Ch.23
Ron didn't wait for Akito to say anything else and stepped away from the door, just enough to kick them off their hinges and onto the gym floor. Because of the loud noise there were a couple of screams. Ron place them on the heightened nerves and walked in.
Silence soon followed with only the sound of his steps.
Ron felt the people staring, not really caring what goes through their minds and casually forgetting that his top was bare. Meaning everyone in the room could see the wounds on his torso and and the burns on his arms.
Mr. Barkin was the first to break the silence. "Ron, please tell me the police are outside."
"Not quite, Mr. B." Ron answered, adding. "But don't worry, I'll make sure you all walk away from this."
His promise made, Ron focused on Eric who had an amused expression.
"Hey Eric, mind stepping away from Monique." Ron warned.
"Ha! You actually came." Eric said as he looked at Monique. "As promised, you're free to go."
Eric then reached towards his right leg and pulled out a knife, briefly causing everyone to tense, before he cut away Monique's restraints.
Monique stood up slowly, watching as Eric sheathed the knife and turned walking towards Ron, almost running at the end. Ron opening his arms and welcomed Monique with a hug, petting her back lightly.
"Everything's going to be okay, Mon." Ron soothed the shaking Monique. Slowly, Ron turned his back to Eric to make sure that Monique was behind him and place a wounded and unconscious Rufus on her hands. "Now, stay still and don't move."
Seeing Monique nod, Ron turned back to Eric.
"So loser, how are you going to save everyone?" Eric asked, amused.
"Just like I did to your boss, I'm going to give you a beating." Ron replied.
"Dr. Drakken is currently about to conquer this world, you couldn't possibly stop him." Eric denied.
"Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I did." Ron affirmed. "Now if you and your friends want to walk out of here in one piece I suggest you surrender."
"Ron they're all synthodrones." Kim called out nearly causing Ron to curse.
Synthodrones, of course. Loyal and most importantly, unafraid of death. Seeing Eric smirk as that piece of information sinks in, Ron sighs. 'The hard way it is.'
"Get ready." Ron telepathically told Akito and his team. "And avoid the high ground."
Then he reached out across the world to the one weapon that eagerly awaits his call.
'Call me!' The Lotus Blade sang into Ron's mind.
Ron seems to grab ahold of something between his hands and draws them apart. As everyone watches they see a blue, blinding flash and now Ron is holding a sword. To everyone the presence of the sword was suffocating and it kept getting stronger. Ron's eyes glowed blue and he slowly stepped towards Eric.
Eric, the synthodrones and everyone else has the same thought run through their mind, the second Ron attacks, they are going to die. All the synthodrones, even the ones still disguised among the hostages draw their weapons and aimed at Ron. When they saw Ron simply smile, everyone shuddered.
Then they lost track of Ron, it was like he disappeared, only Eric quickly realized what happened. "Above!"
In a second, all the synthodrones were aiming above and opening fire. Screaming ensued and a few people called Ron's name. The sound of gun fire ran rampant for a few seconds and then everything went black, soon followed by a few thuds.
Silence reigned in the gymnasium until Bonnie, Tara and Monique screamed. "Ron! Ron, are you okay?"
Just as their screams were getting frantic, light flooded the room and revealed Ron, now standing behind Eric. A second goes by and Eric, followed by the synthodrones, start falling apart or bursting. For Eric, his head rolled off his shoulders before turning to goo, his body slowly dissolving.
Breathing in, Ron speaks. "I'm okay."
As he starts to walk towards the hostages and Monique to him, he feels the lotus blade warn into his mind. "Danger."
His senses following the warning from the blade kicked into gear, telling him it was from where the downed Eric was. Ron spun and saw a device, with a flashing red light, come into view among the dissolving Eric.
'Bomb!' Ron thought as he telekineticaly grabbed ahold of the device and brought it to his arms. Jumping over Monique as she was about to hug him, Ron dashed towards the exit. It took him a moment to cross the distance and throw them bomb with the last of his strength. Not long after, a massive explosion went off.
Monique was stunned, her ears ringing. One moment she's about to bring Ron into a hug, the next he's gone, followed by a shockwave throwing her off her feet.
Head spinning, Monique sits up and tries to understand what happened. She notices that like her everyone seems to be confused. Looking around she wonders, 'where's Ron?'. With that thought clarity comes to her mind.
"Ron!" She shouts and tries to get up, staggers and falls down. "Ron, where are you?"
When she finally gets to her feet, Monique turns and spots Ron by the door he came through earlier. "Ron, are you okay?"
As Monique approached she notices that he doesn't seem to be moving. She runs to him. Stopping beside him, Monique sees a shield in his right hand but by the looks of things, he never got to raise it.
Monique feels tears blur her vision and she falls to her knees. Ron's face is bloodied from small pieces of shrapnel but the worse is that in his forehead there's a piece of what seems to be steel embedded. 'No, no, no! Not you, Ron!' Soon, Monique begins to sob and lays her head on in his chest, crying uncontrollably.
Ba-dum!
Monique's surroundings dissapear as she's swallowed by grief. In her mind she can't help recollect memories of Ron and her crying gets louder.
Ba-dum!
A few minutes go by as she cries, Monique unaware of the world but starting to calm down for an unknown reason.
Ba-dum!
Monique stills and listens for a moment.
Ba-dum!
With the sound of his heartbeat realization hits. 'His heart's still beating!'
"Someone help, his heart still beating!" Monique suddenly yells.
To her shock, a ninja materializes in front of her, hands glowing.
"What are you...?" Monique begins to ask, reaching forward.
"First aid, don't interrupt." Another ninja says holding onto her arm.
Monique looks to side spotting more ninja around in the surroundings. With no better choice than to trust them she nods and pulls her hand back.
The sound of her surroundings finally come back and Monique notices the hysterical screams of Tara and Bonnie. "Let me go to him. Step aside and let me go to Ron!" They shout amid curses.
Their screams are suddenly cut off and then Mr. Barkin screams. "What the hell did you so to them?"
Thud!
And Barkin's shouting, too, fades away.
Concerned Monique speaks up. "What did you guys do to them to get them to stop shouting?"
The ninja answers. "They were knocked unconscious so they would not interfere."
"I see." Monique says and watches as soon they bring a table and lay it down next to Ron after folding the legs.
They then lift Ron onto the table, the ninja soon straddling him to continue first aid. Then the ninja lift Ron and begin walking to the door.
"Where are you taking him?" Monique asks.
"The hospital." Was the simple reply.
"I'm going too." Monique states and begins to follow but was stopped at the door.
"Not enough room." The ninja says and blocks her way, Ron soon leaving her sight.
Bebe had been observing Ron closely throughout the night and had experienced various data surges.
To Bebe these were confusing and distracting. To Ron or anyone else they would have been spikes of fear, anxiety and relief.
Each time Ron was hurt Bebe experienced a data surge of fear followed by another of relief after his victory, that one was replaced with one of anxiety over the upcoming battle. Like this Bebe went through the night and at times almost intervened, specially when the five ninja nearly killed Ron.
After Ron safely stopped Drakken's plan and moved to rescue the people held hostage at the gym, Bebe figured that there was only a little more to go till Ron stopped putting himself in danger and anxiously watched. Just as she relaxed over Ron achieving victory, turns out there's a bomb inside Eric/synthodrone 901.
Ron reacted quickly and decided to get it away from everyone though to Bebe throwing it was too dangerous a choice. Still, Ron should have been safe but the bomb didn't travel nearly far enough to Bebe's liking and dropped about a hundred feet away. As Ron was bringing up the sword, now turned into a shield, it detonated. Ron closed his eyes, likely to avoid the shrapnel hitting them directly and was swept off his feet.
Bebe waited a moment for Ron to open his eyes and resume the rescue but what she got was his vitals flatlining at an incredible rate. The Neuro Linker picked up even his brain waves ceasing causing a massive data surge in Bebe. With no time to hesitate, Bebe took control of Ron's body and began giving it commands so that it continued functioning. With strenuous effort, Bebe got Ron's heart to a steady rythm.
Ba-dum!
Ba-dum!
Xu Ming Yue could honestly say she was proud of Ron's accomplishments this night. He stopped an attempt to take over the world and then rescued his classmates.
Then things took a turn for the worse when the bomb was discovered. Ron's exhausted body couldn't throw it far enough and he couldn't bring the shield up in time. Xu Ming Yue watched and felt the steel embed itself into Ron's forehead. She quickly did everything in her power to preserve Ron's life, slowing his perception of time and taking over enough of his body's functions to activate the healing technique but Ron's conciousness wasn't responding to her calls.
Abruptly she felt a foreign conciousness invade Ron's body and worried that she would have to fight it off but the conciousness simply got Ron's heart pumping.
'Not a threat!' Xu Ming Yue concluded and focused on healing till she felt someone apply a healing technique, finally collapsing into unconsciousness.
Kim was shocked when Ron showed up to rescue them. Even more so when she saw the wounds on his body. To her, Ron looked like he'd been through hell and back, yet he came to rescue them.
That's when Kim started feeling depressed. Here she was, spending practically every free moment of her time with Eric yet she never realized her pretty boy was on the enemy side much less realize that he was a synthodrone. To make matters worse, Ron who cut her out of his life, stepped up and was saving the day like she encouraged him to do.
After listening to Ron try and persuade Eric to stand down she couldn't help but speak out. "Ron, they're all synthodrones."
Kim saw it, Ron biting back a curse. Everyone would have missed the subtle movement but she saw it clear as day, making her wonder if it was because they are synthodrones or because she spoke to him. Afterwards she couldn't help hang her head, she really messed up when it comes to Ron.
Then Ron dealt with the synthodrones so swiftly Kim wondered how not was possible. There were so many scattered throughout the room that it should have been impossible for Ron to take them out in so little time but with him able to summon a sword out of thin air and his eyes changing color Kim didn't know what he was capable of anymore.
When the explosion went off Kim was dazed like everyone else but she regained her senses quicker. She started looking around to see if anyone was hurt and heard Monique start calling for Ron. Just as Monique spotted Ron so too did Kim and she also noticed his unnatural stillness. When Monique started crying above him Kim's brain overloaded and she passed out.
Tara came to at nearly the same time as Bonnie, screaming Ron's name. That attracted a few looks from the people still at the gym but they knew better than to comment.
"Tara, look at me." Monique instructed having decided to wait for them to wake up. "He is okay, his heart was beating steady when last I saw him and they took him to the hospital."
"Then what are we still doing here? Let's go!" Tara said the moment the information sunk in.
"I was waiting for you, Bonnie and Kim to wake up." Monique said prompting Tara to look around, Kim was nowhere to be seen and Bonnie was to the side making a call.
"I'm guessing Kim already woke up." Tara said.
"Yeah, ten minutes ago. Should be checking on her family right about now." Monique clarified.
"Okay, then let's go." Tara said.
"Tara you need to look outside first." Monique says extending a hand so Tara can stand up.
"What's outside that's so urgent?" Tara asks.
When she makes it to the gym doors she sees smoke billowing in the distance and hear emergency services. 'What happened to the town?' Tara wonders.
"Eric wasn't kidding when he said they were trying to take over the world." Monique explained. "Check on your family."
"Okay." Said a stunned Tara, moving to the side to make the calls.
Monique watched her go sighing and remembering her own phone calls. Her family was okay, though shaken up by giant Little Diablos attacking everywhere around town. They explained that the house suffered some damage but no one was hurt. Then they briefly freaked out when she mentioned she was going to the hospital but Monique explained that she was unhurt thanks to Ron who is the one in the hospital. When her family understood they suggested she go home and at least pack since they needed to spend a few days at a hotel. Monique stressed that she was going to the hospital and they compromised to let her go after she packs for the hotel and changes. Monique agreed then waited for her friends to wake up.
Bonnie's call was with her mother and said mother was a bit frantic.
"Bonnie I need you to come home as soon as possible!" Tonnie demanded.
"Mom, I understand but I need to check on Ron." Bonnie pleaded.
"Bonnie, sweety, I understand your friend is hurt but I can't get a hold of your father and I want you home where I can know your safe." Tonnie persuades.
"Mom, I want daddy to be safe too and I would love to go home so you can feel better but Ron is important to me. He... he... might be the one!" Bonnie admits.
She could hear her mom sighing on the line. "Okay but you have to stop by the house first, I want to make sure you're okay."
"Deal mom, I'm on my way." Bonnie agreed. "Also, let me know when you hear from daddy."
Tara was talking with her parents and both demanded that she go home till sweet and loving Tara snapped.
"Mom! Dad! I understand that your both worry about me but I need to make sure he's okay. I love him." Tara started shouting but ended up whispering.
"...okay Tara but you need to come home first. We would at least like to see you." Her mom compromised.
"Okay mom, love you." Tara agreed and hung up. Finishing up with her call Tara walked back to Monique and reported. "My family's okay but they want me to stop by before going to the hospital."
"Mine too." Monique said.
Bonnie finally came over and spoke. "My dad's not picking up his phone but mom agreed to let me go to the hospital if I stop by first."
"Bonnie are you sure you don't want to be home waiting for news?" Asked Tara while Monique nodded.
"I can't." Bonnie explained. "If I stay at home waiting to hear for news on both my dad and Ron I think I'll snap."
"Okay then, Bonnie can you drive me home so my parents can confirm I'm okay and I can change my clothes." Tara asked.
"S(same)." Monique said.
"Sure." Bonnie easily agreed.
Kim made it home to see a completely demolished house and started to panic. She had tried both her parents cellphones and they didn't reply. Kim had also tried the house phone but now that she arrived she understood why they didn't pick up.
"Mom! Dad! Jim! Tim! Is anyone here?" Kim called out as she looked around the debris.
With no response from around the house Kim dialed her dad again. It rang a few times before it finally connected. "Hello Kimmie cub, what..."
"Dad finally! Are you okay? Is mom and the twins okay? Where are you guys?" Kim interrupted with her own questions.
"Kimmie... Kim! Breath sweetie." James called out. "You need to calm down."
Kim took a deep breath and said. "Okay, I'm much calmer. So tell me, are mom and the twins okay?"
"Well, I honestly don't know." James admitted, adding. "At work we were all under house arrest at my boss's orders. Till just now when they gave me the phone back and your call came through. Have you gone home to check?"
"I am at home and it's a pile of ruins." Kim shouted. "Dad, synthodrone 901 said they were holding my family hostage!"
"Oh!" James said, seemingly stunned. "I'll be there as soon as I can. For now though, ask the neighbors, maybe they saw something."
"Okay." Kim agreed and moved towards the neighbor's house as the line went dead.
Turns out the neighbors in the immediate vicinity saw nothing besides two giant robots attacking the house. Then, they promptly hid in their basements and called 911.
Kim had just made it to the Stoppable's house and was turning around to try and dig the debris off her house in hopes of finding her family when she was tackled from the side. Kim was about to react to the attacker till she heard them speak.
"Kim you're..." Tim began.
"...okay!" Jim finished, making Kim realized she was being hugged.
Dropping to her knees, Kim hugged them back.
"You guys are okay, what about mom?" Kim asked.
No sooner than her question being asked was Kim hugged again.
"I'm so glad your okay!" Ann said hugging Kim tightly, before asking. "Where's Ron?"
"He should be at the hospital." Kim said relieved her whole family was okay. "Some ninja's took him when he got hurt. Where were you guys?"
"At the Stoppable's, Ron brought us here after rescuing us." Ann explained and added. "I'm going over to the hospital to check on Ron and offer my help. With what's happened they must be flooded with patients. I need you to stay and watch the twins."
"Mom I'm coming with." Kim countered.
"Sweetie I'm sure you're worried about him but I need you to watch the kids." Ann soothed. "With James nowhere to be found you're the only one I can rely on Kim."
"Dad is on his way. I managed to reach him a few minutes ago." Kim explained. "His boss placed them under house arrest at the space center till it was confirmed the threat was dealt with. He should be on his way home right as we speak."
"Good but you're still going to have to watch the twins." Ann insisted.
"How are you even going to get to the hospital anyway?" Kim asked exasperated.
"I'm walking, how else?" Ann asked back.
"Mom!" Kim said.
"It's decided, now go inside and watch the phone, I expect the Stoppable's to call at anytime to at least check on their son." Ann instructed and turned to leave after telling the twins to behave.
"But I also want to make sure he's okay." Kim whispered while looking at her mom walk away. A moment later she pulled out her cellphone to call her dad and let him know where she was and that her mom and brothers were okay.
Turns out Ann didn't have to walk all the way to the hospital. Five minutes into her walk a car honked the horn at Ann.
"Told you it was her." Monique says from Bonnie's convertible. "Where are you heading Mrs. Possible?"
"Oh Monique!" Greeted a surprised Ann. "I'm on my way to the hospital."
"So are we!" Tara said.
"Get in, I'll give you a ride." Bonnie invited.
"I'll have to accept, thanks." Ann said before getting in.
"What happened to your car, Mrs. Possible?" Monique asked.
"Smashed by a Little Diablo." Ann replied simply.
As they drove, Ann noticed that they each stopped by their homes and checked on their families.
"So why are you guys going to the hospital?" Ann asked.
"Ron was hurt." Tara/Monique/Bonnie said in unison.
'Seems like they still care for him, I wonder if they know he has others in his life?' Ann thought to herself.
"Mrs. Possible, are you still interested in Ron?" Monique suddenly asked.
"Wh... what do you mean, Monique?" Ann asked, flustered.
"We know he has an interest in you at least." Monique said, explaining. "In the shared dream we saw some of the ones he likes with the exception of one. And if I'm honest we all care for him as well. So I was wondering if you still cared?"
"It's... not that simple." Ann finally admitted. "I'm thirty nine. I have three kids and one of them is his age. They used to be bestfriends and would be still had my daughter not messed up. Add to that, I'm married to a cheating husband and what I decide could make me lose my kids." Ann hears them suck in a breath of air at her honesty and continues. "In all honesty, I'm afraid I'll lose my kids and I won't let that happen even if Ron is my last shot at love."
"Hmm, not belittle your choice but wouldn't your kids understand?" Tara asked and explained. "From what I know, Kim wouldn't want you to remain unhappy just for her sake and I'm sure the twins are smart enough to think the same. So why don't you ask then for their blessing first, what they'll say might surprise you."
"Also, who knows how much time we might have with Ron?" Bonnie asked. "Today made me realize that time is precious. Right now Ron is in the hospital and a couple months ago he was in the hospital because he was shot. What if the next time even the hospital is not enough?"
All the women present trembled at the thought of losing Ron.
"I think we need to rethink our strategy, both for Ron's and our happiness." Monique siad.
"What do you mean, Monique?" Tara asked.
"Well, I say this because we all have the same thought." Monique explained. "To make Ron chose us over the others but what if we take away the choice from him?"
"I don't understand." Bonnie said to which Tara nodded.
Ann got an idea of what Monique meant but couldn't voice it.
"What if we, talk among ourselves and agree to share Ron?" Monique said it clearly.
Ann's heart skipped a beat. Since finding out James cheats on her, her confidence took a hit, so the prospect of winning Ron's affection to herself seemed a distant thing. 'This can make us all win. No, don't think about it Ann, you have your kids to worry about.'
"You'd be willing to share?" Bonnie asked, incredulous.
"If it means both Ron and I can be happy, yes!" Monique admits.
"Monique that's a lot to think about. When did you even think of this?" Tara asked.
"For the last few weeks." Monique says, explaining. "I had a feeling that it might be the best for all of us."
"I'll think about it." Tara says.
"Me too." Bonnie agrees with Tara.
Ann sighs and looks outside to see the hospital come into view. 'We're here!'
Yori was at the hospital, in the room both Shego and Ron shared. She sat between both beds looking between them and hoping that both recover. As she silently waited, Yori felt frustrated and helpless but strangely calm. 'I must be in shock!' Yori surmised.
Yori knew Ron should be in surgery to remove the steel that's embedded in his forehead but the hospital's neuro surgeon, Ann Possible wasn't in, so Yori sent someone to pick her up. She would have gone herself but couldn't bring herself to leave. When Akito reported that she already left for the hospital, Yori cursed hoping that she had stayed put instead as it would have been easier to get Ron help. Still, Ann was on her way, all Yori had to do was wait.
Twenty minutes later, Yori got a text that Ann entered the hospital and went out to meet her. With all the ninja situated in the hospital it didn't take long to find Ann and with her the rest of Ron's ladies.
When Yori stepped out of the elevator she turned left and spotted Ann, Monique, Tara and Bonnie talking to a nurse. The nurse seemed to be explaining the current state of things to Ann, judging by the heavy atmosphere.
Not wanting to be rude but really pressed for time Yori spoke to get Ann's attention. "Excuse me, Dr. Possible but there is a patient in need of your expertise."
"Yori!" Ann, Tara, Monique and Bonnie called out. "How is he?"
"Stable for now but in need of immediate surgery." Yori said.
"Nurse has the necessary preparations been done to bring the patient into surgery?" Ann asked the nurse.
"Well... not yet." The nurse said explaining. "We have been busy treating other patients and after we did a preliminary check up he seem stable so he was moved to the side for emergency cases."
"I understand." Ann said calmly, adding. "Get the appropriate staff to begin prep immediately, I want him in an OR within half an hour." Then Ann turned to Yori. "Take me to him."
"Follow me." Yori says and leads the way for the rest of Ron's ladies to join his side.
In the elevator, Yori was asked various questions but she didn't know how to answer them and stated as such. Afterwards they resumed the trip in silence. Right outside Ron's room, Ann and the rest noticed a few asian men, in suits, guarding the door but said nothing of the oddity.
"Before we go in you must swear not to say a word of the other patient in the room." Yori warned. "Say one word to anyone and it'll be the last thing you say."
Monique, Ann, Bonnie and Tara would have brushed off the threat with no concern had it not been carried with potent killing intent. The intensity making them pale and nod.
"You'll be under watch to make sure you don't break your oath." Yori adds and signals the ninja to open the door. "Come in."
The ladies wasted no time in entering the room, each eager to confirm Ron's safety with their own eyes. When they spotted Ron they ran to either side of him and nearly at the same time burst into tears.
"Ron!" Tara, Monique and Bonnie called out softly and reached to grab ahold of him.
Ann for her part didn't cry but that was thanks to all her effort. She felt like her heart was being crushed as she watched Ron lay there. Ann knew the kind on injury Ron suffered left major repercussions even when they were treated successfully. On the upside would be a severely impaired Ron. Downside, a vegetable.
"Mrs. Possible can you save him?" Monique asked.
Tara, Bonnie and even Yori focused on Ann at the question. They knew it was unfair to put it all on Ann's shoulders but that's all they could do at them moment.
Ann never stopped looking at Ron as she answered. "I will save him." Then, Ann added so softly that only Yori's training allowed her to hear. "All of him!"
Yori knew that even if Ron made it through the surgery okay, he'd likely be an shadow of his former self and Ann's words confirmed her fear but still, that strange calm wouldn't leave her, like Ron would be okay.
Nurses came five minutes later and took Ron to do the prep work for the surgery. Ann explained they needed x-rays and a few other things so he could go into surgery. Ann left with them to get ready herself.
Being left alone in the room, the ladies finally noticed Shego.
"You guys found her." Monique said softly.
"Yes." Yori agreed.
"What's Shego doing here?" Asked Bonnie and Tara.
"Me and Ron rescued her." Yori said.
"Rescue? Why would she need rescue when she works for the blue guy?" Asked Bonnie.
"We don't know what happened, only that he used a mind control chip on her and that the chip is inside her head." Yori explains.
Bonnie, Monique and Tara could be heard breathing in at the implications.
Yori moved the chair she had previously used closer to Shego and took her hand, saddened by how thin it felt. 'Stay strong Shego.'
"She's lost weight." Monique pointed out.
Again, Yori simply agreed. "Yes."
Tara and Bonnie looked at Monique and asked. "You don't seem surprised she's here, Monique?"
"Yeah, Ron introduced us a while back." Monique explained and added. "Shego is one of us."
"Oh!" Both Bonnie and Tara said, understanding what she meant, one of Ron's ladies.
"That reminds me, Yori." Monique said. "On the way over I suggested that as Ron's love interest we get together and decide if we want to share him instead of fighting to be his one and only, for both our happiness."
Thinking a moment and remembering some of her conversations with Ron, Yori spoke. "I believe that would be for the best."
"You agree?" Asked Bonnie.
"Yes." Yori said, explaining. "Ron and I have talked and he can't seem to choose. I believe his feelings for us don't allow him to cause us pain."
"But you had asked us to back off before." Tara says.
"Yes and if it would leave Ron without regrets or guilt, I would stand by it." Yori explained.
"You're so mature." Tara said softly.
"Yeah." Both Monique and Bonnie say.
Ann stood looking at Ron's x-rays and her confidence took another hit. Six inches long and two at it's widest, that's the dimensions of the steel embedded in Ron's head. Ann had hoped it was a superficial wound that didn't quite touch the brain but no such luck.
To make matters worse, it wasn't a straight piece of steel so removing it will cause damage as well.
Ann sighed and turned to look at her team. "Any ideas?"
One of her team members asked. "What is our goal with this operation?"
"Remove the steel and restore as much of the damaged area as possible." Ann instantly replied.
Sighing another member said. "With the amount of damage his brain has suffered it will be a miracle for him to resume a semblance of a normal life, even with a successful surgery. Most of his frontal lobe and left hemisphere is damaged and to remove the steel, which we need to remove, will cause more damage. We should be realistic in our expectations."
Ann couldn't fault the logic but she couldn't bring herself to accept it and give up.
"Also what's with the device around his neck?" Someone asked.
"Not sure but we'll remove it before surgery, focus for now." Another replied.
Another fifteen minutes go by as they familiarize themselves with the upcoming procedure and then move to the OR.
For Ann everything started going wrong the moment they removed the device around Ron's neck. The second it came off, Ron's vitals, which had been stable, flatlined and they had to put him on life support.
After that they moved to the actual procedure. It started smoothly, then it was time to apply the approach they chose. Expand the wound so they can, more or less safely, remove the steel. This did not go as planned from the beginning as the moment they started, they cut into a vein that was being covered by the steel and had to stabilize the area. Then, Ann felt like she was taking parts of Ron for every piece of his brain she was forced to remove to minimize damage when the steel was moved. When the steel was removed they noticed a bit of shrapnel left over and were forced to removed them.
As she was finishing the surgery, Ann could have sworn that she saw his brain healing in real time but decided it was just her hopes, Ron's brain had stopped showing activity since they removed the device from his neck.
Ann felt devastated, Ron was brain dead and there was nothing she could do. As she accompanied Ron with the life support back to the room, Ann thought of how she was going to tell the girls she failed. Entering the room and seeing their hopeful faces made Ann sigh.
"I'm sorry!" Ann said through tears she didn't realize she was shedding. "I did everything in my power but the extent of the damage was too much. A good third of his brain was damaged. He is brain dead."
The room was dead silent as Ann's words sunk in.
"No way!" Monique yelled and moved to Ron's side, pleading. "Ron, Ron baby you have to fight and come back to us, to me."
In tears, Ann watched as Bonnie and Tara moved to Ron's side and joined Monique in her pleading and cries. Then she looked at Yori who although paled at the news, seemed oddly calm.
Yori surprised Ann when she spoke. "There's another patient that needs your attention, Mrs. Possible."
"What?" Ann asked. "Who?"
"Her, Shego-san." Yori replied, explaining. "She has a mind control chip embedded in her skull and would very much like it removed."
"Oh!" Ann said surprised. "What makes you think she was under someone else's control? Shego is wanted in eleven countries."
"We got to know one another over time and I know Shego would never go into a fight naked." Yori said. "Too demeaning a tactic."
"I see." Ann said. "I'll alert the staff and we'll operate in the morning."
"Thank you!" Said Yori bowing to Ann, before adding. "It's not your fault you know. Ron wouldn't want you to blame yourself."
"I know but he's kind to a fault." Ann replied.
Yori was tired but she used her training to keep herself awake.
'Ron was determined brain dead but I can't seem to shake the feeling he will be okay. It's almost like he's here with me.' Yori thought as she waited by his and Shego's side.
Tara, Bonnie and Monique had only spent two hours in the room with Ron before their parents demanded they come home at which point they demanded to be notified if there are any changes to Ron. Yori easily agreed.
Then, as she waited the last two to three hours till morning Yori noticed that Shego seemed restless and started fidgeting in her sleep so she took her hand. This seemed to calm Shego but to be on the safe side Yori made sure that the sedative on the IV gave her another dose.
Then Yori let her mind wonder trying to understand her strange reaction to Ron's predicament. At first she thought it was shock but after so long and still feeling calm about his wellbeing Yori knew that shock was not it. 'What could it be?' She wondered.
As she was thinking, a wizened voice caught Yori's attention. "How are you?"
"Sensei!" Yori said before standing and bowing to Master Sensei who stood at the door. "You made it here far faster than I had expected."
"I knew both you and Stoppable-san needed me." Sensei explained and opened his arms for a hug.
Yori went for the hug whispering. "Grandfather."
As they are hugging Sensei asks. "What was the result of the surgery?"
"Dr. Possible, a leading figure in Neuro surgery declared Ron brain dead." Yori informed.
"Things are far worse than I imagined." Sensei says as he walks over to Ron's bedside.
Yori watches as Sensei takes a look at Ron's injuries for a while before going to a corner and assuming the lotus position. When his astral form becomes visible Yori watches as Sensei disappears into Ron's body.
After observing Ron's injuries Sensei noticed that they are healing at an accelerated pace even though that should be impossible. With hope now ignited, Sensei decides to enter Ron's body to inspect the cause.
Upon entering Ron's mindscape, Sensei notices that although it is shattered it hasn't completely disappeared like it normally would have with a brain dead person. Wondering around for a while Sensei spots a bigger piece of Ron's psyche and moves closer.
"Master Sensei." Xu Ming Yue greets from where she sits in meditation.
"Xu Ming Yue, is Stoppable-san current state thanks to your efforts?" Sensei asks hoping that Ron wasn't completely gone.
"Not in it's entirety, I'm merely aiding in his healing." Xu Ming Yue answers before adding. "It is unprecedented that someone has suffered such injuries and their psyche has not completely scattered."
"Do you believe there's hope for young Stoppable-san?" Sensei asks.
"Considering the time that has passed and that no more of his mindscape has disappeared, there is a chance he would heal but the process would be long and perilous if at all successful." Xu Ming Yue guessed.
"That's what I was hoping to hear." Sensei admitted and proceeds to talk with Xu Ming Yue for a while before excusing himself.
Now back in his physical body, Sensei looks at Yori and begins to explain the situation. When Yori heard his theory she smiled at the news and looked at Ron fondly before hugging him.
Master Sensei hugs Yori back for a while before they make plans for Ron and his potential recovery. They decided to first find his parents as they needed their consent to move Ron though they could have spirited him away it was best to follow procedure.
"Excuse me a moment." Sensei says to Yori and goes to the door, opening it. Giving a few instructions he closes the door and goes back to seating in an open chair explaining. "I have given instructions to track and inform the Stoppable's of what has happened to their son so that we may proceed."
Seeing Yori nod, Sensei had another question. "Yori, where is Rufus-san?"
"Oh!" Yori says and reaches for the drawer between the beds and opening the top one. There, curled into a ball is a seemingly sleeping Rufus, though in actuality he was sedated and treated by Sae. "He was sedated so he could rest and receive treatment." Yori explains and lays Rufus onto Ron's chest.
Rufus seemed to know where he was as his paws grabbed onto Ron's hospital gown.
Yori talked with Sensei the rest of the night till Ann came in and brought Shego in for prep.
When Ann and her team saw that the chip implanted into Shego was just under the skin, they relaxed knowing that the surgery would be an easy one and like they expected they had removed it in under ten minutes with no complications though they felt the OR was hotter by the end point.
Ann went with Shego back to the room she shared with Ron and informed. "The surgery was done without complications and the chip was removed."
"Thank you for the good news Dr. Possible." Yori thanked her and added. "Where is the device that was around Ron's neck?"
"Not sure but I'll have a nurse bring it." Ann said taking a look at Ron with a complicated expression.
"He will heal though it will take time." Yori promised.
Ann absentmindedly nodded and excused herself, Yori's words echoing in her mind. 'I hope she's right.'
The next few days Ron was visited by his ladies again and again. Felix, Zita and Wade had also stopped by. Yori told each one of them what she told Ann, that Ron would get better in time.
When the Neuro Linker was brought back to the room Yori and Sensei had a surprised when Bebe communicated with them by hacking into Yori's cellphone.
"Position the camara so that I can see Ron." Bebe directed Yori.
"Not happening until you explain how you're doing this." Yori countered, worried that the Bebe was up to something.
"Please I just wish to see him." Bebe begged but it wasn't till she explained that she acted as life support for Ron through the Neuro Linker that Yori complied.
"What happened to you?" Yori asked in wonder at what could be mistaken for emotion coming from Bebe. 'It should be impossible.' Yori thought.
"There are data surges constantly happening but my programming has not been affected." Bebe assured. After looking at Ron for a while longer Bebe requested. "The Neuro Linker is low on power and is in need of charging. Can you help?"
"Sure." Yori agreed.
Also during this time, the team Sensei sent to track Ron's parents reported in. The news grim. They explained that Ron's parents had boarded a plain with Middleton as it's destination and that the plain crashed when a little Diablo toy grew to full size among the passengers. No survivors were found but among the bodies recovered Ron's parents were confirmed.
Feeling sad on Ron's behalf, Yori and Sensei went through the necessary things to move Ron, planning to bring him to Yamanouchi for his recovery. After informing Monique, Tara, Bonnie and Ann that Ron's parents had passed and they were moving him, the ladies all got on Yori's case each demanding they leave him where he is at so they could at least check up on him.
"I must apologize but the decision has been made." Yori explained.
"I am supposed to be Ron's guardian if anything happened to his parents. How are you gonna override my decision?" Ann challenged.
"He is already eighteen and we have procured paperwork that Ron and I are married, granting me rights to make decisions on his behalf." Yori explained.
"Yori you can't do this, we have every right to be by Ron's side." Monique pleaded.
"I understand Monique-san but his recovery is my number one priority at the moment, so for his safety this is the way things will go." Yori says.
"You bitch!" Yelled Tara and threw a punch at Yori who simply took it. "You're just using this opportunity to take him for yourself, admit it!"
"You're free to feel that way." Yori simply stated.
"Will you at least notify us if he recovers?" Bonnie asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Of course." Yori said.
"Okay, I'll hold you to that." Bonnie said and moved to Ron's side with tears in her eyes. Kissing him on the cheek she walks out of the room.
Monique followed Bonnie's lead and kissed Ron goodbye. Tara was fuming for a few minutes looking at Yori like she wanted to tear her apart before sighing and going to Ron's side. She whispered into Ron's ear for bit before kissing him on the lips and leaving, tears in her eyes.
Ann was still speechless even as the others accepted the situation.
"Yori, why?" Ann asked.
"Because Ron has enemies that will stop at nothing if they find him so vulnerable. The only place I can keep him safe is at Yamanouchi and that's what I'll do." Yori explained.
'I want to stay by his side, it's where I belong!' Ann's mind screamed at her but she couldn't muster the courage to put it into words.
"Okay." Ann sighed taking a long look at Ron before leaving.
Ann went to her office and after locking the door she finally allowed herself to cry.
Ann cried for a half hour before she calmed down and decided to head home (actually to the Stoppable's) to see her kids. Speaking of her kids, Ann couldn't help but sigh. Once she told them of Ron's condition the twins went ballistic and blamed their sister for being there and not helping Ron. As for Kim, she was taking it badly.
Ann didn't know when it happened but Kim had finally seen reason and understood that her view on her relationship with Ron was wrong. Then before she could try and make amends Drakken's plan was put into effect revealing that her boyfriend was a synthodrone designed to keep her distracted. Ron saved the world and then gets hurt saving their classmates. What's worse was that the twins were right and she was right there but still couldn't change a thing.
Ann had to admit she was worried about Kim. She hadn't seen her eat let alone walk out of Ron's room where she isolated herself after breaking into his house.
Ann decided that when she got home she would convince her daughter to see a therapist as that might help her deal with things. Afterall Ann was worried Kim would do something stupid in her grief.
With those thoughts in mind Ann ended her shift and grabbed a taxi home her car having been totalled during the Diablo incident. Once home, Ann used Ron's keys and let herself into the Stoppable's house and going to the kitchen to make Kim something to eat. Once she had a sandwich she went upstairs with it and a soda in hand. Upon seeing the door to Ron's room open Ann felt worried instead of relieved. Entering the room she confirmed her daughter wasn't inside and put the food on the desk.
"Kim I'm back and I need to talk to you." Ann called out as she stepped into the hallway and moved to check if she was in the bathroom. Finding the door locked Ann called out again. "I'll wait in Ron's room sweetie, we really need to talk. Okay?"
Recieving no answer Ann's worries spiked but she convinced herself that she was overreacting and went into Ron's room. Looking around Ann couldn't help but think of him and found herself tearing up.
Lost in her thoughts for a few minutes Ann realized that she had yet to hear a sound from Kim in the bathroom and started to panic. Running towards the bathroom she called out. "Kim, answer me or I'm coming inside."
Still, no sound so Ann tried forcing the door open with no success but saw something drop from above the door frame. Looking down she sees the pin that unlocks the door and nearly weeps with joy. Picking it up, Ann opened the door to find Kim unconscious in the shower with a few pill bottles by her side.
"Kim! No, please let me not be too late!"
Ann pleaded running to her side and getting into the shower ignoring the now cold shower pouring on her.
Checking Kim's pulse Ann was relieved to find it though erratic and weak. In near panic Ann turned Kim on her side and shoved two fingers into her mouth. Seconds later she got the reaction she wanted as Kim's gag reflex triggered causing her to puke.
That done Ann turned the shower off and grabbing a towel to wrap around Kim, she carried her back to Ron's room. Laying her on the bed Ann reaches for her purse pulling out her phone and calling an ambulance. She briefly explained what happened and gave them the address.
Five minutes later she could hear the ambulance arriving and ran down to let the paramedics in. Leading them to Ron's room Ann grabbed her purse and in minutes followed them to the ambulance. On the way to the hospital she called James and told him what happened and that she'll keep him updated before hanging up.
In the hospital they pumped Kim's stomach to remove more of the pills and put her on an IV to counteract their effects. Then the waiting began.