The alarm clock buzzed, waking Kim up. She opened her eyes, to find a matching pair of dark green eyes staring curiously into hers. After two days of waking up like this, Kim no longer jerked awake. Instead, she just patted Shego on the head. “G’morning.” Kim said.
“Good morning.” Shego said back. Shego watched as Kim got up, the red-haired woman dressed only in a pink nightgown. As Kim stretched, Shego mimicked her movements exactly.
“You don’t have to do that, you know.” said Kim. “Come on, sit down while I have breakfast.”
Kim fixed herself a bowl of cereal and set it down on the table, looking at the persocom sitting across the table. Friday afternoon, Kim had been ecstatic at the thought of finally having her own persocom. As the weekend had progressed, however, Kim’s enthusiasm had rapidly receded. Persocoms were supposed to be pre-programmed to do all sorts of things… scan for information on the internet, help you write papers, even help keep your house clean. Shego, however, seemed to be the exception to the rule. While she seemed to remember everything Kim showed her, the girl seemed to be starting out totally empty headed.
“Well, maybe Ron will have some ideas for what I can do with you.” said Kim, between spoon-fulls of cereal. Shego just sat quietly. Shego hoped that, as she learned more, her owner’s behavior would become more comprehensible. Based on the number of times her owner had mentioned this ‘Ron’ person was, he must know an awful lot.
After breakfast, Kim put her bowl in the sink and then changed for school. Pulling on the school uniform, consisting of a purple skirt and white blouse, Kim was reminded that she would have to get more clothes for Shego. The persocom was still dressed in just the gray shirt and black collar Kim had put on her Friday afternoon.
“Ok, Shego, I’m going to school.” said Kim. “I’ll be back later. Don’t get into any trouble.”
Kim closed the door, leaving Shego alone. Shego looked around the room carefully.
Command directive: Do not get into ‘trouble’.
Internal dictionary search: ‘Trouble’. Substance not listed.
Shego went over to the door that Kim had just left through and tried it. Not having received her programming in recognizing and defeating most locks, Shego didn’t understand why the door refused to open. After several futile tries, Shego began to walk around the room. She could have scanned the room completely earlier, but she had been too busy watching her owner.
Multi-frequency scanning mode engaged.
Shego’s eyes turned pale white as she scanned the room, seeing in wavelengths that an unaided human eye could not see. Her search ended with Kim’s Pandaroo, a stuffed object in the form of a half kangaroo, half panda hybrid. She knelt down to look more closely at the toy on the floor, her eyes returning to their normal green.
Object detected. Facsimile, animal. Materials: Fabric, cloth, stuffing. Purpose: Unknown.
Shego stared at the stuffed toy, wondering why so many things in her life were currently unknown. She wondered if life was any easier for her owner.
“Hey, Ron!” Kim called.
Ron turned to see who was calling him. He was dressed in a school uniform also; purple pants and jacket, over a white shirt. “Hey, KP. How did your weekend go?”
“I found this persocom that someone had thrown out.” said Kim. She quickly described how she had found Shego, leaving out the somewhat embarrassing details of her search for the persocom’s power button. “Anyway, she seems to work ok, but she doesn’t know how to do anything.”
“That’s odd…” said Ron. “I’ve never heard of anyone throwing out a perfectly good persocom. Usually, when they’re replaced, the old ones get taken apart for spare parts. It does sound like your persocom had her memories erased.”
“Any idea where I can get new ones for her?” asked Kim. “Not too expensive, mind you.”
“If she’s operating, then her kernel is intact at least.” said Ron. “Rufus, net search.”.
What appeared to be a pink, hairless rodent climbed out of Ron’s pocket and got on his shoulder. “Ready!” squeaked the animalistic persocom.
“Search for: Persocom, humanoid, basic software package.” said Ron. “Model… Kim, what model is it? Who manufactured it?”
“I don’t know.” admitted Kim. “There wasn’t a label anywhere on her.”
“Didn’t she have a manufacturers mark anywhere?” asked Ron.
“I looked.” said Kim. She blushed. “All over. Trust me, if she had a manufacturers mark, I would have seen it.”
‘Maybe she’s a custom model, or you didn’t know where to look.” said Ron. “Rufus, just check on basic software packages then.”
“Beginning search!” Rufus reported.
“Let’s get to class.” said Ron. “We can talk about this at lunch.”
Morning classes did not go well… They just seemed to drag on and on, as Kim thought of more questions to ask Ron.
At lunch, she sat with him at a table. Ron’s tray was piled high with slices of cafeteria cheese pizza, or as Kim thought of it, ‘government cheese on cardboard’. She blinked at seeing Rufus grabbing a piece and gobbling it down.
“Why is he eating?” asked Kim, pointing at the small molerat persocom. “I thought persocoms were all solar powered.”
“That’s right.” said Ron. “That’s why the only ‘animal’ persocoms are those of non-furry species, since fur would cover up body area they need for solar panels. But persocoms can eat, processing food to use it to repair organic systems. Rufus here crawls around a lot and gets his skin damaged, so he eats a lot so he can keep repairing it.”
“Skin!” squeaked Rufus, thumping his chest and gobbling up another slice.
“Ok, so should I feed my persocom or not?” said Kim. “She doesn’t seem that interested in food… well, except for watching me eat.”
“If she gets damaged, then she’ll probably want to eat.” said Ron. “Haven’t you checked her instruction manual?”
“Ron, I found her in the trash.” said Kim. “The only thing she had around her was this plastic wrap.”
“No, no…” said Ron. He turned to Rufus. “Rufus, activate instruction manual.”
The molerat stiffened to attention. His mouth moved, but what came out was a modulated baritone rather then the mole-rat’s normal squeaking voice. “Congratulations on your purchase of a Molerat Mini-Persocom! The Molerat Mini-persocom is a versatile, easily user modified persocom new from United Solidstate Robotics. It is specially manufactured for…”
“End manual.” said Ron. Rufus blinked and dropped down easily to all fours.
“No, I haven’t tried asking Shego anything like that.” admitted Kim.
“Shego? You already named her?” asked Ron.
“No,” said Kim. “Shego was just the first thing she said… I guessed it was her name. She’s responding like it was, at least.”
“Odd…” said Ron. “The name doesn’t sound like default unit name.”
“Default unit name?” said Kim. “Ron, please remember… my BROTHERS are the techno-tweebs in my family, not me.”
“When a persocom is first booted up,” explained Ron “It’s preprogrammed with a name to use, until its user gives it a new name. There’s usually a whole little routine, where you have to identify yourself as the owner. You didn’t go through anything like that with Shego?”
“No.” said Kim. “I just found her power button, she said ‘Shego’, and I told her my name was Kim.”
“Weird…” said Ron. “Well, maybe since you were the only person there, she just assumed you were her owner. At the Smarty Mart when I bought Rufus, I had to tell him I was his new owner.”
“Owner Ron!” said Rufus.
“Rufus, any persocom companies out there using ‘Shego’ as a default user name?” asked Ron.
“Beginning search!” Rufus squeaked. After a few minutes, he shook his name. “No such name found.” he reported.
“Well, maybe Shego is what her old owner called her.” said Kim. “Before throwing her out.”
“It’s weird…” said Ron. “Persocoms are pretty expensive… most users, if they’re getting a new one, take the old one in to be recycled. They don’t just throw them in the garbage.”
Kim shrugged.
“Tell you what…” said Ron. “We’re both taking that Kung fu class after school. Why don’t you go home and bring Shego to the dojo so I can look at her?”
Kim nodded. “If you think that’s best.”
Kim felt herself blushing on the bus ride to the dojo. She had to remind herself that the person sitting next to her was just a machine. Ignore the fact that she looks like a very pretty girl, and was only wearing an over-large T-Shirt and a collar. Ignore how warm and soft her skin feels, as she leans against you. Ignore the fact that you can feel her warm breath on your chest… did a persocom really need to breathe?
Kim sighed in relief, spotting through the bus windows that her stop was approaching. She pressed on a button, alerting the bus’s auto-pilot.
The hover-bus landed in front of the Lotus Blade Dojo.
“Come on, Shego.” Kim said, standing. Shego stood obediently and followed Kim as she exited the bus. Kim had changed… she was now wearing a white Gi, a black cloth belt knotted around it. Kim felt a little embarrassed about the belt; while she was indeed a black belt in several forms of kung-fu (seventeen, but who’s counting) she was only a beginner in the form she was currently learning, Tai Shing Pekwar. Ron had shown a natural talent for the somewhat unique martial art style, and had already progressed a level or two further toward mastery then Kim had.
“Ah, Kim Possible” said the sensei who ran the dojo.
Kim bowed. “Hello, sensei.”
“Who is your young friend?” asked Sensei, turning.
Shego bowed, imitating Kim and hoping that was the expected response.
“This is Shego, a persocom I f… my new persocom.” said Kim.
“Ah.” said Sensei. He looked at the persocom. “Strange…”
“What is it, sensei?” asked Kim, worried. The old white-haired man had often seemed to be able to sense more then Kim could… some of the students were prepared to swear the man had eyes in the back of his head.
“I sense a great warrior spirit in her…” said Sensei. “As if she was destined for battle. Much like you, Kimberly Ann.”
Kim relaxed. “Sensei, she’s just a robot… just a machine.”
“Humans are not the only things on this planet to possess spirits.” said Sensei. “Animals, trees, even the earth beneath out feet all possess spirits of a sort.”
“Um, right.” said Kim.
“There are spare Gis in the locker room, if she would feel more comfortable appropriately dressed.” said Sensei, then turned. “I will expect to see both of you in class.”
“Ok, weird…” said Kim, then shrugged. A gi would at least let Kim stop having to worry about Shego bending over too far and revealing the fact she wasn’t wearing any underwear. By the time Kim had found a gi that would fit Shego and helped the persocom put it on, it was time for class to start. She didn’t have time to talk before class.
Shego followed Kim into the dojo’s main training area. The old man Kim had called ‘Sensei’ was at the head of the class. Next to him was a tall man, with dark hair and a strange, hungry expression on his face. The tall man was dressed in a black gi, while everyone else wore white. Kim, coming in late, found a spot to stand in the back. Shego moved to the next spot, standing and mimicking Kim’s stance.
“Good afternoon, class.” said Sensei. “Today, we are honored by a visit from Lord Monty Fisk, the winner of last year’s European Tai Shing Pekwar tournament. He has agreed to come here and help me demonstrate some partner exercises.”
The black haired man bowed to Sensei, and then to the class. “It is MY honor to be here, to meet with the man regarded as the greatest living expert on Tai Shing Pekwar and with his students.”
Sensei gestured, indicating to the class to bow. Shego, seeing Kim bow, bent over also.
“Now.” said Sensei. “Please, watch closely.”. Sensei turned to face Monkey Fisk. The two ran through a series of strikes and blocks; typical of the monkey-fu style, most of the blocks relied on grappling attacks and quick evasion. The Tai Shing Pekwar style emphasized long limbs and fluidity of body; the reason why Kim was attracted to it in the first place. The fight in a combat would often go to the more agile, not the stronger opponent. While Kim had practiced many of the moves she saw Sensei and Monty Fisk using, this was the first time she had witnessed the moves used against another person.
After the demo was finished, Sensei turned to the class. “Now, split into pairs and each person practice what he or she has seen.”
Kim glanced around. There was an odd number of students in the class, and most of the students already had partners in mind. Even Ron quickly found a partner; Felix, a boy Ron and Kim’s own age. Except for the cybernetic endoskeleton that covered Felix’s legs, the boy seemed normal enough… if you didn’t notice the endoskeleton, you would never realize the boy had been born paralyzed in his lower body.
Kim turned to Shego. “Oh well… guess we practice together.”
Shego looked at Kim, not recognizing many of the words Kim had just used.
“Ok, stand like this.” said Kim, demonstrating a beginning blocking stance.
Shego easily duplicated the stance. “Ok, good…” said Kim. “Just stay still…”. Kim swung in an arm, the stance blocking the blow.
Shego’s arms shifted, moving to the next blocking stance Sensei had demonstrated. Kim raised an eyebrow, but made the corresponding attack. Kim ran through the entire attack sequence, moving faster and letting her attacks come stronger as she saw Shego performing the proper blocks.
“Very good!” said Sensei.
Kim halted, blushing in surprise… she had got so caught up fighting with Shego, she hadn’t realized she was being watched. “Oh, Sensei…” she started to say.
Sensei ignored Kim, speaking to Shego. “But you need to learn attacks also… try Monkey grabs for fruit.”. Sensei demonstrated the attack, a rather simple out-thrust hand strike.
Shego faced Kim and performed the move. Kim, even expecting it, had to pull back a little as she blocked the attack. Shego moved with literally inhuman speed.
“Good, good!” said Sensei. “Kim, why don’t you try an attack out of sequence, now.”
“Ok… Shego, get ready to block.” said Kim. She brought her leg up, fast. Shego grabbed Kim’s foot and shoved upwards, forcing the red-head to back-flip just to get back on her feet.
“Very good!” said Sensei.
Monty Fisk came over and sneered. “Training ROBOTS now?” he said, his voice heavy with disdain.
“Why not, Monty?” asked Sensei, a twinkle in his eyes. “You train monkeys.”
“Monkeys have a natural ability to the art of Tai Shing Pekwar.” said Monty, haughtily. “There is nothing NATURAL about that thing.”
“Hey! She’s doing great for her first lesson.” said Kim, upset at Monty insulting her persocom.
Monty snorted. “Machines may be good at duplicating, but they lack the intuition it takes to make a true Monkey Master.”
“I believe a machine… this one… can have the spirit of a warrior.” said Sensei, calmly. “I would even be willing to bet on it.”
“What are you talking about, old man?” snapped Monty Fisk.
“As you know, I do not compete anymore.” said Sensei. “However, I am willing to pit one of MY students against one of yours… machine against monkey. After three months of my training, should she fail, I will grant that you are the true world Monkey Master. If she wins, you will admit that a machine CAN have a warrior’s spirit.”
“Ha!” said Monty Fisk. “I’ve been training my monkey ninjas for years. There’s no way a machine can learn, in three months, enough to beat one of them. But no programming! Just training, like she was an ordinary student.”
“Agreed.” said Sensei, bowing. Monty Fisk turned and walked away.
“Sensei, I don’t know if Shego can learn enough in three months…” said Kim.
Sensei raised a hand, quelling Kim’s protest. “Please, Possible-San. With you to help instruct her, I am sure that both of you will be ready for the championships in three months.”
“Me? You want ME to go to the world Tai Shing Pekwar competition?” said Kim.
“Of course.” said Sensei. “I have heard of your previous experience.”. Kim felt a surge of pride. “You will make an excellent cheerleader for Shego and Ron.”. The surge promptly deflated.
Sensei turned and walked over to where Felix had used his cybernetically enhanced legs to deliver a powerful thunder-kick, which Ron had managed to block with crossed forearms. “Excellent work, Ron-san and Felix-san!”.
Kim, in frustration, lashed out in a thunder kick of her own. Shego crossed her forearms to block, but there was enough power in Kim’s kick to knock Shego down.
“Oh! Sorry!” said a contrite Kim, going to help Shego up.
Sensei smiled, from where he had been watching the scene from the corner of his eye. Yes… Fire in both of them. he thought. Even if Kim must be tricked into using it, and has not learned to trust it. But what fire could there be in a robot’s heart? I sense it, but do not yet understand it… well, with time it will be revealed
Kim sighed in relief at the end of the class. Her experience in other forms of martial arts gave her an edge with most students… she could hit, and block, harder then almost everyone else in the class. Shego, however, attacked with all the force in her body. For such a small figure, she was surprisingly strong… Kim could already feel the bruises on her body. Pain is weakness leaving the body she reminded herself as she stepped into the changing room, pulling her Gi off. Shego looked around, puzzled, at seeing all the women stripping.
“Shego, you have to shower also.” said Kim, firmly. She tugged at the Gi. Shego moved, obediently helping Kim take the white cotton garment off of her. “Shower?” repeated Kim. “Huh, guess you don’t know that word.”
Kim took Shego by the hand and let her into one of the large shower stalls. Sensing bodies, the overhead shower spigot turned on, spraying warm water over the two girls. Kim took a washcloth and rubbed it over a bar of soap she had brought from home, and then ran the washcloth over Shego’s back. Shego pressed happily against the cloth, reminding Kim of a contented cat. Kim bathed the smaller woman, blushing a bit as she washed Shego’s more intimate areas. She’s just a machine… repeated Kim to herself. There’s nothing naughty about washing a machine. Uh-oh… I didn’t ask Ron, I hope she’s waterproof.
When Kim was convinced Shego’s body was clean, she rinsed Shego’s hair and then lathered it with shampoo. The shampoo was Kim’s own favorite… a brand that smelled of strawberries. Kim had to fight down the urge to stick her nose down and take a big sniff. I wonder if she can smell… Kim thought, as she rinsed the shampoo out of Shego’s hair. “Ok, Shego… stand in the corner now so I can wash off.” Kim said. She gently pushed the pale girl into the corner of the stall, then begin to clean her own body off.
Shego considered, then picked up a spare washcloth. Mimicking what she had seen Kim do, she rubbed the cloth against a bar of soap and then begin rubbing the cloth against Kim’s back.
Kim blushed. Relax, Kim she told herself. It’s a machine. It doesn’t get happy, it doesn’t get sad… it just runs programs. Kim found herself blushing as Shego knelt to wash Kim down THERE, but Kim didn’t object. Fortunately, the other female students had finished showing and changing while Kim had been washing Shego.
“Ooh…” moaned Kim loudly, then blushing until her face was almost as red as her hair. “Come on, Shego… let’s go.”.
Shego blinked. “Kim not wash her hair?” she asked, assembling the sentence from the growing vocabulary she was acquiring.
“Later!” said Kim, trying to push away the thought of Shego’s warm, soft hands running through Kim’s hair.
Kim came out of the locker room, pulling on a set of regular clothes she had brought with her, then pulled the gray shirt back onto Shego. “Let’s see if Ron is still waiting to see us.” she told Shego.