Ch.86
As Yori came in for a hug Ron felt some of his anxieties fade. He was glad he survived.
Ron waited, enjoying the warmth from both Yori and Rufus a moment before he spoke. "So what have I missed?"
Yori leans back just enough to look at Ron's face and speaks. "Much has changed Ron. Some of the news are harder to take than others."
"Oh! Is everyone okay? Did Drakken or some villain take over the world?" Ron quickly shot out some questions. "Have you been hurt?" Ron starts looking at Yori and Rufus more closely and finally notices the Neuro Linker they both wear. "You're both wearing a Neuro Linker, guess Wade did proceed with the plans to launch the company. Did he still choose Cross Industries as the name?"
Yori opened her mouth to speak when Master Sensei's voice was heard. "Stoppable-san it is good that you're awake."
Rufus, Ron, Yori and Bebe focused on Sensei.
"Hello Master Sensei." Ron greeted, adding. "You have no idea."
As Ron spoke he took the chance to stand and bow to Sensei who nodded.
"I'm sure you have many questions Stoppable-san and if you'd like I am most willing to answer them." Sensei offers then looks to Yori. "Yori can you notify Ron's family and friends that he has awakened.
"Yes, Master Sensei." Yori agrees and began manipulating her Neuro Linker's virtual interface.
"This way Stoppable-san." Sensei says and begins leading Ron to his courtyard with Rufus standing on Ron's shoulder.
~~~~~
Yori pulled Shego's contact through her phone options and chose to video call her.
It was two seconds before the call connected showing Yori Shego's face.
"Hey Yor..." Whatever else Shego had been about to say stopped in it's tracks. "...Ron, is... is he...?"
"Yes Shego, Ron is awake again." Yori confirmed.
"When?" Shego asked.
"Just a few minutes ago." Yori answered.
"Okay, I'm on my way." Shego said but didn't break the connection, still absorbed in Ron's image.
As Yori talked with Shego she also sent a message to each of Ron's ladies, Wade, Felix and his living relatives. The message was simple. 'He woke up!' Followed by an image of Ron standing by Sensei.
As Yori waited for the torrent of replies and calls she knew would follow once they saw her message they arrived at Sensei's courtyard. Not a minute later the calls started.
The first call came from Monique, followed closely by Ann, Tara, Bonnie, Wade and Felix.
Yori answered each one and thanks to the Neuro Linker's capabilities added them to her video call with Shego.
Their questions never came as they stared at Ron before Tara said. "Ask him to take off his Neuro Linker."
Yori did as asked and Ron, puzzled handed it to her before turning back to Sensei.
"How?" Ann asked.
"We believed Ron's MMP(mystical monkey power) is responsible." Yori said having had that conversation many a time with Sensei.
As for the moment, no one else voiced a question they all just settled down and looked as Ron was filled on both major events and personal details that changed in his life.
"...and what about my parents? Have they stopped by at all since I fell into a coma?" Ron asked hopeful.
The ladies and Rufus all reached out for Ron though only Rufus touched him.
"I regret to inform you Stoppable-san that your parents did not survive Drakken's attack. They had been on a plane to Middleton at the time and when a Little Diablo grew to full size, the aircraft, like many others, went down. Many lives were lost that day." Sensei explained.
To Yori and the ladies it looked like Ron had been punched as he paled rapidly. From that point forward Ron seemed less than enthusiastic about finding out what else he'd missed yet he listened as Sensei filled in the blanks for major events worldwide.
Sensei explained the close calls the world had had thanks to villains and how his students had sacrificed their lives to stop them suprising most of Ron's ladies with the news. Then he moved on to explain the good his invention had wrought on the world and governments attempt at monopolizing it for themselves.
When Ron spoke again he was looking as Sensei in the eyes. "This world needs to change."
"On that I agree with you Stoppable-san." Sensei said then added. "But now that you're caught up to most of what's happened there are others who wish to speak to you as well."
Yori looked at Ron in front of her then at the time her call had been going on for, four hours.
"Here Ron." Yori said taking her cue from Sensei and handing Ron his Neuro Linker. Once he had it on his neck she called him through her own.
~~~~~
It took Ron but a moment to answer but when he saw the people closest to him his face showed his joy.
"Hi guys, I'm up!" Ron said his voice thick with emotion.
"Hi Ron." Ann, Tara, Bonnie, Monique, Shego, Wade, Felix and Zita (who Felix had added to the call) greeted.
Ron looked at Shego closely for a moment before as one they all started talking and telling Ron how they've spent their time apart. Doing his best to listen to everyone, Ron paid attention to how much they each changed. Ann's hair was longer than it used to be and though she was in her late forties she didn't look any older then when he last saw her, her beauty still resplendant in his eyes. Monique looked more mature, beautiful and free spirited as he remembered. Bonnie had also grown out her hair like Ann and seemed to have moved past her Queen B persona. Tara seemed more reserved though she was smiling brightly at him. Shego's hair wasn't as long as he remembered and she had a guarded expression, though it was hard to notice. Felix and Zita looked more mature and energetic, noticing their background they seemed to be in the same place. Then there was Wade. From what Ron can see of him he was thinner and taller, with his hair in braids. His teen years bringing a drastic change that really drove home the lost time to Ron.
They'd just asked Ron how it was like for him and he started telling them how he spent his time in a seemingly endless sparing match with brief moments where he was with them. That had the ladies tearing up while Wade and Felix looked on. Just when Felix started explaining his project to Ron they were interrupted by Ron's stomach growling.
Ron blushed deeply and apologized. "Sorry about that, haven't eaten since I woke up."
Yori took that as a chance and said. "This way Ron, let us go to the kitchen."
"Thanks Yori." Ron said and watched her a moment as he followed.
When they resumed their conversation Ron noticed some of the ladies had begun moving about.
"You know if you try..." Ron began to point out a couple of ideas to Felix about possible ways to move forward with his project.
As Ron explained some of the ladies video feed gets cut off and he hears multiple showers of baths start and knows they are probably getting ready for the day. Then upon arrival to the kitchen, Ron sees Yori head in and begin preparing him something to eat. That's when Ron realized that Yori had mostly refrained from talking with Ron and let him talk with the others. 'You rock Yori.' Ron thinks briefly as he continues his talk with Felix and the others.
It was an hour later, after having eaten, that Ron reluctantly said his goodbyes to everyone and ended the call. They each had things to do and Ron could tell they were refusing to be the ones to end the call. Once the last person hung up Ron turned to Yori.
"Yori thanks for your patience and letting me catch up with everyone. Now, how have you been during this time?" Ron thanked and asked Yori.
"You're welcome Ron." Yori said smiling beautifully. "As for your question..."
Like this Ron got to hear of Yori's time and it pained him to realize that much like the others she focused on waiting for him. 'I don't know what I did to earn these women's affection but I swear I'll treat them like queens. No goddesses.' Ron thought.
Ron and Yori talked well into the night before they separated at Ron's room.
"Have a good night Yori." Ron said as he pulled her into a passionate kiss.
Yori responded to the kiss in kind and they only parted when they were out of breath.
"Good night Ron." Yori says with a smile.
Bebe chose that moment to speak again. "Ron there's someone else who is desperately awaiting your company."
"Sorry Bebe, I got caught up with everyone and forgot about you." Ron says.
"Though I am glad you realized, I was not referring to myself." Bebe said, adding. "Xu Ming Yue is who I referred to."
"Wha... how did you know that name?" Ron asked shocked that a person who lived inside his mindscape was mentioned by Bebe.
"We keep each other company." Bebe said by way of explanation. "Now come, enter your mindscape, she waits."
"Okay." Ron says and sits in the lotus position to meditate.
In moments he entered his mindscape. Looking around Ron didn't see anything that indicated it changed much though things in the distance looked illusory. Then he spotted Xu Ming Yue and was shocked to note she too looked illusory. Next to Xu Ming Yue stood a blonde that looked just like a Bebe bot.
"Teacher Xu, what's happening to you? And Bebe how are you here?" Ron asked shocked.
"My time has come. I can no longer maintain my soul without a body." Xu Ming Yue explained. "Now get ready, there's much to do and very little time."
Bebe stayed quiet as Ron talked with Xu Ming Yue. Noting that Ron focused his attention on her.
"What do you need me to do Teacher Xu?" Ron asked.