Dr. Drakken paced the room, glancing occasionally at the Artitificial Advanced Development and Gestation Kid Appliance (AADGKA) unit in the center of the room. Inside, he knew, the Supremely Evil One would have reached an apparent physical age of early twenties and was now trained in a wide variety of tactics, science, and crime. Senor Senior Sr had announced that the S.E.O.’s development was complete, and it was finally time to unleash the S.E.O. on an unsuspecting world.
Dr. Drakken was eager to look upon the face of the new villain they had created, but several things marred his excitement. First was the fact that he still had no idea who the DNA donor was for the Supremely Evil One. Senor Senior Sr and Gemeni both vowed that the donor was the person with, in their opinion, the highest evil potential in the world. Since Dr. Drakken knew the sample hadn’t come from him, he wondered who the donor was.
Second was the large, armored cage Gemeni was holding carefully. Inside was one of D.N.Amy’s creations, a creature made to Senor Senior Sr’s specifications. The size of a small housecat, it was a weasel-like animal with sleek, powerful muscles. It was hairless, revealing thick, heavy skin that looked like an armadillo’s skin, and its heavily muscled jaws were filled with sharp, pointy fangs. “Why would the Supremely Evil One want THAT?” demanded Dr. Drakken.
“Every good… I meen bad super villain needs a companion.” said Senor Senior Sr. “I had Junior, you had Shego, and Gemini had… well, I’m sure he had someone.”
“Ah, Beta…” sighed Gemini. “Good times.”
“Anyway, “ said Senor Senior Sr. “We are wasting time. Is the Supremely Evil One ready to emerge?”
“Almost.” said Dr. Drakken. “The enriched super-oxygenated fluid is almost done draining. Once it has, the cell will automatically open.”
“Excellent.” said Senor Senior Sr, picking up the Lotus Blade where it lay on a heavy cushion. The sword rippled, changing form at apparent random.
Dr. Drakken picked up a robe. “I still don’t see why you two get to give the Supremely Evil One those cool gifts, and I just get to hand him a robe.”
“Doctor, doctor…” said Senor Senior Sr. “You have already given the Supremely Evil One the gift of life. Surely, none of our trivial offerings can compete with that.”
Before Dr. Drakken could answer, the AADGKA split open. A billowing cloud of smoke filled the room, as the figure contained within stepped forward. The smoke made details hard to distinguish, so that all Dr. Drakken could see was that the figure was male, with pale skin and yellow hair reaching almost to the floor. Dr. Drakken stepped forward, offering the black robe. The figure slipped his arms into the robe, then reached for the cushion Senor Senior Sr. was holding. The Lotus Blade seemed to tremble in fear as the figure picked up the sword.
Gemini gasped as the sword swished through the air, inches from Gemini’s hands. The heavily armored cage was cleaved in two, the top falling to the ground.
The figure spoke his first words. “Come, Suffer.”
The genetically modified creature leapt from the remants of his cage, landing on the figure’s shoulder.
The Supremely Evil One and his new pet turned to Dr. Drakken as the smoke finally dissipated enough to allow Dr. Drakken to see.
“Gentlemen, I present…” said Senor Senior Sr. “The Supremely Evil One… Noir Goable!”
Dr. Drakken stared into the face of ultimate evil… and shrieked like a little girl.
Kim Possible sat at the kitchen table. In front of her sat a Global Justice issue lap top, connected via USB-4 cables to her Kimmunicator and to Shego’s In-Terror-Net computer.
The In-Terror-Net computer, one of the few things Shego had kept after being a villain, was not as useful as it once had been. At it’s hey-day, the In-terror-net had been where super-villains had discussed their world shattering plots, posted ads for various tools and personnel, and bragged about what they would do next. Now, with it being common knowledge that both Kim Possible and Dr Director (using her brother’s ID) had access to the In-Terror-Net, it had become little more then a message board for spam, flames, and… ok, ok, bragging about what each super-villain would do next.
Tonight, despite prolonged searches through Global Justice’s intelligence reports, the In-Terror-Net, and world news, there still seemed to be no sign of super-criminal activity.
This worried Kim, deeply. In her experience, when ever this many super-villains were quiet, it meant they were working together… and on something big. The longer the calm before the storm, the worse the eventual storm would be. “It’s quiet.” she said to herself. “Too quiet.”
Several thumps and high pitched giggles interrupted her concentration. “So much for quiet.” Kim sighed, as she headed for the stairs toward the twins’ bedroom.
Kim Possible pushed open the door to Kasy and Sheki’s bedroom, fighting to keep a stern expression on her face. The noises stopped, the two pale green skinned girls looking guiltily at Kim. They were adorable, dressed in matching pink pajamas.
“Ok, what’s going on here?” asked Kim, rhetoricly. It was obvious that Sheki had just bonked her sister on the head with a pillow, just as it was obvious that Kasy had been about to counter swing.
“She started it!” both girls said at once, pointing toward… Shego.
Kim’s gaze turned to Shego. The tall ex-thief was clad in a pair of bright red pajamas, and holding a pillow of her own. “Hi, Kimmy…” said Shego. “Have I mentioned how cute you look when you’re mad?”
Kim rolled her eyes, having to fight down the urge to smile. “Shego… it’s past the twins’ bed time. “
“Yours too.” said Shego.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” asked Kim.
“Kim, you’ve been staying up late every night this week.” said Shego. “I’ve had to tuck them in every evening, because you were busy data searching.” Shego stood up and moved toward her wife, the mother of their children. “Come on… forget the data search. Let’s ALL go to bed.”
“Shego… Monkey Fist is out there, somewhere.” said Kim. “So is D.N.Amy, Senor Senior Sr., Dr. Drakken, and Gemini.”
Shego took Kim in her arms. This close, she could see signs of fatigue. Only someone who knew Kim as well as Shego did could spot them, but Shego knew that Kim was burning herself out with her constant search for clues. “Pumpkin, Global Justice has dozens of agents, working rround the clock looking for the bad guys. They’ll find Monkey Fist and the others. But when they do, you need to be rested and ready to kick bad guy butt.”
Kim leaned a little against Shego’s chest. She felt the taller woman’s arms squeeze a little tight arround her body, protectively. “Maybe you’re right.” admitted Kim. “I suppose I have been working a bit too hard.”
“A bit?” said Kasy. Sheki quickly tried to hush her twin sibling, but Kasy didn’t seem to notice her sister’s blandishments. “Mommy, yesterday morning we found you asleep at the keyboard!”
Kim blushed.
“Come on, hero… Let‘s go to bed.” said Shego. “All of us.” she added, with a pointed stare at Kasy.
“You really think I’m a hero?” said Kim, as the two women walked to the bedroom they shared.
“Of course.” said Shego. She grinned. “The hero always gets the girl, right?”
Kim giggled at the shared joke. “Right.” she said.
“Come on, it’s late.” said Shego. “Most people go to sleep now.”
“Most guys go to sleep now.” commented Monique, snuggling close to Ron. “Not that I’m complaining, mind you.”
Ron stroked a hand lovingly over Monique’s darker skin. “I’m not most guys.” he said, his voice still hoarse with passion. “If there’s anything I’ve learned as part of Team Possible, it’s the importance of stamina.”
Monique smiled. “So, what else did you learn as part of Team Possible?” she asked, giving a seductive wiggle.
The doorbell suddenly rang, causing both young adults to flinch at the sudden intrusion of the outside world.
“I learned that real life is what happens when you’re making plans.” said Ron, wryly.
“Come on, lover…” said Monique. “Let’s just ignore them and HTL hope they leave.”
The door bell rang again, this time followed by knocking.
“Doesn’t sound like they are.” said Ron, regretfully. He stood, pulling on a robe. “It might be something important.”
“If it’s going to interrupt our bed-time, it better darn well be.” grumbled Monique, getting a robe and putting it on herself. “If it’s a Fire fly scout trying to sell cookies, I’m going to tell her where she can shove those cookies.”
“I’m coming, I’m coming.” called Ron, as the pounding on the door grew louder. He opened the door, and his eyes went wide in surprise. “Yori?”
The young Japanese woman was dressed in a black ninja robe. Before Ron could say another word, Yori whipped out one of her razor sharp metal fans and pressed the sharp edge to Ron’s throat. Ron backed up, only to have Yori follow him inside, her eyes cold with menace.
“Ron-Sa… no. Ron.” she said, her voice harsh. “Why have you stolen the Lotus Blade?”
Ron swallowed nervously. Something about the tension in Yori’s body, the way she stared at him as if he had betrayed her, made it clear that this was the closest he had ever been to death. “Yori… I promise, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” he said. “I haven’t seen the Lotus Blade since we fought together with Monkey Fist.”
“Liar!” snarled Yori. “Sensei is linked to the Lotus Blade, or did you not know that? Not linked as you or Monkey Fist, but linked… and he says he feels you hold it, staining it with your foulness…”
“If you don’t put those metal blade things down.” said Monique, standing to the side. “The only thing that’s going to get stained is our carpet with your blood.”
Yori and Ron turned slightly to look at Monique. Monique was still dressed in a bright red robe, but now had a large pistol out and pointed at Yori. From the way Monique held it, it was clear she knew how to use the gun, and was prepared to fire.
Yori’s right hand held one of her bladed fans close to Ron’s throat, holding him pinned against the wall. Her other hand flicked out, sending another metal fan flying through the air. Monique jerked back as the fan effortlessly sliced Monique’s gun in half, then the fan embedded itself halfway into the wall next to Monique.
“Yori!” said Ron. “I SWEAR I have no idea what’s going on here! I swear!”
Yori hesitated, turning to stare into Ron’s eyes. Ron desperately willed for Yori to believe him.
Yori hesitated, then spoke. “Do you still have Rufus-san?”
Ron nodded, not necessarily a good idea when a razor-sharp edge is held close to your throat.
“Sensei did not sense Rufus-san near the Lotus Blade.” said Yori. “As an animal, he can not hide corruption. If he is corrupted, as Sensei senses in you, then I will be able to tell.”
Ron pointed to the kitchen. “He’s in there. Asleep.”
Yori moved so she could watch Ron, Monique, and the kitchen door. “Call him. Do not attempt any tricks, or to escape. Even with the Lotus Blade, you can not stop me from killing at least one of you if I need to.”
Ron licked his lips. “Rufus!” he called, loud enough to wake the slumbering mole rat. “I need you!”
Rufus pushed the kitchen door open. He had been sleeping there because it was warm and to offer Ron and Monique some privacy. He squeaked happily at seeing Yori, then eaped as he saw that she was holding a weapon at Ron’s throat.
“Rufus-san.” said Yori. “The Lotus Blade was stolen from our school, by a group of men wearing flying packs. Sensei senses the blade is now in the hands of Ron… but a Ron tainted by a foulness, an evil so strong that Sensei says that even after feeling it he finds it hard to believe that it is Ron. Now, Ron says he does not have the Lotus Blade. What is the truth?”
Rufus began squeaking and yipping, talking in his high-speed version of English. Monique found herself unable to understand more then one or two words in the torrent, but both Ron and Yori seemed able to have no difficulty in listening to what the naked mole-rat said.
When Rufus stopped speaking, Yori took a step back from Ron. “Something here is clearly wrong.” she said.
“No shit!” snapped Monique. “You’re holding a weapon to MY boyfriend’s neck, and keep babbling about some stupid flower knife!”
“The Lotus Blade is much more then just a knife.” said Yori. “In the hands of the wrong individual, it is a weapon of near infinite destructive capability, and virtually unstoppable.”
Ron nodded. “Look, Yori. Let’s go to Sensei and figure out what is going on.”
“There is wisdom in that.” said Yori. “Up close, Sensei will be able to discern the truth about you. Rufus claims you have not gone bad, and I can sense no deception in either him or you. While a human could deceive me, an animal should not be able to. “
“Let me call Kim, and tell her we’re headed for Japan.” said Ron, moving to the phone.
Yori shook her head. “No. I am still not convinced that you are not at fault. If it is necessary to kill you, Kim will act to protect you and perhaps give you a chance to escape. Also, Kim is now associated with the super-criminal Shego.”
“Former super-criminal, and they’re married.” said Ron.
“Kim and Shego will NOT come with us.” said Yori, firmly. “This is a matter of honor between my clan and you, Ron Stoppable. No one else.”
“You’re not taking my boyfriend!” said Monique. “Not without me, at least.”
“Very well.” said Yori. “You three, counting Rufus. But no one else. Call Kim and tell her you are going, but not where. I will be listening.”
Ron picked up the phone.
Shego hung up the phone.
“Who was that?” murmered Kim sleepily.
“Oh, Buffoon boy.” said Shego, lightly. Kim pouted cutely and pinched Shego gently at Shego’s mocking name for Ron. “Ok, ok, it was Ron. Apparently, he and Monique are going on a vacation. Ron said he had something to do.”
“Hope he and Monique have fun.” murmured Kim, then went back to sleep.
“I don’t believe this!” said Monique.
“It is true, Monique-san.” said Yori.
Ron nodded. “Yup. Monkey magic, the secret ninja school, the Lotus Blade…”
“Not that.” said Monique. She waved a hand at the elegantly furnished private jet they were in. “I can’t believe your school can afford this! It’s bigger then the Kimminator! Middleton High never had anything like this!”
“Ah, yes.” said Ron. “The riddle that is secret ninjas. Truly, a mystery wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a crunchy corn shell.”
Rufus nodded agreement.
“The riddle we want to answer is…” said Yori. “Where is the Lotus Blade? By now, it could be transformed into a terrible weapon of imaginative destructive potential.”
The Supreme Evil One toyed with a small, metal letter opener. A moment ago, it had been a sword, a beam rifle, and then a pair of nun-chucks. This current form amused him.
Gemini cleared his throat. “My WEE agents have finished advanced training with Dr. Drakken’s new synthodrones. Senor Senior Sr. says that his factories can have the new army of robots ready in three weeks.”
“And Dr. Drakken?” asked the Supreme Evil One.
“Still not… recovered, after witnessing your arrival.” admitted Gemini. “Apperently, he was startled by the person we chose as the genetic donor.”
“Yes.” agreed the Supremely Evil One. He placed the Lotus Blade/letter opener on the desk, and then began stroking the pet in his lap. “I’m just full of surprises.”
“Sir?” said Gemini. “About your plans for dealing with Kim Possible and Shego… um, what ARE your plans?”
“In due time, Gemini.” said the Supremely Evil One. “In due time. I must meditate now. On the way out, tell my private chef to begin preparing my dinner.”
“Yes sir.” said Gemini. “What would you like?”
“Anything except Mexican.” said the Supremely Evil One. He stroked the hairless body of his pet, watching coldly as Gemini backed out of the room.
The Supremely Evil One glanced at his reflection in a mirror. He had used the Lotus Blade to chop off his hair, giving himself the first haircut of his life. His skin had an unhealthy-looking pallor, due to only recently being exposed to sunlight. A black, thin leather cat-suit clung tight to his body, exposing his compact, sinewy musculature. Metal spikes decorated the outfit, glistening in the dimly lit room. “No one understands us, Suffer. No one.” he commented.
The saber-fanged, genetically engineered mole rat in the Supremely Evil One’s lap growled.
“True… true.” said the Supremely Evil One. “If anyone DID understand us, we’d have to kill him.”