The hall was large and empty, though cut wires sparking with electricity and large debris-filled outlines in the dust indicated that it was once filled with all manner of machinery.
“So, who's willing to bet that Drakken is falling back on a giant-robot plan after the cloning failed?” Kim asked.
“I wouldn't say I failed,” said Kim.
“Sorry. You know what I mean,” said Kim.
“OK, I, for one, would like to say, on the record, that Drakken really is planning to steal Christmas this time.”
Both Kims gave Ron a look.
“Ron, you were wrong about that last time, remember?”
“I stand by my claim.”
“I would not know about the whole of Christmas, but this certainly does put a hamper on our production schedule. Hello Miss Possible-san, Miss Possible-san.”
“Hi,” said Kim, awkwardly raising a hand.
“Hello Miss Kyoko,” Kim said. “Mr. Nakasumi not with you today?”
“Nakasumi-san has urgent business abroad,” Miss Kyoko said, carefully making her way across the remaining debris. “However, I am more than capable of filling you in on the details.”
“Wait, wait, wait,” said Ron. “What did you just say about the schedule?”
“I merely indicated that we may not reach all our deadlines in time for Christmas.”
“Wait, does that mean Blood & Bunnies 3 won't come out this year?” Ron said, his face going pale. “Drakken really is going to ruin Christmas.”
Disapproval flashed across Miss Kyoko's face before being replaced by a look of calm politiness. “No need to worry. The Blood & Bunnies series is produced by one of our main competitors.”
“Could we please go back to what's important here?” Kim asked.
“What she said,” Kim added. “Do you know who did it?”
“Of course Miss Possible-san,” said Miss Kyoko. “Our security cameras managed to capture Dr. Drakken's face quite easily. And after the last few times Drakken stole equipment from us, all our machinery have tracking devices installed. His lair will be easy to find.”
“Wow, neat,” said Kim. “That'll make things easier.”
“I believe it will,” said Miss Kyoko. “Oh and Nakasumi-san told me to tell you that, while he would appreciate his machines back, if they are lost in the explosion that takes out Drakken's lair he will be quite pleased as well.”
“I'll keep that in mind,” said Kim.
“Uh-huh, yeah, OK,” Shego said as she watched Drakken's minions unload the stolen equipment. “I'm assuming this is all part of some new master plan.”
“Of course it is, Shego,” Drakken said. “With this high-tech equipment I will be to build an unstoppable robot that will allow me to take over the world!”
“You know, the last time you tried that Kim stopped you,” Shego said. “And now there's two Kimmies your chances of winning are, how shall I put this, less than zero.”
“No need to be so negative, Shego,” said Drakken. “I mean, alright, maybe I should've spent some more time devising this latest scheme, but I'm sure it will succeed.”
“You didn't actually listen to a word I said, did you?” said Shego. “Well, whatever. I'm quitting anyway.”
“You… what?” Drakken said. “You can't! I pay your wages!”
“You haven't paid my wages in months. And besides, I got plans of my own.”
“You have plans?” Drakken sneered. “Shego you're nothing but a sidekick. Sidekicks don't have plans.”
“Believe what you will,” said Shego. “I'm outta here.”
“Wait! Look, Shego, we… uhm… maybe we can combine our plans?”
“Could be,” said Shego. “But I'm not interested.”
“Oh come now,” Drakken shouted. “You can't just turn your back on me!”
“Watch me.”
Shego was down the mountain and halfway towards the nearest town when something behind her exploded. She turned around and watched the flames billow from Drakken's lair for a while.
Yep, two Kimmies. You couldn't fight them both and win. But then again, Shego didn't intend to fight them both. One of them, sure, but not both.
Shego turned away from the collapsing lair and continued walking. A few moments later, she started whistling.
Mrs. Dr. Possible smiled a bit awkwardly at Kim as she put dinner on the table. Kim was actually kind of happy to see it. People had been acting as if she, a clone, wasn't anything really worth mentioning. In a way, seeing her mother (that is, the mother of her original) being a bit uncertain about her gave her the feeling that the world wasn't totally out of whack just yet.
“So,” said Mrs. Dr. Possible as everyone started on their food. “You're a clone.”
“Yep,” said Kim. “But not an evil one.”
“That's good. So what do you want me to call you?”
“Mom,” Kim said. “She's me. Just call her Kim.”
“But it'd be terribly confusing to call you both 'Kim'.”
“And besides,” Dr. Possible said, “she's not you. Legally, she's not even our daughter. She probably doesn't even exist.”
“Dad.”
“Well, he's not wrong,” said Kim.
“So what if there isn't a piece of paper somewhere saying you exist,” said Kim. “We have the same DNA, the same body, the same memories. We're the same.”
“Except that I know I was grown in a vat after Shego stole some of your DNA,” said Kim. “That's kind of a vital difference.”
“Not to me it's not,” said Kim.
“That's very big of you Kimmie,” said Mrs. Dr. Possible, “but I still don't think we should call the both of you 'Kim'.”
“Well how about calling me by her middle name them?” Kim said.
“Our middle name,” said Kim.
“Fine. Our middle name,” said Kim.
“Ann,” said Mrs. Dr. Possible slowly. “Yes, I suppose I could live with that.”
“Good, then it's settled,” said the new Ann.
Kim opened her mouth as if to say something, then just shrugged and started to eat.
“OK, what was that all about?” Ann asked as she walked into Kim's bedroom after brushing her teeth using Kim's toothbrush.
“What was what all about?” Kim asked, brushing her hair.
“You know, the whole 'we're the same' thing,” Ann said, letting herself fall onto Kim's bed. “I think I should've been the one to say all that, being the clone and all.”
“Could you please stop calling yourself a clone?” Kim asked, putting down her hairbrush.
“Why?” said Ann. “It's true.”
“Yes, but if you call yourself a clone you're almost saying you're less than I am.”
“What do you mean?”
Ann sat up as Kim sat down next to her. Carefully, smiling faintly, Kim took Ann's hand.
“Look at this,” said Kim. “It's exactly the same as mine. It shouldn't be, but it is. There's no difference between us. And yet I'm considered more equal than you are just because I was born and you weren't? I don't want to believe that's true.”
“I guess you have a point,” said Ann. She grinned. “Funny, really.”
Kim let go of Ann's hand. “What is?”
“Well, for one thing, I think I now get why you didn't let your dad-”
“Our dad.”
“Your dad. I was born in a vat, remember? Anyway, I think I get why you wouldn't let him get a sleeping bag for me.”
“Well, maybe the reason for that was not so much altruistic as selfish.”
“Oh?” said Ann, smirking.
“Anyway, it's a school day tomorrow. Better go to sleep.”
“Right,” said Ann.
Before long the lights were out. Ann stared up at ceiling. Years of memories and only a few days of life. Weird how Kim seemed to be blind to that. Then again, if the roles were reversed, she would probably think the same thing. Almost definitely really, because, in a way, she was still Kim. Only not.
For a moment, Ann wondered why she didn't have an identity crisis yet. Ah well, give it time. As for now…
Ann's thoughts were interrupted when Kim snuggled up to her, putting one arm around her waist. Her face told Ann she was somewhere between dozing and sleeping and also quite content.
As for now, she was here and it was now and here and now turned out be very nice. And that was good enough, really. More than good enough. For now.
Ann managed to put arm around Kim, pulled her even closer and closed her eyes. She soon fell asleep and the expression on her face was as content as Kim's.