“Huh?” What do you think Drakken did?” asked a stunned Shego.
“I don’t know, exactly, but I’m willing to bet it had something to do with the brain tap machine.”
“So what do we do while we’re waiting?” asked Ron. “Again?”
“No, actually, why don’t we just get some rest,” said Kim. “My personal training facility’s near here?”
“Yep,” said Wade. “I can send you up there if you want. It hasn’t been discovered yet.”
“Yeah, send me and Shego up there – Ron, too, unless he doesn’t wanna come along.”
“Actually, I’ll just stay here to rest,” said Ron. “That tube ride is fun, but it does a number on the stomach after one too many times.”
“Fine with me,” said Wade – and Kim and Shego stepped back into the tubes.
“So, why’d we come up here?” asked Shego.
“Two things – first:” Kim walked over to a button on the side wall that Shego had never seen before. Pressing it caused the wall to slide out of the way – revealing a massive closet filled to the brim.
“So that’s where you keep all those excess clothes,” Shego said. “I may have just confessed to falling in love with you a little earlier, but I’ll never say you have a good sense of style, Kimmie.”
“Ah hah hah – perhaps you’d like it if I wore this?” Kim asked. “I’m not sure if it fits you or not, but I think it might.”
The outfit she pulled out of the closet made Shego’s jaw drop: A green and black jumpsuit. Tied to the hanger were black and green clawed gloves, and black and green boots.
“Wha – how did you get that?” asked Shego.
“You remember when Drakken put those mind control chips on us?”
“Oh yes – I remember - and not too fondly…”
“Well, I kept the jumpsuit he forced me to wear – wish I coulda’ saved the apron. You looked cute in it.”
“Don’t test our relationship already, Kimmie…” Shego hissed. “But I am flattered you kept the suit.”
“I thought it’d be appropriate for when Shego makes her return to the national spotlight,” Kim winked.
“Right. And what are you gonna wear?” asked Shego.
Kim swept aside the entire rack of tops in the closet and placed her hand on a palm scanner, activating a sliding vertical door that opened to reveal a sleek white suit with sky blue stripes and accents - complete with white boots and a sky blue utility belt. “The new and improved Battle Suit.”
“What makes it new and improved?” asked Shego – then she noticed a small ring in a baggie on the hanger. “Hey, that doesn’t happen to be…”
Kim smirked. “We found a way to integrate the Centurion Project into the suit’s circuitry. And since after that Halloween incident the Centurion Project’s funding was cut, the makers of it let us have it – secretly, of course. Oh, don’t worry, Shego,” Kim laughed at Shego’s concerned face. “I know how to use this stuff this time. I’ve had plenty of practice in the very place that we’re standing in right now.”
Shego shook her head. “No, Kim. Don’t use the Centurion Project. Leave the ring at home.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Cause you look sexier in just the Battle Suit,” Shego said, snatching the Centurion Project out of her hands, sticking it back in the baggie, putting the hanger back in the closet – then turning around and stealing a kiss from Kim. “If there’s one thing I know about fighting, it’s how to look good doing so.”
Kim snickered. “You got a point there. Let’s go change.”
Seconds later, Shego emerged, relieved to be back in her old jumpsuit. She looked over as Kim came out in the Battle Suit. “See?” Shego smiled. “You look better in that than you did in all of that Centurion Project Armour,” Shego grinned. “Too bad the colours you chose for that suit are a little off…”
“Oh, I thought about a green one, but green doesn’t work with sky blue,” Kim said, pointing at the stripes on the suit.
“Ya’ ever think about changing the sky blue to black?”
“Not once.” Kim grinned.
Suddenly, the screen on the wall filled with Ron’s face. “Kim! Shego! Ya’ gotta get over here – NOW!”
“On our way!” said Kim.
“What’s the sitch?” asked Kim, as soon as she and Shego were back in Wade’s room. “Oh, wow, I haven’t said that in a while…”
“That sub you took back here! It exploded in the Harbor!” said Wade, pointing at the TV screen.
“A private submarine registered to a top government official, Dr. Betty Director, exploded in Middleton Harbor just an hour ago. The culprit was not found, but authorities believe it to be another attack by the fugitive suspected international terrorist team of Kim Possible and Shego. This is believed to be the second assassination of a top government official by this duo. According to eyewitness accounts of the size, duration, and intensity of the explosion, it was determined there was simply no way that anything could have survived it.”
“She’s DEAD?” Kim screamed. “Betty’s DEAD?”
“Shhh- keep your voice down, KP!” Ron warned.
Wade laughed. “Nah – Mom’s at work right now, Ron.”
“First she has GJ kill Will, now this?” Kim shrieked, burying her head in Shego’s chest.
“Waitaminute – “Kill Will?” What are you talking about?” asked Shego.
“When I broke out of prison, there were GJ agents in the woods, trying to fool me into thinking they were police officers sent to catch me. Then Will Du came out of the woods behind me and tried to warn me about me being a terrorist or something – but someone took him out before he could say everything.”
“Well, that explains the “government agent who was visiting friends…” Wade cut in.
“Huh?” asked Kim.
“When you broke out – the news reported, quote, “The bodies of two K-9s released after her, and the body of a top Government agent who was visiting colleagues who worked at the Prison were found not far from the woods in which she was spotted running,” unquote” replied Wade.
“I only knocked the dogs out!” Kim screamed. “But Betty – she – oh, Jesus – she was working with Drakken. I know she was! And Will coming to warn me must not have been something Drakken liked, so he had her killed – and now the new GJ head is cooperating with Drakken, too!”
“So, waitaminute, back up – the government’s been working with the enemy the whole time?”
“Isn’t that always the case?” Shego huffed.
“Who knew those government types intimidated so easy?” Ron quipped, crossing his arms.
“Oh, please, Ron – I scared government agents when I was thought of as a hero,” Kim scoffed.
“I tried to tell you back then: Being a hero wasn't worth it, Kimmie…” Shego shook her head.
“I thought you were just trying to undermine my belief in justice,” Kim sniped.
“ …Ok, maybe I was, but I had a point!” Shego shot back. “Anyway, you’ve convinced me otherwise.”
“So… now we’re the “bad guys”…but -- the government's working with the real bad guys, so…ugh…I'm so confused…why can't people just pick a side and stay there?” Ron whined. Rufus popped up on his shoulder and chittered an agreeing “Yeah!”, shaking his little paw in frustration.
“What? You mean make it simple? HAH!” Shego laughed. “Yeah, see – that’s when the stories start to suck.”
“She’s right – Zorpox…” Wade laughed.
“Hey, we’re not bringing up me going evil now!” said Ron. “It was a one-time thing and I am NOT about to do that again anytime soon!”
“I hope not,” said Kim. “We’ve already had more people switching sides than John Kerry’s sandals.”
“Besides, Wade – that costume was hideously atrocious!” said Ron. “I may utterly lack a sense of style, but I can say that with confidence!”
“Aw, that hurts, Ron…” said Wade, moving his hand away from a button.
“Hey – what’s that button do?” asked Ron, pointing.
“Oh, nothing – it would’ve just opened the door to your special Battle Suit that I secretly worked with your Sensei and that Yori girl from that secret ninja school you went to in Yamanouchi, Japan to develop,” said Wade. “But, you apparently don’t like my sewing talents, so, I guess…no suit for you.”
“What? I finally get a super suit, and now you jank me? Aw, Wade, I’m sorry. Your sewing skills are excellent!” Ron backpedaled. “I mean, I’m sure that chafing was supposed to happen! Yeah, that’s it!”
“O-kay…too much info,” Kim winced.
“You’re lucky, Ron.” Wade pressed the button. Behind them, right next to the tubes, a sliding vertical door opened. Within was a sleek, all-black Battle Suit, the stripes and accents a slightly lighter black. The utility belt accompanying it was also a sleek all-black affair.
“Now there’s something you couldn’t even find a book on in Jinbocho! Nice goin’, Wade!” said Ron.
“Yeah, nice, nerdlinger – now, if only part of that had been green…” said Shego.
Kim rolled her eyes. “Let it go, Shego…”
“What? I’m just saying…”
“Um – where do I change?” Ron asked.
“Bathroom right across the hall,” Wade thumbed.
“Thanks,” said Ron, leaving the room. Minutes later, he returned. “Not too bad – fits like a charm! And them’s some nasty-lookin’ shurikens in the belt there!” He took out a tiny bamboo stick. “Hey, why do I have a tinny twig o’ bamb-OW!” he cried as he hit a button and the stick expanded into a full bo staff, which ended up smacking him right in the nose. “All right, Wade! I’m likin’ this Battle Suit already! Except for the nose injury part…”
“Wade, any luck on that search for brain tap machine modifications?” Kim asked.
“Hold on – lemme check…” Wade typed some more. “Brain Switch machine – no, seen that… Brain Cell Eraser – no…Cerebral Liquifier? Ew - no…lesee…Memory, memory…” He stopped, gasping.
“What?” asked Shego.
“I think I found it!” said Wade.
“What?” Kim asked.
“Yeah, this is definitely it…”
“WHAT?” asked Kim and Shego in unison.
“Whoah – ease down, jeez…” He turned the computer screen towards them. “Memory Modifier.”
Shego gasped when she saw the picture on the monitor. “That’s what he used!”
“You positive?” asked Kim.
“Yes. I. Am.” Shego growled.
“But I don’t understand – it says here if it’s used to do a large-scale coverage like what Drakken would’ve had to do to get everyone to forget about the Shego after the trial, he could only use it once!” said Wade. “Why didn’t he just use it to give amnesia to everyone in the world, then take it over?”
“Uh, Wade – this is Drakken we’re talking about – I mean, the guy is all about missteps!” said Ron.
“Sidekick’s got a point…” Shego noted.
“Hold on – we’re getting some breaking news here…“Due to the recent incident involving the death of government official Betty Director, Middleton Police working with the FBI have taken the parents of the fugitive and suspected international terrorist Kim Possible in for questioning regarding their daughter’s whereabouts. Also taken in for questioning today were Kim Possible’s friend Monique, and the parents of both Ron Stoppable, Ms. Possible’s known best friend and former mission partner, and Wade Load, the super-genius child prodigy who was the liaison for Ms. Possible before her arrest over the murder case of her foe Professor Dementor. All the arrested are being held as material witnesses. And in Go City today, police arrested the members of superhero group Team Go - the brothers of Kim Possible’s suspected partner, Shego – but released them when it was discovered they disavowed Shego years ago.”
“WHAT?” shrieked everybody in Wade’s room at once.
“Hold on – more breaking news – ladies and gentlemen, it appears that thanks to an anonymous tip, the location of Kim Possible’s hiding place has been discovered. Authorities are en route to the landfill on the edge of Middleton suspected to hide the entrance to Ms. Possible’s operations base right now. Anyone who is within the area are warned to leave now, or be forcibly removed from the premises.”
“Oh, you have GOT to be fucking kidding me!” Ron screamed.
“Defend the fort?” Kim asked Shego.
“Oh, yeah!” the raven-haired woman responded, green flames bursting over her hands.
“Ron, coming with?” Kim asked.
“Right behind you, KP!” Ron glared.
“Send us over, Wade,” Kim barked.
“Gotcha!” Wade acknowledged.
“Oh, this is absolutely fabulous!” cackled Dr. Drakken, watching the same TV channel as Wade was. “And Eddie and his boys haven’t even started with their thing yet! Oh, what a glorious defeat I’m about to achieve!” he gloated. “Isn’t that right, my…material witnesses?” he looked over his shoulder.
His gaze was set on the cage high against the roof – which held all of the Possibles, the Stoppables, Monique, and Wade’s mother. Monique was furious. “You let us out of here, you blue-skinned freak!”
“Careful!” a voice that made Monique gasp called out.
Tara emerged from the shadows with the dogs Kara & Fang – both looking very agitated. “I haven’t fed my babies yet this morning. They’re hungry.”
END CHAPTER FOURTEEN