Mind, body, and Soul

The room was quiet. That was the first thing that anyone would notice when they walked in. Quiet. Not even the hum of the air conditioning system that pervaded the rest of Drakken’s lair could be heard in this room. Probably because it had been turned off.

The second thing that anyone would notice would have been the smell. A gentle fragrance of jasmine and cinnamon, that calmed the nerves and settled any apprehension. The source of the fragrance, the small incense burner that sat on a teak table in the corner, gleaming in the sunlight and reflecting the glow from golden words inscribed on it’s dark metal surface.

To my friend. Balance in life is peace. Yori.

The smoke drifted around the room, bouncing off walls of a soft blue pastel shade and rolled over carpet of a dark red. The contrasting colours defined, yet blended. Fire and water, peace and violence, yin and yang. All of these were reflected in the colour scheme that slid around the room and decorated the furniture.

The third thing that would be noticed, would have been the young blond woman. Dressed in a simple black tanktop and shorts, quietly standing in the middle of the large room. Her feet spaced evenly on the dark red carpet, her eyes closed and her breathing slow. The blond hair drawn back into a neat ponytail, clasped at the end by a soft blue clasp.

Hands, strong and supple, weaved gently in the air, smooth and precise. A leg slid out to tense, muscles bunching under soft tanned skin, as the young woman smoothly turned. Eyes still shut, the movement of her hands followed her breathing as Shia Fang, bodyguard to her Mistress and Sister to Kara Fang, gently let her body take her through the motions of her daily Tai Chi.

Mind and soul are one… they control my perceptions. The body is an extension of their will and through Tai chi I shall calm all three. Focus and relax… let the mind instruct and the soul cleanse.

Shia turned once more, her feet sliding on that mat, ninety degrees to each other. She breathed slowly, her muscles flexing as her arms slid around her body in a gentle circle. The ponytail whispered quietly behind her as she twisted and flexed, oblivious to anything around her.

Focus on the universe, relax and let the energy flow through you.Shia thought, the words blending gently into a feeling of well-being. “All is well with you… everything is calm.”

The image of Yori’s face, pained and defensive. “Why? Why Shia?”

“No! Focus on the present, not the past!” Shia’s mind snapped the order out as her foot stumbled slightly and the Ninja fought to regain balance. “Focus!”

The foot moved quickly, slid into a new position and Shia breathed deeply, her loss of balance countered and defeated. Hands sliding up to her face, She continued to move smoothly from one position to the next.

Focus, focus on the here and now…

Yori, lying at her feet. The young woman… her once good friend, broken, beaten, bleeding. In her hand, the stained blade… stained with more than just blood.

A voice that had once laughed with her, had instructed, had whispered encouragement. Now it whispered with pain.

“Shia… Shia…”

No!

Shia’s eyes snapped open, her muscles trembling as she lost focus. Overbalancing, the blond Ninja toppled over, the breath knocked from her as she hit the red carpet. As she sucked in air, the chocolate eyes became darker and misted with tears. Blinking, Shia Fang closed her eyes and sucked in more air, harder this time.

I shall not cry… it is not the Jade way to cry. No regrets, none when you follow the path they have lain before you!She scrubbed at the tears in her eyes, felt her lip tremble as her fingers came away wet. How long has it been since I have cried? How long has it been since I have felt happiness? How long… how long?

“Since, Yamanouchi.” She whispered, her voice pained. “Since I entered to spy, and instead found a friend and… hope.”

Sliding to her feet, Shia stretched and shook her head. She would have to cut her Tai Chi session short for this morning. Her mind was elsewhere, far from the Jade or seeking calm. It hovered over a school on the other side of the globe, thought about a woman that Shia had hoped to never see again, due to the pain it would cause her. That hope had faded. Yori was here, and now she had to deal with this unexpected pain.

I wonder… has she changed in two years? Has she, like me, grown and developed in skill? What would it be like if we fought one more time? In sparring, we were so close… I was better with a blade, she was better with those fans of hers. But neither of us excelled against the other when it came to physical hand to hand.

Shia walked across to the table that held her incense burner. Sitting next to it, steam pouring from the spout, sat a teapot and a single cup. As her hands gently poured out the fragrant brew, Shia smiled. It had been tea that had brought her and Yori together.

She had been working secretly for the Jade, but she had still been a new student, not much older than Yori had been, alone and frightened. Yori had been the one to introduce her to Sensai, to the other students… to her world. One of peace, calm, and meditation, with the fighting an extension of that philosophy.

Of course, much to Shia’s surprise, Yori had not just been learning like them, oh no. Yori had excelled, in every single area that the school could teach her. Shia had been her equal in combat, there was no doubt about that, but she had lacked any skill at meditation or finding balance within. Yori had often sat her down long after lessons had finished and at the weekends to assist her.

With her friend’s help, Shia had found another way of living. One free of wheeling, dealing and assaulting people for the money, of hiding in dark, wet stinking alleys while the police searched for you, as she had been with her mother. Yori had taught her another way of living that differed from Kara’s. Her sister, half sister, had found her one day. Searched and found her, after a discussion with some Yakuza about her mothers disappearance.

One day my mother is there… the next she has vanished. Kara appears, takes me under her wing and into the Jade. I owed her so much and yet now I cannot help but feel I have paid her back, a hundred-fold. I gave her my choice to kill, to hurt… and she took it. Now, after all I have done, I just want her to leave me alone.

Shia stared down into the depths of the cup, steaming with dark liquid. “I want to be free.”

Sipping the hot brew, Shia sighed with pleasure, letting the warm liquid soothe her fears as much as it could. She would meet Yori eventually, that much she knew. The problem came with what her order would be at that time. If her sister had ordered Yori’s death… would she be able to kill her one and only friend? A friend who she had betrayed and who had been the one who had gone after her, only to be left in astonishment when Shia had told her who had betrayed Jasmine H’dara to the Jade.

The look of betrayal on her face haunts me, even now. Oh sister, ever since I found you my life has gone from petty misery to painful, soul breaking, misery. I have killed in your name, in the Jade’s name, yet it leaves me empty unlike the others who do your bidding. All I wish when this is over, is to retire as your defender, buy my own island somewhere quiet and try to remove the stains I have covered my soul with. Maybe, just maybe seek forgiveness.

Shia swallowed more tea, desperate for the warmth as she thought of how much she had to seek forgiveness for. Alone, the idea was unappetising. Yori would never forgive her, and as for Jasmine and her friendship they had once shared. That was lost, long ago… when you let the people, who cut off her finger, into the yard.

A sudden insistent beeping interrupted her thoughts and Shia looked up from the dark contents of the cup to see the communications system flashing. Frowning, she wandered across to the device and pressed a button. With a flicker of light, Dr Drakken’s face swam onto the screen and Shia narrowed her eyes.

“Doctor, what can I do for you?”

“I wanted to know if I annoyed Ms Fang or if there is a problem with Doctor Possible.” Drakken’s blue face gazed at the Ninja, annoyed. “I’ve been waiting for over three hours! She said she would finish trying to extract information from Kim Possible’s mother by eleven. It’s the afternoon now!”

Shia sighed. “Doctor, my sister often gets caught up in her work as much as you do.” Her words made her heart sink. That poor woman, there is no reason to hurt her this way… and to use her against her own daughter is wrong.“I am sure there is no problem with Doctor Possible.”

I hope not… not like the time she caused that young actresses mind to snap. I was not fast enough to curb the demon that lives inside her that time. Oh, oh no… I should go and-

Shia quickly placed the up on the table and looked up into Drakken’s annoyed face. “Do not worry, Doctor, I shall go and retrieve her for you right away.”

“Oh, right.” The blue scientist shrugged. “Fine by me… I thought Ms Fang was cross because I kept Shego for too long or something. I got a little carried away, because it was so amazing.” Drakken grinned. “She did everything I wanted her to do… worshipped me, called me a god, her master… everything! Licked my boots and even cried and begged when I instructed her.”

“That must have been enjoyable for you.” Shia muttered, wondering why anyone would wish to do that when they knew the person begging was being forced to do so. Respect was something earned, not taken or forced and… She broke off, knowing well that was once again Yamanouchi affecting her thinking. Something her sister was becoming increasingly annoyed with.

“Oh it was, it was. Loved every minute. Just think, all it took was three years effort… Considering this was Shego, I’m glad I spent that time. I can’t wait to see how much more obedient she’ll be.” Grinning Drakken waved a hand. “Well, if you could go and see your Mistress and ask her to send Dr Possible to the lab as soon as she can, I’d be greatful.”

“Yes, Doctor. Certainly.” Shia watched as his face vanished from the screen before she closed her eyes and shook her head. “Not again, Kara…. not again.”

Resolved, the young blond Ninja walked across to her bedroom and opened her wardrobe. Her hands slid across the rich silks of her day clothing, and she selected a soft blue silk Kimono.

I have not worn this for years… yet I kept it with me. Would it feel so strange now to wear it? To wear the gift that Jasmine gave me?

Stripping off the tanktop and shorts, Shia slid into the Kimono gently, sighing as the smooth fabric rippled over her skin. No, she had not worn something this soft for a very long time. Even when she had relaxed, it had been in T-shirts and jeans. Anything to make her seem different to her sister. Now though, as the fabric warmed to her body heat and the silk responded by tightening ever so slightly.

Oh yes… I had forgotten how this felt. To not wear such a thing, a terrible waste.Shia’s fingers slid gently over the fabric. Yet it makes me feel sad and tired, yes tired, of the life I have chosen. Maybe one day, soon, I can change my path in life.

Sighing and quickly running her hands through her hair, Shia strode out of her room and headed for her Sisters quarters.

As she walked along the corridors towards the rooms that used to be Shego’s, Shia gazed with reluctant fascination at the experiments being done behind glass. Lasers shot around huge machines, things with many tentacles and maws gazed back at her from tanks, mechanics busied themselves attaching weapons to robotic creatures and the Jade Ninja’s busied themselves watching Master Quia as he demonstrated karate.

Shia watched quietly, noting that while competent none of the recruits had the skills she did. It was not a boast. Her sister had helped her enter the Jade, and had been, at the time, her own master’s bodyguard. When Kara had become the Mistress of the Hong Kong Jade, Shia was her first choice as bodyguard. When her sister had seen her in action against the other candidates, she had been even more delighted. So, now that Shia wished to depart the Jade, to retire, she would have to find a replacement.

Shaking her head, Shia continued to walk along the corridor, stopping when she reached the once green door of her sisters quarters. Now the smell of fresh paint pervaded the corridor, as the dark red door slid open.

Walking in, the young Ninja glanced around, hoping to see her sister in the lounge. Instead, hanging from her arms inside a circle of gleaming metal, lay Dr Possible. A few feet away from her, Shego’s green and black form lay huddled on the floor, her chest rising and falling slowly with each breathe. Her signature cat suit ripped, torn, and wet with sweat and blood once more. Shia could only stare in horror at the sight of the rope binding her feet to her head. The tight bindings had rubbed the skin raw. As she moved towards the two women, Shia noticed the gleaming needles that protruded from the back of Shego’s spine flashing in the soft sunlight.

Oh no… sister! Not again! Servus stops Shego from defending herself from anyone with a remote… and so you do this to her. I worry, no, I fear for your sanity! What else do you have in store… and how can I stop this without being slaughtered as a traitor or punished myself?

The blond Ninja quickly walked up to Dr Possible. Shego was breathing, despite the pain she must be in, hidden from view by Servus. Dr Possible on the other hand did not have any training, unlike the green thief, and Shia worried about her being able to take Kara’s torture.

The older woman hung, groaning, from the manacles that held her arms. Her dark red hair, drenched in sweat, covered her face in long damp strands and Shia could only stare at the ripped and torn lab coat and clothes underneath it.

Glancing around, Shia quickly and quietly walked up to the semi-conscious woman and gently lifted her head. She closed her eyes for a second in dismay at the sight of the gleaming needles protruding from the mother’s neck.

“No… you could not have stood against that pain… I know how that set of needles feels.” She whispered. “Doctor, please, wake up… Please. Are you all right?”

The redheaded older woman stirred slightly, making Shia sigh with relief and gently rub the sweat from Kim’s mother’s eyes. She watched as Dr Possible’s eyelids slid open slowly. The blue eyes slid to Shia’s face, but were blurry and unfocused. “Whaa…”

“Doctor, are you all right?” Shia glanced around, her sister still nowhere to be seen.

Dr Possible focused slowly on her face and then blanched. “You… what do you want now? Haven’t you hurt me and Shego enough?” Shia watched her wince. “What did you do to me? I, oh the pain…. Stop the pain, please!”

“Just breathe, Doctor. Let me look.” Shia blinked as Dr Possible whimpered and tried to pull away. Realising that she looked very similar to her sister, Shia sighed. “I am not Kara Fang Doctor. I am trying to help, though my sister will possibly hurt me if she catches me doing this.”

“Not Fang?” Dr Possible stared. “No… no you’re not are you? Blond hair…” Shia scowled at the needles in the woman’s neck and gently removed them, one after the other. “Who… are you?”

The Ninja stared at her, and then shrugged. “My name is Shia Fang.” She watched as the blue eyes widened. “I am Kara’s sister.”

“Sister? You’re her sister?” Dr Possible let out a gasping shudder as the final needle slid from her neck, the burning sensation that pulsed through her skin fading after a few seconds. “Thank you… Please, help us to escape and-”

“I hope I have brought you some small comfort. But know that this was all I can do, for you and Shego.” Shia interrupted the redheaded Doctor, turning and walking quickly over to the bound figure of Shego. “Listen to what I say now, and understand me. While I do not agree with my sister’s intentions, I cannot interfere. I am her bodyguard and am bound by more than you could possibly know. If I were to help you as you wished… I would end up in the same position as you, worse… I would be a traitor to the Jade and you do not want to know what happens to those who are branded as such!”

“So, this is as far as your kindness goes then?”

“It is as far as it can ever go, Doctor. I will do as I am ordered!” Shia’s voice became harsh and aggressive. “If that means capturing your daughter, then that is what I will do. If it means hurting innocents, then I will reluctantly do so. If it means that I have to kill my best frie-“ Shia broke off, swallowing. ”I am, sorry, but the Jade is life, my life!”

Dr Possible felt her lip tremble as Shia gently pulled Shego upright and her fingers slid over the woman’s skin, seeking the needles that remained in the young thief’s neck. As Shia yanked a needle free, the green woman moaned, a long bitter groan of pain and exhaustion. The Ninja held the needle in the air, staring at it. Despite her harsh words, a look of compassion slid over her face.

“Not again… why did she do this?” Shia whispered, wiping blood from the green woman’s face and sighing at the sight of a deep series of cuts.

“I… I resisted.” Dr Possible whispered reluctantly, making the blond Ninja glance up, her face paling. “I fought against her for so long! So, so long… she became angry. “ Dr Possible closed her eyes. “I am Kim’s mother. Do you know what that means to me? I would do anything, bare any pain for my daughters safety. I refused to tell her anything, while I could hold out against the pain that she caused me. But I’m a doctor, and I can’t stand to see people hurt… When she realised that, she turned on Shego…”

The screams that Kara had coaxed from the green woman, coaxed from her while Shego had lain inches from Dr Possible’s grasp, from her ability to heal and soothe, flooded back to the red headed Doctor. The sight of Shego, writhing in agony as Kara had forced her fingers deeper and deeper into nerve clusters and joints all the time gazing at her, asking her questions, made Dr Possible shiver in horrified recall.

“I had to watch. She made me watch as she hurt her. Knew that I couldn’t stand to see someone else be harmed by my decisions! First those needles and her fingers, and then when she knew I could handle that, and I only just managed to do that, she became even more angry.”

“Do not tell me this… there is nothing I can do to help!”

“She cut her first, on the face… made me watch as Shego bled. When that didn’t work, she hurt her.” Dr Possible’s voice became ragged. “Twisted her arm, twisted it until Shego let out a scream and… and I heard it. I heard it pop slightly from the socket.”

The doctor’s face turned faintly green and Shia quickly grabbed her face. “Just breathe… breathe deeply. In, out… good. Now, stop telling me all of this.”

“She didn’t finish there… I… I told her what I could, what I thought would not hurt my daughter.” Shia turned away, steeling her reaction to the pain in the woman’s voice. “She wanted more and now your sister knew how to get it. She tied Shego up like that, tied her into that horrible position for the past two hours! Then she stuck those needles in her and told me that it would cause her muscles to contract every so often during the hours… until Shego’s own body would rip it’s own leg muscles to pieces! I’ve had to watch that for two hours! If I want to tell you what she’s been doing to us… why shouldn’t I?”

“Because I cannot help you!” Shia glanced across, her voice hot. “If I even tried, do you have any idea what would happen to me? Sisterly bonds only stretch so far, and though I was against your capture from the start, it is not up to me! I do what must be done for the Jade, my life isthe Jade and the Jade is my sister… my Mistress!”

Dr Possible stared at the young woman in disbelief. “You would let her continue to hurt and maim me, Shego or my daughter?”

“Yes. I have a duty.” Shia muttered. Though secretly I would not enjoy the prospect of being forced to watch. This whole Mission is sadistic in its goal. I want no part of it… but I have to do my duty to… Kara.

“Your sister is psychotic, and needs help.” Dr Possible managed, her eyes hardening. “And now that you have told me you could help us, help us both, but won’t. I can only wonder about you as well!”

Shia flinched at the tone of her voice and gently slid to her feet. Turning, she headed towards her sister’s office, pausing for a second at the doorway to turn. Her eyes flicked over the two women. One manacled, the other sitting docilely on the floor, both trapped by Kara. Shia Fang sighed deeply and turned away, one hand resting gently on the frame while the other tightened ever so slightly into a fist.

“Doctor, what scares me most is… you may be right.”

Unable to look the older woman in the eye, Shia walked into her sister’s office.

“Yes… yes I understand that…” The voice that echoed around the room as she walked in was so familiar. It had once been kind to her, tender and amused. But now it was all business, as it had been towards her for so long as well. “No… fifteen K a bag is too steep. No, I don’t care what they say! We are the Jade and should be given preferential treatment! Yes… we can buy from them if that’s what they want, but they have to offer incentive.”

There, standing at the huge window that overlooked the lake on the other side of the mountain the lair was built into, stood her sister. Headset sitting on one ear, her arms crossed over her breasts and the sunlight gleaming across the silvery silk of her Kimono, Kara Fang sighed and continued to argue. Continued, even as her sister coughed gently.

“No… I will notpay that much money! Yes! Persuasion is good, as is forcing their hand. No, I want that drug delivery in my hands as soon as possible! Yes, because it’s higher quality than anything we can make in our territory. I want to know how they did it… and how we can better it!”

Shia listened and shook her head. Destroying lives with drugs. Is there nothing we do as Jade that could be considered decent?She snorted quietly at her own thoughts. Of course not… why would there be.”

“Okay, yes… that will be acceptable. Tell him that if he goes back on this deal, he will lose more than his finger next time. I do not appreciate being played. Maybe his wife would appreciate losing her life for him if he wishes to use her as a stake and continue to play with me. Goodbye!”

Shia moved to walk up to her sister, but the beep of the headset in Kara’s ear made her pause as her sister answered an incoming call.

“Yes? Grand Master! How are you? I am well… Yes… oh, you have? Yamanouchi is coming out in force it seems. All because of me, really?” Shia blinked as Kara laughed. “Oh, that is priceless. The ‘Monkey Master’ has been found has he? Their stupid prophecies will be their undoing. No, Master. I still have no idea what Shia sees in them either. Yes, she does as she’s told, though I am tiring of her stupidity over her ‘honour’”

Shia bristled at the tone in her sister’s voice. My honour is all I have left! You have taken anything else I valued…

“Oh, yes. I know Yori is here and have taken steps to deal with that problem. Master, why are you… Hdara? Should I know that name?”

Shia felt her blood run to ice. Jasmine… Jasmine is here as well? Oh no.

“She’s leading the search? Why?” Kara paused and listened, only to laugh again, sarcastically. “Oh, her! Well, she might find it hard to find me and point a finger. Yes, I will… I have a hundred troops here so I’m safe. Yes Grand Master, thank you for warning me. I will. All honour to the Jade!”

With a final click, Kara pulled the headset from her ear and sighed. “Yamanouchi, how pathetic. Still, fifteen less to deal with.”

Shia blanched. Fifteen of her fellow students, killed by the Jade. This is getting out of hand!

“I can hear you thinking, Shia.” Kara’s voice, quiet as she stared out at the lake, made her sister blink and return to the here and now. “You think very loudly when it comes to Yamanouchi… and you nibble your lip as well.”

“I do?” Shia blurted, breaking off as Kara turned, a grin on her face.

“Yes, sister, you do. Now, what do you want on your precious day off? Surely not to spend time with me?” Kara slid behind her desk, the red Kimono smoothed by quick and nimble fingers. “Well?”

“I… Dr Drakken called me.” Shia began. “You did not take his calls and he is quite anxious to begin developing Kim Possible’s neural control system. Considering what I have not only heard throughout Middleton, but also from watching some of her more, interesting fights with Shego on tape, I think it would be a good idea as well. But to do that he needs-“

“Doctor Possible, yes I know.” Kara leaned forwards. “Tell me, how is she handling my favourite technique? Is she unconscious yet? Begging… oh, screaming for mercy? I cannot hear anything in the lounge area when I am in here. The problem with this place is that the doors and walls are soundproofed. Most irritating.”

“I took the needles out.” Shia whispered, flinching as her sister’s pleased expression darkened.

“What?”

“I took them out, and I also released Shego from her bindings and pressure point torture.” Shia swallowed as her sister slid to her feet, the darkening expression turning murderous. “Sister, listen to me-“

“You… my subordinate, decided to undo the artI had created in there? You decided to release that… that green whore from her rightful punishment? How dareyou!” Kara hissed, rage in her voice. “How dare you do something you had no right to do!”

“I have every right.” Shia countered, only to back a step as Kara’s hands twitched and curled into claws. The beast is always so close to the surface now.“I am your bodyguard, sister… Mistress! If you wish Kim Possible to be captured, if you wish her to be mind controlled and our mission to be a success, if you wish Shego to be fit enough to capture her… this muststop!”

Kara blinked, the anger vanishing for a few seconds, and a look of shock appearing on her smooth features. “Stop?”

“Yes, stop. Doctor Drakken needs Doctor Possible as soon as we are able to provide her. Kim Possible is not waiting for us to spring the trap you created, she is hunting for her mother. We both know that Shego is the only one who even has a chance at incapacitating and kidnapping Kim Possible for the jade. But she can only do that if she is fully fit and healed. If you keep torturing both, no matter your justification and… and pleasure, we will fail!”

Kara licked her lips, the anger simmering under her skin. “You presume to tell me wha-“

“Sister, Kara… listen to me, please!” Shia inclined her head. “I care for you as a sister can, I need to protect you as a bodyguard can. Please understand that the more time is lost here, the more time Kim Possible has to find and attack you. I do not wish that to happen, do you?”

Kara stood behind her desk, her eyes dark, and her fingers twitched. For a terrible few seconds, Shia thought Kara would strike her, only to let out a sigh as her sister turned away from her and stared out of the window once more.

“You… are right, Shia. I have been too indulgent with myself. I set out to take information that I wanted from Dr Possible, but I have gone further than I should. I enjoyed myself too much, both with her and Shego…” Kara glanced back. “Understandably considering what she did to me, yes?”

“Yes, sister.” No, Shego has already paid more than enough for what she did to you that day… what am I saying? Kara is my sister!

“You always look out for me do you not?” For a second, Shia felt her heart bloom. “Still, that is your duty. Because of that, because I know that you are trying to guard me, I will not punish you for the way you have carried that duty out. Well, not now anyway.”

“Yes, sister.” Shia whispered, her heart freezing at Kara’s cool words. There was no sisterly love there, more agreement with an employee. “Thank you.”

“Very well, as you have already released them both, take Dr Possible to Drakken and also escort Shego to the cells. I don’t want to see her anywhere near me until I can… indulge myself. It would be best if the temptation to seek revenge is nowhere in sight, you agree?”

“Yes, sister.” Shia licked her lips. “May I speak freely?”

“Haven’t you already been doing so?” Kara muttered dryly, only to sigh and slide once more into the leather seat behind the desk. “Yes, you can.”

“I… would you…” Shia found herself at a loss for words. “Kara… I…”

“Shia, I am not a patient person. What do you want!”

“I want us to spend some time together!” Shia blurted the words and inwardly sighed as, for the second time in the past few minutes, Kara blinked in surprise. Is it that much of a surprise?

“What?”

“I want to spend some time with you… as sisters.” Shia flushed at the expression of disbelief on Kara’s face. “Is that so much to ask?”

“Time… you and me. As sisters?” A weak and pointless request. What does she expect us to do?Kara thought for a second, before sighing deeply. “What did you have in… mind?”

“I wondered if you would like to share tea with me, in my quarters, as you did once while I was training. I enjoyed our time together back then.” Shia shuffled. “You and me, alone and talking about everything in our lives. It was… enjoyable.”

She lives in the past, in the past of our relationship as sisters, not as Mistress and bodyguard. Yamanouchi has affected her thinking worse than I had thought.

Kara glanced down at the various reports on her desk, the plans and arrangements to bribe or assassinate key positions in Middleton and then expand into new territory. She had so much to accomplish! But, if a little stroking was all it took to keep her second most powerful weapon… she would.

“That would be… nice.” Kara muttered, ignoring the gleam of pleasure that trickled onto Shia’s face. “Now, be so good as to take Doctor Possible to Drakken and Shego out of my sight. We shall have tea this afternoon… yes?”

“I shall look forward to it.” Shia responded, her cheerful tone pulling a weak smile from Kara.

With a quick bow, Shia wandered out of the office and Kara watched her go, shaking her head as the door slid shut automatically.

She is becoming more and more confusing to me. Why does she want this pointless show of… bonding? Is it not enough I trust her with my life, that I gave her the honour of being my bodyguard? What more can she want or need than to revel in the power I offer her now and, when I am ruler of the Jade, what I can offer her then?

Sighing, Kara slid to her feet and walked over to the office door, her feet carrying her unbidden. The door hissed open and the Mistress of the Jade walked out into what used to be Shego’s lounge. There, standing away from Shia and the two bound women, Kara watched her sister un-manacle Dr Possible from the circle of metal gently, catch her as the older woman fell in an exhausted heap, and then bind her hands gently with cuffs. Kara snorted. If it had been her, she would have let Doctor Possible fall and hit the floor. Then, while she was winded, clamp those cuffs on so tightly, all hope of escape would vanish.

As Kara watched Shia walk slowly across to Shego and whisper in the green woman’s ear, she sighed.

Look at her, so conflicted she clasps them onto her gently. My own sister is being, well, nice to my enemies… pathetic. I should never have sent her to Yamanouchi. If this continues, I may have to cut my losses and find another bodyguard. What happens to Shia then will depend on… the circumstances.

As Shego slid to her feet, eyes blank, Shia nodded with approval and then walked quietly across to the communications console. As Drakken’s face flashed onto the screen and Shia began to fill the blue scientist in on what was happening, Dr Possible slowly looked up. She blinked, staggering backwards slightly, as her soft blue eyes fixed on Kara’s own icy ones and flinched. “You…”

“Yes, Doctor, me. How are you feeling? Not too tired I hope?” Kara grinned even as Shia gently shook her head.

“Do you have any idea what that felt like?” Dr Possible whispered, pain filling her voice. “I have never hated anyone before… not even those who threatened my daughter before you. But I hate you… I truly hate you. For what you did to me, what you did to Shego… and for making me watch. I actually hate you!”

“I will add you to my list.” Kara told her, sarcasm dripping from the words. “Now, if that is all , Shia will escort you to the lab, you have much to do. Shego?”

“Yes, Mistress Fang?” Shego turned to gaze at Kara with the same glazed expression, while inside her real self lay unconscious, the agony of the past few hours too much to bare. The neural net in her brain did not care, it simply bypassed the frontal lobes and continued to operate her mind as it always had done.

“I want you to go down to the cells, and stay there until someone calls for you and-“

“Wait!” Dr Possible cried out the words, and Kara paused, an annoyed expression on her face.

“What now, Doctor?”

Dr Possible stared in shock at the cat-suited woman. Her arm hung limply by her side, a sure sign that she had been wrong. Kara had not just ‘nearly’ dislocated it, she had done. Her eyes roamed further down, noticing that the deep bruising she had noticed before Kara had hurt Shego, had now become even darker. The red stain of fresh blood, leaking from broken capillaries and veins, gleamed almost scarlet under the green woman’s pale skin. Damaged muscle tissue… badly damaged. Closing her eyes for a second, Kim’s mother replayed the brutal assault that had been performed on Shego and shook her head. She opened them again, and fixed Kara with a venomous glare.

“You can’t just make her go to wherever you want her to go… not alone and not like that!” Dr Possible closed her eyes. “She needs medical attention before she can go anywhere. I think you cracked a rib and damaged her muscle tissue and nerves to the point of shock. That shoulder, the one you dislocated, also needs treatment! I hate to beg you, but I will… She has to have medical treatment, please! Show some decency!”

“Oh please… why should I care about her?”

“Sister,” Kara glanced over at Shia, who stood quietly to one side of the red headed Doctor. “Shego needs to be one hundred percent to successfully capture Kim Possible. She is also to be part of the assassination team you desire…Remember?”

Kara glared at her blond, flesh and blood sister, before turning away and stalking towards her office.

“Fine! Take them both to the medical centre and let Dr Possible treat her! Doctor, congratulations, you will heal the person I will send to take your daughter! I hope that causes you great pain, because I am coming to dislike you a great deal. Shia, get them bothout of here before I change my mind and show both of them how much blood someone can lose before they fall into a coma!”

As the door opened and then slid shut behind Kara’s fuming frame, Shia turned to Doctor Possible.

“She is right, Shego is the one who will-“

Shego is my daughters partner, so Kara tells me!” Dr Possible snapped, glancing at the glazed green woman in front of her. “You think I want my only daughter to be kidnapped by the woman she loves? You think I want her to be subjected to god knows what by that… that wild animal you call a sister?”

Shia blinked, the heated words hitting her heart with the force of arrows. “She is not an animal! She is… conflicted.”

“I know psychosis when I see it, because I’m a neural surgeon. I don’t care what you or anyone else in this place thinks of her either. She’s dangerous to everyone… even herself. She should be medicated and restrained!” Shaking her head, Dr Possible glanced at the woman standing stiffly next to her. “I worry for you more than anyone else as well.”

“Me?” Shia blinked, truly shocked. “Why?”

“Fratricide… If her psychosis snaps, nobody will be safe and because you are her sister and so close to her, you could be a very tempting target.”

Shia shook her head. “I will not listen to this anymore. You are trying to sway me to help you both, and I cannot. Come, both of you need medical attention and I intend to see you get it. Once that is done, I will escort you, Doctor, to Drakken’s laboratory.” The blond Ninja turned to the green woman. “Shego, once Dr Possible is with Doctor Drakken, you will come with me. I have some training to do myself and will need your assistance.”

“Yes, Mistress Shia.”

“Please, please leave her alone.” Shia glanced across at Doctor Possible. The woman gazed at her with tired eyes, but her tone was one of professional concern. “She’s been through enough, Shego is human like anyone else… she needs rest. No more combat and physical damage… please!”

“Very well Doctor, I shall let her rest. Come, you need medical care as much as Shego.” Shia pulled on Dr Possible’s manacles and , after quickly checking to ensure her own remote was clipped to her belt, waved at Shego. “Shego, come with me.”

“Yes, Mistress Shia.”

---

Medical Bay

“Ah, Mistress Shia, how can I help you today?”

Shia, standing in the clinical gleam of Drakken’s medical bay, nodded in greeting to the elderly, grey haired Doctor and jerked her head. “I require medical treatment for these two prisoners. Doctor Fah Lo, may I introduce Doctor Possible. Shego you already know.”

“Indeed I do,” Fah Lo sighed and nodded at Kim’s mother. “Doctor, welcome to my twisted world. A word of advice for you. Never get in debt to the Jade as I did, or you end up working for them.”

“Doctor.” Kim’s mother acknowledged quietly to the elderly man. “I shall keep that in mind.”

The elderly man smiled sadly at her, before turning his attention back to Shia. “This is the fifth time you have brought Shego in here in the past two days. Does your sister know you keep doing this after her little… sessions?”

“What?” Doctor Possible turned to stare at the woman holding her manacled arms, the grip gentle, but taut. “You’ve been bringing her here after your sister hurts her? You actually care for her? But I thought you were just doing what you are told, you’re safe that way.”

“Be silent, Doctor.” Shia muttered, not meeting Doctor Possible’s eyes as the older woman’s voice echoed around the room with its slightly sarcastic tone. “Fah Lo, patch the two of them up so I can take them to where they need to go, would you?”

“No, I’m not letting anyone in your group touch Shego!” Kim’s mother yanked against the chains holding her to Shia, making the blond Ninja sigh. “I want to heal her wounds myself, as much as I can.”

“You are in no position to make demands, doctor.” Shia finally turned to stare at her. Recognising someone with as much determination as her, Shia shook her head. “What is the difference, and answer honestly, as long as Shego is treated?”

“I am her doctor… I know her test results, you don’t. She’s important to my daughter and I happen to like her. If you have any compassion, Shia Fang, let me treat her.” Dr Possible tilted her head. “Will you? After all, what can I do to her in here apart from heal the wounds you let your sister inflict?”

“Oh… very well!” Shia snapped. The anger, at how uncomfortable Kara’s treatment of Shego made her feel, escaping her control. “Treat her, Doctor… make her comfortable too. Then treat yourself.” At the older woman’s surprise, Shia nodded. “I can see that you are suffering as well, understandably so, considering my sisters skills. So, treat the pain, but be quick!”

“Always been the soft one.” Fah Lo whispered to Shia, who glared at him.

“Thank you.” Kim’s mother held out her hands and after a second, Shia reached out and unlocked the cuffs. Dr Possible walked quickly across to Shego and cradled her dislocated arm. She felt and gently rotated the shoulder cup, stopping as Shego’s body whimpered. “Someone help me get her on this surgical bed.”

Shia gripped Shego gently, and together they propped Shego onto the bed. Doctor Possible examined her carefully, Fah Lo watching with approval.

“I need morphine…going to have to give it to her before we pop that shoulder back in place and support it.”

“Shego is controlled by Servus, she will not flinch when you push it back into place.” Shia objected.

Dr Possible stared at Shia with cool eyes. “If it were you there, would you want me to give you painkillers or leave you to experience the sensation of having your own arm popped into place? Oh yes I forgot to add,while being unable to scream?”

Shia looked away. “Give her the morphine.”

“Thank you.”

“And stop thanking me, Doctor… I am one of the reasons Shego is like this and why your daughter will become my sisters pet!”

“I know… and you know that as well.” Dr Possible answered, the words hanging in the air as she turned to cradle Shego’s injured shoulder.

Shia blinked as she turned away, watching as the older woman glanced up, asking Fah Lo for morphine and a needle, which the grey haired doctor wandered off to fetch. What did she mean by that?

As the old Doctor wandered back and gently handed Kim’s mother a needle and vial, Shia swallowed. Secretly, she had always harboured a dislike of any type of needle.

Ever since Kara demonstrated what she could do if I disobeyed her ever again…The thought of the cold metal sliding into her skin, followed by the burning pain, made Shia back away slightly. I can guard them from the doorway well enough. After all, Dr Possible is right, what can she do in here to stop us?

“I shall be by the door, you obviously need space to perform the act of popping the shoulder back.” Shia slid backwards. “But I shall be watching, Doctor. Do not try anything to escape.”

“I’m not going anywhere without Shego… and she’s in no fit state to leave here!” Dr Possible muttered.

But that doesn’t mean I can’t help Kimmie in some way.Her mother thought as Shia quickly backed away to the door. Fah Lo watched her intently, waiting for her to give Shego the injection.Think… think! Okay, so Kara said Drakken injected Shego with a nanite fluid. Now, if he did that, there’s a good chance that her body has nanites floating around in its bloodstream. I’ve got to get a sample to Kimmie, which means using Shego as a Trojan horse when they send her after my daughter. The blood will have coagulated and it’s a small chance, but it’s all we’ve got.

Pursing her lips, she turned to the older Doctor. “I think we’ll need a support bandage for this shoulder when I pop it back. Oh and some anti inflammatory cream.”

“Right… I’ll go and find them.”

“Thank you.” Dr Possible watched the older man leave, and then glanced over at the wary Shia. “You okay?”

“I am fine.” Shia managed, trying not to stare at the needle in Dr Possible’s hand. She shuddered slightly. “Get on with what you are doing, please.”

“Fine…” Dr Possible turned back to Shego and Held up the morphine vial. With a quick push, and a careful extraction of the liquid in the tiny vial, Dr Possible tapped the morphine syringe and gently rolled up Shego’s torn sleeve. “This may hurt, but it’ll quickly work and I can fix your shoulder, okay?”

Shego just stared ahead, Servus not responding to someone without a remote.

In Shego’s mind, her consciousness stirred, a moan echoing into the darkness as the part that made Shego who she was, stirred. She felt a prick in her arm, a prick that ran deep and made her groan.

“Oh god… what happened to me?”

The pain in her arm washed with cold soothing liquid and she felt soft hands gently slid over her skin. Slowly her vision returned to her, as the brain matter not controlled by Servus recovered from the shock Kara’s brutal treatment had caused.

A sudden pressure and jerk against her body, followed by a flash of terrible heat through the flesh in her shoulder, made her eyes swing as Servus focused on the sensation. Shego blinked as she heard a slightly wet popping sound echo around the room. Her head turned and the emerald eyes focused on the cause of the sound and sensation. There, the concentration as she did something to her making her frown, stood Doctor Possible. Another sensation of cool calmed the heat coursing around her shoulder, and she groaned.

“Doc… you’re okay! Kimmie would have killed me if you’d died and…” Shego broke off as the older woman’s neck slid into view. The bruises and needle marks on the warm skin made her groan. “Damn… she hurt you anyway! Kara, you bitch! You didn’t have to hurt her, she has nothing to do with you and me!”

“There, that’s better isn’t it, Shego?” Kim’s mother smiled at her. “Try not to move your shoulder around too much for the next few days, it’s quite tender. Now, let’s look at the neural damage. I want a light pen!”

The concern in Doctor Possible’s tone made Shego flush and she watched silently as Kim’s mother took the proffered light pen and began to flash it into each pupil in turn.

“Why are you being so nice to me? I’m evil! I’ve hurt Kimmie so many times, you know each one because it’s you who patched her up! Now you’ve found out I wanna take her away from you, and you’re still being nice to me! I just don’t get it.”

A quiet wince from Kim’s mother, as she gently cradled her arm for a second, made Shego blink. The woman in front of her was even more hurt that she thought. Hurt trying to protect her daughter, and Shego, from someone Shego herself should have put down years ago. Right there and then, she swore that Kara would never hurt Kim’s mother, not if she could do anything about it.

Which, it turned out, Shego couldn’t.

Doctor Possible examined Shego’s eyes, the light from the tiny pen torch shining in each pupil. She pursed her lips as the pupil in each dilated, then contracted. Sighing, she stepped back and gently rapped Shego’s knee. The green woman’s leg jerked in response, though a little sluggishly.

Kneeling down next to the leg she had tapped, a leg ending in a green boot and an ankle pouch. Turning her body so that her right side was shielded from both Shia and Fah Lo, Doctor Possible slid her hand into the pocket of her torn doctor’s coat. Her fingers curled quietly around the tiny morphine bottle, now a deep red in colour.

Well, best I can do… It’ll probably coagulate in there, but at least there may be nanites in that blood sample that Wade or someone can examine. Thank god nobody was watching closely when I shot her full of morphine. Been a while since I had to take a blood sample from someone’s vein with a normal syringe.

Her fingers ran gently over Shego’s ankle pouch. A zip held the top closed and Kim’s mother coughed as she slid the zip open.

“Some muscle damage here… that explains the sluggish response. Shia, she’ll have to relax, her leg needs to heal.”

Ignoring the Ninja’s response, Doctor Possible slid the red vial quickly into the tiny space. She felt the soft foam inside and thanked anyone listening that the vial would not clink or make any noises. Zipping the pouch shut, masked by tutting loudly, Doctor Possible nodded and stood up.

Got to hope nobody opens that pouch or makes her change…though I may be able to stop that from happening.

“Well Doctor?” Shia’s voice echoed around the room. “Is she well?”

“Basic tests seem to give her the all clear. I don’t suppose I can stay here and run a full batch?” Doctor Possible sighed, knowing what the answer would be.

“No.”

“I guessed as much. Well, Shego seems to be all right for now. But if you want her to stay that way and heal, she needs rest. Lots of rest.”

Shego blinked as Shia walked into her view. The Ninja scowled at Doctor Possible, but it seemed to be more one of embarrassment rather that anger.

“I know what people need to recover, Doctor. I have been injured myself. Do not concern yourself about Shego, I will ensure she has the proper bed rest.”

“Well, that’s fine… I just wondered if your sister would allow it.” She smiled, with no humour, and Shia bristled ever so slightly. “Sorry… Oh, I do have one request.”

“Another?” Shia scowled. “You are a prisoner, Doctor. I have only so much kindness to those the Jade considers prisoner. What do you want now?”

“I want to look after Shego, care for her. Will you convince your sister to let me do this? I want to be the one who changes her clothes, washes her or changes her bandages.” You have to say yes, please say yes! Kim’s mother thought as she watched Shia frown. “Please… Shego is my daughters friend, I just want her to get the best care.”

“What?” Shego blinked inside her mind and flushed. “Ah, hell… I’m going to owe you more than one when this is over, aren’t I Doc.”

“I… I will see what I can do. Shego is honourable, she deserves what you offer.” Shia glanced around, almost worried. A chuckle made her look back, to see Fah Lo snorting with laughter. “What?”

“Oh just you and the way you try to hide how… decent you are.” Fah Lo grinned, his wizened face creasing in affection. “It’s not a crime, Shia.”

“Be silent!” Shia turned away and stared at Doctor Possible with mounting uneasiness. “Come, treat your own wounds and then come with me! Doctor Drakken is waiting and my sister… my sister will be unhappy if you are not there soon.”

“Very well.” Doctor Possible nodded, quietly thanking Fah Lo as he gently began to inspect her arm and handed her a packet of bandages. “She doesn’t own you Shia. She doesn’t-“

“I said silence!” Shia snapped. Doctor Possible stuttered into silence at the sight of the blond Ninja, so calm and quiet, now angry. “You will do as I say! You will stop trying to convince me that my sister is not mentally well! You will help Doctor Drakken!”

“Okay… okay.” Doctor Possible sighed. “I’ll come with you, and I won’t resist. As long as you make sure Shego is unharmed and that I treat her and care for her.”

“Good. Now, finish working on yourself!” Shia muttered, walking across to a communications console. She pressed a few buttons and a Jade Ninja slid onto the screen.

“Bodyguard Shia. Order us and we obey!” He snapped the words out, tidy and disciplined.

“Send someone up to escort Shego to her cell. Place her next to Doctor Possible’s,” Shia glanced across at the female Doctor. “Make sure that when it is Shego’s time to be washed or dressed, that Doctor Possible is the one who does it.”

“Yes, Bodyguard Shia. Does your sister know of this command?”

Shia blinked, a confused expression slipping onto her face for a second, before she stilled it.

“No, she placed their care in my hands and this is what will happen.” Shia scowled. “Follow my orders, now!”

“Yes, Bodyguard Shia. For the Jade!”

“For the Jade…” Shia agreed, flicking the communications screen off.

She sighed and turned back to Doctor Possible. Kim’s mother had bound her arm with a support bandage, the blue colour of it flashing into view under the ripped Doctors coat. The scratches and needle marks on her face and neck had been cleaned. Nodding, Shia inclined her head.

“You are ready. Now, do I need to use these?” She held up the cuffs and Doctor Possible shook her head. “Good…”

“You kept your word, I will keep mine.” As the two women walked towards the doors to the main corridor, Kim’s mother turned to Shia. “When this is over, I’ll try and see if I can get my daughter to propose a leaner sentence for you…”

Shia closed her eyes. The tiredness she had felt a few hours ago in her room slipping back. When this is over, your daughter will be my sister’s. There can be no other outcome… But I shall do my best to keep you alive.

“Come with me…”

---

Drakken’s Lab.

“Doctor Drakken? I have brought Doctor Possible as you requested.” Shia glanced around the huge lab, hoping to spy the blue skinned scientist. She frowned. “Dcotor?”

“I’m here… under the Servus console. We’re still trying to fix the thing!” Drakken’s voice echoed from under the vast console and Shia walked forward a few steps. There, sticking out from an access hatch lay Drakken’s feet.

“Doctor, I have brought Doctor Possible and-“

“Yes, you said and I did hear you. Carl and I are just finishing up a tricky part of the assembly here and-“ A sudden sparking crackle of discharging electricity burst from under the console and black smoke poured from a vent. Shia backed away as cursing echoed into the lab from the small hatch.

Pulling his head from under the machine, Doctor Drakken growled. His face was coated in black soot and Shia stared in shock at the sight of his long ponytail as it smoked at the tip.

“Well thanks a lot! Just as Carl and I are levering the laser emitter into place, you have to disturb us!” Grumbling, the blue scientist wandered across to a bench and grabbed a cloth. Wiping his face, he paused and stared at the red headed woman standing next to Shia, a look of distaste on her face. Drakken grinned. “Well… well… look what the cat dragged in.”

“Drew… as always, you look completely ridiculous.” Doctor Possible snorted. “I’d ask you how you are, but considering that you’re working with that insane young lady with the penchant for torture, I’d say you’ve finally gone over the side, into the waters of true insanity.”

“Nice metaphor.” Drakken muttered, watching her. ”Shia, do me a favour and pop Mrs Possible into that little chair over there, would you? The one with the metal clamps! After all,” Drakken leered at the red head. “We don’t want you flinching too much when I tell you what you're going to help me do.”

“I know what you want me to do.” Doctor Possible muttered, trying not to wince as Shia gently pressed her into a chair and snapped the cold, freezing almost, clamps around her wrists and ankles. As she glanced up, she caught a slight look of regret in Shia’s eyes, before the Ninja turned away. “If you think I’ll help you mind control my daughter, as you have with that poor girl who used to work for you, you’re mistaken!”

“Hah!” Drakken grinned and waved a hand. “You’ll help me, Mrs Possible… oh yes, you will!”

“Doctor, I have to go.” Shia glanced at the redheaded Doctor and sighed. “I have things I… I must do.”

“Eh? Oh… very well. Tell your sister that Possible here and myself will start work on solving the problems with Shego’s Servus design for Kim Possible right away.”

“Very well.” Shia bowed slightly. “Doctor Drakken… Doctor Possible.” Turning, Shia walked out of the lab. Drakken tilted his head and regarded the manacled woman in front of him with a grin.

“You know, Shego sat in that very chair for a few hours after I injected her with Servus. Sat there and drooled til a pool of it lay in her lap. Most amusing.” When Doctor Possible remained quiet, her blue eyes glaring at him with cold anger, Drakken shrugged. “Think of it. Shego… the woman that your daughter’s been jumping on for goodness knows how long, dribbling and making the oddest noises. I wonder if your daughter will do the same as she did when I inject her?”

“You’ll never know. Because I’m not helping you, Drakken!” Doctor Possible snarled. The comments about Shego and Kim were making her dislike of Drew slip very close to hatred. “And leave my daughters sexuality out of this!”

“Ooh, I touched a nerve. Look at how scared I am of you…” Drakken’s hand trembled dramatically and Kim’s mother shook her head in disbelief as he pranced around her bound form, waving his hands in the air. “See? You really frightened me Possible, look how scared I am. Oh help me… help meee!”

“Drew… you’re an idiot.” Doctor Possible muttered, trying to push the worry for Kim deep down inside her. “You always were one. When you worked with Jonathan, when you left to pursue your ’evil’ career, when my daughter beats the stuffing from you, and when we met on that train. Now, I just see you as a truly dangerous idiot… one who’s broken almost every oath I swore to uphold when I signed on as a doctor. Mind control is against everything humane!”

“Maybe… but the benefit of being evil is I don’t care! I may have broken some of your stupid rules in your moralistic world, but I’ve gained Shego as a obedient slave, and now… now I want your daughter.” Laughing, the blue scientist wandered across to a console sitting under a huge view screen. “And this is the best part. You will help me to sort out the problems with Servus. I promise you that. First, shall I tell you how Servus works? I think that some of the technical side of things may slip you by. But as a neuro-surgeon, well, you’ll love how it takes over the brain! Even little Miss ‘green skin and I have a short temper’ out there does what I say!”

The screen flickered and a tiny spiderlike robot appeared on the screen. The main body of the robot was black in colour, with tiny sensors of some sort covering it’s body. As Drakken hit a button and the image began to rotate 360 degree’s, a strange circle on its underbelly slid into view. The legs of the thing were long and spindly, the ends of the limbs curling into what looked like sharp hooks. Doctor Possible felt a cold sensation travel up her spine. The thing was evil… pure evil.

“May I introduce you, to my invention. The invention that has Shego at my beck and call! Well, mine and Kara Fang’s. The invention that, with a few bug killing efforts by you, will end up making your daughter our willing slave. I hear Ms Fang wants her as an Assassin. Lovely end to her career as a hero… don’t you think?” Laughing again, Drakken slid into a seat next to Doctor Possible. “Now, ask away about Servus. I want you to know as much as you can about how it works.”

“If I do… I’ll work out how to disable it!”

“I doubt that… so ask away, Doctor Possible. Or Shall I get you started?” Smiling, Drakken’s fingers played across the keyboard and schematics appeared next to the rotating robot.

“Aren’t they lovely? Inside Shego’s head, right this second… wherever she is, are hundreds of thousands of these little robots. They cling to her neurones, specifically those to do with memory and muscle control, and override any impulse that conflicts with their programming. Then, when they receive an instruction, they stimulate the correct neurones to obtain the correct nervous response.”

“That’s not possible! To do that you’d have to program them with… well, I have no idea, but the code must be more than they can store individually! You’re talking about a program that contains a map of Shego’s mind!”

“I always knew you were smart, and how right you are!” Drakken grinned and hit a sequence on the controls and the rotating robot vanished to be replaced with a scrolling design plan. “So, I solved that little problem by having them communicate with each other. Each one holds a tiny part of the bigger Servus programme and they are hardwired to communicate with each other in sequence. So, they form a neural network based program which is capable of controlling her mind!” Drakken cackled with laughter. “I am a genius!”

“But… but…” Kim’s mother stared in shock at the detailed mapping of Shego’s physical brain matter. “How did you get this? This is… so detailed!”

“I know, and because I’m not a neural expert like yourself, it took me years to work it out, and what to program Servus to attack. Still, it was worth it. As to where I got it,” Drakken shrugged. “Your daughter was smarter than Shego after the first mind chip incident. She took hers and must have smashed it. When I staggered back from Shego’s beating, there was hers, sitting on the floor of the lair. Did you know that the first chips stored the brain matter mappingof the person they were attached to? Amazing work. Anyway, I used the data to program the bots.”

“But… the tiny robots in her head. We put her through a MRI scan top to toe. How… how did they survive? Even I know that anything with a electromagnetic charge would destroy an electronic circuit.”

“Only if they’re not shielded or designed to resist such things. Just like the little bots in Shego’s brain. Wonderful design and nanotech is such flexible stuff to build from. The main body is formed from carbon sixty fullerene shapes, while the storage medium is actually a tiny crystal based storage chip. Clever stuff… uses light to store and transmit data. The pulses then travel down some more fullerene tubes, altered to form a diamond layer, to transfer the pulses. The legs are the chips interface points. They not only allow blocking and transmission of nerve impulses from the cells the nanobots are attached to, but also keep them charged through a biochemical interface. So, as you can see I’ve thought of everything.”

“Drew, I know about you from Jonathan. You’re hopeless at a lot of things. Something this complicated, there’s no way you could have designed that…”

“I could too!” Drakken snapped. “I’m not the total loss that your ‘oh so perfect’ husband thinks I am! Or for that matter, the idiot that Shego thinks I am! I showed her, and I’ll show you!”

“It’s not yours, is it?” Doctor Possible stared at him. “Where’d you get it from?”

“Okay… okay! It’s not my own invention! I outsourced it!” Drakken sniffed. “But it took a true genius with the resolve to use the technology to it’s maximum potential!”

“So where did it come from? Drew, you can’t expect this… stuff to work inside the human body if it wasn’t designed to function in there in the first place. Where’d this come from.”

“I had Shego obtain it after the centurion debacle. I sent her back in, but this time for a copy of the files and a sample of the raw nano-technology. She thought I was after it for a few of my inventions, but I sent her as part of my secret revenge. In a way, she destroyed herself and your sister for me without ever realising it.” Drakken shrugged. “A man can only take so many beatings, you know.

“You’re a sick man Drew. A Sick man.” Doctor Possible shivered at the sight of his answering grin. “But you hit a snag, didn’t you?”

“Yes… yes I did.” Drakken snarled. “The Servus program is geared to infect and control one person, and one person only… Shego. I used her data to map the sections of the mind I needed to control, but there, I’ve hit a snag.”

“Let me guess. The system doesn’t work when someone else is subjected to it. Does it?” Doctor Possible smiled with relief. “Although you can control some portions, I bet the system was flawed. Some jerkiness in movement, free will? Loss of motor control… even interference to the basic nervous responses. I bet that’s what it is.”

“Oh you are so like your daughter. You think you’re all that don’t you!” Drakken muttered the works sulkily.

“But I’m right, aren’t I.” Doctor Possible grinned and inside she felt the tension unknot slightly. “It doesn’t work, because the nanobots are infecting the wrong neurones. It’s not capable of selecting the correct portions of the brain!”

“No… which is why you’ll be the one assisting me.” Drakken grinned once again, a cruel smile. “You’ll help me find a way so the Servus can infect the right portions of anyone’s brain! When you do, I will be able to make anyone mine! Even you, doctor. Imagine your husbands expression, when he hears both his daughter and his wife are doing what I say!”

Kim’s mother scowled. “Well, you can forget that.”

“No, I won’t. Because I’m going to chip you.” Drakken walked up to her and gently pulled out a box from inside his coat. Opening it, he waved it under Doctor Possible’s nose. The tiny chip sitting in the velvet gleamed in the light. “See this? This is the first generation, the one that so handily controlled your daughter and Shego the first time around. Easily removed, but you think anyone here will help? Think again.”

Doctor Possible shrank back. “You’re going to chip me? No… Drew, Drew listen to me!”

Oh… oh god no. Please no. Don’t make me hurt my daughter! Please! I’ve got to escape I… I can’t let him. Shia! Come back!

“Listen to you? Oh I will, right after this,” Drakken took the chip out and gently rested it on his finger. “Goes on your head. I’ll listen with complete interest, as you help me complete the Servus I always dreamed of making myself! I’ll listen and watch you help me as you enslave your daughter!”

“No… I won’t help you!” Kim’s mother wrestled against the manacles holding her in place. “Someone help me!”

“Now, now.” Drakken leaned in close and gently brushed the red hair from the struggling woman’s forehead. Sighing, he pressed the silvery chip to her forehead and watched as her struggles ceased, a tiny whimper escaping her lips. “You want to be a good girl, and help me. Don’t you, Doctor?”

Kim’s mother stared at Drakken with soulless, blank eyes. “Yes, Doctor Drakken.”

“Good. Now, tell me how we can solve my little problem.”

---

Kim Possible Household 11AM: Four days later

Nothing… Kim Possible sat on her bed, a look of utter dejection on her face. Four days of searching and all for nothing! Mom, Shego, they may as well have fallen off the face of the earth.

The young superhero had done nothing for the past four days other than search for her mother and friend. It had started with Wade, a thorough investigation of the site where the two Ninja’s had been. An investigation that had yielded another dead end.

“There has to be something wade.” Kim stared at the young man on the Kimmunicator. “They were here and took off in a hoverpod. Can’t you, I don’t know… track it?”

“You said the pod vanished into thin air as it flew away. Now, that suggests to me a cloaking device. If it’s one of Drakken’s, that means that it’s screening pretty much everything he can think of.” Wade shrugged, apologetically. “I tried to scan for gravitons, it’s the one thing he’s not been able to shield.”

“And?” Kim tried to keep the desperation from her voice.

“Nothing… gravitons have such a short half life. I couldn’t detect anything around the area where they were. As for the computers that they left behind? Forget it. Either they were corrupted the same way as Shego’s hoverpod, or they destroyed them so utterly I couldn’t get anything. Your dad’s still working on a few units, but he’s not hopeful.”

“So, this avenue’s pretty dead then…” Kim closed her eyes. “Mom is missing and the one place where I’ve even seen the people who took her is useless as a lead. Damn!”

That had been day one. For the remaining three days, Kim had driven around in Mara, visiting all of the old lairs that she and Ron could remember from previous missions. Nothing. The lairs had been abandoned for months, although one had resulted in some combat with a very surprised Doctor Dementor.

Kim had had no patience, and the evil scientist had found himself on the receiving end of a roundhouse kick that had thrown him into his evil device, destroying it. A move that Kim would have recognised as being one of Shego’s favourites had she cared.

“Mom… Shego… where are you?” Kim groaned and fell back on her bed, closing her eyes as the headache that had throbbed all evening threatened to become even more intense.

Her father had been completely supportive. He had never snapped at her once, not once! As for the Tweebs, they had been unsettlingly quiet for the past few days. Whenever she came into the room, tired from another days fruitless searching, she could see them clam up even more. It was unsettling. She wished, oh how she wished, that either her brothers or her father would snap at her, scream or rant. It would make her feel more comfortable, oddly enough, rather than have them sit there, silent and hopeful.

Sighing, Kim restlessly tossed and turned on her bed. She’d had little sleep in the past few days, despite Yori trying to make her drink more of the herbed tea. Kim had backed away, shaking her head. Told the Ninja that she wanted to remain as alert as possible. What if Wade found something or someone saw her mother, Shego… something? How would she be able to rescue them while slumbering from drugged tea?

Yori had nodded her head, though Kim felt she disagreed with her. Now, four days after two people she cared for had gone missing, Kim had given Ron and Yori the day off. What else could she have done? Ron had been running on fumes even more than she had for some reason. Yori had also been tired, she could see it in the Japanese woman’s eyes.

Well, of course they were. Yori and Ron have covered everywhere I haven’t. Hell, ron even went to see Doctor Director and called in her favour. An idea I’d never have had which means Team Possible now has the GJ, the CIA and the FBI all looking for my mother. Yori’s contacted some people she knows, I think she said they were part of Yamanouchi. They’re looking as well. There’s nothing more they could do for me…

So, Kim had sprung them for the day. She felt they’d deserved it. The young Ninja had gone off with Ron, to show him how to meditate. Though Ron had been reluctant to go, even Yori could see that. Kim knew that Ron cared deeply for her mother, almost as much as he cared for her. Still, Kim had managed to persuade him to go with Yori, by convincing him he was doing what she had a few days back by letting exhaustion cloud his judgement.

So, now Kim sat alone on her bed, too exhausted to even sit in Mara and let her drive as she stared outside at the huge tracts of land that could hide her mother, Shego and Kara Fang. Sighing, she slid to her feet and stared at the computer on her desk.

Maybe I can… She thought, before her eyes fell on a familiar book bound in green leather. As she stared at it, her eyes softened and she felt tears tug at the edges.

“Oh… Shego. Damn it, where are you?” She slid to her feet and picked up the book, running her hands gently along the soft leather. “Am I going about this the wrong way? Trying to find you by hunting? What if… You said you knew Kara Fang from some time in your past. If I knew more about her… maybe I could think enough like her to find you. To at least have some idea what to look for.”

Sitting back on her bed, Kim flipped the book open. She ran her eyes across the smooth script and gazed at the first few lines. She remembered what Shego had said about Kara on the way to her house.

“Met her on the first day we arrived at the Fox’s home for training. She was a odd one even then. Calm and collected… until I said hi. Heh, first time I tried to be civil, Kimmie, and this girl looks at me like I’m crap she’s scraped from the bottom of her boot. Lovely. So, we had the whole ‘instant dislike’ thing going on before I even started competing with her.” Shego had grinned slyly and winked at Kim. “You know, The Fox never actually wanted her as a apprentice. She’d reluctantly taken on Kara cause of a debt to the Jade. I never asked why, but she always said once Fang was out of the picture, she’d train me even further. She liked me, Kimmie… she liked me a lot.”

“Define… a lot.” Kim had retorted, her tone heated much to her surprise. To Shego’s as well, if the widening of her eyes had been any sign.

“I… well. Kimmie, I won’t like to you. I had a crush on her, okay? I fancied her, I found every inch of that French redhead sexy. Still do, even now.” Shego smiled, but the smile was ever so slightly sad. “Trust my luck that the first time I try to seduce her into bed, I find out she’s got a lover already.”

“Oh… I’m sorry?” Kim had swallowed, while inside she had sighed in relief. “So, about Fang.”

“It’s all in my diary, Kimmie dear.” Shego had closed her eyes. “You’ll excuse me if I don’t want to talk about Kara Fang, unless it involves red hot needles and her eyeballs.”

Now, Kim stared at the diary entry. The diary entry that covered the day Shego had met the Fox and Kara.

I’m writing this entry in Paris… Oh yeah, you heard me, Paris! How cool is this? I can see the Eiffel tower and the Louvre from my window. The Fox, and no she won’t tell me her real name yet, has premium digs. I’ve got my own room and it’s been kitted out in green. Heh, someone knows my taste as well as I do. Normally that’d creep me out, but not tonight. Because tonight is the end of day four of my freedom from Go city and everything I thought I had to commit to. I am, in one damn word dear diary, free! It feels great!

Now… what else to write. Umm. Okay. She has her own training room, which shames the one in Go tower. It has every single bank vault lock I’ve seen in my life. All the latest top range sensors and tracking machines around and an assault course to keep yourself totally fit. No wonder she moves like a cat. Maybe she’ll help me attain that level too. I know I’m good, but she’s better… I know she is.

Oh, yeah. Today I met my opposition. If you can call the woman who kept scowling at me that. She’s Japanese, I think… or maybe Chinese. Still, she has long dark hair, blue eyes and a calm expression. But, I know a loopy tune when I see one. Fighting all those villains in Go helped me to know sane from insane. This gal, she has a handle on her anger… but it’s very, very light. I can tell that she’s the sort who’d shoot innocent people if she could, just to hear them scream. Still, I can’t prove any of the above, so I’ll have to put up with her.

The Fox isn’t thrilled to have her either. Told her straight off that I was her choice. I’m the one who she wants as an apprentice. How cool is that? I mean, this is the Fox! And she want’s my cute ass to learn from her. Kara Fang, yeah I know… but it’s her name! Didn’t take it very well. She calmly told the Fox that I was not as good as her. How the hell does she know? We’ve not even sparred or done any lessons yet?

Still, the Fox didn’t take that well. She got this ass kicking expression in those sexy eyes of hers and did this flippy thing with her hair. Told Kara that I was her choice, so she be the judge. Fangy hated that and, after the tour, wandered off to her room to ‘meditate’. If thumping the hell out of the punch bag in her room is meditating, she’s as good as me in keeping her temper.

I get the feeling I may have to watch my back. Still, at least the Fox is in my corner. So, not only do I have one hell of a sexy thief to learn from, but I think she likes me too. Maybe, just maybe I can do what I could never bring my dumbass self to do in Go city. I want a woman and she’s sooo… hot! That hair and those eyes make me shiver. As for that cute French body of hers, jeez. Maybe what made me hated in school will actually help me here. It can’t hurt to try and she is very cute.

Kim stopped reading and realised that she had been smiling as her eyes had read the page. She supposed she should be jealous, but how could she be? The Fox had made Shego what she was, had taken her away from the abuse Hego had put Shego through. Although Shego had decided to end up working for Drakken, how could Kim dispute that choice? Hego had destroyed her trust in the heroes of the world and that had left people like the Fox and the villains to pick up the pieces.

Plus, they made Shego the woman I’ve fallen in love with. Their actions eventually brought us into conflict… made us respect each other, and then finally Shego took the big step of falling for me. Now I find I feel the same way. No… I owe the Fox one, I can’t be jealous.

Kim sighed. Despite the diary entry, she had the same lack of information to go on. The reason for Kara not liking Shego was a little clearer, but it still left her in the dark about-

“SIIISSSSSSSS!” A breathless Jim and Tim hurtled into her room and Kim jumped off the bed in shock at the sight of their excited and worried faces. “You gotta come downstairs! Dad’s already phoned Ron and he’s on his way here!”

“What?” Kim blinked in surprise, even as her Kimmunicator began to chime urgently. “Why?”

“It’s on the TV!” The twins chanted in unison. “Shego’s attacking Middleton Mall and has a load of freaky Ninja people with her!”

---

Drakken’s Lair, two hours before.

“We’ve done it!” Drakken pranced around his lab, screaming the words out with pleasure. “I am a genius… oh yes I am!”

Kara stood to one side, dressed in her blood red cat suit. She smiled, while her eyes stared at the gibberish displayed on the screen in front of her. Turning, she gazed at the blue Doctor.

“Congratulations… I take it that means Servus will now work on Kim Possible?”

Drakken nodded. “Yeah! I am the man! Though I have to admit that I’d never have done it without Doctor Possible here.”

Drakken waved a hand at the form of Kim’s mother standing docilely next to him. Doctor Possible stared blindly ahead, her eyes slack as she waited for someone to order her or ask her a question. The chip on her head blinked with a soft red light, disrupting her ability to control her body.

Kara pursed her lips as she stared at the redheaded woman. She had been annoyed at first, when Shia had explained that Doctor Possible would care for Shego on a physical basis. But, even she had to admit that it had been a boon. Shego had been well looked after these past few days. Her cat suit had been replaced with a fresh one each day, thanks to Drakken having stores of them in this lair. Her hair had always been neatly combed, the skin washed and her teeth brushed. It had made the few times Kara had felt the need to fight her in the Dojo far more pleasant. She supposed she owed the Doctor, but then she was a prisoner and the Jade expected nothing and owed nobody. Besides, she wanted to see what Doctor Possible’s face would look like when she was released from the chip.

“I think it’s time we let Doctor Possible share in the moment.” Kara grinned and motioned to Shia behind her. “Shia, activate our silicon disrupter.” Kara waved at two Ninja’s standing next to a doorway. “You… hold the good Doctor. I don’t want her getting any ideas.”

Shia swallowed as she picked up the box that sat on the table. True to her word, Doctor Possible had cared for Shego as she had said she would. The thought of Kara gloating over the poor woman, as she tried to cope with developing the technology that would rip her daughter’s freedom from her, made Shia feel incredibly uncomfortable. “Sister, maybe we should just proceed and-“

“Shia. Do as I say.” Kara glanced across. “Do it, and once you release the good Doctor, call Shego into the lab. It’s time we set about getting Kim Possible’s attention so Shego can take her!”

“Yes… Sist-“ Kara glared at her. “I mean. Yes, Mistress Fang.” Shia held out the tiny device and pressed a button.

With a crackle of energy, the chip on Doctor Possible’s forehead sparked and fell off. Immediately, the older woman shuddered and fell to her knees. Kara’s eyes gleamed with perverse interest as a sob escaped the huddled woman and tears splashed on the concrete.

“I hear congratulations are in order, Doctor.” Kara knelt down and grinned. “Look at me.”

Kim’s mother raised her head and Kara blinked. Though tears spilled down Doctor Possible’s cheeks, the rage in her blue eyes made them flash and spark with heat. Kara slid to her feet and took a step back, just in case.

“You! I swear, if I ever get my hands on you…”

“Now, now, Doctor. As much as I’d like to see you try to hurt me, I will point out that you are my prisoner and the two men standing next to you as well as Shia here will not let anything happen to me. I will also point out that I shall soon have another bargaining chip in my hands. Namely, your daughter.”

“You… you bitch!” Doctor Possible snarled, making Drakken blink in surprise.

“Such language, Doctor. It is unbecoming of you.” Kara smiled. “I want to thank you for helping my dreams come to fruition and I promise you that you will not be harmed. After all, while your daughter is my bargaining chip to keep you docile, the same goes for you when it comes to Kim San.”

Kara turned as the door to the lab hissed open and Shego, resplendent in the familiar green and black cat suit that Kim’s mother had helped her put on earlier in the day, walked into the room.

“And here is my little secret weapon!”

“Drop dead, Kara.” Shego muttered in her mind. As her eyes wandered over the room, Servus taking in the various people and assigning threat and obedience levels, she blinked at the sight of Kim’s mother, her face a exhausted mess. “Oh shit… Doc, tell me that they didn’t… you haven’t been able to… Oh no. Kimmie.”

“Time to play… Shego, you will go with Shia and obey her every command. I want the Middleton mall in pieces with the next couple of hours. I shall join you shortly, as I have a few things I need to set up.” Kara smiled cruelly, exultant that things were moving so smoothly. “Doctor Drakken, I will need your assistance to set up a communication to Middleton mall, it will need to be portable and be able to project a hologram.”

Drakken shrugged. “Easy enough. This is amazing, Kim Possible is gonna be mine! I mean, ours!”

Kara smiled. Fool… though a useful fool and one I could use in the future. “Yes, Doctor. Shia, come, we have much to discuss before you go. Shego… follow my sister.”

As Kara walked outside of the laboratory, leaving a shaking and crying Doctor Possible in the lab, she turned to her sister. Her eyes were mild. “I have a task for you… something very important, Shia.”

“As my sister commands me.” Shia whispered, dreading what would come next. When kara spoke so quietly, it was never because she was as calm as she appeared.

“Yes. As I command you, not the other way around. You have been, resistant to my commands recently, Shia. I am growing not only tired of your change, but now I worry that you are not truly committed to our plan. So, I want you to reinforce my confidence in you.”

Shia felt her skin begin to crawl. “What would you have me do?”

“Oh, something quite simple, sister of mine.” Kara shrugged as the doors to the hanger slid open. “I want Yori’s head.”

Shia stopped dead in the doorway, her face paling under the Mask she wore. “What?”

“I… want… Yori’s… head! I want you to kill her, cut it off and bring it to me.” Kara sighed, and turned to her sister, tilting her head. “She is our enemy and the Jade has no respect or tolerance for our foes. You know that Shia. So, kill her and bring me her head.”

“I… I…” Shia swallowed. How can I… I can’t. This is… Oh god, Yori. “I shall do as… as you ask.”

“Good.” Kara smiled and glanced at Shego. “Bring me Kim Possible. Alive! If you do that, Shego, then I promise to reward you… maybe by letting you have five minutes alone with her, in her cell. I know you won’t be able to speak to her, but it’s the thought that counts and besides, she may be able to speak to you.”

Oh god… Shego thought, her skin creeping at the gloating tone.

“Yes, Mistress Fang.”

“Excellent.” Kara laughed with delight and her hands stretched into the air, her body spinning around once as Shia and Shego walked away to a Hoverpod. “It’s time for murder and mayhem!”

---

Middleton Mall: The present.

“Here! Come here! This way!”

David Thorn, a guard at Middleton mall ran along the main shopping hallway, his baton tightly gripped in one hand, the other clasping his stun gun as though his life depended on it. He had been a guard at the mall for three months, and some of the others still joked about him being a ‘greenhorn’. Now, as he ran along the corridor, he shook his head. From the expressions of the other guards, they were all green when it came to this. A sudden scream made him blink and he felt hands slam into him, pushing him down.

“Get down!”

A ball of green flame shot over his head, burrowing into the fountain behind him with a hiss and pop of cracking concrete. Screams as shoppers and children swamped the air as they ran past the crouching guard. The arm shifted and David glanced over at Kimberley Munroe, a blond guard who had worked at the Mall for nearly six years.

“Jesus… it can’t be her! Where’s Kim Possible when you sodding need her?” Another ball of plasma flashed past their vision, and the windows to a candy shop exploded, the stocks of sweets inside melting and leaving an acrid taste to the air. “She’s never done anything like this! She’s a thief, always comes in at night and we never catch her. The only time I’ve ever seen her like this is when she fights Possible. So where is she?”

A sudden scream echoed along the corridor and Munroe and Thorn both swallowed. The blond guard crept forwards, beckoning to the man behind her. Together, batons at the ready and stun guns gripped in sweaty hands, they crouch walked forwards.

It was a blade that got Kimberley. She never even saw it coming, as the Ninja who had flipped down from the upper gantry had slammed it into her shoulder. The blond woman fell, a scream escaping her that made David turn around in shock. Without thinking, the stun gun went off and to the guard’s surprise, the Ninja flew back against the wall, unconscious. It was a short-lived victory.

Even as David crouched and ripped off the jacket he wore, clutching it to Kimberly’s bleeding shoulder, the sound of boots slamming on concrete made him look up. There, standing in front of him was a beautiful dark haired woman, her skin a light green and dressed in a black and green cat suit. Though he had never seen her in the flesh before, he knew her name and her reputation. His blood chilled as she stared at him, emerald eyes dull and uninterested.

“Shego… oh hell.” The words escaped his lips and he shrank back as her hands ignited with a green glow. “Don’t… please don’t.”

“I must damage the mall, until Kim Possible arrives!” Shego’s voice calmly stated, the burning hands extending to grip his face. “I will hurt you to accomplish my mission.”

“Girl, you let go of him right now!” Shego paused, her hands rippling with plasma flame. The voice was familiar to her memory, and Servus analysed the result. Finding a far more prime target than the cowering security guard, Shego turned.

Monique, dressed neatly in the clothes of a Club Banana manager, scowled at her, hands on her hips. The African American woman too a step forwards. “What the hell do you think you are doing?”

Shego stared at her blankly, Servus puzzled by the lack of fear on the targets face. Inside her mind, the part of Shego free to think licked her lips. “I know you! You’re one of Kimmie’s friends, for gods sake, get away from me! Don’t you know how much danger you’re in? DOY!”

Monique licked her lips in apprehension as Shego began to walk towards her, the five remaining Ninja’s on the upper gallery following her movements. Backing away, she stared into the dull eyes of the green thief.

“Shego… come on gal, this ain’t funny! I know that Kim and you are dating, or at least you two are in love. What the hell do you think you’re doing attacking the mall and-“

Monique’s eyes widened in horror and she fell as fast as her legs would allow as a ball of green plasma shot towards her. The plasma seared her hair as it shot a single inch above her head and blew into the Club Banana Store that was her pride and joy. With a concussive detonation, the storefront exploded and hundreds of thousands of pounds of stock ignited in a huge firestorm. Even as she watched in horror as her beautiful store and livelihood began to burn, she felt strong gloved hands pick her up.

Choking, Monique struggled as Shego tilted her towards her face. The green woman’s eyes gazed at her, and Monique could only stare in fright at the total lack of recognition or compassion in Shego’s eyes. She whimpered as the grip tightened, Shego’s other hand igniting with a frighteningly quiet whisper.

“Shego, girl, what happened to you? It’s me… Monique! Kim’s friend! I-“ She broke off in a choke as Shego tightened her grip once more on her collar, lifting her off the floor as her muscles bulged under the fabric of her jump-suit. “She…ggg…arghh.”

“No… I’ve got to stop this. Kimmie will never forgive me! I have to… damn it, not innocent people! I… I can’t kill, I’ve got to…” Shego watched her own fist rise to strike Monique with burning plasma, knew from the familiar tautness of her muscles that this would be a strike she usually used to smash through solid steel. She couldn’t stop it… she couldn’t. “Oh god… Help me!”

A sudden scream and pressure on her back made Shego stagger forwards, letting go of Monique, who fell choking to the floor. Thorn had managed to wake Kimberley, who gripped the coat to her bleeding shoulder as she watched the Ninja’s on the upper walkway fight with the guards, the sight of it was a massacre. Thorn himself launched onto Shego’s back, screaming as the green woman raised her fist to kill the cute woman who, for all he knew, ran the Club Banana store.

Shego’s body fought violently against the weight on her back, struggling to keep her balance. Even as she flailed behind her with her clawed hands, she felt another impact on her legs and looked down. Servus blinked, as Monique gripped her legs, yanking desperately. Another bolt of plasma shot from Shego’s fingers, searing into the wall and then exploding inside the Beauno nacho store. The smell of gas was the only warning Monique and Thorn had, as the storefront exploded in a deadly scatter of glass.

Servus had been expecting it, and Shego jumped with athletic ease onto the top walkway, dodging the shower of glass. Monique, having received a little training from Kim, jumped and rolled over the bench, dragging it over her. The shards of glass that shot towards her, burrowed into the wood of the bench. Thorn was not so lucky. His body was picked up by the detonation, and flung like a rag doll across the mall. Even as he felt the air punched out of his body by the concussive explosion, sharp shards of glass tore into his skin, ripping the young man apart.

Thorn hit the floor, blood splattering the concrete around him as he did so. Barely breathing, he could feel his lifeblood oozing from hundreds of glass sharp cuts. The scream from Kimberley barely registered as he began to slide into shock, but the sudden sensation of pressure on his jugular made him blink.

Monique ripped at her clothing frantically, her finger pressed deeply against the pulse of the young guard who had saved her life. She grabbed the strips of fabric, tying them around the deepest wounds, while her mind tried to ignore the thump of Shego’s feet landing on the concrete behind her. The sound of the green woman’s hands igniting made her swallow, but she continued to work, hoping that the insane villain would target someone else. She was wrong.

A ball of plasma smashed into her back, and Monique screamed in agony as the searing heat ignited the fabric on her clothes and began to melt her skin. She twisted, rolling desperately on the floor, trying to put out the flames on her back, even as Shego stalked towards her.

“Oh god… what have I done? I’m… I’m a killer! I’m going to kill!”

Shego knelt down next to the moaning, crying woman and picked her up gently. As the sounds of combat and screams of innocent people being butchered echoed around her, Shego gazed at Monique with dull eyes. Her lips twitched as Servus took control of them.

“I must destroy until Kim Possible arrives.” Her right hand burst into green flame once more and Monique could only whimper at the sight of her means of death. “Destroy… kill and obtain Kim Possible!”

“Shego… don’t.” Monique managed, pawing at her weakly.

“I have my commands.”

As her fist descended towards Monique’s face, the African American woman closed her eyes, unable to watch her own death approach. It was because of this that she missed the grappling rope that wrapped around Shego’s descending fist, and yanked it backwards.

“Shego, this stops now!” The voice echoed around the mall, and Shego instantly dropped Monique, turning as though she were an oiled machine. Servus gazed at the figure standing with two others, and Shego’s lips curved. There, standing between Ron and Yori, stood Kim, her green eyes full of determination and her hair soaked with sweat.

“Kim Possible. Main target located. Mission, capture and restrain.”

“Kimmie, get away! Get away from me! I’m going to try and capture you for fuck’s sake! I won’t let this happen to you too… get away from me!” Shego screamed desperately in her mind, unable to control her body as it adopted a defensive stance. “Kimmie, please! I… I can’t lose you!”

Kim gazed at Shego with fear. She knew from personal experience that the person remained conscious inside a mind-controlled body, and the knowledge chilled her. Shego stood there, no… her body stood there, calmly confident as Yori and Ron spread outwards.

Kim swallowed. “Shego. Surrender, you have to surrender. I can… I can take you to hospital and we can find some way of removing the mind control chips, I promise.” She blinked as Shego’s hands ignited, knew that any hope of reaching the free Shego inside was minimal. “Shego, please!”

“Kim, Down!” Ron’s voice echoed around the mall and his hands clamped down on her shoulder. For a second, she thought Shego had fired plasma at her while she was distracted, but the sound of something solid whistling past her head made her look up in shock.

There, standing on the upper mall with four Ninja’s stood a blond woman in a black combat outfit, much like Yori’s. Her left hand held four tiny darts, obviously the object that had shot past Kim when Ron had, with almost superhuman speed, slapped her down. Behind her, a katana blade hilt stood up from her spine, the wrapping on the handle a dull red. As the three heroes gazed up at her, she smiled mirthlessly. “Shego, attack! You know the plan!”

Yori stared upwards, feeling her blood chill as the blond woman gave Shego the order. She licked her lips, her gaze never leaving the blond Ninja even as Shego began to step forwards. Her mouth opened and Yori repeated a name she had never uttered again since the night Jasmine had been kidnapped. “Shia… Shia Fang.”

The roar of a plasma ball snapped Yori back to reality and she back flipped away from the heated flaming death. Kim had effortlessly rolled to one side, while Ron, showing an unusual level of aptitude in Kim’s opinion, had flipped to the side as well.

“Kim San, you must stop Shego from attacking anyone or destroying anything!” Yori glanced up at the gallery as Shia stepped quietly through a broken window, onto the roof. “I have my own battle to face!”

“But…” Kim managed, blinking as Yori threw her chained grapple onto a support pillar and swung onto the upper catwalk. She managed to get a glimpse of the dark haired Ninja running towards the broken window, before dodging Shego’s flaming fists as the green woman attacked her. “Ron! Get behind her! We’ve got to knock her out!”

“How?” Ron gasped, desperately backing away from Shego. “We’ve got nothing to knock her out with!”

Shego lunged at Kim, making the redhead back away desperately. Even as Ron snuck up on her form behind, the green woman turned, and Ron desperately rolled out of the way as her hands shot burning beams of plasma straight at him.

Shego… what am I going to do? I never expected to have to face you like this! Kim ack flipped away as Shego’s attention turned to her once more. As her old foe ran towards her, Kim fired her grapple onto a roof beam and shot into the rafters. Damn, I can’t hurt her! Can I? She’s… I love her damn it. This isn’t her fault, none of this is! How am I going to get her to stop?

Her attention switched to Ron and to her mounting horror she saw her friend desperately fighting three Ninja’s, who had suck up behind him as he had rolled away from Shego’s flaming attack. Ron’s hands and feet blurred, and Kim blinked as he deflected blows and attacks that even she would have trouble deflecting. Even as she tried to warn him of the fourth Ninja sneaking up, a plasma burst smashed into the girder she stood on.

The bolts melted under the impact and the girder ripped from the wall with a scream of protesting metal before she could do anything. Kim fell towards the floor, her mind reeling as Shego’s face stared up at her, cold and blank.

---

Shia stood patiently, watching as Yori slid through the broken window and carefully began to walk towards her. Inwardly, she sighed. Yori was just as beautiful and as calm and collected as Shia remembered. Her old feelings of friendship with the woman tugged at her heart as Yori stopped a few feet away from her and tilted her head, long dark hair waving in the wind.

“So, you lure Kim San to this trap by attacking innocents? How much you have changed, Shia.”

Shia sighed. “Yori, as honourable as always. This was not my idea, if you must know. It was my Mistress and sister’s. I would never have done it this way.”

“No, you prefer to dupe those who care for you, do you not?” Yori scowled, unable to keep the venom from her voice. “As Jasmine cared for you! Did you ever tell your sister before she ordered you to assist in Jasmines kidnapping that she was your lover? Did you!”

Shia blinked, swallowed as Yori opened an old wound that she had never wanted to feel again. She wanted to hate Yori for doing that, felt she could, no should, be justified feeling that emotion. Instead, she felt sorrow and the feeling made her stomach pit.

“It is never as easy as that, Yori. Even before I had met you, I had sworn my honour, my life, to the Jade and my sister. That takes president over any feelings I had for you, for the school or my friends… even for… for… for Jasmine!”

“Oh, that is the easy way out my old friend!” Yori spat the words, and Shia blinked at the heat in her tone. Maybe Yori was not as calm as she thought. “To blame every choice of something out of our control. It is your life! A single choice has never been irreversible! If more people knew or remembered that, the human race would be better off!”

Shia scowled and her hand slid to her Katana hilt. “Perhaps. However I have… orders. Orders I must follow.”

Even as Shia’s blade whistled free from it’s hilt, Yori crouched and her red fans snapped out in a flurry of action. The two friends faced off against each other and Yori smiled. “I have been waiting to see you again, Shia.”

“So I see.” Shia whispered. “Here to kill me, Yori?”

Yori shook her head, the fans lowering slightly. “No… this is to defend myself as you were the one who drew your blade. No, I have another reason for facing you this way, alone and out of the earshot of the Jade Ninja’s.”

“Oh?” Shia gently stepped around Yori in a circle, smiling as her old friend mimicked the action. We have neither of us changed when it comes to our matching skills. “What would that be?”

“We want you to come back.” Yori whispered, watching as Shia’s eyes widened and the blond Ninja’s blade trembled. “Sensei wants you to return to the School, and Jasmine wants you to come back to her…”

---

The grapple shot out of Kim’s hand in one smooth movement, hooking onto a girder. The rope tensed as it took her weight and the redhead swung across the mall, inches above the floor. As she swung towards Shego, her foot lashed out, catching the green woman on the side of the head.

Shego fell to the ground, blinking as a trickle of blood fell from her temple. Even as Shego fought for consciousness, she felt Servus take control of her nervous system quickly and her body rose and turned to face the landing redhead. Shego screamed a warning as her hands burst into flame once more and raised to send a burst of plasma across the hallway towards Kim.

“Hey, Shego!” A voice next to her yelled and Shego felt her head turn to face the voice, even as a foot smashed into her shoulder, making her fall back. As she staggered, blond hair made her realise Stoppable was back in the game. “Booyah!”

Kim managed to turn in time to see Ron deliver a kick to Shego that had her staggering backwards. Even as she watched however, Ron was forced to back away from Shego as the two Ninjas who remained upright ran towards him, unsheathing their blades. She wanted to help him, but the ball of plasma that shot in her direction made Kim back away.

“Ron!” She managed.

“KP, you deal with Shego, I’ve got these jokers! I’ll be fine!” Ron grinned at the two Ninja’s and them backflipped over a potted bush. “Come on guys, let’s go play and leave Kimmie to kick Shego’s ass!”

Kim watched as her friend lured the two Ninja’s away from her, leaving Shego the only opponent. An opponent, who she knew, was panicking as she faced the woman she loved. Resolved to take Shego alive and unconscious, Kim flipped forwards until she faced Shego less that a metre away. The green woman frowned and the plasma flickering around her palms altered and grew hotter.

“I must take Kim Possible alive. Kara Fang demands it!” Shego intoned emotionlessly.

“Yeah, and I have my own mission, Shego. I’ve gotta take you alive… because my friendship with you demands it.” Kim adopted her favoured Karate pose and took a deep cleansing breath. “Okay, lets do this!”

The first flurry of burning fists impacted against her gloves and Kim focused her entire being on deflecting the strong impacts as Shego attacked her. Kim retaliated, her own hands lashing out in a series of blows around Shego’s head. The green woman fell back slightly, her right foot sliding back along the floor to compensate for the strength behind Kim’s blows.

“Shego… listen to me!” Kim managed, her head jerking back as she avoided a flaming blow to her cheek. “You have to fight it!”

Kim tried to hit Shego around the head once again, but her right fist slapped into a burning palm and Shego’s grip tightened around it. As Kim swung her left, the same thing happened and Kim found herself inches from Shego’s face. As she stared into the dull emerald gaze, she felt a ball of ice slide into her belly.

Suddenly, Shego’s right foot snapped up and caught her in the stomach, making Kim huff out a breath and blink in shock. The foot pressed against her and Shego suddenly fell onto her back. Kim flew through the air, landing behind Shego with a thud and a cry of pain.

Both women flipped upright, and Kim tilted her head, feeling her neck pop slightly. As Shego ran at her, Kim lashed out with a roundhouse kick the Shego never saw coming. The green thief let out a huff of expelled air as she flew backwards into a potted plant. Within seconds, however, Shego was back on her feet, hands bursting into flame once more.

“Kim, you have to knock me out!” Shego managed to whisper in her mind, as she fought the pain and disorientation of the various attacks that Kim was causing her. Servus was unaffected by such discomfort and Shego could only fight the nausea as her body ran forwards once more. “Please Kimmie! I can’t let Kara have you!”

Kim watched her running towards her once more, and sighed. As Shego reached her, the redhead launched herself into the air, flipping over Shego’s body in a move that had the green woman backpeddling in desperation. As she landed, Kim’s right leg shot out, a crashing blow that slammed into Shego’s spine and sent her sprawling into a fountain. Water splashed onto concrete and Shego flailed in the water as the Servus system attempted to right itself.

As Kim stood upright, and moved to grab and restrain the flailing woman, a sudden clapping noise echoed around the hall. Kim turned to the face the sound, and her green eyes widened. There, standing on the upper walkway, wearing a red cat suit, and her silver rifle pointing directly at her, stood a dark haired Japanese woman. Kim stared at her, and the gaze became cold. She recognised that body and suit.

“Kara Fang…”

Laughing, the Japanese woman slid her clapping hands to the rifle and smiled. “Well done Kim Possible. I was wondering if you would be able to work out who I was.”

As Shego rose, soaking wet, from the fountain and her hands burst into flame once more, Kim backed away. As Shego jumped out of the fountain, water cascading from her body, Kara held up a hand.

“Shego… wait!” As Shego paused, Kara smiled at Kim’s confused expression. “I have an offer that I want you to hear, Kim Possible. An offer that requires you to pay attention to me. So, listen to what I have to say, before I set Shego on you once more.”

“I won’t listen to anything you have to say, Fang! You’re going down and I’ll free Shego!”

“Oh really.” Kara smiled coldly. “I somehow doubt that. But why not ask someone who will know the answer? I know, I have someone who will be able to tell you…as she deals with neuro surgery every day.”

“What?” Kim whispered, only to blink as Kara held out a disk and pressed a button. With a flicker, a hologram filled the empty hallway of the shopping mall. Three figures stared at her and Kim felt her heart freeze. There, standing between two Jade Ninja’s, was the oh so familiar figure of her mother. Kim swallowed, frightened. “Mom…”

---

Shia stared at Yori with a look of terror on her face. This is not possible! I cannot go back… I cannot! Why did she have to offer me this? Why?”

“Go back?” Shia managed, wishing her voice were harsher and not so gentle. “You know I cannot go back…. Ever.”

“Why?” Yori asked her, carefully stepping around Shia as the blond woman swung her katana in an arc. Her red fans snapped upwards, ready to deflect any attack. “Tell me.”

“I hurt people, and Jasmine.” Shia reluctantly admitted. “How can I go back to that school, knowing that everyone there will hate me for what I did?”

“Because we do not all hate you.” Yori countered. “There are many of us that are confused by what you did, some feel sadness for your actions. Jasmine was almost destroyed by the knowledge, but when I explained to her that you were-“

“Enough!” Shia hissed, desperate to end the pain that trickled into her with Yori’s words. She sprang forwards, her blade catching one of the Ninja’s fans. “I can never go back! Never!”

Yori slashed at the blade, flipping it back and making Shia twirl the razor edge defensively as she flipped her fans own deadly edges towards the blond woman. Shia flipped to the left, the point of her blade darting towards Yori’s shoulder. Yori’s body tensed and her legs slid from under her, making the Ninja slid towards the ground as she did the splits. Shia’s katana whistled past the spot Yori had been, and as she tried to turn and compensate, Yori acted.

With a fluid motion, the Yamanouchi Ninja slammed onto her back, and her split legs whipped into the air in a spinning kick that slammed into Shia with as much force as Yori could muster. As Shia screamed in pain, Yori rolled to her feet and her fans snapped open, the Ninja lunging at Shia as they did so.

Shia rolled, her body flipping out of the way of Yori’s attack. She desperately swung her katana around in an arc, even as Yori’s fan’s twirled in the same direction.

There was a silence and the two women stood there, both sweating and careful to keep a grip on the blades they held. Shia swallowed and glanced at the red fan blade that rested gently against her neck, so tight to the skin she could feel the pulse of her jugular flex the cool metal. Yori stared at the katana blade that rested against her own neck, the thin bead of blood that spilled along it’s edge a testament to Shia’s own skill.

Shia gazed up into Yori’s eyes. “I was ordered to kill you today. To cut off your head and bring it to my sister to confirm my loyalty to the jade.” She flexed the katana. “I still could do this… if I were faster than you.”

“I was told to ask you to return to Sensei… to us.” Yori responded calmly. “To Jasmine. I will not strike you, Shia. Not even now you hold a blade to my neck that could kill me.”

Shia blinked. What? Yori, do not be foolish! “You would not strike me? Why?”

“Because you are my friend.” Yori whispered. “As much as I am angry at you now, I can never forget what we forged at Yamanouchi. I care for you, Shia. Please, give this up!”

Shia swallowed and then in one smooth movement pulled the blade gently from Yori’s neck. “I will not kill you, Yori. For just this once, on the word of friendship. I know that this will mean my sister may distrust me, but I have taken enough life in her name for more than one lifetime. You are an old friend, and I refuse to kill you.”

Yori pulled her fan’s away and the red blades snapped into their holsters silently. “Shia, listen.”

“No… no I cannot.” Shia bowed and backed away from Yori, the black haired Ninja watching her sadly. “If you follow me, Yori, I will attack you again. For now, I bid you happiness and balance, as you once bid me. Farewell… my friend.”

Yori watched Shia leave, and sighed. Her heart lurched in her chest as she turned and made her way back towards the broken window. She had failed in her mission to bring Shia back, and now she did not know if she would ever see her again, alive.

Even as the thought passed through her head, Yori blanched at the sight below her. There, cut, bruised and desperate, lay Ron, fighting three Jade Ninja’s. With a deep breath, Yori’s fans slid from their sheaths and she jumped from the broken window with a battle cry that shook the walls.

---

“Kimmie!” doctor Possible whispered, her voice pained. “Please, please forgive me!”

“Mom!” Kim managed, her heart thundering in her chest as she stared at the image. “Are you okay? What have they done to you? Where are you?”

“I think I’m in a mountain and…” Kim’s mother broke off as a Jade Ninja wagged a finger and whispered in her ear. “I can’t tell you Kimmie, they’re threatening to cut my fingers off!” her voice almost broke as she told her daughter and Kim swallowed. “Listen to me Kimmie, you have to listen so that we both survive.”

“Yes,” Kara grinned at Kim and tilted her head at the hologram. “Listen to your mother, Kim Possible. If you want to both live, you will come and work for me. So, listen to your mother.”

“Mom… mom I’m coming to get you,” Kim whispered as she reached out a single hand. “I won’t let them hurt you anymore!”

“Kimmie, listen to me. This is very important, you must pay attention to my every word.” Doctor Possible watched as her daughter nodded, her eyes becoming wet and a brighter green. Now or never. “In Shego’s ankle pouch is a vial of blood! Use it to find a cure to the nanites in her brain and come get m-“

“Shut her up!” Kara screamed, shock rippling over her face as Doctor Possible struggled with the Ninja’s on the screen. Even as they managed to knock her out, drag her away, and the holo image faded, Kara turned furiously to Shego. “Shego! Open your ankle pouch and destroy the vial of blood in there!”

“No!” Kim screamed definitely and as Shego bent down to pull the ankle pouch open, she leapt. “Shego, this could cure you! I won’t let you destroy it!”

The two women collapsed in a tangled heap of legs and arms. Shego, now obeying a furious and snarling Kara Fang, desperately tried to open her ankle pouch. Even as she managed to unzip it, however, Kim grabbed her hands and forced them against the concrete. Shego struggled against the redhead’s weight, and thrashed around, trying to throw her off.

A sudden whine of a dart bouncing off concrete made Kim look up. There, rifle in hand, stood Kara, fuming at the two women. She re cocked the rifle and her rifle muzzle wavered as she focused on Kim’s body.

“Shego! Hurry up and destroy the vial! I’ll take care of Kim Possible!” Kara hissed, and Kim glanced up at the dark haired woman. “You won’t escape me, Possible. I am not Drakken or any of those two bit fools you have gone up against before! I am Kara Fang!”

“You’re an idiot!” Kim retorted, and biting her lip, slammed her elbow into Shego’s face. To her horror, blood spurted from the nose of the woman she secretly loved. Even as her heart lurched at the sight, Kim forced herself to focus on the task at hand and her fingers fumbled inside the pouch.

“Yes!” Kim whispered as her fingers clamped around the vial. She glanced around as the sound of sirens filled the air and then grinned at the woman on the upper level. “Looks like you’ve run out of time Kara! Give up and I’ll see you’re given a fair trial.”

“You are far too confident, Kim Possible.” Kara smiled cruelly as her finger twitched. Kim blinked as she felt a cold pain slam into her spine. Trembling, her fingers slid up her back and she blinked at the dart she found lodged there. “Don’t worry, it’s just an anaesthetic, Kim San. One that will start to work in a few seconds. Now, Shego… Take the vial!”

“No!” Kim managed, staggering to her feet. Even as Shego slid upright, Kim staggered away, desperate. To her horror, she felt her right arm begin to numb. “No… damn it, no!”

Got to think… got to do something! Kim thought, the cold sensation making her left leg become numb. Ron… got to reach Ron or Yori and… and…wait… the Kimmunicator!

With unsteady hands, Kim yanked the Kimmunicator from her pouch, desperately avoiding a lunge from Shego. With her good arm, Kim slid the vial into a sensor space and hit a button.

“Wade! Come in!” Wade’s face flickered onto the screen and he blinked at the desperate expression on Kim;s face.

“Kim? What’s-“ Wade began, worried at the glazed eyes Kim turned to him with. “Jeez, Kim what's going-”

“No time! You gotta get the Kimmunicator to a safe location!” Kim managed, crying out as Shego jumped on her and made a lunge for the device held tightly in Kim’s hand. “It’s got a sample of blood in it we need! Now!” She screamed, throwing the communication’s device as far as she could as Shego lunged for it a second time.

As it bounced on the concrete, theKimmunicator trembled and tiny jets and wings popped out of hidden spaces. With a roar of flame, the Kimmunicator took off and shot towards the damaged window that Shia and Yori had gone through.

“NO!” Kara screamed, swinging her rifle towards the device, only to curse as she realised she was too late. With a hum of tiny engines, the device vanished into the sky, out of her reach. Cursing, Kara snarled and stared down at the laughing redhead. “Shego, shut her up!”

“Yes, Mistress Fang.” Shego’s voice calmly responded.

“Oh god… Kimmie! No, no!” Shego ranted in her mind, helpless as her gloved fingers slid towards Kim’s forehead. “Stupid, stupid girl! Why’d you have to play the hero?”

“Don’t worry Shego.” Kim managed, the sensation slipping out of her body, as the anaesthetic shut all feeling down in her limbs. “It’s not your fault. It’s okay and I forgive you… for this and anything else you’re gonna do while Kara has you. It’s all up to Ron and Yori now… I know they’ll save us.”

As a faint splutter of green plasma shot out of her fingers, Shego ranted and screamed helplessly inside her body. Kim’s eyes rolled up into the back of her head as the plasma shocked her frontal lobes. Her body stiffened and then went lax in Shego’s arms, making the green woman blink.

Inside, trapped in her own body, Shego stared in horror at the sight of Kim’s slack face.

“No… No! I’ve, I’ve finally got her! I’ve actually managed to beat Kimmie!” Shego closed her eyes, feeling tears spill down them in the darkness of her mind. “Oh god, what have I done?”

“Excellent.” Kara whispered, her eyes gleaming with pleasure as Shego picked up the limp redhead and began to carry her towards the roof and their waiting hoverpod. “Kim Possible is mine!”

Turning, Kara Fang swept out of the wrecked hallway of Middleton mall, her laughter echoing around he ruins of a once busy building. As she left, two figures limped in, a few minutes later, from the adjoining hallway of shops and paused in shock at the sight of the empty mall.

Ron, bleeding form his forehead in four places and cradling a dislocated shoulder, stared in terror. Where was Kim? Where was Shego? Licking his lips, Ron glanced around, even as Rufus jumped out of his pocket and scampered around.

“Kim? Kim, where are you?”

“Uh oh, uh oh!” The molerat chittered, as he sniffed a tiny metal dart lying on the concrete of the mall floor. “Poison!”

Yori crouched next to the tiny molerat and gingerly picked up the dart. Her own body had not fared well either. She had multiple cuts across her body from katana blades, and a twisted ankle from a kick that had bounced off an armoured breastplate. Now, ignoring the wounds, she sniffed the dart herself. “Ron… this has been dosed with Anaesthetic. Strong stuff too… I doubt Kim San could have fought for long if this had hit her.”

Ron stared up at the broken window and felt an emptiness inside him that hollowed his heart out and chilled his soul. He had failed her! He had failed Kim in every way!

“Oh god, Yori. You know what this means?” As Yori closed her eyes and slid to her feet with a nod, Ron swallowed and stared around at the devastation. “It means that Kara Fang has Kim Possible and Shego. It means that She now has two of the most dangerous people alive. We’ve failed… No, I’ve failed to protect Kim. And that means the whole world is now in danger!”