Mind, body, and Soul

Drakken’s Lair 2:45 PM.

A hand gently rapped against the doorway in Drakken’s lair that lead to Shego’s quarters. The henchman who knocked swallowed slightly. He had heard things from the others who had gone off duty about Kara Fang. They scared him.

As he knocked, the Ninja guarding the doorway glanced at him and then at the second henchman who stood behind him.

“Mistress Fang does not want to be disturbed unless absolutely necessary.” His voice was soft, but the knocking henchman swallowed, it was full of quiet menace. “I hope, for your sake, that what you want is what she deems, necessary.”

“I have my orders!” The henchman muttered, glancing at the other behind him. “Dr Drakken is ready for the prisoner. He wants to get project Pareo Servus started.”

“Well then, let us hope that is… necessary.” The Ninja seemed to laugh, but the knocking henchman found it hard to tell, considering the Ninja’s under Kara Fang’s control all wore masks. “If not, well. Let us just say that last time, it took the cleaning staff weeks!”

Shuddering, the henchman moved to ignore the Ninja, only to flinch as a female cry of agony leaked past the doorway. He glanced at the Ninja, who shrugged.

“Mistress Fang is… talented. Your… trainer, Shego, has been screaming like that since I came on duty.” The Ninja snorted. “She is obviously quite, quite weak.”

“Whatever.” The henchman replied. “Only I heard she managed to wipe the floor with ten or so of you. Not what I call weak!”

The ninja visibly bristled, but remained quiet as the door slid sideways. It opened onto gloom and the faint sound of moaning. The henchman swallowed again and glanced behind him at his colleague. As he turned back, he jumped. Two pale blue eyes were glaring coldly at him from the dark.

“What do you want?” The voice was cultured, cool and annoyed. The slightly exotic accent only emphasised the emotion in the voice. “Well?”

The guard coughed and then blurted. “Dr Drakken says that he is ready to begin the project Pareo Servus. He wishes the prisoner to be taken to the main lab. He also invites you to see the beginning of a new era of evil.”

The henchman repeated what Drakken had said word for word and then stared into the darkened room, apprehensive. His mind plagued him with visions of cold, steely death. Considering the weaponry the Ninja’s around the complex carried, he could only imagine what their leader would use.

“I see.” The eyes vanished from his view and then the henchman watched as a female figure walked silkily towards him. “It is fortunate that is one of the things I have been waiting to hear. Otherwise, it would have been… unpleasant for you.”

The henchman nodded, and then blinked as the figure coalesced into an attractive young oriental woman. She was dressed in a red Kimono that left little of her curves to the imagination and her face was quite attractive. The droplets of red that had splashed her face, hands, hair and clothing, however, ruined the image of beauty. As did the slightly disturbing smile.

All teeth. The henchman thought, trying not to shake.

“So, you wish to take my plaything away from me?” Kara tilted her head. “Such a shame, I was having so much fun!”

“I’m sorry?” The henchman’s colleague asked, looking confused. “Did you just say your plaything?”

“Yes. She really is quite special to me right now. We have been playing for hours now.” Kara’s smile crazed slightly. “She has impressive stamina!”

“Um, okay.” The second Henchman swallowed. “Glad to… um, hear it.”

“Would you like to see my work?” Kara asked suddenly, stepping sideways. “I rarely get to show it to anyone, other than my Master in the Blood Jade.”

“Umm, well we do have to take her to the main laboratory, Mistress Fang.” The henchman who had knocked coughed. “Dr Drakken hates to be kept waiting and-“

“Oh, this will not take long, I promise.” Kara smiled again and the two henchmen flinched. “Please, I do value… independent reviews of my work.”

Licking his lips, the second henchman swallowed. “Well, okay. If it means we can take Shego to the lab, fine.”

“Please, do come with me.” Kara stepped backwards and inclined her head. The two henchmen glanced at each other and then walked inside the gloomy room. “Mind your step, it is quite dark. Oh and when we get close to the centre of the room, be careful. The floor is… wet.”

Wet with what? The knocking Henchman wondered, blinking as his eyes adjusted to the gloom. Kara’s slight frame moved past him, towards a spotlight in the middle of the room and as his vision adapted, the henchman gasped in shock. His colleague coughing in horror behind him. For there, manacled to a hoop of thick, gleaming metal, lay their old commander.

Spread-eagled, Shego lay slumped in the thick white manacles. Naked, her hair gleamed with sweat, as did her green skin, now so pale the henchmen could almost see the muscles flexing slightly as she breathed jerkily in and out. Her eyes were shut, and the two men realised she must have fallen unconscious.

“I’m afraid that she has lost a lot of interest.” Fang whispered, making the two Henchmen jump. Her tone was almost… tender. Until you heard the cruel giggle that followed it. “Still, what do you think about the colour? I think red on green is quite… lovely.”

The henchmen both blinked and then one of them paled. His mouth slid open, while his colleague shook his head slowly.

Rivulets of blood trickled across Shego’s pale green skin, slipping from angry red cuts that had been slashed across her body from head to toe. The two men shuddered as they realised that some of the cuts were recent, so recent that the blood trickled from them steadily.

“Well?” Kara whispered, her voice suddenly hard. “What do you think, Gentlemen?”

The two men turned to stare at her, and noticed that her gaze was fixated, not on them, but on Shego’s limp and abused form. The Henchman who had knocked, shuddered.

“Um, impressive… technique?” He managed, trying not to feel ill. His gaze remained fixated on the young green woman, someone he had seen once punching through steel, now helpless. The gaze slid down, and he swallowed at the thin pool of red around the base of the metal ring. As a drop of blood fell from her foot, he grimaced.

How long has she been doing this to Shego?

Unable to stomach it any longer, both henchmen began to back away from the moaning, unconscious woman. Noticing this, Kara inclined her head. “Going somewhere?”

“Um, do you want us to tell Dr Drakken that you might be… a little longer?”

“Oh, how kind.” Kara smiled, making the two men flinch a second time. “Would you wait for another… hour?”

“Sure… sure. We’ll, um, be back then.” The second henchman muttered, pushing the first out of the dark room as quickly as he dared. “Have, fun, Mistress Fang.”

Kara watched as the two burly men escaped out of the darkened room, the door hissing shut behind them, as they did so. Unable to help herself, she giggled.

A moan from Shego made Kara glance over at her victim with renewed interest. As the young woman’s emerald eyes slid open, she grinned and felt the thrill pass through her again.

“It would seem that so very few people are interested in the careful and delicate art of pain.” Kara regarded the helpless form of Shego and smiled. “I like the colour, I really do… red on green, so… powerful a statement! You look lovely this way and besides, the red helps hide the burn marks. Tazers are such… imprecise tools to use. You can see why I prefer pressure points and needles.”

Shego groaned slightly and raised her head. For the past few hours, or was it days, she had been forced to endure shock after shock as Kara had run the tazer across every inch of her skin. The razor always sat next to it, and Shego had become used to the agony of the shock, followed by the pain of the razor and the sensation of her own blood spilling down her skin. The fact that Kara had done that to her entire body was not lost on her. She had felt every single cut, damn her resilience!

That had been bad enough. But the ring… the ring surrounding her body was her own personal hell. Every time she tried to use her plasma, the machine kicked in and she felt a pain that could only be described as her very flesh being stripped off, assault her.

She had tried every variation of her powers that she could think of. Even while Kara was watching sometimes.

Her feet had caused exactly the same agonising pain to course up her legs. Her attempt to ignite her entire body with her plasma flame, hoping to overload the manacles, had made Shego feel as though all of her was being dipped in molten magma.

Kara had clapped sarcastically as she had tried to generate a ball of plasma in front of her. To her shock, it had been attracted to the metal ring around her body. The ball had smashed into it, making green sparks and arcs of power dance in a crazy spinning motion across the surface. Then the ring had flashed a bright green and a force had smashed into her like a physical blow, making her choke and gag.

No matter what she tried, Drakken’s ring seemed to absorb every damn trick. Well, every trick that allowed her to escape in any way.

Now, after hours of that, the shock and slice treatment and the… other entertainment’s Kara had forced on her, she was exhausted, tired and thirsty from loss of fluid. Shego winced as her shoulder, fingers and ribs burned and ached from her punishment… no, her torture, and she gazed at her captor and licked her dry lips.

“Such a burden to be loaded with… inferior tools, isn’t it.” Shego smiled sarcastically, though her voice croaked a little, making Kara frown for a second. But the smile faded as the young woman giggled cruelly again.

“Oh! Drakken San will be so angry with me if you are not… healthy enough to survive. Are you thirsty? It has been hours since I began and we made quite a mess… look at all that sweat and blood. You must need a drink by now.”

Shego watched in horror as Kara wandered across to the kitchen and slid open the fridge. The quiet jingle of bottles made Shego close her eyes in desperation, but the hiss and clink of a bottle being opened, followed by the quiet glugging of liquid made her open them once more. Kara smiled at her, a glass of water filled with ice cubes, and even a damn twist of lemon peel, sat in front of her. The young woman picked it up and wandered back towards the bleeding and exhausted Shego, sipping gently.

“You know, this is lovely. So cool and refreshing.” Kara smiled, playing with the cubes as they bobbed up and down in the glass. “Would you like to try some?”

Shego glared at her, as her body begged to taste some of it… any of it. But she knew what Kara was up to, and shook her head. “No thanks.”

“Oh dear. Pride is such a harsh mistress, like me.” Kara smirked. “But, unlike her, I am merciful. Come, drink. I shall think no less of you for doing so, and I have to admit, I am so very impressed by how much you have fought me for the past few hours.”

The glass slid under Shego’s nose and her emerald eyes were wide as an ice cube bobbed gently on the surface. She bit her lip, even as body jerked forwards slightly. “I’m… not thirsty.”

“One sip?” Kara whispered, shaking the glass. “For me?”

“No.”

“Oh very well, for yourself then. Or, if that’s not a good motivator, how about for Kim San?” Kara watched as Shego’s head snapped up. She ran a finger gently along the rim, catching a few drops of water and licking them off her nail. “Yes, you will not do her much good if you are delirious from thirst now, will you?”

Shego closed her eyes. “What drug is in it?”

Kara gasped in mock horror. “You think I have drugged this? Oh Shego, how could you?” The young oriental woman laughed lightly and it grated on Shego’s ears. “Very well, I shall tell you the truth, on my honour as a Blood Jade.” Kara held up a hand. “This glass contains just water, that’s all, no drug. Just lovely, cool, ice cold, refreshing water. So, will you drink?”

Shego licked her lips, her resistance crumbling as her body cried out to her. “I…”

“I shall think of no less of you.” Kara repeated, stroking her hair gently. The act made Shego flinch away from her, but the clink of the glass was hypnotising to her abused body. “One glass.”

“I… alright.” Shego collapsed, gazing at Kara in defeat. “Damn it, you win.”

Smiling, Kara gently placed the glass against Shego’s lips and tilted her head. “Ready?”

Shego nodded, almost straining as her lips felt the cool touch of the glass. “Yes.”

As Kara tilted the glass, a suddenly thoughtful expression crossed her face. “You know… I am sure I should be doing something before I give you this. I was thinking about it while I was making this glass ofice cold water!”

Shego’s eyes went wide as the liquid that hit her lips burned. She choked, but Kara held the glass and tipped it faster. To the green woman, it felt as if Kara were pouring molten lava into her body. Kara’s laughter echoed around the room, mingling with Shego’s choked screams.

“Oh yes! I forgot to remove those little needles you have, Shego. I forgot to undo the pressure point manipulation. So, your sensation of cold still feels… agonising to you! So, so sorry! Still, you wanted the drink, you worthless, weak little slut! So, enjoy every single burning drop!”

The glass, half empty, spilled its remaining contents down Shego’s naked form, making the young woman arch her back and scream and writhe.

Oh… Oh my god. Jesus… I… I can’t! Shego’s mind stuttered helplessly as her battered and abused body tried to cope, and failed. She slumped in her bonds. Someone, anyone…

Shaking her head as her toy jerked a few more times and then lay moaning, Kara sighed in dismay and, humming, strode over to the communications desk to hit a few buttons. The screen flickered and Drakken’s face appeared on it.

“Doctor. I understand you are ready to begin our great experiment.”

Drakken frowned and nodded. “Yes… but I need to know if Shego is… well enough to handle the strain. This is experimental, so I need a test subject who can weather any complications.”

Kara inclined her head. “Doctor, are you saying I may have damaged Shego in some way?”

“I know that you took her to her quarters to torture her.” Drakken shrugged. “Word gets around. I must confess to being interested as to why, considering she knows little useful data about Kim Possible or her sidekick… um, the one with the gerbil.”

“S’a Mole rat…” A quiet voice slurred, half conscious. “Stoppable.”

Kara glanced at Shego and smiled. “Well, I had a more personal reason, Doctor. I like you a great deal!” Kara smiled enticingly, even as she lied to him. “I like you and I was so angry that Shego betrayed you so easily, I had to get my revenge on her.”

“Oh,” Drakken’s face flushed. ”Well, thanks. It’s just I haven’t had a sidekick, no, a colleague, who’s ever respected me before.” Kara watched as he flushed. “It’s quite flattering now I know why. But, regardless, is she well enough for me to begin?”

Kara frowned and turned to the half conscious woman behind her. “I have no idea, not being a doctor. Is there any way you can tell me?”

Drakken’s face became thoughtful and then nodded. “Well, the sensor system built into the communications console should do perfectly. It should be enough for me to get an overview of her vitals.”

The console suddenly hummed into life and Kara could hear Drakken muttering as he pored over the data it displayed. After a few minutes of incomprehensible muttering, he looked up at her from the monitor.

“Well, She's badly dehydrated and her blood pressure is a little low. She has some significant bruising and tissue damage around her body.” He broke off and then sighed. “But it seems that she is well within tolerances for my little experiment.”

“Doc…” A weak voice whispered, making Drakken’s head turn to gaze at the helpless form of Shego behind Kara. “Listen to me. She’s gonna betray you sooner or later. I swear to you.”

The blue faced man gazed at her for a few moments and then smiled cruelly. “Somehow, I doubt it. Ms Fang has been nothing but a huge help, Shego. She even listens to my plans, quietly!”

Shego stared at Drakken and shook her head. A little flattery and tolerance over his more, stupid rants, from Kara and he was under her spell. Jesus what a mess. “Dr D.”

“No, Shego. I’m not listening to someone who’s betrayed me for… oh, who knows how long.” Drakken’s face swivelled to Kara once more, ignoring the woman who used to be his sidekick. “I’ll send the guards back down for her, if that’s okay with you?”

“Certainly, do you wish anything to be prepared?” Kara asked, consciously playing with her dark hair.

“Um, not really. But cover her up, would you? I don’t want any of my Henchmen getting, distracted by her nudity.” Drakken glanced at Shego’s naked body and felt a trickle of sweat form at the nape of his neck. “Yes, cover her up.”

“Very well, Doctor. I shall tidy Shego up and await your men.” Kara bowed slightly. “Before you go, may I ask a favour?”

Drakken frowned, the scar on the side of his face twitching slightly. “Of course.”

“Could I watch the procedure?” Kara smiled, while her eyes gleamed with delight. “I just find it so interesting, what you do.”

“Oh for fuck’s sake…” Shego whispered quietly shaking her dark hair. Come on Drakken, wake up and smell the coffee! She’s playing you like a fool!

Shego knew the real reason. Kara watched to watch so that she could gloat, pure and simple. She had a chilling idea what Drakken may have in store for her, and Shego could just imagine the pleasure Kara would get watching her free will just… drain away. It wasn’t interest… it was malice.

Drakken blinked at Kara’s request for a few moments and then nodded shrugging. “Certainly, it really is a pleasure to work with someone who appreciates me.” He glanced one final time at Shego and smiled. “Well, maybe someone will be a little more appreciative later.”

Kara laughed slyly and inclined her head. “I am sure she will, Drakken San.”

“Please, Call me Drakken… or Dr D if you like.” Winking, Drakken vanished from the screen.

What a self-indulgent fool! Kara thought quietly, turning back to Shego. She gently ran her hand along the metallic ring her captive was bound to and sighed.

“Well, it looks like our little… differences will soon be at an end.” Tapping the metal with her long fingernails for a second, Kara suddenly walked across to the small chest next to the chair she initially had been sitting in. when Shego had woken up, and flipped the lid open. “Still, to have you under my control, that is even better than I could have hoped for all those years ago.”

“Yeah, I’ll bet.” Shego muttered, wincing slightly as her damaged ribs throbbed. “So, level with me, what is this thing that Drakken’s come up with?”

Kara glanced over as she gently folded a fresh slip of white cotton over her arm and stood up. “You actually expect me to tell you?”

Shego nodded. “Well, doy! Who the hell am I going to tell? I’m manacled to a device that makes my plasma powers useless, in a lair that is so new I have no idea where it is, and Kim…” Shego broke off. Kim hates me for what I did to her.

“Hmmm. No.” Kara smiled. “I have seen far, far too many films to know that you never reveal your plans. Not to the people you are torturing.” She walked back across to Shego and placed a single finger over the green woman’s lips. “Now, if I were you, I’d save my strength. We will have a lot to accomplish tomorrow as Kim San will be waiting for you…”

Shego paled and looked away from Kara, as the oriental woman gently slid the slip over her body and began to gently tie it around her. Humming, Kara smiled.

“Oh, I suppose I can ask you now which uniform you would prefer.” Her hands gently yanked the cotton around Shego’s back and slowly began to tie it. “ Dark red or black? Both are figure hugging I assure you.” She grinned suddenly. “Oh… and wipe clean.”

Shego bit back a retort, images of herself being covered in someone else’s blood plaguing her. But she forced a sarcastic smile. “Why not green?”

“For stealth? Please.” Kara paused. “You know, how did you manage to get past all those guards on your test wearing that foolish and garish cat suit?” She ignored the way Shego bristled at her tone. “Could it stand out any more? Honestly. And the colour, most distressing! I just cannot understand why, even now, they do not see you coming.”

“Well, maybe it’s the fact I’m that good as a thief, I leave you standing. Which probably explains why I was chosen and you got kicked out.” Shego muttered. Kara’s eyes flashed with the rage she tried to keep hidden, and Shego felt a hand smack into the back of her head.

“You will be silent now.” Kara whispered, venom turning the tone to a snarl. “Or the next few minutes will be most unpleasant for you.”

Shego shrugged, and a weary chuckle slipped past her lips. “Worse than being turned into a puppet? How worse can it b-“

Kara’s fingers snaked round her neck and squeezed four precise areas on her skin. To Shego, it felt as though someone was suddenly crushing her spine. She jerked, unable to scream, her hands convulsing helplessly.

“That is how bad it could get. In fact, I could make it feel as though each of your limbs were being crushed as well. Would you like to feel that? Would you!” Kara’s eyes gleamed with cruelty and Shego knew the young woman wanted her to throw out an insult, an excuse to hurt her. Instead, she shook her head, biting back a scream as Kara’s fingers pressed deeper. A look of disappointment slid across Kara’s face. “A Shame. Still, you are learning I suppose.”

The young woman deftly hit another set of points on Shego’s neck. With a groan, Shego slumped forwards slightly. The pain had mercifully gone, though the burning ache on her neck remained. Her relief was short lived, however.

Kara’s face slid in front of her, teeth holding three of her acupuncture needles, and Shego managed to focus on her with pained eyes. The young woman reached up and gripped Shego’s dark hair tightly. With a jerk, Kara forced Shego’s head to tilt to the left and expose her neck. With deft, professional fingers, the needles were slid gently into place and then she let go.

“Now, try to move.” Kara whispered. Shego glared at her, her entire body still, and Kara frowned in annoyance. Suddenly, she slapped Shego’s face and sat back.

Shego blinked, to her horror, it was all she could do. Her entire body had suddenly… frozen. She could feel the manacles as they gripped her, she could feel her muscles aching and the throb of the tissue that Kara had injured, but she couldn’t move! Her eyes slid to Kara’s face

Kara leaned in close and smiled. “Just a precaution. The second plasma ring is in Drakken’s lab and I do not wish you to get any ideas while they move you there. I know you, Shego. A wild animal is most dangerous when caged and fighting for its freedom. So, those little servants of mine will remain in your body until Drakken is ready to begin.”

A knock at the door made Kara glance up and sigh. “Such a shame, our time together is over. For now.” She gently ran a hand along Shego’s jaw, watching as her emerald eyes narrowed. “I shall be along shortly, I promise. I would not miss this for the world and I must dress for such an occasion.”

Kara waved a remote at the door to her quarters and it hissed open slowly. As the three henchmen stepped into the room, a wheeled bed with cuffs behind them, Kara held up a hand and then gently kissed Shego’s forehead.

“Time to face your new life.” She whispered, before turning to the henchmen. “Take her to Doctor Drakken.”

“Yes Mistress Fang.” They replied, walking across to the frame.

As they busied themselves freeing her, Shego was unable to turn her head in any way. So, as the cuffs snapped free with a hydraulic hiss, she could not see how they had been removed.

Kara’s needles proved to be very effective, as she slowly began to crumple towards the floor, her brain firing messages to her muscles that they just did not receive. She wanted to brace herself as the carpet swung into view, but a set of strong hands caught her and hauled her unresponsive body upright.

She wanted to scream, to wriggle free and pound each and every one of them into the ground! She wanted, so badly she could taste it, to smash her glowing plasma into Kara Fang’s face until she was erased from existence! But, all she could do was make a tiny gurgle as her body was gently strapped down to the bed and the cuffs tightly bound to her ankles and wrists. Helpless… Worse than helpless, frightened.

As the Henchmen wheeled her from the room, the last sight her eyes were able to catch as she rolled them to the left, was the sight of Kara blowing her a mocking kiss goodbye.

If I don’t do something soon… I’m damned to be a puppet! Got to do something! Anything!

The problem was, Shego had no idea what.

---

Drakken’s Main Laboratory.

The huge cavernous room sparkled with metal sheen and hummed with technology as various machines, their purposes unknown, quietly went about their business. In the centre of the room sat another of the plasma circles, gleaming gently. Along the walls, tucked neatly between the various machines, lay desks with various types of laboratory equipment.

Sat at one of these, his blue face crumpled with concentration sat Dr Drakken. Working at the desk on a tiny component, he was unaware of the young blond man that quietly walked up behind him and coughed.

“We have finished the main resonator core, Dr Drakken.”

Dr Drakken looked up into the face of his new lab assistant… Carl he thought his name was, and nodded. The huge device in front of him was half constructed, but he had to finish it as soon as possible. The reason for the urgency slowly came into the lab, pushed by two henchmen while a third covered the bound figure with a gun.

“Very good, Carl?” Drakken breathed an inward sigh of relief as the young assistant nodded and smiled. “Very good indeed. Such a chore isn’t it.”

“Well, why do we need such a huge communications system, Sir?” Carl scratched his head. “With this much power, and enough targeting data, you could send a communication around the globe with this thing by satellite bounce.”

Drakken grinned. “Ah, but that’s why we need it. If my scheme with Ms Fang is to succeed, we will need this to… command our little tools around the world. Pareo Servus needs a stable communication system like this, otherwise they just return here for further instruction.”

Carl nodded. “Well, what shall I do next, Sir?”

“Finish up the laser generator. I have to prepare the… organic side of this.”

Carl bowed and Drakken blinked, before remembering that Ms Fang had provided this assistant, along with the components to finish the communications system for his project. For their project, he corrected himself. He could not fault Carl at all, the young man was smart and attentive. Plus, like Kara, he listened to him and he would politely suggest solutions to problems he, Drakken, had missed.

Yes, this is so much better than when I had Shego. Drakken sighed and glanced across at the heavily reinforced cabinet that sat against the wall. Painted very carefully, he knew because he had done it himself, to diagrams and everything! On the cabinet glared a bright red biohazard symbol. Only he knew why, and what was inside.

Drakken had never been one for bio-warfare. He wasn’t that stupid. What was the point of wiping everyone out with something like that? Where was the chance to make them fear you and then obey you if they were dead? Besides, he knew that no matter how carefully you designed something like that, it would come back to haunt you. No… no bio-warfare for him.

But what was in that cabinet was pure genius. Even if he had been forced to… outsource for most of the technology. The plan, the design the solution to the first basic problems had all been his idea. Now, he could finally try it out on the woman who had made him think it up in the first place.

Turning, Drakken smiled cruelly at the sight of his henchmen snapping the final manacle onto the pale green figure in the middle of his little plasma ring.

The plasma ring… Another idea built in a day or so, thanks to Kara’s ability to command… huge resources. Drakken was in seventh heaven. Now, he had the ability to take away one of the few things that made Shego better than an average thug! Okay, so she was still dangerous, he knew that from being on the non-flaming end of her fists or boots. Here… manacled, she was helpless.

Grinning, Drakken wandered over to gloat, only to stop and stare at the sight of Shego’s beaten body. The detail on the comm screen had been basic. Now, Drakken could only stare. Unlike normal people, Shego did not bruise a dark red. She bruised bright green. Her entire body was covered in swatches of the darker colour and where she wasn’t bruised, the skin was so pale he could almost see through it. As well as that, her body was covered in cuts, cuts that had bled bright red trickles across the beaten flesh.

Unable to help himself, Drakken swallowed. Physical violence had always repulsed him. Possibly due to being the kid everyone had picked on at school. Now, staring at Shego, he sighed.

“I suppose you deserved this. After all, you are the one who betrayed me, right?”

Shego stared at him, mute, and Drakken frowned. “Well, no need to be like that!”

Again, Shego just glared at him, her emerald eyes flashing with anger and embarrassment, and Drakken scratched his head. “Shego?”

“She cannot respond, Doctor.” The smooth cool voice of Kara echoed around the room. “I… decided that the precaution of making her temporarily paralysed would be a good idea. At the moment, any command she sends to her body is being blocked. Well, anything other that breathing and the other basic functions.”

Drakken turned towards the sound of her voice, admonishment over the treatment of Shego on his lips, and then paused. His eye widened in shock and his mouth gaped. “Gurrrghh?”

Standing next to the entrance to his lab, Kara Fang smiled and a hand slid gently to gently tug the black jade sticks folded into the knot at the top of her hair. “Doctor?”

“What… I mean…” Drakken’s eyes slid down and he flushed. “Um, you look… woah.”

Kara smiled. She had changed before coming into the lab. The kimono had been replaced by almost the same ultra body hugging, glossy red cat suit she had worn at the factory. The difference was a simple black silk sash that had been tied loosely around her muscular waist and the cat suit itself now had a silver dragon running down the length of her body, trailing across her breasts, while the tail ended close to her crotch.

Watching Drakken’s expression, the smile on Kara’s face became sly. “I wanted to dress for the occasion. Do you approve?”

Drakken swallowed, while, behind him, Shego rolled her emerald eyes in disgust. Oh please… that’s so pathetic. Not even Drakken’s going to fall for… actually, who am I kidding?

“Very nice, Ms Fang.” The thin blue man smiled and held out a hand, which Kara took gracefully. “Now, I understand you want to watch this stage of the project get underway?”

“Yes, if that is not too much trouble?” Kara glanced over at Shego and inclined her head. “Oh, I presume you wish Shego to be… totally free of paralysis while this is done?”

Drakken glanced over at Shego’s emerald gaze and sighed. “Yes please. I need to monitor the integration of motor response. Speaking of which…” He waved a hand at Shego’s beaten form. “Was all that totally necessary.”

Kara turned towards Shego and only the thief was able to see the amused and taunting stare as she sighed dramatically.

“Doctor, I am so sorry. Sometimes, I get carried away.” She turned back to Drakken and ran a hand gently across her breasts, to pause at her heart. “It’s just that in the Jade, traitors are not to be tolerated. They seed such discord in our organisation, and in our…business, as I am sure you understand, trust is everything. As such, they are treated as brutally as possible.”

Oh yeah, and you have been enjoying every single second, Kara. You bitch. Shego thought with venom.

Drakken frowned. “I…”

“She has most likely been responsible for every failure.” Kara pushed gently. “Even that interesting Beuno Nacho idea. We were most impressed with the Diablo toys. An excellent plan that failed… when you told Shego what was happening. Coincidence? I do not think so.”

Except it was. Shego rolled her eyes. Stoppable and his damn luck saved the day back then.

Drakken paused and he glanced across at his one time partner strapped to the metal ring. “True. And that… all that evidence you showed me. I… yes, she has betrayed me, hasn’t she.”

“Yes, Doctor. But, as I have already said, I do apologise for being a little… over enthusiastic.”

Sighing, Drakken glanced at the young woman next to him and flushed as she played with her hair again. He shrugged. “Well, we both know she is well enough to take any strain that my device will cause and this has taught her a valuable lesson I suppose.”

“You are an optimist, Doctor. I find that agreeable.” Kara smiled. “We should begin. Time waits for nobody, even a leader such as I and an evil genius such as you.”

Drakken nodded and glanced at Shego. “Yes. I’ll get the sedative, if you’ll undo whatever it is you’ve done to her.”

Sedative?

“Certainly. Though I must first ask you if the ring has been activated?” Kara tilted her head and Drakken muttered, taking out a remote. With a press, the ring around Shego began to hum with power.

Shego’s eyes widened as Drakken tucked the remote into his pocket and a gleam appeared in her eyes. The remote… he had a remote!

Think… think. I need to get my hands on that remote or at least do something to it. Maybe if I damage it, the ring will deactivate. She rolled her eyes from left to right and frowned. With Kara and four guards, three henchmen and a Ninja, there where too many people around to risk anything right now. I’ll have to bide my time and…

“Very good, Doctor. You go and get the sedative. I shall remove the paralysis now.”

As Drakken walked off towards a cabinet, Kara carefully walked up to the ring that held Shego and looked up at her immobile face. The emerald glare, however, made Kara smile. She leaned in close and her fingers slid gently up to the three needles still gleaming against her skin

“Now, this may hurt a little.” She whispered. Taking hold of the first, Kara pulled gently and the needle slid free. Shego arched her back and a whimper escaped her lips as a sensation of red-hot agony washed over her. Kara nodded. “As I said, it may hurt a little. Nerve impulse blocking is quite invasive, which is why hardly anyone knows how to perform it.”

“Whha.” Shego managed. The control she had of her lips was still shaky.

“Now, now. Do not try to speak, I have not finished yet. There are still two more to go.” Kara reached up and pulled the second needle free, twisting it slightly as it rolled free. “Now this will…”

Shego’s eyes went wide and her entire body tightened as a second wave of pain hit her. She snarled at Kara, who only winked and yanked the final needle free with no warning. Shego cried out, making Drakken and the henchmen around her jump and turn to stare at her.

“You fucking bitch!” Shego screamed as control over her body reasserted itself. She cursed as her neck, muscles and spine burned with agonising fire. “When I get free, I’ll… I’ll”

“But you won’t.” Kara grinned. “Oh, you won’t.”

Drakken ran up to the two women, one dipping with sweat and snarling, while the second smiled tauntingly at her, and waved his free hand. The other held a small plastic box with a syringe inside it.

“What are you two-“ He began, only to be silenced by Kara’s raised hand.

“Shego was distressed by the feeling of pain as I removed the needles. It is quite a painful thing to experience, Doctor. I have felt it myself once, as part of a demonstration.” Kara gently slid the needles into her silk sash. “Now then, shall we get on with this?”

“Doc, she’s usingyou! Can’t you see that? She’ll kill you without a seconds hesitation when she has what she wants!” Shego strained against her bonds. “Don’t dothis to me! It’s what she wants, we were a team, we area team!”

Drakken stared at Shego, as the green woman glowered at him. The gaze was angry and… wounded. He felt a twinge of regret, even though she had been sleeping with Possible, but the sudden appearance of Kara’s face in front of him made him blink.

“Do not feel shame,Doctor!” Kara shook him slightly. “This woman has betrayed you! She has been giving Possible information on every single plan! Probably sleeping with her! You sawthe evidence!”

Drakken nodded reluctantly. Kara was right! At least this way, his plans for world domination would actually succeed. At least Shego would once again be under his control, not whoring with that… that cheerleader! She wouldn’t give that woman any more information, she wouldn’t betray him like she did before! Possible would fail and the world would be his!

Women had always rejected him and Shego had been no different, even when he was her boss! Even though he gave her everything she asked for!

But Kara didn’t reject him. Kara was helping him, interested in him. She wanted to help him win, to win! After all his years of defeat with Shego by his side, he now had everything he needed to make his plans work, and Kara had been the one to provide it all! No, Kara wasn’t playing him, and if she wished Shego to be placed under mind control as they had planned, that was what would happen!

The feeling of regret faded and the heady memory of watching Shego obey his every command when she had been chipped made him grin. Shego would do exactly as he commanded, when he commanded it. The thought was very appealing.

Drakken opened the box in his hand and gently took out the syringe that lay inside. “We need to inject this sedative into her. I don’t want her awake while the technology is inserted into her body. It could cause complications while we monitor the effects.”

Kara sighed and watched with satisfaction as Shego slumped in her manacles, realising that Drakken was not listening to her. Her plan was working perfectly.

“A shame, part of me wonders what would happen if this was given to a conscious subject.” Kara mused. “Tell me, would one be able to watch their will power drain away?”

Drakken stared at her oddly. “Possibly, though why anyone would want to is beyond me.”

“Oh, you’d love that, wouldn’t you Kara.” Shego muttered, both she and Kara ignoring Drakken as the blue doctor looked at each one with confusion. “You’d love to watch me lose control of myself. You’d love to know that Drakken’s managed to fuck me up as badly as you!”

Kara’s smile turned venomous and she leaned forwards. “I want to watch, yes.”

Shego looked away, only to blink as Kara snatched the syringe from Drakken and glanced towards him.

“Doctor, go and get what you need to perform the operation. I shall give Shego the sedative, I promise.”

“Well, all right.” Drakken conceded after a few moments. What is going on with those two?“I’ll just be over here.”

As the doctor left, Kara turned to Shego and held up the syringe. “Ready?”

Shego wanted to pull away, but the manacles held her as tightly as the ones had when Kara had been torturing her. Still, she tried to avoid the needle, knowing full well that the moment she was put under, her life as a free person was over. She would become Kara’s pet, obedient and docile, as she and Kim had been when Drakken had used his chips before.

Her efforts were in vain. Kara moved smoothly to her side, gripped her hair and tilted her head, exposing her neck. Even as Shego cursed, she felt the sharp prick and sting as the needle slid into her flesh, followed by the cool fluid that would soon put her under.

As the syringe was pulled from her neck, Shego blinked as Kara gently placed her forehead against hers and tilted her head so that her lips were next to Shego’s ear. Soft breath tickled her skin and then Kara’s soft gloating voice slid into her, making her pale with apprehension.

“Finally, after all these years of hope. You’re mine… Shego.”

Shego jerked as smooth fingers clamped onto her carotid artery, blocking the flow of blood to her brain. She writhed in the manacles, knowing that Kara was inpatient, too impatient to wait for the brief moment it would take the sedative to flow into her system and knock her out. So, she was doing something that was faster, but painful.

Shego’s vision started to swim, dark shadows appearing at the edge of her vision. Her mind screamed at her. She felt as though she was back on the transmitter, electricity crawling over her skin, during the fateful day Kim had kicked her into it. It felt the same way, her heart thundering in her ears as she fought for oxygen. Only, this time, her body was fine… The flow was blocked by Kara’s gentle, yet precise touch.

As her vision faded to swirling colours, Shego slipped into unconsciousness, the last thing she could hear was the sound of Kara’s mocking giggle. Then… darkness

---

M.A.R.A- Main west highway. Middleton. 7PM.

“Please, Kim. Can we stop now?” Mara’s voice pleaded from the cockpit speakers as Kim turned the wheel into a petrol station and sat back, breathing deeply. “You know I don’t take normal petrol! My core systems, and that includes my AI positronic network, use the same fuel, and that’s almost gone! The only place I can refuel is at your home and I’ve not had a chance to refuel for the whole day, considering you asked me to keep looking while you met with Ron and Monique. Please, can we go home?”

Kim glanced down at the LCD panel and shook her head. “I can’t… we can go for another couple of hours before I’m missed at home. Surely you can too.”

“Kim, I want to help you find your friend, I really do!” Mara sighed. “Despite what sister Sadie tells me.”

Kim glanced down and frowned, her green eyes tired. “Sadie… your sister?”

“Well, sure. She was built first, and my AI is one of Dr Freeman’s creations. So, I consider her my sister. She tells me Shego shot at her with a cannon.”

Kim nodded, but smiled suddenly. “Yeah… but you know, now I come to think of it, she tilted the gun slightly when she was about to fire… I’ve always wondered about that. Why only graze Sadie? She could have destroyed it completely before shooting the molten metal tank.”

“It?” Mara bristled, making Kim wince.

“Her… Mara, her. I’m sorry. I’m so, so tired. Sorry.” Kim closed her eyes. “She gave us a means to escape… I know she did! Called me a survivor… like her.”

Mara remained quiet, knowing that Kim had not asked her a question. Her fuzzy logic system puzzled over almost all human emotions. Indeed, it had taken her months of careful tutoring by Dr Freeman, when she had still been on his mainframe in the laboratory, to explain most emotions to her. She had developed her own with time, but one still puzzled her.

“Kim, you sound almost… in love with her. Indeed, you’re body has been displaying the same characteristics I have seen in your father when he described your mother to me.”

Kim blushed. “Um… right. Can you do me a favour?”

Mara’s sensors detected the change of Kim’s skin to a flush. Mara was non plussed. “Certainly.”

“Um, don’t say that to my parents, okay? Please? I… I have no idea what’s going on with me right now. Last thing I need is a screaming match with mom and dad.”

“Are you saying you arein love? With a woman who carries a laser cannon around to assault cars?” Mara asked, shocked. Her AI jumped a few lines of code when Kim laughed, helplessly. “What?”

“I suppose you could say that… and it’s certainly the most unique description of Shego I’ve ever heard. But… but, right now, please keep that to yourself, okay?”

Mara was even more shocked, but Kim was her owner and she sighed. “Very well”

“Thanks.” Kim managed. “So, can you handle another couple of hours?”

Mara sighed. “I suppose so, I’ll turn down all non essential systems and that should quadruple my runtime. But I’ll leave the sensor’s at full power and keep the satnav link running, so we can both keep an eye on the search you asked for.”

Kim nodded and patted the wheel gently. “My dad and Wade were right.”

“About what?” Mara asked, the lights dimming slightly and status displays shutting off as she shut down all the systems she felt she could spare.

“That a hero needs a super car.” Kim smiled tiredly. “Looks like I’ve got one.”

Mara chuckled. “Corny, Kim.”

Kim smiled, patting the dashboard. “Maybe… but true. Seriously, Mara, thanks for helping me keep looking. I promise, two more hours and then we’ll go home. I swear.”

“Mmm, hmm.” Mara muttered. “Well, if you go looking for more than two hours, you’ll lack my delightful company. I’ve managed to pare my power use down to two hours and forty-five minutes. After that, my cold fusion core will be depleted, and only your father has the fuel to recharge that.”

“Well then, lets keep looking.” Taking a deep breath, Kim turned the key in the ignition and drove off, tired eyes alert for any flash of green and black, any sign of emerald eyes and a sarcastic smile. Sighing, Kim felt the guilt well up in her gut once more.

I have to find you Shego… where have they taken you!

---

Shego.

Hey you… wake up!Her mothers voice. Get up! You’ll be late for school! Not that I care, one way or the other.

Shego’s eyes slid open and she balked at the sight of her old room. “Oh no…”

Fisting her hands in her long dark hair, Shego closed her eyes and banged her head against the pillows. “I don’t wanna remember this, damn you to hell!”

Shi! Get up! Don’t make me come up there! You know what happens to bad girls!

Shego felt a chill run through her and she rolled out of bed. Oh she knew what happened… she knew too well. But as she stood up, she felt her blood pound. There in the mirror, stood her… her normal twenty-five year old self.

Shi!

She heard footsteps start at the bottom of the stairs and panic gripped her. Her mother was coming up the stairs, and if she’d been drinking again… if she was too far-gone. Shego glanced down, to see her hands trembling.

No… I’m not a little teenager anymore! I’m not fifteen anymore! I’m an adult! I can shoot plasma from my hands! I could kick my mother’s ass if she tried to…

The footsteps stopped at the door, and Shego whimpered, backing away. “Mom?”

So, youare up! Do you have any idea how long I’ve been calling you at the bottom of the stairs?

“I’m sorry… I didn’t hear you. I had… a bad day at school yesterday and…”

Save it for someone who cares! Tell your brothers if you want. But get your stupid little ass downstairs, and hurry the fuck up! You miss the bus, you’re staying home, and I’ll make you pay for it!

Shego’s face blanched and she backed instinctively away from the door, from… her.

“Okay… Okay!” She swallowed. “I’m sorry, mom.”

Yeah, so was your father… means fuck all to me! Just hurry up!

Shego listened to her mother’s footsteps as they stomped downstairs. She glanced down and watched as her hands trembled. She felt queasy and staggered across to her bed and sat down.

“Why do I keep remembering this. I don’t want to remember this… why do you keep making me re-live it!” Shego muttered at the universe. “Damn my mother! And damn Hego for making us into something he always wanted! Why can’t I leave this behind!”

Shego suddenly felt light-headed and she sat on the bed. She knew that she was in some sort of drugged dream, like before. But now it was worse. This wasn’t school kids being as cruel as they could be… though she had no desire to relive that again. No, Shego knew she couldn’t escape and if she was reliving what she thought she was… then she was in trouble.

A sudden rumble made her blanch and she ran to the window, to see what she knew was coming hurtling towards her.

Gleaming in the midday sun, the multicoloured meteor shot towards their home and she glanced down at the sight of Hego, just a teenager like her, and her younger bothers all running out into the garden to see the meteor.

They didn’t know what was about to happen, but she did. Shego knew all to well and she closed her eyes.

This was the day it all went from bad to worse. This was the day her mother and father, no matter how cruel they could be, died. They didn’t deserve it… no matter how much I think they do!

This was the day that she… she would feel herself burning to death. Green flame wrapping itself around her, through her… inside her! The pain would keep on coming and coming, until she would fall unconscious. She would wake to find her skin a green colour, her blue eyes emerald and her body throbbing in pain.

This was the day that she became an even bigger freak than she was before and while her brothers celebrated their new-found powers with jubilation, she would only feel empty.

The room shattered, and she heard her mother and father scream… as they had done before. But it didn’t matter to her, not when she felt the flash of green energy, felt it slam into her, pick her up and swamp her with it’s burning touch. Felt it force it’s way into her, even as she screamed.

She was Shego… and this was the day that her life changed.

Suddenly, the pain was gone, the green light fading to pitch black. Shego hung in the darkness, unable to move or find any reference point. Only the sensation of… cold, running though her veins allowed her to know she was not dead.

“She’s waking up.” A voice… cool and composed. “Doctor… looks like you were successful.”

“I knew I would be. This has taken years to plan!” Another voice, she knew it so well. “But I want to run a full set of tests before we turn on the controlling aspect of the network.”

“Oh very well. I have to go I am afraid. I have to meet my master in the Blood Jade, Doctor. He wants a progress report. However, I think I can safely say that our relationship will continue and may even have more resources allocated to it.”

“More? More than all of this?”

“Oh yes.”Shego felt something stroke her hair. “Look after her, Doctor. I shall be back shortly.”

The voices faded and Shego hung in the dark once more… time passing slowly.

Suddenly, the dark began to lighten. First there were shadows, flicking in the dark, then shapes… and finally colours. As the drug wore off, Shego slowly began to return to consciousness.

---

Drakkens Lab. 9PM.

Shego, her mouth dry, groaned and opened her eyes slowly. She blinked as the drug that Kara had injected into her left her system fully and she looked round the room.

The lab had been darkened, so that only a few lights around the edges lit the room gently. The machines and computers that dotted the room still hummed, but were quieter than they had been when she had last been conscious.

With no apparent danger present, Shego glanced down and ran her gaze along her body, checking for injury. She was, of course, still manacled to Drakken’s ring device, and that limited her vision to the front of her body.

She still had the white cotton slip on, of course, but the blood trails that had run down her body had been cleaned off. Only the deep, red welted cuts remained and those had begun to heal, enough to make them itch.

Other than that, Shego noted with some relief, she felt normal. She could move her arms and legs as much as the manacles would allow, and she could move her head freely. If they had placed the damn mind control chip on her body, either Drakken had screwed up, or it wasn’t working.

I wonder what time it is…Shego wondered, casting her gaze around the room. Must have been under for quite some time. I am so thirsty!

A sudden hiss of a door made Shego crane her neck, desperate to see who had come into the dimmed laboratory. She did not have long to wait.

“Ah, awake.” Drakken’s voice, nasal and amused, echoed around the room as he walked into her field of view. “I was beginning to wonder if you’d ever wake up. Did you know that you snore?”

Shego glowered, her hands clenching in the manacles. “Actually, no. But then I’ve never had to sleep upright before!”

Drakken, still dressed in his light blue lab coat, folded his hands behind his back and stared at her. “You might like to know that stage one was a complete success.”

“Great, fantastic. Seeing as I’m still breathing, I’ll knock that down on my personal progress plan as a plus. Now, get me out of this damn thing!”

Drakken sighed. “I can’t do that. Not until I know the device I installed is working.”

Shego felt her blood chill. “What device? A mind chip? Did you actually do it? Have you put one of those… thingson me?”

Drakken smiled. “Not quite. But it’s aligning itself with your mind and thought processes as we speak, Shego. I just haven’t turned it on yet. Well, turned on the control aspect. It’s too early for that, I want at least a few hours for it to adjust. New technology and all that, I have to be careful.”

“Doc, I don’t give a fuck what you want.” Shego wrenched her hands against the manacles. “Fang has you so screwed up you don’t know what you’re doing!”

“No, she showed me the truth about you!” Drakken murmured angrily. “Something that you confirmed to me!”

“I never confirmed jack!” Shego retorted. “Yeah, I’ve been to Kim’s house, yeah I like her… so what? Like that’s stopped me kicking her ass before!”

“We’ve been through this once already!” Drakken snapped. “You admitted you have betrayed me, and if there is one thing I will nottolerate, it is betrayal!” His gaze became sly. “Once I have Possible under the same control as you, I thought we would start with a begging session. I’ll have you asking me to forgive you for everything I’ve had to put up with, and Kim Possible will beg me to forgive her for destroying all my toys! ”

Shego shook her head. “Still a kid… Drewwwbie.”

Drakken’s face heated. “I am not a child! And I swear, Shego… call me that again,” He pulled the remote that controlled the ring and hit a button. “And you’ll regret it.”

The ring whined to life, sparks shimmering over its surface. Shego stared in horror. “But, I haven’t…” The slam of the painfield into her body left her gasping. She snarled at Drakken as her body recovered. “You… you… Dr D, you are so, sodead!”

“Oh, please. Talk to the glove cause the… um… ears aren’t listening?” Drakken shrugged. “I don’t know, always seemed a stupid motto to me. Anyway, I doubt it because my little device,” Drakken tapped the remote smugly and then wandered over to a table and dropped it there. “Stops you, Shego, from getting me.”

The blue villain grinned cruelly at her and to Shego’s horrified shock, actually did a little dance in front of her. Instead of watching Drakken, however, her gaze fixed onto the remote.

Got to get hold of that thing, but how? I can’t pick it up, or grip it with my hands… or my feet. Shego glanced up at the menacing dull metal around her. Can’t generate a plasma field, it comes back and hits me twice as hard. Though I could probably hold out against the pain, I know the ring would attract it and render it useless. So, what else… I can’t use the beam of plasma energy. My hands are manacled so I can’t aim it and the roof is not my target.

She glanced across as the doors to the lab hissed open. Six synth-drones and five of the Ninja’s that Kara had brought with her, walked into the lab. Drakken stopped dancing and tilted his head.

“Yes?”

“Sorry, Doctor. Kara Fang’s second in command, Dojo Master Quia, told us to come here. He does not want Shego left unguarded for any length of time.”

“Oh… but she’s not going anywhere!” Drakken giggled, pointing. “My ring is perfect! It would take an ionised charge hitting the control panel at the base, or the remote control, to screw it up enough for her to escape!”

Shego’s eyes glowed suddenly and her eyes flicked to the remote once more. Ionised charge… like my ability to charge the air particles to an ionised gas! I can do that anywhere!

She glanced around at the Ninja’s and drones, face alert. There were more than she wanted to be here when she broke out. But the more time she spent manacled to this damn thing, the greater the chance Drakken and Kara would manage to rape her mind. At least, right now, she had control of her body, a plan and a chance to escape.

Shego glanced round once more and a determined expression slid over her face. I’m taking it!

Closing her eyes, Shego concentrated her body’s energy. Instead of generating a plasmatic charge, she focused on her ability to generate ions. Got to generate enough power to keep the ions in the air active… concentrate!

“That may be, Doctor, but Shego is dangerous, we both know that and-” The ring around Shego’s body sparked suddenly, and the young woman spread-eagled in the middle of it winced. The Ninja jumped, hand snapping to the blade stored in its scabbard. “What was that?”

Drakken frowned and his eyes examined Shego intently. Despite his examination of her, he could not see any green plasma anywhere. “I don’t know… could be a malfunction somewhere, but I doubt it.”

Oh… oh hell, this hurts! Shego felt sweat begin to drip off her body as she struggled to maintain the massive charge she was building around her. The plasma ring wasabsorbing some of the ionic charge, that part that was close to her natural frequency of plasma generation and it was returning it as pain, awful pain, to her body. However, Shego groaned, fought the sensation and concentrated on building the charge around her. Just… a few… seconds… more.

Drakken’s eyes narrowed as sweat dripped off Shego’s body, her eyes shut and her face contorted in pain. Even as he took a step forwards, he heard her breath catch and a groan escape her lips. But then he sniffed and his eyes widened.

“Ozone….” He turned to the Ninja’s, fear gripping him. “She’s generating ozone!”

The Ninja who had confronted him originally stepped forwards, sword unsheathing with a scrape of metal on leather. “What does that mean?”

Drakken frowned and jumped as Shego let out a cry and he felt something, something charged, shoot past him. The ozone odour became intensely powerful and he gagged, waving a hand. “She’s generated a field of ions, and…”

The sound of the huge communication console sparking made him glance across to the table where the remote sat. It too began to spark and suddenly smoke burst from it. Drakken’s face paled.

“No…”

The remote exploded, followed swiftly by the huge communications system. The mass of consoles and screens exploded in a huge burst of yellow flame and black smoke, choking both Drakken and the Ninja’s as it swept across the room, drenching everything.

Confusion reigned inside the huge cavern, the only calm area’s the red glows where Drakken’s synth-drones stood. Confusion that would soon become chaos as Drakken staggered across to the plasma ring and fell through the gap in its centre. A gap that had held the green body of Shego a second ago. He stared, coughing and then screamed.

“She’s free! Shego is free! Someone call security and lock down the base! She’s got free!”

“Yes, Doc! I have!” A voice hissed next to him, the sudden familiar roar of her plasma igniting next to his ear.

Before he could do anything, a fist dripping with green plasma smashed into his body, knocking him along the floor. The world blurred for Drakken, and he fell into blessed unconsciousness.

Shego, half-naked, beaten, dehydrated and badly bruised, stood amidst the choking smoke and grinned. This was better than she could have hoped for, not only had she got free, but now she had cover to escape.

Got to get to the hanger and grab our hovercraft. Once I get out, I can work out where to go. Hell, it’s got the range to fly to the Fox’s hideout if necessary. Her mind gently slid an image of Kim’s face in front of her, but Shego shook her head violently. She made her opinions of me totally clear!

The sudden feeling of two hands grabbing her around the waist, while a second pair gripped her breasts, made Shego snap back to reality.

“Please do not resist, Shego. You are to be restrained and not harmed.” The synth-drones explained in neutral tones. “Resistance is pointless!”

“Not to me… doy!” Shego grinned and her plasma coated fist slammed into the first drone’s arms, breaking them off her in a splash of green bio-goo. As the one gripping her waist crumpled, she turned her attention to the second drone and he received a fist in the mouth, splashing her face and cruel grin with goo as he went down. “Shego, two. Kara, nil!”

“But for how long, Shego?” a voice whispered behind her. Shego blinked, turning to attack whoever it was who had managed to sneak up on her. As she did so, hand snapping out to punch, she felt a foot connect with her head.

She fell, rolling instinctively as she did so to spring upwards into a crouch. A third synth-drone ran towards her out of the gloom and was met with a glowing ball of plasma as he did so. The drone exploded in a shower of goo.

Suddenly, a silver katana blade whistled down out of the smoke and Shego only just managed to avoid losing her left arm. She sprang backwards into the smoke, mind reeling.

Whoever this is… they’re good. Not as good as me or… Kimmie, but good! Considering how badly my bodies screwed up, I’m gonna have to break a sweat against this one.

Her senses sharpened as three shuriken shot through the smoke with a whirr. Her plasma burst out. Three tiny shots of it, which melted each shuriken into tiny globs of molten metal that splashed onto the floor as they fell. As the Ninja that had thrown them ran at her, Shego’s foot lashed out, smashing into his face and knocking him down.

As he crumpled and she slid to her feet, the same Ninja who had managed to kick her now stood in front of her, sword drawn.

“Surrender!” The voice, much to Shego’s surprise, was female, steely and determined.

“You don’t know me very well if you expect me to give in!” Shego laughed, only to curse as a fourth set of drone hands shot out and grabbed her shoulders. “Fuck!”

Her hand smacked behind her, bathed in green plasma and she felt its hands slacken as the goo poured out of its smashed faceplate. “Sorry, what were you saying?”

“I said surrender or be taken down by force!” The Female Ninja slid forwards, tensing her body. “I do not wish to hurt you, but I will if I must. Despite Mistress Fang’s… orders.”

Shego noticed the hesitation and tilted her head. “Hurt you, hasn’t she? Needles, that odd pressure point stuff? What’d you do?”

The Ninja’s blade swung to a new position. “That is none of your concern. Now, your answer?”

Shego turned her head slightly and the third Ninja that had been creeping up on her with a can of mace watched in horror as a tiny glowing green ball shot into the can, making it explode around him. Choking, the Ninja fell, writhing on the floor as his lungs shut down.

“That’s a no, I think….” Shego smiled, only to gasp in shock and back-pedal as the Katana swung so close to slash her slip. The fabric ripped in a neat line and Shego snarled. “Do that again, and I’ll break your leg!”

“I doubt it.” The Ninja replied, backing away into the smoke once more. “I really do…”

Shego glanced around and her mind whirled. Too badly beaten to get into a match with her. Got to get to the hanger!

Shego carefully made her way across to where her memory said the doorway was. The red glow of the two Drones guarding the door made her pause long enough to fire two plasma bolts into the gloom. She heard the wet explosions of synth-drones losing cohesion and smiled. Easy!

Her smile contorted into a scream as two shuriken found their mark, burying themselves into the flesh on her back. Shego stumbled, her head smashing into the wall as she fought the pain coming from her back, as her hands scrabbled behind her to grip them.

Finding one, Shego pulled the metal star from her flesh with a slight sucking sound, blood splashing onto the concrete. Goddamn throwing stars! Not again!

The whistle of the same katana made her snarl and she kicked backwards. Her foot slammed into the female Ninja and she staggered crashing into a bank of machines that sputtered and sparked.

A scream from the right hand side of her body made Shego glance over. The Ninja that ran towards her,screaming, met a plasma ball coming the other way and as it impacted on his armour, he slid along the floor like Drakken had… unconscious.

Shego bolted for the door, feeling a final pair of hands try and grab her as the sliding door hissed open. She turned as she fell through the doorway and her hand broke the nose of the final Ninja that had been in the room as she did so.

Hauling herself upright, Shego staggered along the corridor. She knew from personal experience that Drakken usually kept the hanger very close to the main laboratory. He clamed it made more sense that way. Shego thought it was because he was lazy and couldn’t be bothered to walk more than he had to.

Now, however, it was working to her advantage. Suddenly, she fell against the wall, blinking as her adrenaline took its toll on her abused body. She could feel exhaustion beginning to overwhelm her and shook her head.

Just a little further.

Then, as she staggered around a corner, breath heaving, she noticed a huge set of sealed doors and staggered over to them. Hitting the control next to the grey doorway, it slid open. There, to her mounting relief, lay the main hanger.

Inside, planes and machines of all types littered the huge space. The green square in the centre made her heart lurch. That was where her jet would once have been. The one that Kara had turned into an expanding fireball.

Shaking her head with dismay, Shego glanced around looking for the hovercraft she knew Drakken would have.

The two shuriken that zipped through the air towards her were unnoticed until it was too late. Both found their mark and buried themselves deeply into the muscle of Shego’s lower left leg. The green woman cried out in pain and fell forwards, her body smacking the cold concrete, forcing the air from her lungs.

Shego rolled desperately, and she slid into a sitting position, her fingers gripping her damaged leg. She gritted her teeth and grabbed the gleaming metal stars that stuck from her flesh, yanking them free. Her breath escaped her in an explosive sob, but with the stars gone, she could flex her leg without pain.

She was, however, too late. Her reactions were slow, dulled by pain and exhaustion and Shego never had time to react to the sound of rapidly running feet that echoed around the hanger.

Even as her glazed emerald eyes looked up to locate the sound, a shape flew through the air towards her prone body and a booted foot landed with a snap in the middle of her wounded left leg. She stared in horror as the bone in her leg bent at an impossible angle, and then the pain washed over her.

A scream of agony echoed around the hanger, as Shego writhed on the concrete. The ninja, who had chased her though Drakken’s laboratory, had broken her leg. Tears welled up in her eyes as her leg burned with pain, and she looked up into merciless brown eyes.

“I did not wish to do that. Mistress Kara will punish me for harming you.” The ninja whispered. “Now, if you do not resist, I will take you back to the laboratory, and a medic can patch you up.”

Shego snarled and a flaming plasma ball burst from her hand, to impact on the Ninja’s armour. The female Ninja screamed, flailing at the flames burning on her tunic and glared at Shego with loathing.

“Do not do that again!”

“Kiss my ass!” Shego retorted, her body washed with fresh adrenaline. Scraping her left foot along the floor, she staggered upright, biting back another scream as her broken bone shifted. “I’m leaving!”

“I cannot let you go!” The Ninja whispered, her katana in front of her once more. “If you try to escape, I will use this to stop you.”

“And risk damaging me further?” Shego retorted, backing away. Her left leg uselessly sliding along the floor. She felt her back bump against a plane and swore inwardly. “How much punishment will Kara give you for breaking my leg?”

“I do not know, but if I let you go… she will kill me.” The Ninja’s sword tilted. “I will use this to incapacitate you!”

“Try me.” Shego managed, her hands raising to fire plasma. As two green balls left her hands, the Ninja crouched, dodging the first and rolling to avoid the second. Shego blinked, her body just not responding quickly enough due to its injuries for her to compensate. Even as she tried, the Ninja ran towards her once more, a cry echoing from her lips.

There was a whisper of steel, a sound of impact and then silence.

Bright red blood dripped onto the cold concrete in a steady flow and Shego’s haggard breathing echoed around the chamber. The fingers of both hands gripped the Katana as her opponent held it tightly, the blade passing through her right shoulder, buried in the metal of the plane behind her.

Shego gasped, as agony swamped her body and her fingers jerked helplessly against the blade. She was pinned and the Ninja’s eyes bored into hers, as they stood there, motionless.

“I have won, Shego.” The Ninja whispered quietly. “Please, please surrender!”

Shego stared at her and shook her head. As the blade twisted slightly, She choked, fingers scrabbling on the surface of the blade to desperately find purchase. “S… stop.”

The Ninja closed her eyes. “Not until you surrender! I have to do this! I’m sorry.”

Shego’s face contorted in pain as the blade twisted further, ripping already damaged muscle and causing the blood flow to hasten into a steady stream. Shego’s mouth slid open and a silent scream of agony escaped her.

But, deep down inside her, something stirred. Something that Shego had quietly wished she could resist. Something that had been growing for years and now, meant so much to her! A single word, someone special! Red hair, green eyes… someone she respected. Someone she loved.

Kim. Got to stop Kara from hurting Kim…

Fresh determination swamped her and the fingers that gripped the blade burst into flame as her mind cleared enough to concentrate. To the Ninja girl’s horror, the metal of her sword began to melt, dripping on the concrete between them. Shego’s eyes gleamed and her smile turned evil. It mingled with her face, still marred with pain, and the expression chilled the woman holding the katana.

“Better let go… unless you want to lose a hand.” The blade closest to Shego’s fingers turned a brilliant white, smoked and then snapped from the hilt. As it came free, the Ninja stared in horror at the broken steaming blade, and that was her mistake.

A fist, bathed in green plasma, slammed into her stomach. She fell to her knees, the air escaping her lungs in one explosive cry. She never saw the second fist as it smashed into her neck, the blow knocking the Ninja to the ground, unconscious.

Staggering over to the prone form, Shego ripped at the Ninja’s clothing, pulling a strip of cloth free. Her shaking fingers slid along the section of blade that remained buried through her shoulder and she tugged it gently. The agony had her falling to her knees, biting back a scream. She couldn’t move it… not alone.

Shaking fingers gently wrapped the cloth around the blade, and she tied it as tightly as she dared around the wound. The cloth darkened. Splotches of bright red almost instantly soaking through it.

There was no time to do anything else, however. Alarms rang though the base, making Shego’s head ache, as she looked around at the strobing red lights. She couldn’t stay here, not even to pull the clothes off the unconscious woman. She had to get away!

Dragging her broken leg behind her, staggering as she did so, Shego desperately looked for the hovercraft that she knew had to be here. Her hand slapped against a helicopter and she felt sick as she staggered around it. Time was running out. She had to get away… and if the flow of blood from her fingers was any indication, she needed medical attention as quickly as she could get it.

She gasped as her leg almost gave from under her, but as she leaned against the wall of the hanger, fighting off another wave on nausea, she looked up. There, sitting on the concrete, was the hovercraft she had been looking for.

A cry of relief bubbled up from her throat, and Shego staggered over to the hovering machine, dragging her broken leg as quickly as she dared over the lip. As she collapsed ino the chair, she let out a cry of pain. In her relief, she had forgotten about the protruding tip of the blade sticking out of her shoulder, and it had twisted slightly.

Choking once more, Shego leaned forwards into the passenger side of the cockpit and unable to help herself, vomited. She coughed, and choked, for a few seconds, fighting wave after wave of nausea, and then with shaky hands slid her fingers to the joystick and throttle.

Punching the throttle, the hovercraft shot from the hanger, the laser cannons and her own shakily held up hand, blowing a massive hole clean through the metal of the hanger doors. Free, Shego shot into the night. To her dismay, cold rain washed over her almost naked body, and she groaned as it splashed her face. It brought her back to her senses, but it was so, so cold!

Shego had no idea where she was, but that did not matter to the computer on board as her blood coated fingers slid over the GPS, nor to the satellites tracking her every move as she flicked it on.

It was too late to get to the Fox as she was bleeding, badly! And she could feel herself going into shock. Her teeth chattered as her fingers punched in another address, almost automatically. She didn’t want to go, the anger and shame still too fresh for her to ignore, but she had little choice.

With a hum, the hovercraft shot off into the stormy weather and Shego leaned back, pulling the tiny, soaked remains of the slip around her cold, bleeding, body. Leaning her head against the chair, rain splattering on her face, she fought to remain conscious.

---

Kim Possible’s House: 10: 25 PM.

Kim sat at her desk, tired eyes roaming over the displays on her computer. The satnav screens glowed their familiar green, and also showed what they had been displaying both at her home in the morning and in the car while she had driven for hours. Nothing… No Shego.

Kim sighed, and her head slapped into her hands as the dull chime of another empty segment echoed into the quiet room. Unable to help herself, Kim’s eyes flicked across to the

Her parents had been waiting for her. Father cross, mother worried. She had been out almost to the point that they were considering asking Wade to send Ron out to look for her. Still, at least Wade had put them through to her in the car. After an angry and worried com call, Kim had come home to one furious and one worried look. Her mother had fixed her something to eat, while her father had walked quietly out to Mara, intent on grilling the car while he refuelled her core.

So, now she sat here, at home and stared at the flickering search on her computer. A search that had been running for the entire day, with no results. However, no matter how depressed she became as it constantly came up empty, Kim found she couldn’t turn it off.

Not if I can find her… if there is a remote chance it’ll pick her up. Kim sighed and slid to her feet, staggering across to her bed. Why can’t I have a normal life? Why can’t I just go to school or college, be a cheerleader, date a nice guy and live life like everyone else? Why is my life saving the world and falling for a woman who has tried to wipe my face off the planet as often as possible?

She could not find an answer. She didn’t know if there was an answer. All Kim knew was that the kiss Shego had given her at Drakken’s lair had been… amazing.

God damn it! Kim banged her head against the pillow.Amazing… Oh yeah. With Shego… not so yeah. What am I going to do? What the hell am I going to do if I do find her again. Is there a chance we could… go steady? Would I want that? Would she? Would we be able to survive a relationship? I mean, if we got into a fight… would either of us survive?

Sighing, Kim slid to her feet and gently slipped out of her clothes. The blue combats slid down her firm flanks, only to be chucked unceremoniously into the steadily growing pile of clothes that sat next to her door. The black lycra and cotton top followed it suit, and Kim stretched in the dim light of her room.

Moonlight played across her tanned skin as she stretched, the muscles ripping under her skin. Idly, Kim scratched at the side of her body, and then blinked as her fingers traced a scratch. It slid up her body, she could feel the rough edge of the line, and trailed around her stomach in a lazy circle. Then, to her growing surprise, she traced it to a stop, just under her breasts. The scratch was deep… very deep and Kim couldn’t remember where she had got-

Shego… Kim thought, and she flushed. Wow… she really does get quite, intimate when she wants. That was just a fumbled kiss. I wonder what she does to those she’s in… love with.

In the dark, her green eyes became glazed. The sensation she had felt as Shego’s tongue had gently taken her had been… mind blowing. The thought of herself letting Shego go further was enticing. She couldn’t help but wonder what it would feel like as Shego kissed her once more, as she kissed Shego… as they slowly writhed together and Shego slowly slid her tongue down her-

Kim shook her head, and her eyes slid open. No… not now! Find her first, then think about that if you really, really have to. What would it do to you if you found her dead?

The thought made Kim feel sick and she sat down on the bed, clutching her stomach. She prayed that the young woman was alive.

A sudden banging at the door downstairs, followed by the constant ringing of the doorbell made Kim slide to her feet, a wary and alert expression on her face. Grabbing a set of shorts and a grey top from her dresser, Kim struggled into them as she opened her bedroom door.

As she walked out onto the landing, Kim’s mother opened the door to her parent’s room and her blue eyes were heavy with sleep. “Kimmie?”

“I don’t know who that is Mom. I’ll go and see, don’t worry.” Kim shrugged and began to walk down the stairs. As she reached the second step, the banging began again. “Jeez… who’s in such a hurry?”

“Well, tell them to stop it, I’ve got rotation in A&E tomorrow…” Kim’s mother yawned. “All right, Kimmie?”

Kim nodded. “Sure, mom.”

As she reached the front door, she heard thunder echo into the distance and frowned. Great, thunder… that would mean she’d have to power her computer down to stop it being fried. Which would mean she could miss a possible hit on Shego’s face. Damn!

Sighing, Kim opened the front door and gripped her tank top as the cold air blew into the house. Cold rain splashed her face and she scrunched her eyes up against the sensation. “Yes? Hello?”

As she blinked back the cold rain, two arms slammed across her shoulders and she felt a weight slam into her. Kim fell backwards, crying out in shock, as she fell against the floor of the corridor. She knew it wasn’t an attack, the person in her arms was shivering uncontrollably.

Wiping the cold rain from her eyes and kicking the door shut with her foot, she focused on the person that clung to her. The green skin and dark hair made her heart lurch and as she stared into the face of the woman she had pushed away, she gasped, running a hesitant hand across the face.

“Shego…” Her hand paused at the blood on her face and Kim blinked. “No… no!”

Shego groaned and slid away from her, shakily slamming against the wall as she did so. Kim could only stare at her one time enemy. Her body was soaked, hair… dripping wet as she shivered uncontrollably. Shego was almost nude, covered only in a tiny scrap of white cotton, slashed and stained with blood across what little remained.

“Shego…”

The skin under the scrap was covered in red blood, bright slashes of scarlet covering the green skin that was, now, so pale she could see the bones and red veins under it. Suddenly, Kim’s eyes widened in horror, there was a… a… blade sticking out of Shego’s shoulder! The bright red blood leaking from it splashing the wooden floor quietly.

Kim cried out, her hand flicking out to tenderly grip the blade and the other slid out to slide across the young woman’s skin. As Shego smiled, bloodlessly, Kim cradled her, even more shocked as the young woman winced and collapsed into her grip.

“Shego… oh god! What happened to you!”

“Had a little accident, Pumpkin.” Shego whispered, exhaustion overtaking her and she felt the world spin. Her eyes fixed onto the pool of blood under her and then to the drips flowing across Kim’s soft skin. “Oh… damn. Your mom is gonna kill me… blood never comes out of wood…”

Smiling, Shego collapsed into Kim’s arms, her body shutting down as it realised that it was safe… that it had found sanctuary in Kim’s arms.

The redhead shivered, her eyes fixed on the steel blade sticking out of Shego’s shoulder, and then her eyes widened as she realised Shego’s leg was broken. Clasping the unconscious woman, Kim took a deep ragged breath. Live! Oh god, please live!

“MOMMMM! MOM! PLEASE! COME QUICKLY!”

A commotion echoed above her, and Mrs Possible ran down the stairs, her blue dressing gown swishing behind her. Her husband ran behind her and both stopped at the sight of the blood coated Shego in Kim’s arms.

Mrs Possible’s hand slid to her mouth. “Oh… my… god.”

Kim’s father gripped her tightly. “Honey, action!”

The doctor nodded, her soft blue eyes hardening into that of the doctor she was. “Kim, help me get her onto the kitchen table. Honey, I need my medical bag and someone call an ambulance!”

Her husband ran out to the car and Dr Possible ran across to Kim and Shego. She ignored the splatter of blood that soaked into her gown and gently reached down to the unconscious woman.

“Kim, gently now. Help me lift her onto the kitchen table.” Kim nodded and together they picked Shego up gently. “Wow, such a weight. She must be all muscle. But, god… she’s freezing!”

Kim stared at the pale face, slack, and she felt fear well up. “Is she going to die?”

Dr Possible stared at her daughter until her green eyes flicked up. “Not if we move very, very fast!”

A slam of the front door made Dr Possible look up. “John?”

“Here’s the bag… but you can forget the ambulance. Phone lines are out and I can’t get a mobile signal.”

Kim looked around, frantic. “I can use the Kimmunicat-“

“Don’t bother. Honey, get her stable and you can take Mara. She’ll get you to the hospital.”

“But I may need drugs and…”

“She’s fully equipped! You think I’d let our daughter continue doing this without everything I could think of being put in her car?” Her father gripped his wife’s shoulder. “I may be a tad scatterbrained, but I know that car is as well equipped as any ambulance. Take her!”

“All right, all right. Dr Possible muttered, snapping open her bag. “Kim, while I see what I can do, go and get a blanket from the cupboard. Oh! And there are three hot packs I keep for emergencies in the bathroom. We need them. She’s almost hypothermic and with the loss of blood and…” Dr Possible eyes slid to Shego’s beaten form and broken leg. “Well, we need to warm her up before the shock and the cold kill her.”

Kim ran out of the room and Dr Possible stared down at the young green woman. “So, looks like your occupation has caught up with you… Jesus what a mess.”

She couldn’t risk removing the blade jutting from Shego’s shoulder. It could be near a major artery and she couldn’t risk the damage that she had no chance of healing in her own home. Her eyes slid down to Shego’s broken leg and she sighed. She would be able to splint that up… they could X ray it when they reached the hospital.

Her daughters Kimmunicator had been left on the table and she picked it up, with a few presses, the device flared to life. Wade’s face stared sleepily at her. “Doctor P?”

“Wade, I need a med scan!” Dr Possible snapped. “Shego is lying on my table and she’s in shock. I have to know what they may have given her so I can counter it and maybe give her something to boost her vitals.”

Wade frowned. “Shego is…”

“Wade!” Dr Possible snapped, making the young man jolt. “Scan!”

“Okay!” Wade hit a few buttons on his console and the Kimmunicator flashed to life with sensors. “Here you go… everything the Kimmunicator has, Doc.”

Nodding at the displays and wincing at the blood pressure and temperature readings, Dr Possible rummaged in her bag for a hypodermic and splints. As she began to set Shego’s leg, Kim ran back into the room.

“I got them!”

“Okay, stick the heat packs into the blanket, get it warm.” Dr Possible sighed. “The shock could kill her, but we can’t wait! Her vitals are so damn low!”

The roar of a car pulling up outside the front door made Kim glance up. The voice of Mara slid from the Kimmunicator, even as Dr Possible waved it over Shego’s prone from and grimaced.

“Doctor. I am actiating all medical scans I have… I also am planning the quickest route to the hospital.”

“Right… thanks.” Dr Possible yanked the strap on the splint and nodded as Shego groaned. “Good girl, stay with us.”

She turned to Kim and grabbed the warm Blanket. “Help me wrap her in this! And Keep the hot pockets away from her skin. It could make her go into shock!”

“Right…” Kim stared at Shego. Please… Shego, live! Don’t leave me… not now! I’m sorry, I’m so, so damn sorry!

“Okay… I’ll give her a shot of morphine, that should be safe enough, help me get her to the car.”

As Kim and her Mother lifted her, Shego woke and, moaning, struggled. Her voice was slurred. “Kmmmy?”

“Shhh, It’s okay.” Kim whispered. “I’m talking you to the hospital!”

“NO!” Shego managed, struggling feebly in their arms. “I… I don’t wanna go to prison,”

“You won’t, I promise.” Dr Possible told her. Shego continued to struggle. “Shego, Shego! Listen to me. Do you trust my daughter?”

Shego moaned, the pain in her body was awful. She nodded. “Mnnn.”

“Kimmie, I promise Shego won’t go to jail. Nobody will even know she’s there, I swear. If that’s what it takes to keep her in for treatment that’s what will happen. I won’t let you die, Shego!”

Kim stared at Shego’s exhausted expression and smiled. “Shego… I trust my mom with my life… so trust me.”

Shego stared and then nodded, closing her eyes. “Keep you to that… Pumpkin.”

As they bundled her into Mara, who waited patiently outside, Dr Possible slid into the front seat. “Kim, keep her steady in that back seat and try not to jostle her, especially that damn blade!”

“Okay, Mom.”

Dr Possible turned to Mara. “Okay, Mara, get us to Middleton hospital as quickly as you can!”

“Yes doctor.” The car responded its voice crisp. All three passengers felt a jolt as the car shot from the driveway of their home and roared along the street. “Accelerating to one hundred miles an hour. Engaging active camouflage!”

“What?” Dr Possible managed, her eyes wide as the car’s engine hummed like a jet and the Speedo rapidly changed to a hundred. The outside of the car flickered and suddenly, Dr Possible found herself staring at the hologram image of an ambulance. Her eyes narrowed. “Jonathan!”

“Relax, Doctor… this is just to keep the police from pulling us over. Do not worry about the speed, I am in total control and I really do see everything!” The car announced, the windscreen flickering to life with two displays.

The first gave Dr Possible a readout of Shego’s medical condition while the second displayed the readouts of the car, right down to traction control and readouts of the road half a mile ahead.

Dr Possible sighed. “Fine… just get us there.” She gazed at the readouts and a faint smile of relief swamped her. “Kimmie? Her readouts are low, but stable. I think Shego’s going to be fine.”

Kim stared at the sleeping figure in her arms, the pale green skin flushed from the warming blanket and heat packs. Her hands were wrapped gently around her, but she tightened them slightly as her mother spoke.

“Great, Mom.” Kim smiled with relief. “That really is great.”

“Yes, just keep her steady and we’ll be there soon, okay?”

“Sure…” Kim whispered.

Her eyes slid back to the woman in her arms, and she smiled. “You hear that Shego? You’re going to be okay. I’ll look after you until you recover. Then we can go and get Fang.” She flushed. “I’m sorry I didn’t believe you… I am so sorry I didn’t help you.”

Shego murmured and Kim held her tightly. Unable to help herself, Kim leaned forwards and stared at the sleeping face of her enemy.

God… she looks so innocent when she’s sleeping. I wonder… I wonder if I’d feel the same way I did in the lair. I wonder if it feels as good when I, kiss her.

Kim licked her lips gently, and almost hesitantly slid them gently onto Shego’s forehead. To her pleasure, she felt the same thrill shoot though her as she brushed the soft green skin. Oh yes, it felt exactly the same… better even. She wanted this… and it felt good.

As Shego mumbled once more, a smile appearing on her lips, Kim hugged her tightly.

“Whatever you’ve done… I don’t care right now. I’ve got you and I’m not letting go! Not until you ask me to.”

Tightening her grip on the young woman, Kim watched the lights speed by.

I’ve got you… and Fang will pay!