board JAL flight 2162:
"Please bring your seats to the upright position and make sure your trays are secured.", the attendant announced over the intercom.
The blond sidekick half-smiled knowing he was going to be able to get up and move around as he performed the tasks asked for.
Twenty minutes later:
After the 777 Boeing© Jetliner was parked and the passenger tunnel had been locked in place, the door to the tunnel was opened.
The blond teen stood up and retrieved his small back pack which constituted all of his luggage for his extended stay in Japan. He then pulled on his coat and left it unzipped, as he had a long walk out to where his parents had informed them where they would meet him; at baggage pickup.
X
Two hours later:
Ron mumbled to himself, "I guess Mom and Dad forgot about me again and it looks like the place is shutting down. I am gonna get so wet and cold, but it isn't going to be as bad as it was on that rescue mission." He thought for a moment after seeing two security officers walk into an empty terminal, "I might as well get going."
The former mascot then slung his pack over his shoulders, cinched down the straps as he got his hat out of a coat pocket and put it on his head.
XXX
Accident scene:
Officer Hubble motioned to the ambulances to move out as he waved for the tow truck operator to pull into place. He had made a note of who was in the car, 'I'll call up the house and let them know after I call the hospital and take care of the paperwork…And there is going to be a ton of it with this storm.'
(Yes, the storm, Middleton had nearly one hundred fender benders with five or six serious accidents. And calls were still coming in…AN)
XXX
An hour later:
The blond walked by the torn guardrail and he could see where the grass had three ruts in running down the embankment, 'I hope they are alright.'
With no one in sight, Ron continued his trek towards home, hoping to get an explanation as to why he didn't have the ride his parents promised him. He pulled the hat down over his huge ears, opened the last button on his coat, pulled his gloves out of his coat and slipped them on. The former mascot never saw the swirling blue cloud over him that began to follow.
XXX
The Stoppable home:
Kim glanced at the clock and grimaced. Then she smiled and turned her attention back to the raven-haired baby as she thought to herself, 'Where are they?'
X
Finally, another hour passed and the door opened up.
Kim Possible hear a familiar voice call out, "Mom, Dad where were you guys? It's crappy out there."
"Ron?", the cheer captain came to the front door carrying Ron's baby sister. Kim was not very happy.
"Kim? What are you doing here, Mom and Dad were supposed to pick me up at the airport.", the blond teen informed her.
"Your Mom and Dad had me babysitting Hanna and…and they were supposed to get you…"
"I didn't know they left Hanna with you Kim…"
"How did you get here then?", the red head inquired. She was a little aggravated because she was going to be late for her date with Eric.
Sigh, "Like I get most places, I walked.", he said as he approached the two.
Kim suddenly sneezed.
"Are you alright, Kim?"
"Yeah…." Ahhhhchooo!
"Kim do you have a cold? Or are you feeling bad?"
"No" Ahhhhhhhhchoooo.
"Come here sis.", Ron motioned to his sister as Kim sneezed again. Ron then snatched the bundle of joy away from the red-haired teen.
"Ron….." Aaaaahhchoooo. "I didn't start sneezing till you came in the door…"
"Kim, can you make it home? Can I get you a ride…or do you need to go to the hospital?", Ron asked, now concerned for his ex.
The red head backed away with tears flowing as Ron picked up his Sister. Immediately she felt better and her sneezing stopped. Relieved and concerned at the same time, she informed Ron, "Something is going on. Did you get into something while in Japan?"
Ron lied, "Uh, no Kim, I don't think so. Just the poetry and stuff. Why?"
"Because I didn't sneeze until you came in the door and then when I got some distance between us, I stopped.", Kim explained, "Have Wade scan you…Oh, and I have your Kimmunicator…If you get a chance, tell the guys that saved me, thanks."
"I'll do that Kim…oh, leave the unit over there, I'll get it…"
"Ron, I'm gonna step forward, I want to make sure I'm not overreacting like I did before. If I start to have problems, I'll back away, then get my coat and go home."
Ron nodded as he held Hanna to his chest. Kim approached to within about eight feet when she again sneezed and began coughing. Her eyes watering again and nose turning red.
"Ron…I have to go, and I don't know where your 'rents are.", Kim gasped as she sneezed again. The teen heroine then put the Kimmunicator down on a small table, Ron backed away to give his ex-girlfriend room enough to get her coat and get to the door.
"Thanks Kim, for everything. Make sure you call your Mom and let her know about this.", Ron said lowly as he continued to stay away from the red head.
"Ron, I'll call her and Wade, maybe he can scan both of us to see what's going on with me or if you got into something which might be triggering an allergic reaction.", Kim told him and added, "I'll call later, I have a date with Eric that I'm late for…Hanna's been fed and changed, but she needs her bath."
"I'll take care of that, Kim.", Ron replied as he kept back while his friend put her coat on and headed out the door.
After she left Ron asked his sister as he headed upstairs to get her bath ready, "Where did Mom and Dad go Hanna?"
The raven-haired tyke didn't clue him in. But then, she was only about eleven months old.
XXX
Big Toe Towing:
Manfred Ernst reached inside the wheel well of Dean Stoppable's car, unscrewed the last connection on the brake lines and began to reattach a replacement. He knew he still had several hours of work to do to replace the parts of the suspension that had been destroyed by the explosive charges.
Micky Robertson handed his collaborator a cup of coffee, "Mate, do you need anything? We don't have to get it all done tonight."
The gruff, experienced German explained, "A good adjuster is going to look into what caused the crash, we want it to look like Stoppable lost control of his auto because of conditions. Things have to be in place to not give evidence into what really happened. There is explosive residue on the parts and it will be easy to tell that they were the cause and immediately local and regional authorities will be called in to investigate further, which could blow our cover and wreck the operation."
XXX
The Possible home:
"Daddy we'll be careful, Eric is very good at driving in bad conditions.", Kim told her Dad as she latched on to the suave 'teen's' arm before they headed for the front door.
"Still, be careful kids.", James replied as they left, he then picked up his phone and dialed the Stoppable home.
"Hello, Stoppable house.", Ron's voice came over the earpiece.
"How was your trip Ronald?"
"Long and tiring, I'm glad the 'Japan exchange' thing is done now." Then seeming random added, "Barkin could have originally picked someone else to go on that."
"I suppose, but in retrospect the trips seem to have done you some good."
"Yes sir, I guess. What do you need tonight Sir…I mean Eric is still providing your dinners isn't he? Do you want me to take over?"
"We are quite happy with the arrangement Ronald the meals are the same quality as yours, thanks for asking. May I speak to your parents please?", the rocket scientist inquired.
"I could hand the phone over, but they aren't home. Hell, they didn't even pick me up at the airport…"
James frowned, "Kimmie didn't mention it, but she was in a hurry. Eric had been waiting for her here for about a half hour."
"I'm sorry about that. When Mom and Dad get home, I'll tell them that they missed their curfew.", Ron chuckled.
"How did you get home if your parents didn't meet you Ronald?"
"Same way I usually do…I hoofed it and I think the ice is still melting on me. So, good night Doctor Possible, I'll have Mom and Dad call you when they get in.", Ron promised as he made to hang up the phone.
"Ronald, please…"
"Yes sir?"
"Kimberly said your communications unit was sent back to Middleton with her when she was rescued…"
"Yes sir, it was…to keep monitoring her condition, you understand. I was told that by the guys that helped her out. They couldn't find her device and decided that mine would have to go with her to make sure she was fine. They found hers when they confronted the major villain there on the island."
James took a stab at something that was on his mind, "Thank you Ronald for keeping Kimmie safe…"
"Thank me? Sir, the security guys from the school took care of things. You see some of the other curriculums at Yamanouchi, they have guys in them that are pretty tough and are experienced at rescues and all sorts of stuff."
James had a feeling that Ron was hiding something and decided to let the topic go, "I am sure they are Ronald. And again, thank you for my daughter…again."
"Sir I don't…."
"To save her you let go and took the fall to make sure that her suit could give her enough lift…"
"Sir, you're mistaken. I'm too full of myself to worry about someone else's safety over my own. You'll have to excuse me, Hanna needs her bath and I have to get her bedtime bottle too. I have to go Mister P.", Ron then hung the phone up.
"Come on intruder, you're late for your bath. I just hope Mom and Dad aren't having too good of time."
XXX
"Kimberly, what is wrong?", Eric inquired.
"Huh, oh sorry, I was late because it seems the Stoppables forgot to pick Ron up and the airport and he ended up walking home because of the weather.", the heroine informed her boyfriend after being quiet for the first few minutes of their date.
"That seems par for the course for that family. I suppose that they really aren't able to be counted on. Case in point, if you had a 'proper' manager for your fight the idiot would not have been able to touch you. When you consider what happened I feel you were given inadequate support. This elder Stoppable should be told that he shouldn't be allowed to coach other fighters.", Eric sneered his insight.
"Eric, Ron beat me fair and square. His Dad gave me excellent coaching and training. I didn't capitalize when I had the advantage and Ron did and the result was that he beat me this time."
Eric raised the mug of hot tea to his lips then set his beverage down, "Kimberly, you know how I feel about men striking women, it is reprehensible in my opinion and I will make it a termination offense at the companies that I own or have a significant interest in."
"Eric, it was a fair fight. I know. I was there…"
"It is never a fair fight between a man and a woman…Although, your opponent isn't much of a man and if he continues on this path, he will be an abuser to those weaker than he is and that is despicable.", Eric argued setting the table on where he felt he would get the best advantage of the teen in the future.
"Eric thanks for being concerned about my welfare, but I can normally take care of myself and my record against foes like Shego attest to that over the last three plus years.", Kim pointed out. "Now to address your concerns; my Dad and Ron's Dad said that we would not fight again Eric, so you don't have to worry about my welfare concerning Ron Stoppable and boxing. I still think I can take him in a street fight though, and I think I know him well enough to tell you that Ron Stoppable is not an abuser."
The suave operator caught the dangerous glint in his girlfriend's eyes and decided that he had sowed enough dissent for the evening, considering the other part of the night's operation he had going on and chuckled lightly, "Well I, for one, would not want to meet you in a dark alley, Kimberly."
A happy grin was on the red head's face as Eric picked his cup up again and took a sip, "Now what would you like for dinner?"
XXX
The Middleton Police Station:
Officer Hobble finished typing on his computer and then sat back and rubbed his temples. "All done with the Stoppable accident?", Officer Jason Wilmar asked as he was completing the paperwork on another accident, which only had minor injuries.
"We are up to our eyes in paperwork tonight laddie. Once we catch up, I am going to the hospital to see the Stoppables…"
"I should go there too, I am a friend of the family."
X
"We should check their home Jason, I wonder where the daughter is.", Hobble mused as he got his coat on.
"I can go there after we go to the hospital to see how they are doing.", Wilmar told his shift partner.
"We'll go Wilmar, I've had to do this before.", Hobble told him.
XXX
The one-eyed villain sat in front of his monitor as he called the virtual meeting to order then asked, "What do we know about Jones' accident that seemed to happen before our eyes?"
A very large man sitting on pillows spoke up first, "According to my information our companion has met with an untimely end. The details are sketchy, but from what I have learned is that is either an elaborate hoax or we watched the beginnings of a murder. In my own mind Jones has had pressure on him lately so he may have faked his demise to throw law enforcement off his tracks while he flies under the radar until he is less threatened."
A red-haired man in a plaid skirt added, "Laddie, that was too contrived, there were no threats against him. He may have plotted this out…"
"But we saw what seemed to be ninjas…"
"Ninjas?", a black-haired man in Chinese martial arts uniform asked as he didn't see the attraction, "Yamanouchi does not go out of its way to assassinate the occasional bad guy unless he is a threat to world peace."
"What is a…Yamanouchi?", Gemini inquired.
Big Daddy Brotherson vaguely replied, "It's better you don't know, they are an asset of the Japanese Government. Normally you wouldn't even see a trace of them even right before they kill you and they would kill you in more ways than you can imagine. It is rumored that they have a school in the mountains that specialize in assassinations as well as intelligence gathering, along with other things they won't admit. They are supposed to have hundreds of graduates around the world. Just think, the girl serving you candy bars might give you a poisoned one to silence you even at the cost of her life…or his life, if he spent the last twenty years infiltrating your network."
Gemini's single eye opened wide at the thought that he couldn't stop someone from getting to him, "How do we know if we are being targeted?"
Montgomery Fiske finally opened his eyes and sat up straight, "You don't. I have had dealings with them and all they do is play with me when I'm trying to take actions against them…and I have taken actions against them. They've sent children, some half-trained children at that, after me and defeated my monkey ninjas and myself. Even their fifth-year students can beat the best you have and they start them at about five or six. They are students there until they turn seventeen or eighteen, if they have the talent and survive the training process. They then go to a college, or school like an automotive school, so that they blend into the background in communities around the world. Though all the while they are still there perfecting their skills even more."
"Fist, do you have any idea how many of them there are?", Jack Hench asked, now nervous as hell while he turned a little red.
"In the school itself? More than ninety and less than two hundred. Graduates? My guess would be around six hundred. Those are journeymen ninja where they perform missions as teams. Elites? Somewhere around three hundred, they are the cream of the crop. True masters? Maybe eighty. The Masters are capable of taking on operations on their own without support.", Monty informed them.
"So together they are a forced to be reckoned with?", Hench inquired.
Monty nodded and warned, "Don't screw with them unless you want to have your insides outside your body. It is not a good way to die. Of course, they might just remove your head. Forced Hari Kari is more of a painful execution to make a point to others, but it is a long and painful death… I'd rather they took my head. From my sources they only used the 'forced' suicide for individuals who have dishonored themselves beyond redemption."
The nattily dressed businessman who sold 'gadgets' to tech villains gulped at the thought of his guts strewn out in front of him and decided right then that he really didn't want to mess with these guys, "I think we should try to make peace with them.", he nervously suggested.
Fiske laughed, "You can't."
"Why can't we? I'm sure we can come to an agreement…"
Fiske enlightened the owner of Hencho©, "They don't need money or power. They already have enough."
"Everyone wants more…I'm sure we can come to an agreement…"
"Not if you want to injure Kim Possible and kill Ronald Stoppable. He's one of their boys and from what I've heard, our assassination team is going to take him and maybe her out. Trust me, those members of Yamanouchi will find out all about the plot in time and when they do, they will mark everyone involved and you won't like it. You see, they have allies and are not the only ninja school. Although, they are the largest. The schools work together so they don't fight each other. Yamanouchi is the most respected one with the fiercest fighters. And if I may be frank, we've bitten off more than we can chew."
"But you don't seem too worried, Fiske.", Gemini noted.
"I have my own plans, but they are mine and it's only for a single player. I have my monkey ninjas…and something else I am working on which none of you ca be involved…there is a certain risk to it."
"We would like to join.", Jack Hench offered.
"I don't need or want your help; your bungling would cost me everything. If Yamanouchi is on the warpath, you have signed your own death warrants.", Fiske warned them.
XXX
Middleton Medical Center:
"May I help you?", the lady at the information desks inquired.
Clancy Hobble half-smiled, "We would like to speak with the Stoppables or their doctor about their accident and injuries. And would like to know if their next of kin has been informed as to their status."
Mary Bean looked up in her computer directory, "Doctor Swashplate is overseeing their care. At the moment he is in ICU where they are right now. If you go to that waiting room, I will page him and have him meet you there…Uh, you have to have special clothes to be on the floor if you want to see for yourself."
Jason Wilmar asked, "Mister Stoppable is a friend of mine and I feel I need to see with my own eyes Miss. This is going to affect his son a great deal and I think I can do a better job…"
"Of course, Officer, but that would-be Doctor Swashplate's decision, you understand."
"Yes Ma'am.", Jason turned to follow Clancy Hobble as the Police Officer headed towards the elevators.
XXX
The Stoppable home:
"Okay Hanna, you go to sleep.", Ron softly urged his Sister as he covered her up.
The blond teen shut off the light in the hallway but left the raven-haired child's door open so he could listen in to make sure she was safe.
Tired, the former mascot went down the steps and through the kitchen and into his dungeon. He found his stash of 'tea' (which was linited) and some ointments and took them back up to the kitchen. He then put water in the tea kettle and set it on the stove to make himself a drink. Then he removed his shirt, opened one of the jars and began to apply the ointment that Yamanouchi had given him over a month before. As Ron finished he thought, 'I wonder where Mom and Dad are?'
XXX
"We have to get going Eric, I have to babysit my brothers in the morning.", Kim said as they backed out of the parking spot.
The raven haired 'teen' half-smiled to show concern for things his girlfriend was interested in, "Kimberly, as you mentioned that your friend, Stoppable, returned today. How was his trip? Did he even learn anything in Japan?"
"I…I suppose Ron did, but I didn't have time to speak with him very long. Like I told you, he ended up walking from the airport so he was later than he should have been. His parents never met up with him at the airport according to Ron.", Kim informed her beau.
Eric snorted derisively as he decided to play a hand he was holding on the red head, "That whole family is worthless. Someone should remove that child from its home and save it the embarrassment of growing up and being associated with them. In my opinion you should distance yourself from the whole lot of them…and of course the child as well."
"Eric, that's not nice. Ron is my friend and Ron's 'rents are Mom's and Dad's friends, and they have been for many years, like Ron and I.", Kim's tone cautioned the young man he might be treading on thin ice.
He responded, "It simply is how I see the situation, Kimberly. I am concerned for your welfare and as I have just said the child's as well."
"Eric, this is the United States and we have laws and customs that are not always the same as ones in England. And here, United States laws are the ones we go by. Hanna is legally adopted by the Stoppables and Ron is her brother and that means in some cases, her care provider.", Kim informed her boyfriend.
"Then they should be able to do a better job of raising the little girl.", Eric pointed out, while not telling the red head who was responsible for Dean and Barb not picking up their Son from the airport earlier in the day.
Kim rolled her eyes and asked, "Please just take me home boyfriend. Tomorrow will be hard enough watching the tweebs without being tired and aggravated."
Eric smirked as he looked into his rearview mirror. Then he put the sedan in reverse, knowing he had gotten under the red head's skin. And, that later she would want to make up. "As you wish Kimberly."
XXX
The Stoppable home:
"Damn my back itches.", Ron grumbled as he took his shower. Having felt this particular 'itch' before he checked his shoulder blade out in the mirror, "Rufus? Shit, I gotta call and see if Tank has him."
The former Middleton Mad Dog quickly got himself out of the shower and looked the ink job over carefully and then picked up his phone. "Hey Melanie this is Ron Stoppable is Tank home?", Ron inquired hoping to hell he was.
"Sure, I got him home about an hour ago he just finished in the shower. How was your trip?"
"Long and tiring.", the former mascot informed her, "Glad to be back though, only one more semester to gothen this burg can kiss my backside."
"I guess so, you spent your whole fall running around, so all you have to do is get ready for graduation."
"Yeah, graduation…I can't wait.", Ron replied not able to tell her anything about what he had really been up to in the previous weeks.
"Oh, here is Tank, again it's good to hear that you're back in town now maybe you can get some normalcy back into your life?", Melanie suggested.
The blond teen snorted just before a deeper voice came on, "Hey Stoppable, how ya hangin?"
"Good to be back Tank dude, the weather is just as crappy as I remember it.", the former running back laughed.
"Yeah, I was working at one of the stores today, we have crews of three working tonight to keep the places running, keep the coffee fresh and keep the snow and ice cleared. Curt's going in tomorrow morning to oversee stuff.", Woodson informed his friend.
"Well I just got in and I can tell you that the roads are getting slippery. Uh, I have a question?"
Woodson said, "Go ahead."
"Do you have Rufus with you? I haven't seen him around here and he usually bugs me for cheese by now and I'm getting a little worried."
"Uh no Ron, I haven't seen him for about ten days. When you first left for Japan, I thought he went with you, but then your parents had him stay with me and Mel for a few days.", Tank revealed to his teammate.
"I guess that must mean Rufus is with Mom and Dad then, because he sure isn't here and I've called for him and even asked if he wanted some cheese.", Ron told his friend, "I never got an answer."
Tank Woodson chuckled, having taken care of the rodent several times, "He likes his cheese, so that should have gotten his attention. Uh Ron, can I call you back later? Mel has dinner on the table and it's been a long day for me."
"Yeah, sure and thanks. I have to make myself something for dinner anyway maybe by then wherever Rufus is sleeping he'll know some food is on and wake up.", Ron replied as he wondered where his mole rat was at the moment.
"I'm sure he's going to be bugging you for some cheese…Heck, what am I saying? For a burrito or something.", Tank laughed as he closed the connection.
Ron was also laughing at what Ansel 'Tank' Woodson said. He then went upstairs to check on his Sister. Seeing her fast asleep, he returned downstairs and walked into the kitchen and opened up the freezer to pull 'something' out since it had been more than a few hours since he had anything to eat.
Twenty minutes later:
The blond teen poured the pasta out onto a large plate, he then added sauce he heated up from a jar. 'It's not from scratch, but it's filling.' Then aloud he said, "Rufus, spaghetti with cheese, lots of cheese."
Not hearing the chittering of his buddy, Ron just about lost his appetite and he woodenly ate his meal. After cleaning up his mess, the blond teen then went downstairs and worked through a few Katas and then showered. He brought a pillow and blanket upstairs to the living room and made himself comfortable after checking on his Sister one more time. He definitely wanted to be close enough to her so that he could hear at least until his parents returned home.
XXX
Stone-faced, the two Middleton Police Officers pulled into the driveway of the Stoppable home.
Slowly, they got out of the squad and walked up to the front door. Seeing lights on, Officer Hobble rang the doorbell.
A yawning blond teen opened the door and asked, "Mom…Hey Officer Hobble. What are you doing out on a night like tonight?"
"Mister Stoppable…"
Ron frowned, "Come in, its crappy weather."
Officer Wilmar entered and removed his hat with Clancy Hobble following.
Once they were in Ron inquired, "What can I do for you?"
Jason Wilmar said, "Ronald, your parents have been in an accident…They are in the hospital."
The former Mad Dog croaked out, "Are they going to be alright? They're at Middleton?"
Officer Hobble responded, "Aye laddie, they are at Middleton and they are in ICU."
"Do you need a ride?", Wilmar inquired.
"Uh…no, I have to get my Sister up and dressed…I uh, can't leave her alone…Uh, thanks for telling me…..uh excuse me.", Ron told them disjointedly, "Uh, excuse me. I have to get going…"
Clancy Hobble had known Ron Stoppable for years and put his huge hand in the teen's shoulder and asked, "Do ye need help Ronald?"
"No…no, I can handle this. Rabbi Katz says I'm a man and it's time I acted like one. Listen, like I said, I have to get Sis ready to go…Uh, thanks for letting me know.", Ron stumbled backwards and rubbed his temples with both hands while trying to think.
Both Policemen let themselves out and Hobble muttered as they exited the Stoppable home, "That went well, don't ye think, Wilmar?"
"Yeah, if you wanted to traumatize that kid right out of the blue.", Jason muttered then thought, 'I have a bad feeling about this'.
XXXX
Kim Possible, Ron Stoppable, Hanna and all the rest of the 'canon' characters in the show 'Kim Possible' belong to Bob, Mark and the Disney Corporation….of course with the movie out now I'm not sure who owns that but Ron looks like a dork in that one….oh where was I? oh yes, neither CajunBear73 or I own any part of 'KP', we just do this for grins.
We'll see ya down the road,
ST-103