DECEMBER 20TH
The early yellow rays of sunlight cast softly down through the rough fabric curtains in Kim's room and gently nudged her awake. The red-headed girl was surprised to find how much she welcomed the morning from what was apparently a dreamless sleep. She breathed in deeply to fill her lungs with the fresh, dawn air…
The icy chill across her teeth and sharp searing into her lungs made her wish she thought twice about the act, however. The day before winter and finally the first frost had come. It was positively freezing in Kim's room, and she quickly nestled herself further in her thick blankets for warmth.
She was pulling the coarse red fabric over her when she felt the arms across her chest and looked slowly down at her bedmate. The woman who lay there was still asleep and looked peaceful. Her face was serene and never appeared so relaxed when awake. Kim was startled at how much more beautiful it had became. Her wild, gorgeous hair, framed her pale, almost bone-white skin with just a hint of green, and disappeared beneath the sheets.
Fluffing her pillow slightly, Kim propped her head up on the soft surface and watched silently the slow breaths of her lover. Each puff of warm air played across her lips and brushed across Kim's skin briefly before dissipating into the room. Shego barely moved through the cycle, only the briefest quiver of her lips as she breathed showed that she was more than a quiet statue.
Kim closed her eyes again and listened to the sound of each breath. She tried to forget the last few days, the last few months and years, stretching all the way back to when she was a cheerful high school junior. She remembered sleeping in this bed, in this house, and waking early enough to see the sunrise before running out to do some jogging before cheerleader practice. She would come back afterwards just in time to catch a bite of breakfast, then call Monique to see what was happening. Maybe that week she'd get a call from Wade, or maybe she'd just relax and practice her martial arts, hang out with Ron, or see a movie.
For just a second, she could feel it. It was a life not without troubles, but with far more manageable ones. One without robot clones of her, or fanatic stalkers bent on world justice, or PH devices, or years of animosity between her and her once close friends. It was a world where Senior Senior Senior was a pain, but he was still alive. It was…
It was a world where Shego was her enemy.
Kim opened her eyes again and stared at Shego's serene face again. No, that was a dream of a life gone past. A life she enjoyed while she lived it, but one she couldn't and wouldn't want to return to. Even if it was a simpler time, this was her life now.
As if sensing her conviction, Shego's eyes suddenly fluttered and then opened, focusing on Kim's face. “Hey Princess,” she said softly, her craggy voice cracking slightly. “What time is it?”
“Just shy of 9am,” said Kim, staring into Shego's emeralds. She reached out a brushed some of her lover's loose strands of hair away from her face. “You slept in.”
“I did,” said Shego with a smile. “Very observant.”
“You've never done that before,” said Kim. “You're always up before me, and go to sleep after I do. I've never seen you sleep before.”
Shego slowly nodded then turned to lay on her back with her arms tucked under her head. “It's just force of habit, pumpkin. I was never good at that waking up and dodging an attack thing you see in movies all the time. Better to be awake and on guard than trying to hear trouble while you're asleep.”
“That's a pretty roundabout way of saying you trust me not to attack you,” Kim noted.
“I've trusted you for a while,” said Shego, turning her head to face Kim. “This is your turf, though. I expect you'll be better at sensing trouble here than me.”
Kim considered that then leaned over and kissed Shego softly.
“Yes, I'll protect you,” Kim said after their lips parted.
“I never said I needed protecting,” shook Shego.
“It's alright, I won't make you.” Kim grinned. Shego just continued to shake her head.
“So what's going on today?” asked the dark haired woman. “And why isn't your furnace working? It's cold enough to freeze a girl.” She closed her eyes for a second then started glowing immediately afterwards. Kim took advantage of the portable heater and nestled closer to her lover.
“We need to pick up Ron today,” said Kim.
“The buffoon?” asked Shego, startled. “Why do we have to pick him up from anywhere?”
“Well, one, because his flight comes in today and, two, because Ron is still an important friend to me and I don't want to alienate him.” Kim looked up at Shego's face. “You're not going to cause him trouble are you?”
Shego frowned as if considering the question, but answered shortly afterwards. “No, not any more trouble than I cause you. I guess.” She ran her hand through her hair a few times to pull out some tangles. “Stoppable, huh? I haven't heard you talk about him in a long time.”
“It's not something you'd be comfortable with, I figured,” said Kim. “Old boyfriend and an old enemy for you.”
“But not even an off-hand mention in the last six months,” continued Shego. “I would think his name would have come up once. I admit that for most of the last half year I only saw you on Thursdays, but still. You've been acting more like he doesn't exist.”
Kim opened her mouth to rebut her but hesitated. She wasn't really that far off. She hadn't thought much of Ron recently, not just in the last few months, but beyond that as well. “Ties to my past are important to me, Shego,” Kim finally said. “We've been … distant, Ron and me, for the last few years. It's been pretty much ever since we broke up.”
“How did it--” Shego started then abruptly stopped. “No, I won't make you tell me. I'll just assume it was rough.”
“In a way,” said Kim. “It made things awkward, in any case. But, since things have really started working between us -- you and me, I mean -- I've been meaning to clear things up with him. To go back to being close friends.”
“Not too close, I hope,” said Shego with a sideways glance.
“You're first in my world now,” Kim assured, then managed a weak smile.
“Good,” nodded Shego. “Where is he coming from, anyway?”
“France,” said Kim. “He's attending a culinary academy near Paris and only makes it back for holidays. Today's the day he comes back.” Kim hesitated for only a moment. “He doesn't know about us yet.”
“So we're going to be telling him together, I assume,” said Shego. “It'll probably feel like an ambush to him.”
“He'll be alright,” said Kim. “It won't throw him off, anyway, but… I'm just not sure what he's going to think about … you know … the time we were dating.”
Shego looked at Kim as the latter frowned at the memory. “You're worried he's going to think it was a lie, that you always had a thing for me,” Shego said. Kim nodded. “Tell him the truth.” She propped her head up on her palm. “He has to believe you, or you're never going to be close friends again.”
“Yeah,” Kim mused. “I guess.”
Shego arched an eyebrow. “I'm assuming that it's not the case though.”
“What?” asked Kim.
“That you weren't just faking it with him, while hiding a crush on me,” Shego said.
“Of course!”
“Uh-huh,” said Shego, suspiciously. “Did you have a thing for me back in--”
“No,” Kim said flatly.
“Not just a little?”
“NO!”
“Hmph.” Shego laid back down flat. “You don't have to be so adamant about it.”
“Did you?” asked Kim.
“What?”
“Have a crush on me? Back when we were fighting.”
Shego frowned. “That's ridiculous.”
“That's not an answer,” Kim pointed out. “You did, didn't you?” She started to grin.
“You were an annoyance at best,” said Shego.
“I don't believe that now,” Kim shook her head. “Come on, come clean! What's the harm now? We ended up together!”
“I'm not giving you the pleasure--”
“Oh, we both know that's not something you avoid.”
Shego glared at her. Her lips twisted, almost in a pout then she said, “For a day.” She looked away again.
“A day?” asked Kim. “You crushed on me for just a day?”
“First off, princess,” Shego said, turning back and raising a finger. “I never 'crushed' on you. I thought you were attractive.” She held up a second finger. “Secondly, I came to my senses when I realized how overwhelmingly annoying you were.”
Kim considered that. “When?”
“Oh for god's sake--”
“I'm just curious,” explained Kim. “When did--”
“When we were caught in the cable box,” Shego said quickly. She furrowed her brow. “On the 'Fear Factor'-esque channel.”
Kim struggled to recall. “The bridge diving?”
“Yah,” nodded Shego. “I just never realized how much like me you were until then.” She looked back at Kim. “It was a momentary lapse. I got over it.”
Kim smiled widely.
“Stop it,” said Shego, her cheeks darkening.
“That's cute,” said Kim.
“I'm serious, drop it.”
“All this time I thought you loathed me,” continued Kim.
“I DID!” yelled Shego.
“And here I find out you were harboring secret desires for your nemesis.”
“That's it! I'm putting you back in the hospital!”
Shego threw off the covers and lunged at Kim. Kim grabbed Shego's glowing, outstretched hands and held them aside as they tumbled across the room, struggling against each other.
Kim laughed the entire time.
( KP )
“Hi Daddy,” said Kim as she came down from her room and noticed her father digging behind the door beneath the staircase.
“'Morning, Kimmiecub,” he replied in his typically cheerful manner. “Your mother said she heard something awful coming from your room. Is everything all right?”
“That would be me,” said Shego, walking evenly down the stairs with a scowl, passing Kim and her father, and then vanishing into the kitchen.
“Hmm,” said Dr Possible, rubbing his chin.
“She's just a sourpuss before breakfast,” Kim said, smiling widely. “What are you doing?”
“The old furnace was acting up again this morning.” Dr. Possible dusted off his hands. “Got to almost fifty degrees before I got it running again.”
“What happened?” asked Kim, studying the slightly rusted furnace. There was nothing about the box's operation she understood, but she felt looking at it was the appropriate response when talking about broken mechanical things.
“There was something jammed against the exhaust vent, keeping it closed.” Kim's dad picked a small blackened object off the ground and held it between his fingers. “Oxygen couldn't get in so the fire kept getting snuffed out.”
The charred black object caught Kim's eye and she turned her attention away from the larger box to this smaller one. It resembled a large gaming die, but had a series of concentric circles on all sides and what appeared to be a cracked lens and a small hole. Where as Kim had to guess the internal function of the larger furnace, she realized she knew exactly the purpose of the smaller cube.
“Kimmiecub?” asked her father. “Are you alright?”
“What is that doing here?” Kim said roughly, her mouth feeling dry.
“What?” asked Dr. Possible. He raised the hand holding the cube. “This? You know what it is?”
A sharp twisting feeling settled in Kim's stomach and she swallowed to keep from feeling nauseous. “It's a luminocodec,” she said finally. Her father tilted his head in confusion. “One of Maya's portable holographic devices.”
Kim stepped back once. Anything to put distance between her and the damn thing. “Was Maya here last night?” she questioned. “Is someone who's here right now Maya?”
“Now, let's not get too paranoid, sweetheart,” said Dr. Possible, his hands raised.
“Nana,” said Kim. “She showed up last night.”
“Don't you go accusing your grandmother of anything on a whim, little lady,” her father said sternly.
“The Tweebs were out late and being secretive,” Kim continued.
“Honey!” Dr. Possible yelled over his shoulder towards the kitchen. “I think I need you.”
“Oh no,” Kim said, putting her hand over her mouth. “Shego was gone for hours on end yesterday too. SHE could be her!”
Judy Possible walked out from the kitchen, followed distantly by Shego -- or someone who looked exactly like Shego. “What's going on?” asked Ms. Dr. Possible.
“I found this in the furnace,” Dr. Possible said, holding up the blackened cube. “Kim thinks it belongs to Maya Tromper.”
“What?!” squawked the 'Shego.' She stormed past Judy and over to Kim, who eyed her suspiciously.
“Kimmie, dear,” said Ms. Dr. Possible. “Remember what we talked about last night. Don't barricade yourself.”
“She had to have been here,” said Kim. “How else could that have gotten there? Inside the furnace is not a place things randomly end up!”
“But you know she's been here before,” said her mother.
Kim looked wide eyed back at her.
Judy continued, “She came here two years ago. She wore a hologram that looked like you and took your sliver battle-suit, Prometheus or whatever it was called.”
“Hey, you're right,” said Dr. Possible, examining the luminocodec. “With the amount of carbon scoring on this, it had to have been in there for a long time. Possibly years.”
“You see?” said Ms. Dr. Possible.
Kim frowned but tried to think. Did that sound reasonable? She looked at the beauty standing next to her.
“You're real, right?” she asked.
“Do I have to justify that with an answer?” said the woman, sarcastically. A few seconds later she blinked then said, “Yes, I'm the real Shego. And I can't believe you're that willing to believe I'm not.”
“I'm sorry,” Kim said, hanging her head. “This is just too surreal. The first time I never even met any of the PossiBots until after I was going after Allucinere, and the only person they ever tried to impersonate was me.”
“Don't you think you know us well enough to spot a fake?” asked Ms. Dr. Possible. “There's more to a person than their appearance, after all.”
Kim looked down and then nodded. “You're right.” Kim looked up at Shego and then her parents. “Maybe I'm getting a little paranoid.”
“Try: definitely,” said Shego. Then moved up and wrapped her arms around her. “I would never hurt you the way this girl did. You know that, right?”
Kim smiled slightly and leaned her head against Shego's shoulder. “Yeah, I know.”
The moment was interrupted by a knock at the door. Kim and Shego looked up and at the door. Kim glanced back at her parents.
“Yesterday it was Dr. Director,” she said. “I wonder who it'll be this time.”
Dr. Possible strode forward and answered the door. A man wearing a large brown overcoat stood with a rectangular platter in his hand and a small brown box. He had a badge on his shoulder that read 'Global Express.'
“Kim Possible?” asked the man, holding up the box and reading the yellow label. Dr. Possible took the box and signed for it. “Happy holidays!” said the man as he departed and Kim's father shut the door.
“What is it?” asked Ms. Dr. Possible as she walked up.
James looked at the box. “It's from Wade,” he said with raised eyebrows. He looked to Kim. “Early Christmas gift?”
Kim took the brown cube into her hand and pulled at the tape. Shego and her parents looked over her shoulder as she opened the flaps. Inside the box rested a large faced watch with a metal band lying on some crumbled newspaper as packing material.
“It's a watch,” said Shego, sounding confused. “Merry Christmas?”
Kim pulled out the timepiece and held it up in the light. The face was digital, but rather than displaying the time in numbers it had a rendered clock face on it over her old “KP” symbol that used to show on her--
The watch sudden chimed four times. The face of the watch changed to show “INCOMING CALL” over the time. Kim frowned, then tapped the face of the watch once, for lack of any other buttons or panels on the device.
The screen went to black then was replaced with a real-time image of Wade.
“Kim!” he said, sounding strangely tinny over the small speakers in the watch. He was wearing his GJ agent's uniform but appeared to be someplace dark else, a dark room or hallway. The glow of his computer reflected slightly off his face, giving his eyes a creepy gleam.
“Wade?” asked Kim. “This is… a kimmunicator?”
Shego leaned in quietly and put her lips to Kim's ears. “There's no way to know if that's really him,” she whispered. Kim nodded slightly.
“Somewhat,” said Wade, shrugging. “A little of this, little of that. Not quite as mobile as the original you had in school, but smaller, and non-descript. I call it a K-Link.”
Kim smiled somewhat sadly. “Still naming things after me?”
Wade blushed but continued. “Actually the core of the system is based off a GJ developed nano-computer called a Alphine Kasiolex. It's only slightly more powerful than my own design, but GJ had a few lying around so I… uh,” he leaned closer to the screen. “I stole a few.”
“Stole?” asked Kim, surprised.
“Yeah,” Wade said awkwardly. “Listen, Kim, I don't have a whole lot of time right now before they find this signal, and I don't expect you can believe me entirely, given that Allucinere is out there. But, GJ is still not sure how long exactly she was awake and freely walking HQ before we found her. It's possible she knows everything in the GJ databases.”
“Didn't she already know everything?” asked Kim. “She was a GJ agent.”
“Woah, this Allucinere bitch worked for Global Justice?” interrupted Shego.
“Ahem,” coughed Judy.
“Sorry,” said Shego.
“Don't you know?” asked Wade.
Shego looked to the side. “I'm a little behind on my intel.”
“Well, the real issue is that she could have been sending orders all that time,” explained Wade. “Impersonating Betty or some other high ranking member of Global Justice. So all operations, worldwide, have been suspended and a massive internal investigation has begun. Essentially, GJ will be doing nothing while that's happening.”
“Nothing?” asked Kim. “Nothing at all?”
“Nothing of any significance,” Wade replied. “Even contacting people, like I'm doing now, is forbidden until it can be safely determined who is real and who's a hologram. Which is why I had to steal parts to make and send this K-Link.”
“Wade…” started Kim.
“I have to go,” he suddenly said. “If you don't trust me, I mean, if you don't think I'm me, the K-Link can be deactivated by removing the back pins and disconnecting the battery. In case there are some K-11's still here, it might be the best way to keep from being traced.” Wade looked sad for a moment and continued softly. “I'm sorry about … well, everything. I let my ego get ahead of me and blamed you for it. I should have trusted you back then. We all should have.” He glanced off in a direction Kim couldn't see on the screen. “I'll try contacting you again later. If you don't have the K-Link active then… I won't take it personally.”
The screen went blank and was soon replaced with the time. Kim stared at the timepiece, trying to figure out what to think about what Wade had just said.
“You know,” started Shego. “It's just like Global Justice to hole up in a time of crisis.”
“They're not going to be looking for her,” said Kim. “That's what he was trying to say.”
“I thought he just said they were launching a massive investigation to in order to look for her,” said Shego.
“I believe he said they were looking for her at Global Justice,” said Dr. Possible, reminding Kim and Shego of his presence. Kim nodded.
“Why would he tell you that?” asked Shego. “That's certainly not going to ease your troubles.”
“He's hoping I'm going to find her,” said Kim. She shook her head. “Or at least warning me that GJ wont.”
“Well, how's that for friendship,” spat Shego.
Kim just looked at the watch using it merely as a timepiece. “We have to head out soon to pick up Ron,” she said. “I'm going to go change.”
Kim nodded to everyone, then bounded up the stairs towards her room.
( KP )
For all the traveling she's done around the world, Kim hadn't really spent too much time in airports. The rides she'd gotten from friends or people she'd helped in the past often involved small landing strips or private jets from regional or military airports. Actually flying commercially was something she'd only done a few times on family trips and not at all in the last few years. She marveled at the order of it all.
Airports were famously cluttered places, constantly being credited with congestion, especially with the security restrictions getting tighter and tighter over the years. But statistically, they moved thousands if not millions of people a day, largely on time, and without too much instruction. People knew what was expected at an airport, even at security, and given the chaotic nature of her life right now, Kim found the rote procedures and droll attitudes somewhat comforting.
Unable to enter the “clean side”, or the area of the airports with the gates, without tickets, Shego and Kim were casually perusing the small 'newsstand' store just before security. They had gotten there not too much earlier than the scheduled arrival of Ron's flight out of Charles de Gaulle, but since it was international, there would be a delay before he got out of customs. Shego flipped through beauty magazines while Kim somewhat watched the large flat panel screen displaying CNN.
Kim felt the news was… depressing. Not literally. Mostly talk about celebrities, immigration, and the EKG-tracing-shaped Dow Jones average, with just a few off-hand comments about the hideous things going on elsewhere in the world that most people insisted was 'normal.' Kim had gotten used to the type of news CNN broadcasted such that it didn't really bother her anymore. She'd been most places in the world where trouble brewed and she knew that the people who lived there didn't classify brutality as 'normal.' GJ had always been a good connection for unfiltered world events and after her break with the espionage agency she'd found a few good blog sites on the internet owned by ex-industry journalists that kept her in the loop.
No, the depressing thing about the news was that there wasn't, and probably wouldn't ever be, any mention of Allucinere or the things she'd done. Super villains and heroes did make the news when they struck, as did Kim herself back in the day, but Allucinere was… under the radar. She was a bit brash and reckless but she'd been brought up in the 'say nothing' world of Global Justice and had learned her lessons well. No major news outlets reported her initial rise, and if she was back to cause trouble again, it would be no different this time.
Only Kim herself, her dozen or so friends, and a GJ file would ever really know what happened to her and the file would have no means of recording Kim's pain and suffering. Her friends would sympathize, but they couldn’t know. Nobody could ever really know except Kim herself. Who else could understand what she'd gone through to save the world?
Kim looked over at Shego and, somewhat empathically, she turned at the same moment to look back at her. She smiled at Kim's glance. First it was friendly, then, as she read Kim's face, it turned more genuine, softer, and nodded once.
Maybe she'd understand someday, Kim thought to herself. But first, Kim'd have to tell her what happened, and the very thought of it made her cringe. Another day, perhaps, after Christmas, they'll sit and she'll bare her most secret injury and see what Shego thinks then.
“Hrm,” coughed a deep voice behind Kim. She turned, slightly startled, and saw Ben, the HenchCo guard, looming behind her.
“What's wrong?” asked Kim. She wasn't yet used to the pair of bodyguards shadowing her and Shego's every move, but she knew that he wouldn’t have approached her unless something was up.
“Is that your friend?” asked Ben, motioning with his head towards security.
Kim turned and peered at the slowly moving throng of people leaving the clean side. She looked back and forth for several minutes before she finally saw him. He was dressed in a red 3-button shirt and dark olive kakis carrying a single dufflebag slung over his shoulder. His hair was cut neatly and styled in a slightly messy fashion that made it stick up in several directions but had recently become a popular style, if network TV is to be believed. All in all, Ron looked trendy, which was a surprising change for her trend-bucking friend.
“Yeah,” Kim nodded to Ben. “How did you know?”
Ben frowned slightly. “He had his eyes focused on you.”
Kim blinked. “You saw that from over in the food court?” Ben silently nodded. “You guys are pretty good.”
The large man said nothing and then quietly retreated back to where his compatriot, Carl, was sitting. While Ben had his back to Kim, she noticed Carl always had and eye on her. Then when the other sat, they switched; Ben started watching and Carl looked away for a few minutes. Kim was impressed by their vigilance and felt bad they would probably not ever get to do much with their skill except watch her house during Christmas.
“Shego,” Kim called, turning to look at the periodicals section. “He's here. Come on.”
Shego dropped her magazine on the pile of similarly covered issues and the two started heading towards the exit from security. Kim waved to Ron who immediately got a worried look on his face but cautiously waved back.
“Ron!” said Kim, quickly stepping up to him as they got near. She hugged him once lightly. “Welcome back!”
“Hey there… Kim,” said Ron slowly, his eyes locked on Shego the entire time. “Uhh… what is Shego doing here?”
“Oh, um,” started Kim, stammering for a second. “It's kinda a long story but Shego and I are…” she felt her tongue lock up for some reason. Why was she getting all awkward now? “Uhh…” she stalled.
“Friends now,” supplied Shego. “So try not to look at me too suspiciously.”
Ron backed up slightly. “Woah, woah, woah,” he said. “'Friends?' Whaddya mean, 'friends?' You're a bad guy!”
“Bad gal, actually,” corrected Shego.
“Ron, Shego's been, or rather, she's ah… reforming.” Kim finally finished a sentence.
“She's joining a church?” asked Ron.
“Not 'Reformed' you buff- err-- I mean,” Shego stopped herself. “I'm trying to be good now and Kim's helping me. Like… ugh…a-a sponsor,” she struggled through her words as if disgusted with herself.
“Oh,” nodded Ron. “Well, hey, if you ever needed a model for good, Kim's definitely the one.” He smiled awkwardly.
“Yeah,” Shego looked away. “Aren't I lucky.”
Kim looked at Shego slightly uncomfortable expression and felt terrible. Why had she had such a hard time telling Ron what was going on? If Kim had just spat it out Shego wouldn't have tried to cover for her and end up feeling awkward. Kim cursed silently at herself.
( KP )
Kim sat beside Ron at the Nacho Navel, a slightly more upscale restaurant to Bueno Nacho, the latter of which had collapsed in the wake of Dr. Drakken's Lil' Diablo bid for world domination. The menu was highly reminiscent of the former Bueno Nacho's Mexican fare, including a Naco-esque offering, but it wasn't fast food, which meant grab and good dining was not an option. Typically that wasn't a concern of Kim's, but looking at Shego across the table, slowly turning into a cauldron of rage at Ron's insistence that she not get 'too close' to Kim in case her old habits return was enough to cause the hero to worry when her lover would snap.
“One naco please, and two chimiritas,” Ron announced to the waitress.
“Actually it's called a Nacho Pocket,” said the waitress, a tall, thin girl with shoulder-length black hair and a nametag that read 'Skye.' “And an Enchirito.”
“Please, lets not play games here,” Ron said the waitress, motioning with hi hands. “Call it what you wish, but a naco by any other name is still a naco.”
“Um…” Skye looked uncomfortably at her order pad and just scribbled silently. “And for you, miss?” she looked to Kim hopefully.
“Chicken fajitas,” Kim said, to the relief of the waitress.
“Taco salad,” said Shego when asked, then went back to scowling at Ron. Kim was worried about her, but had to admit, at least it wouldn't be unusual for her to be angry at Ron.
“Thanks,” Skye said with a smile. “I'll have your appetizers right out.” She turned and disappeared into the crowd of diners and wait staff.
“It's the one bad thing about Paris,” commented Ron, then he paused. “Well, there a lot of bad things about Paris, but the relevant one is they just don’t' know how to do Mexican.”
“Aren't you like, a chef?” asked Shego, incredulous. “Here's an idea: make it yourself.”
“Shego, clearly you don't understand where the soul of Mexican food is,” explained Ron. “You can't make a serving for just one. The proper balance of flavor and texture comes from preparing dozens at once.”
“That is possibly the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard,” said Shego. “You're advocating the taste of fast food. And you're a chef.”
“It's the ingredients,” started Ron. “The proper filling has to be mixed in large portions or the right elements of the vegetables and legumes don't combine to create the appropriate flavor.”
“Let's talk about something else,” Shego turned away. “I still want to be able to eat when my food comes.”
“Right,” nodded Kim. “So, uh, Ron, how's your classes been this year?”
“Oh, tres' fab,” said Ron. “The restaurant management class I took was incredible. I never realized how much of a gamble an independent restaurant is. I feel bad that I didn't find some way to flip my Middleton Home Ec restaurant, it could have really taken off.”
“Well, if you ever wanted to start again, I'm sure Mr. Barkin would gladly help,” said Kim. “I don't think he ever looked pleased with you except in that class.”
“Too true, KP,” said Ron sagely. “Maybe I'll look him up once I'm through with college.”
“You should,” said Kim warmly.
“Yeah.” Ron looked at Kim and smiled slightly but somewhat sad. Kim couldn't figure it out. “So,” he suddenly said, turning his attention to the salsa and chips on the table. “What's been going on with you?”
Kim opened her mouth but wondered where to start. She looked at Shego who glanced back with a neutral expression. She shrugged slightly. “A lot,” said Kim, in the end, trying to dodge the question.
“I know how that is,” nodded Ron. “It all blurs together sometimes.” He bit into a chip. “Life comes at you fast.”
“Real fast,” repeated Shego as she looked at Kim.
“Too fast,” frowned Kim. She looked into Shego's eyes. She wasn't sure what she was doing, lying to Ron like this, and was hoping that Shego had some silent guidance to give. The green woman didn't have anything, or at least nothing she could communicate non-verbally.
“You can tell me you know,” Ron suddenly said while digging through the broken chips for a full one. “I have talked to Wade.”
Kim's mouth hung open. “You… know?” Kim said. “Why did you act like--”
Ron looked slightly her way with a serious look on his face. “I don't know if we're tight anymore,” he said gesturing with a tortilla chip between them. “But I'd like to be, and I wanted to give you the chance to tell me when you're ready.” He dipped the chip into the salsa. “But it looked like you were feeling more uncomfortable trying to decide whether to tell me or not, so I figure this way is better.” He chomped down on his tortilla. “So, yeah, I talked to Wade, and I got the sitch.”
“And…” Kim felt nervous but somehow slightly relieved at the same time. “You're okay with it?”
“Well, I don't know about 'okay',” said Ron with a frown. “But I'm here for you if you need me.”
Kim smiled. “Oh, Ron,” she leaned over and hugged him tightly and babbled. Ron put a hand on her back and patted her lightly. “I'm sorry for not telling you right away, I wasn't sure how you'd react. I was worried you'd think I was a freak or that you'd feel it was your fault or do something like attack Shego for stealing me away. I'm really sorry for thinking all those things though.”
Ron put his hands on Kim's shoulders and moved her to look at her face. “I'd like to think that you'd give me more credit that that,” Ron smiled. “'Attack Shego?' What blame does she have in all this?”
“Well, I wouldn't say she has no blame,” said Kim. “I mean, well, it's kinda mutual really.”
“Mutual?” asked Ron, sounding a little confused.
“Yeah, mutual,” said Kim, surprised. “It's not like I forced myself on her or something. It was mutual.”
“What was mutual?” asked Ron.
Kim frowned, unsure of what just happened. “Us getting together.”
Ron blinked. “Us… meaning…?”
“Me and Shego of course,” said Kim. “Are you alright? You're kinda blinking out on me.”
Ron sat completely still for several moments then suddenly jerked and snapped his head at Kim. “You and Shego… what?” he asked as his voice took on a more manic tone.
Kim felt that twisting in her stomach again. “What were you just referring to before?”
“You and Shego… are…?” repeated Ron leaning slightly back away from Kim.
“What was it you heard from Wade?” insisted Kim, starting to panic.
“Are you …” Ron started the stopped as looked slightly to the side. “My fault?” he whispered to himself, then spoke louder. “Are you dating Shego?”
Kim looked up at Ron like a deer in the headlights. She could only nod slowly. In return Ron looked mortified.
“How-- what could--?” he started, looking back and forth between Kim and Shego.
Kim reached out to touch his arm. “Ron, just calm down and let me expla--”
Ron jumped back at Kim's touch and stood up from the table, backing one step away. He looked between Kim and Shego before finally settling on Shego. “You … You did something!” he announced. “Mind chips! Or-or emotion devices!”
Shego grit her teeth and turned to Ron with a scowl then paused and strangely changed her expression to a frown. Kim thought she looked almost vulnerable for a second. “I would never do anything like that to her,” she said softly.
Ron stepped back a half step again, his jaw slack but his eyes staring right at Shego. He looked caught between anger and fear and finally settled on the latter.
He turned stiffly and quickly walked away.
“Ron!” Kim called out but to no avail. She closed her eyes and hung her head, feeling tears well up in her eyes. She sucked in air irregularly to keep from falling apart in the restaurant.
A tender hand touched her shoulder and she looked up to see Shego beside her, looking concerned. Kim threw her arms around her and sobbed a quietly as she could into Shego's shoulder.
In the busy restaurant, at prime lunch hour, nobody even noticed, except for the two burly HenchCo bodyguards sitting at the bar.
( KP )
“We gotta find him!” yelled Kim as Shego gently guided through the Nacho Navel her back to the car. “Talk to him or something!”
“Pumpkin,” Shego said. “I think he just suffered a paradigm shift and isn't going to recover quickly. Give him time, he'll come back when he's ready to talk.”
“But- but…” Kim stammered. “I think I hurt him.”
“No doubt,” nodded Shego. “But it was unavoidable. I'm not sure exactly what got hurt though, so I really don't think you should do anything brash until he comes back to tell us.”
“But what if he doesn't come back?” pleaded Kim.
“Well, we have his clothes,” commented Shego, motioning to the back of her Cadillac as they reached it. “I imagine he'll want those back at some point.” Shego opened the passenger door for Kim. “Where's he staying, anyway?”
“His parents live nearby to mine,” said Kim, sitting in the car, then waiting for Shego to walk around and sit behind the wheel. “I guess he's staying there, although, he really doesn't get along with his younger brother. Don't know where else he'd go.”
“You mean, aside from your place,” asked Shego.
“Well, yeah,” nodded Kim. “It's always been like his second home.” Kim looked into her lap. “Maybe even his first.”
“Hrm,” grumbled Shego as she started the car and pulled out of the lot. “We’re not doing well with your old friends.”
Kim nodded slightly.
“They'll come around if they care about you,” continued Shego.
Kim nodded again.
“I think we're being followed.”
Kim frowned. “What?” She looked up and over at Shego who was gazing into her rear view mirror with only intermittent glances at the traffic in front of her. Kim turned and looked back out of the car. “Who?”
“Couple of SUV's,” said Shego, changing lanes. “Watch for them to follow me.”
Kim studied the cars beyond their bumper. The road they were on was somewhat busy, she could see maybe a dozen cars behind her, none of which really stood out--
A pair of navy blue Ford Explorers suddenly changed lanes simultaneously to move behind them. Kim tried to see the drivers but the windows were just tinted enough that the mid-day sun was making it impossible to see inside. Kim turned around to sit normal again. “I don't think Allucinere would do this.”
“I'll have to take your word for that,” said Shego, beginning to weave between traffic to get some distance between them and their tail. “We just left that restaurant, in this traffic, I'm not sure if Ben and Carl are back there or not.”
“What do they drive?” asked Kim.
“A silver Chrysler 300,” said Shego.
Kim turned again and peered through the back trying to find any trace of the somewhat popular car. The prominence of SUVs made it hard to see more than a few cars back, especially from the lowered sedan that she and Shego were in. After a few minutes she turned around again. “I didn't see them. But the blue SUVs are gaining.”
“I noticed,” grumbled Shego. “I'll lose them in this side street up ahead then take the turnpike back to your parent's house.”
“I just don't understand who would be following us,” said Kim.
“Maybe you don't know Allucinere as well as you think,” suggested Shego.
With a sharp twist of the wheel, they sped onto a much less traveled but narrower street between a couple of larger office buildings. Glancing behind them, Kim noticed the SUV's following in close pursuit.
“I don't think we're losing them,” said Kim.
“We're not going to lose them on a straight street,” said Shego, incredulous.
“Then why did we turn down here?”
Shego grinned and Kim noticed the parking garage coming up on the right. She blanched, then gripped the handle on the ceiling of the car so hard her knuckles turned white.
“I don't like this plan,” said Kim. “Just for the record.”
“Noted,” nodded Shego then sped into the garage, blazing past the ticket booth, much to the surprise of the operator. Kim blinked as they quickly flew between the tight rows of cars then mounting a ramp to the second story.
“They're just going to wait for us downstairs,” said Kim.
“I hope so,” smiled Shego as they continued up past the second floor to the third before turning off the spiraling ramp. Kim looked around and noticed that the garage looked much larger on this floor than the previous two. As Shego drove across she realized that a second parking garage was connected to this one on this level to provide access to the upper levels of an office building with a restaurant in it.
The Cadillac crossed a short ramp between the two structures that housed the garages and then Shego began descending again, speeding around corners before finally exiting onto a different side street and turning back towards the major roads.
“See?” said Shego, flashing her teeth. “I told you I knew all the hiding spots in Middleton.” She laughed once.
Suddenly, from out of nowhere, another navy blue SUV pulled out in front of them and blocked the alley. Shego slammed on the breaks and was already putting the car into reverse when she looked behind her to see the original SUV coming down the street behind them. She stopped after only a few inches of backwards movement and stared out the windshield.
“Oookay,” said Shego. “That was clever of them.”
The SUVs opened their doors and many suited men poured out of each one, forming a row in front of Shego's car and then slowly approaching the sedan from the rear, pistols drawn. Kim looked back and forth between the two groups.
“I'm not really in the mood for getting shot again,” she said looking through the side-view mirror at the approaching suit.
“I'll vaporize them if they touch you,” Shego assured. A man with short, jet black hair and sunglasses walked up to Shego's side of the car and tapped gently on her windows with his gun.
Looking completely stoic, she lowered the glass. “Ms. Possible,” said the man in a slightly nasal voice. “Ms. Shego, can I ask you to step out of the car and come with us.”
“You certainly can ask,” said Shego.
“Who are you people?” asked Kim.
“We represent someone who needs to talk to you,” said Nasal Voice. “Come quietly and you'll be back and on your way shortly.”
“What 'someone?'” asked Shego, but receiving no answer. Kim looked at her and at the men surrounding her.
“Quickly now,” said Nasal Voice.
Kim sighed and opened her door. Shego looked at her alarmingly then, seeing the resignation in Kim's eyes, deflated and exited the sedan herself. The suited soldiers ushered them past the front of the car and behind the SUV that was blocking their path. Beyond the barricade, a long black stretched limo was parked with a license plate that read “SSTHE2ND.”
Kim frowned, she had a sinking feeling what this was about. They were pushed towards the limo. A man wearing a nicer suit and wearing black gloves opened the door to the back of the limo and motioned towards it's black depths.
“Please,” said the chauffer.
Kim ducked and stepped inside. She was stunned at how ornate the limo was, decorated and styled like the inside of a small club, despite there only be enough room to move around on your knees. On the opposite side of the limo sad a muscular man in a white suit, half covered in shadows. His hand motioned to the leather bench on one side of the car and Kim moved in to sit where instructed. Shego entered behind her and did the same.
“What is this about, Junior?” demanded Kim once the exterior door was closed.
The man in the shadows leaned forward displaying Senior Senior Junor's amused face. He had not changed physically since Shego and she had seen him last spring but there was something about his eyes, Kim thought, that seemed a little more hollow, a little more tired.
“Kim Possible,” said Junior. “When I'm at my lowest, I always end up turning to you.”
“You don't do the mastermind role well,” said Shego. “Cut the act.”
“Very well,” said Junior, leaning back again. “I'm in trouble.”
“Well if you weren't before, you certainly are now,” said Shego. Kim didn't look but put her hand on Shego's leg. The latter sighed. “Go ahead.”
“Something's been going down in my company,” continued Junior. “Someone's stealing from me. Not just a little, but a lot. From the inside.”
“I'm not going to do you dirty work, Junior,” said Kim.
“Or protect your dirty money,” added Shego.
“I'm entirely legit, Shego,” said Junior. “Even … even dad's money was earned fairly. He just found creative ways to use it.”
“Even so, why are you telling us?” asked Kim. “I don't do corporate crime. And we do not have a friendly relationship, Junior. Last time we met you were holding Shego in chains.”
“More like shackles,” said Shego.
“Shackles,” repeated Kim.
“Over a billion dollars was stolen,” said Junior.
“Boo hoo,” mocked Shego.
“The person we traced it back to was confirmed to have been at dinner at the same time she was wiring the money from my corporate offices. Video cameras confirm her presence in both locations.” Junior looked at Kim. “She was definitely being impersonated and the disguise was flawless.”
Kim opened her mouth but said nothing.
“How much was stolen?” asked Shego, seriously.
“1.125 billion dollars,” replied Junior. “You know this sounds familiar, Kim.”
Kim nodded slowly. Junior leaned forward again to stare into Kim's eyes.
“I'm telling you this because if she's back, then you're probably the only one who'll be able to stop her.” Junior frowned. “As much as I hate you for starting this, you ended it last time. Maybe this time you can do it before she breaks someone's mind in two.”
Kim closed her mouth to a thin line, looking out the side of the limo. “Do you know where the money went?”
Junior reached into his blazer pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. He held it out for her. “This is the account number the funds were transferred to. It's a private account in Zurich, so I haven't been able to trace it. You might have some better resources at your command than me, however.”
Kim took the paper and deliberately pushed it into her jeans pocket. “Junior,” she started.
“When this goes public, after the new year,” Junior interrupted. “It will be a significant blow to my reputation and destroy the value of my stock. More than simply a billion dollars will be lost to me in the end. I don't care about the people she hurts, Kim Possible, and nothing can save my shares now. I just want her taken down.” He picked up a glass with a brown, translucent liquid in it and drank it down. “Don't bother me with anything else. Certainly not meaningless words about my father.”
Junior tapped his glass twice against the window of the limit and suddenly the door on the opposite end of the cabin opened.
“Lets try not to meet again in another six months,” Junior said, turning in the shadows to look away from Kim and Shego.
Kim nodded mostly for her own benefit and then started crawling towards the door. After a moment, Shego turned and followed suit. She had just reached the door when Junior spoke again.
“I understand she tamed you,” Junior said.
Shego froze by the door and looked back over her shoulder. Kim stood just outside the limo, but close enough to hear. “I've found more rewarding things than trying to take over the world,” said Shego.
“I'll miss your edge,” Junior said. “You were the only one who could get me to enjoy crime. It's just as well, now, though.”
“What happened to your old man?” asked Shego. “I heard he… ended it himself.”
“Know what a PH device is?” asked Junior.
“No.”
“Ask your girlfriend,” said Junior. “She knows more than any of us do.”
Shego frowned but nodded, then exited the limo.
( KP )
Kim laid on her bed with her phone tucked in the crook of her neck, flipping through a magazine while Shego sat nearby at Kim's computer, searching the internet.
“I'm not sure it can really be weirder than mine,” said Kim on the phone. Beth, her longtime roommate, was on the other end gossiping about her inter-semester break.
“Are you sure?” asked Beth. “Both my parents and their spouses are here which is a recipe for disaster on its own, not to mention one of my weekend flings showing up announced, adding fuel to the flame.” She sighed. “This is why I never come home.”
“Well, its Christmas,” said Kim. “When even the least friendly people gather around to make insincere remarks.”
“Don't I know it,” grumbled Beth. “So how are things with you and your honey?”
“I'm sure if she heard you say that, she'd melt you,” said Kim.
“Say what?” asked Shego, not turning from the computer.
“Nothing,” said Kim. “Anyway, there's a lot of … unexpected things happening, actually. I'm not sure what to think yet.”
“Hero stuff?” asked Beth.
“Actually, yes,” admitted Kim.
“Really?” Beth sounded more interested now. “I thought you were out of that biz.”
“I'm really, really trying to be, believe me.” Kim rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling. “But it's just one of those things.”
“You're in for a day, you're in for life?” asked Beth.
“Yeah, either that or you turn villain, which is looking more tempting by the hour.”
“I can tutor you, if you want,” said Shego. “Apparently, I'm pretty good at it.”
“I'm not being serious,” said Kim to Shego. “But if I was you know you'd be the first one I'd call, Sheeg.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Shego waved.
“Look at you two, only been serious for a few months and you already sound like a long time couple,” said Beth. “You could have given my parents lessons.”
“I'm not a very good role model,” Kim said with a tired voice.
“You're better than you think,” said Beth, softly. “Anwyay, I've got to get going. See if I can't lose this semi-stalker and get my family to talk to each other without yelling. Ah the labors of an only child.”
“Have fun with that,” said Kim. “Talk to you later!”
“Bye.”
Kim hung up then sighed afterwards. She missed Beth. Her roommate had been a large part of her life since entering college and it was strange to have to go so many weeks without seeing her face to face. After the new year, classes would start again and they'd all get back together, so it wasn't like it would be forever. Still, it was comforting to talk to normal people every now and then.
“What are your plans for the future?”
Kim blinked then propped herself up on her arm to see Shego staring at her. She'd turned the chair to face Kim and was looking… somewhat concerned as she stared at her lover.
“What do you mean? How 'future' are we talking about?”
“I dunno,” said Shego. “Very future? Years or so into the future?”
Kim grimaced. “I hadn't really thought about it,” she admitted. “I'm having a hard enough time as it is getting through the present.”
“The future will be the present soon enough,” said Shego. “I thought you'd be the type to have a plan with a career and number of children all planned out.”
“Well, that latter one will probably be hard now,” said Kim. “And as far as a career goes, I kinda always thought I'd go into some form of law enforcement like GJ or maybe FBI until it all collapsed around me.”
“Oh,” said Shego.
“Why?” asked Kim.
“Nothing,” Shego said. “Just… uh, just curious.”
“Does it bother you?” asked Kim.
“What? No… oh, no, definitely not.” Shego looked back towards the computer. “I just wonder how many of our old 'friends' are going to come back to haunt us.” She lowered her head. “If they'll ever stop coming after us.”
“You don't think we have a choice.” Kim closed her eyes. “I'm not sure I disagree with you.”
“Do you want one?” asked Shego. “A choice?”
Kim opened her eyes to see Shego staring attentively at her. Kim slowly nodded. Suddenly her watch started to chirp and vibrate. Kim looked down at the face to see another 'INCOMING' message displayed. She tapped the screen twice.
Wade's face appeared. “Kim!” he sounded worried. “Oh, thank god you kept it on.”
“What is it, Wade?” asked Kim. “What's going on?”
“Have you seen Jim and Timothy tonight?” asked Wade.
Kim raised an eyebrow in confusion. “They were here a while ago,” she said. “But they went out to work on their 'secret project,' whatever it is. They'll probably be back later since they missed dinner.”
“When did they leave?”
“Why do you care?” asked Kim, feeling anxious at Wade's insistence. “What's going on?”
“I didn't mean to hide it from you,” stared Wade. “We just figured the less people that knew the easier it'd be to hide from the people we really wanted to keep it a secret from. Not that you'd be one of those people, of course.”
“What?” asked Kim. “What are you saying? What does this have to do with the Tweebs?”
“They're not working on some 'secret project',” said Wade. “They were working with me. I couldn't let the internal GJ investigative team know, but more importantly we were trying to keep Allucinere from finding out.”
“With you?” asked Kim. “Then, they should be with you right now then.”
“That's right,” said Wade. “And that's the problem. They're not. They should have been hours ago and they never showed. When did they leave you?”
“Over four hours ago!” said Kim, worried. “You mean you have no idea where they are?”
“They're supposed to be here with me!” yelled Wade.
“So where are they?” asked Kim.
“That's what I'm trying to say, Kim,” explained Wade. He frowned. “I think they're missing.”
She froze in shock.
“Missing?”
That was when Kim summarily freaked out.