Ron sighed as he looked over what he knew.
The list was fairly short, even from what he had gathered from Kim’s parents and Wade.
First off Kim had been involved in some sort of accident in the chemistry lab that ended up leveling the science wing. No one knew what had actually caused it.
Three days later she had left a note on the kitchen counter saying that she needed to go get help on something personal. She didn’t say from who or what.
She called Wade a day later and tells the boy that she needs to disappear for a while and not to bother her until she called him, in case he found her.
And she left a note on his window just saying she was leaving.
Why though? What could possibly cause her to disappear from the face of the planet?
Ron scratched his head. It was strange to be doing something during Study Hall, but this was more important than the extra sleep. He looked over the information again. Could something have happened to her in the Chemistry Lab explosion?
There were just to many questions, and not answers. He tapped the eraser end of his pencil on the desk, trying to think. There just had to be a reason.
Mind control maybe?
Ron shook his head. No…not again. Drakken was one thing for certain in his plans. He never repeated an actual plan more than once. He used similar ones, and similar devices sometimes, but he never actually repeated a plan. So mind control was out of the question.
But that wouldn’t keep the mad man from kidnapping. After all a person who could build a doom laser could easily create a way to make it look like Kim was on a hiatus.
He frowned, hoping he was wrong.
------------------
Drakken’s lair hadn’t been hard to find. Then again, when your living in a time share, it’s easy enough to find you if you know how to look.
Rufus chattered something about it being creepy but Ron didn’t say anything. It just wasn’t the time too. He had a mission. And he was going to complete it.
The door exploded inward at Ron’s attack. The lair was mostly empty, save for a small living room set-up in the middle. The blonde was cautious as he continued into the lair, but there wasn’t anyone there. Save for Drakken.
“Drakken!”
The blue man whipped around. His normal powder blue complexion was pale as he saw the boy. “Can I help you…?”
Ron regarded the door, “Well other than the fact that you might need a new door now, I’ve come to talk to you.”
Drakken nodded. An unshakable fear had clenched him, and he wrung his hands nervously. “Alright….um…about what?”
“Where’s Kim?”
Drakken grinned nervously, “Not here….um…?”
“Ron…Stoppable.”
“Right…John…”
Ron let it slide. He had more important things to worry about than someone forgetting his name. “Where is she?”
Drakken raised his hands defensively as Ron approached, “Honest, I don’t know! I haven’t seen her for a while now! Come to think of it…Shego is missing too…probably on vacation without telling me again…” He sighed, “Between that and the henchmen and some wedding no one is here. Well except up Shawn.”
Ron growled, “Like I should believe you.”
“Honestly, when have I actually lied to you? I’m an honest villain! All my trickery is in my plans, but I don’t lie!”
Ron’s shoulders slumped. The man was right. “So what have you been doing?”
“Enjoying Coco Moo and watching wrestling.”
“Wait…you…and wrestling?”
Drakken smiled, “It’s fun. Besides I need some kind of violence and chaos to tide me over when I can’t think of anything for a new nefarious plot.”
“Your kidding right?” Ron was mildly shocked. Drakken and wrestling was like a picture of Shego in a white wedding dress. It was wrong on so many levels.
Kim sighed and looked out the window of the train. She wasn’t even sure where she was going anymore. The landscape had blended together too well. She could use the Kimmunicator to try and check, but that would tell Wade where she was.
Which left staring and hoping something would look mildly familiar.
“We’re passing through Idaho.” It was Shego, who slumped down in the seat beside her.
“How…?”
“Kimmie…we’ve been doing this whole dance for three years. I think I can tell when you’re confused by now.”
“Oh…” Kim hadn’t thought of it that way…to have someone you fought against know you so well was rather strange to consider. “Where are we going again?”
“A place I’ve got in Oregon. It’s large, private, and perfect for getting you used to your abilities.”
“I thought the glowing hands were my ability…” Kim was mildly curious by Shego’s mentioning of more than one kind of ability.
“It’s the most noticeable. There is also the speed healing, and the added strength and agility. But it all takes some getting used too. Plus in my case the green skin. I’m not sure how powerful you’ll have these things, but I’d rather opt to give you the chance to find out, rather than guess.”
“Why are you so nice about all of this?”
Shego looked away, “I…I know how it is to have this kind of power and not have any control. Besides…I can’t lose the one purpose in my life can I?”
Kim raised an eyebrow, “And that would be?”
“Giving you a hard time.” Shego grinned proudly, “It’s my one and only hobby.”
“Oh…” Kim was confused…but Shego’s answer would work for now. She let her head rest against the woman’s shoulder despite herself. She wanted to have some control over her life…to be normal again. But it was too late for that. She was already in the enemy’s camp, and there was no going back.
Shego didn’t say anything about the red head using her head as a pillow. It was unusual to think of her teaching someone who had been her enemy for three years how to be stronger. How to fight better. How to be like her.
She brushed the thought aside. No…Kim wasn’t going to be like her. The girl had been on her level since they first met, and that was before she started developing Shego’s abilities. With the edge they would give Kim…the girl could end up being better.
The trip wasn’t just a chance for Shego to train Kim, but to train herself. She needed that extra push, that extra bit of an edge, just like Kim did. She wasn’t going to get left behind just because the girl was developing powers like hers.
Now, she was going to keep up, or be even better. She had her powers for longer, and knew them better. That was her edge right there. A small smile made itself known as Shego thought about it. Yes, she still had an edge to work with after all.
Kim was sleeping peacefully against Shego when the train finally stopped. A gentle nudge was all it took to wake the girl up. Shego got off first followed by the sleepy teenager. Neither had baggage, and neither of them cared. They weren’t going anywhere in particular because they wanted to be there for a vacation. They were going to train.
Extra clothes were just something they would worry about later.
Author’s Notes: And thus the story keeps rolling!
Next chapter: Shego and Kim get settled.