Chapter 6

Shego grabbed a towel as she stepped out of the gym that, until two months ago, had been her bedroom. Drakken's sudden departure had left her in a daze of twisted emotions and the only way to expel them was through exercise. Moreover, ever since taking Drakken's stimulants, she often found herself with an excess of energy that threatened to drive her insane if she did not expend it posthaste.

She entered the lab and sprawled herself across the floor, more out of mental exhaustion than physical. In fact, after two hours of strenuous training, she was hardly fatigued.

"Pretty sure it's a bad sign if your heart rate lowers while you exercise." she muttered under her breath.

She rapidly did fifty sit-ups but found that no matter how much energy she exerted, her muscles would not strain.

She jumped up and crossed her arms. "Well, if Drakken's serum did this, I'm not gonna complain, but I'll hav'ta look tired so he doesn't get suspicious."

She returned to Drakken's room—which felt even darker in the bleak of midwinter—and changed into her uniform. As she was putting on her makeup, she realized that she was running dangerously low on eye liner.

"Why do I even wear this stuff? It's not like I ever go anywhere."

With Drakken gone, she only wore makeup to force herself to leave the lair and buy more makeup. It had been her only contact with the outside world and she was grateful for it.

She took a jet ski to a coastal town that was riddled with tourist boutiques. She did not bother to learn the town's name. As far as she was concerned, it was just a supply base. She would stock up on whatever wares she needed and go. She was like a dragon—snatching up some treasure to take back to her lair and sleep in solitude.

Shego hopped off the ski and walked down the harbor to Alizès—a cosmetic shop that was a popular among girls much younger than her. She hastily grabbed what she needed and headed for the check-out. When she got to the register, she expected to see the kind elderly woman she had become acquainted with over the past few weeks, but today the cashier was a younger woman around Shego's age.

"Good morning—oh my gosh! Are you Shego?" asked the young clerk.

"Um, yeah." She glared at her. "You gonna call the cops?"

The clerk trembled and waved her arms in dismay. "No, of course not! Why would I do that?"

Shego clenched her fists. "Because I'm an escaped convict."

"Hm? But I saw you on the news getting some kind of medal."

She cringed and shrunk away from the petite girl. "Oh boy, you saw that?"

"Yeah, you saved the world! Will you sign my nametag?"

"You've got to be kidding me." She pointed at herself. "You want your customers to think you're me?"

"Silly, I want everyone to know that I met a hero."

Shego slammed her fist on the counter. "Now listen, princess. I am not a hero."

The clerk shoved her nametag into Shego's face. "Please?"

"Alright, fine."

Shego swiped the metal plate out of her hand and scribbled her name on it with a marker that lay by the register.

"Here, um, Ashley, is it?

Ashley graciously took the nametag and stared at it in awe. "Oh, yes. Thank you so much!"

"Yeah, don't mention it. Really, don't."

Ashley hugged herself and swayed from side to side. "Oh, I can't believe Shego shops at our store! Hey, would you be interested in modelling our products?"

"Um, yeah, you really don't want someone like me associated with your establishment." She gripped the edge of the counter with her claws. "You know, because I'm evil!"

"No, you were seriously a hero—fighting on the front lines to protect the planet from an alien invasion. I wish I was as strong as you—then I could be with my husband."

Shego blinked several times. "Uh, come again?"

"Oh, sorry. My husband's in the Army and he got deployed to Afghanistan. Well, he's not allowed to tell me where exactly, but I think he's in that area. If I could fight like you, I could've gone with him." She laughed. "Now that I think about it, that's probably the last thing he needs. I'd just get in the way."

What the hell? Why is she spilling her whole life story? I need to get outta here.

Shego flashed a rigid smile. "Yeah, you're probably right. Now could you ring me up? I'm kinda in a hurry."

"Oh, sorry." Ashley shakily scanned her items. "I know you're super busy, but just call the store if you change your mind about that modeling job."

"I-I'll think about it. See ya."

"Please come again, and don't be a stranger!"

Shego left the store and nearly ran down the harbor. "That was weird. Maybe I shouldn't go back there."

When Shego returned to the lair, the communications alarm sounded, causing her to drop her bags and spill their contents across the floor.

"Eer! If that's Drakken, he'd better be in trouble."

She stomped over to the monitor and punched the button to receive the signal.

Drakken's voice emerged from the computer, "Shego, I've got big news!"

"Uh-huh, are you hiding in a closet? I'm staring at a blank screen."

"I told you, Shego—the IUV is one of the most secret societies in the world. I'd be expelled if I disclosed its location."

"It's a miracle they haven't expelled you already."

"Unlike you, the faculty here recognize my genius. I have more experience in world domination than the entire student body combined."

"Yeah, and more failures."

"Argh! It's called trial-and-error, Shego. It's the true nature of science! Now, do you want to hear my good news or not?"

"Did ya win first place at the science fair?"

"Ha! I'll have you know, my name is going to be on five pieces of peer reviewed research by the time I graduate. Speaking of which, I'll be graduating in the spring, possibly February."

"What?! But you've only been there for two months? You can't get a PhD in half a year."

"You can if you're Dr. Drakken. I've been working on my dissertation my entire life . . . and it doesn't hurt to have all your credits transfer."

"Uh-huh, you sure they aren't just trying to get rid of you?"

"Well, why don't you come to the campus and ask them? I've spoken with the Board of Villains, and they agreed to let you watch my thesis defense next week."

"A thesis defense? I'd rather check myself back in to prison!"

"Shego, I'm hurt. Why can't you support my life's work?"

"I have supported your life's work!" she yelled, flaring her plasma claws. "All I want to do is support you, but that's pretty tough when you run off without even telling me where you're going!"

"If I told you the university's location, it could put you in danger. Now, are you coming or not?"

"How am I supposed to get there if you won't tell me where to go?"

"I'll make arrangements for your transportation. Work with me, Shego. This is a sensitive process and I need your cooperation."

Shego gripped the sides of her head and screamed. "Agh! Fine, I'll go, but I better see a return on my investment."

Drakken laughed contentedly. "Oh, Shego, ye of little faith. Once I publish my research, I'll pay back your two hundred grand tenfold."

"More like your ego will inflate tenfold. I'll believe it when I see it."

"Oh, I'm so excited! I'll have to introduce you to all my friends. They're all very interested in your powers, but don't worry, I've already told them—no examinations."

"Yeah, I can't wait. Later, Drakken."

Shego shut off the monitor before he could respond.

She slumped down into a nearby desk chair and sighed. "Why did I yell at him like that? It's not like I care about the money. I mean, what's two hundred grand after he saved my life?"

Compassion is a difficult thing to muster in isolation. Just as the chill of winter had caused the warmth to retreat deeper into her body's more vital regions, so had her seclusion frosted her heart, choking those freshly sown seeds of compassion until they could no longer bear any fruit.

It was a strange feeling. Shego had lived most of her life in isolation, but just having Drakken around gave her a valuable output for her emotions. Now all her fear and sorrow boiled inside her and she ignored the emotions of others. She pridefully suffered in silence and expected everyone else to do the same.

Shego grimaced as pain shot to her head. "Ugh, listening to him gives me a headache. Maybe I should lie down for a bit."

She stumbled down the corridor to Drakken's room and threw herself on the bed. Her eyes wandered to the empty picture frame on the dresser where she saw a reflection of her pallid face.

"It's hard to believe he's doing something worthwhile." she murmured. "I know I should be happy for him, but can't he do his research at the lair? And it's not like he's made any real friends, right? They probably just talk about their greatest inventions and try to one-up each other all day."

Shego hugged one of the pillows. "Ugh, why am I so ungrateful? I know I should support him even when he's gone, but is it wrong to ask him to come back? It'll make me look weak, but can I really go on living like this?"

Shego ripped the pillow to shreds, dusting the bed in a coat of crushed feathers. "This is so frustrating! I don't even understand what's going on inside my own head. Maybe that brain scan wasn't a bad idea. . . . No, don't think about that, Shego. Drakken's the one you need to worry about. I'll ask him and see if he'll come back. I just hope he's the same mad scientist I've known for the last five years." She flared her claws. "I'll tear that school down if it takes him away from me."

A week passed and Shego slept and ate very little. There was a nervous excitement in her that no amount of exercise could quiet. Drakken had made no further contact, so she had no idea who or what was taking her to the university. She wasn't even sure when exactly he was presenting his thesis. For all she knew, he could have already finished it by now. She hated being out of the loop, but she figured if he wasn't giving her any specifics, it was probably for her own safety.

It was a day warmer than most, and as such, Shego's spirit felt light. She decided to take a walk around the lair and was enjoying the sun's invigorating rays when a cold shadow fell over her. Looking up, she saw a monstrous machine eclipse the winter sun. It was a silent black jet diving onto the island. Shego felt every muscle in her body twitch at the threat of these foreign invaders.

"Drakken's college buddies don't mess around." she whispered as she warily watched the jet land not far from her.

The steel door slid open with an ominous hiss and out stepped an elderly man in khakis and a gray sweater. He stroked his snowy beard and observed the island with a level gaze. He smiled pleasantly when he saw Shego.

"Ah! You must be Drew's assistant." he said. "Or was it his sidekick? He was very particular about your title."

She crossed her arms and tried to read the man's face. She did not trust him in the slightest, but he seemed genuinely glad to meet her.

"I'm Shego, his partner."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Shego. I'm professor Isaac Van Iversen—psychologist of villainy at Fiske Academy."

He held out his hand to Shego, but she did not extend hers in return.

"Fiske Academy?" She narrowed her gaze at the short old man. "I thought Drakken was at the International University of Villainy?"

Isaac let out a breathy laughed. "That is merely the name we use for advertising purposes. You can't expect us to put the institution's real name in a brochure."

"Yeah, it'd be terrible if your students actually knew where they were going."

"And it would be terrible if the government knew of my colleagues' unethical practices." Isaac cleared his throat. "We can discuss this on the way. After you, Miss Shego."

She boarded the jet and calmly took a seat in the spacious cabin that was lit by a row of red lights. Despite its grim décor, Isaac somehow made the room inviting. It was windowless and silent save for the raspy breathing of a hulking mass that level a predatory stare at Shego as it sat in the corner.

Shego jumped up and flared her plasma claws when she saw the suited giant. He made no response but maintained his vicious gaze.

Isaac ran into the cabin, gripping a rail for balance. "Please clam yourself, Shego. This is my colleague, Magnus. He is harmless, I assure you."

"I'm just security." Magnus grunted. "You try to escape, you make a run for the pilot—I break your neck."

"Well, relatively harmless." Isaac sighed. "Don't you have work to do, Magnus? I'll entertain our guest."

"Fine. I'll be in my office."

The massive man rose and lumbered out of the cabin.

"My apologies," said Isaac as he took a seat across from Shego. "He's one of our top researchers in geothermal weapon systems, but a teacher he is not."

"Yeah, I could'a guessed that."

Isaac's face fell. "It is not entirely his fault, you know. He was orphaned as a boy and spent his life in near solitude. The outside world is not his."

Shego trembled slightly. "Oh, that's . . . can we change the subject?"

"Of course, my dear. I'm quite excited to learn about Drew's mysterious partner. You did well to erase all your public records. Our agents couldn't even uncover your real name."

"Shego is my real name."

A pained expression crossed his face. "Oh, I see. . . ."

Shego broke the silence, "So, Dr. Iversen, you're a psychologist for villains?"

"Isaac, please. Yes, it is my quest to find out what makes a villain."

Shego's eyes widened. "That's . . . very interesting. Would you call yourself a villain?"

Isaac tugged on the collar of his gray sweater. "I do not have good intentions—I will say that much. I study the villain's mind out of curiosity, nothing more."

"You look like a nice guy to me, compared to your friend at least."

He looked away and folded his hands in his lap. "Evil has many forms, Shego—some gilded with a pleasing veneer."

"Right. I'm sure you've seen every kind of it."

"I've seen quite enough of it. I'll be retiring soon if you couldn't tell by my getup." He smiled. "I was just golfing with some of my students—such bright kids."

"You're allowed to retire? No offense, but your school seems like the kinda place where the only way out is in a body bag."

"Ha! It does give that impression, doesn't it? Well, it might surprise you to know that as long as we pursue our work, my colleagues and I are given quite a bit of freedom, though it is recommended we stay at the academy."

Shego leaned forward. "But you don't think Drakken will stay, right?"

Isaac stroked his beard as he took note of her body language. "Who's to say? Unfortunately, the man spends so much time in the lab I hardly know him."

I think that was a half-truth.

"That's too bad 'cause my boss could really use your help. He's not right in the head, ya know . . . or anywhere now that I think about it."

Isaac clasped his hands togetherand laughed. "Oh, trust me, Shego—compared to my clients, Drew is in very stable condition."

Shego smiled, satisfied. "Then you do know Drakken."

Isaac furrowed his brow and gave her an irritated glance. "You're a clever girl, Shego. You remind me of my daughter."

Her smile quickly dissipated. "You mean your granddaughter, right?"

"Oh, please understand, I meant no offense. I haven't seen my daughter in thirty years, so she's still quite young in my mind."

Shego laughed nervously. "That's . . . gotta be a joke."

"I'm afraid not." His face darkened. "I told you evil comes in many forms, didn't I? Mine is this—I abandoned my wife and daughter to pursue my work. I'm dead to them, Shego."

I think there's something wrong with this guy. How can he say that with a straight face like it's nothing?

"But I did not come here to talk about myself." Isaac continued casually. "I'm much more interested in you, my dear. If you have any problems, feel free to share them."

"I don't need a therapist!" she yelled.

He smirked. "Your aggression says otherwise."

"Yeah, I get mad when people dodge my questions and act like they don't know my boss!"

Isaac made no response but gave her a pleasant smile.

"I'm telling you, I'm a perfectly healthy villain."

His eyes widened. "There are no healthy villains, my dear, and you least of all. That splitting headache you've had since we took off betrays you."

Shego was stunned. She gripped the sides of her head and stared at him in wonder.

"How did you? N-never mind, I don't care. Why did you try to distance yourself from Drakken?"

Isaac sighed and narrowed his gaze. "I hate to cause you any anxiety, but I fear Drew is conducting some dangerous research."

Shego's breath caught in her throat. "Dangerous how?"

"I can't be certain, but the higher-ups have kept him under a close watch, and that's never a good sign."

Shego fell silent and stared at the floor for several minutes.

"You're worried about him, aren't you?" said Isaac with a sincere smile.

"Well, yeah, he's my boss. Why wouldn't I be?"

"I've counselled hundreds of villains, Shego. They don't care for their superiors. They want to overthrow them and take their power."

"I never said I cared for Drakken!"

"Indeed, you didn't."

Shego waited for Isaac to continue, but he said no more. Her mouth fell agape when she realized she had made an unforced error and revealed her feelings.

This guy is good—scary good. He's on a completely different level than Drakken. He's probably been laying traps for me this whole time.

"You've grown quiet, Shego." he said with a concerned tone.

She stared at the floor in silence.

"I see your relationship with Drew is complicated."

"Yeah, and it's none of your business!"

He frowned. "We're about to land, but perhaps you can summarize your problems."

"I don't wanna talk about it."

"This could be your only chance to—"

"Would you shut up?! I said I don't want to talk about it!"

Isaac leaned back in his chair and stroked his beard. He was completely calm. Shego could tell he had a lot of experience with people of her temperament.

"Drakken, he . . ." She faltered. "I abandoned him, and he saved my life. Does that tell you anything?"

Isaac stared at her in awe. "Yes, that's fascinating. I've never known a villain to save a subordinate's life, short of any selfish ambition. Did he ask for something in return?"

She squirmed in her chair. "Actually, he doesn't know about it."

"Astounding! Then he welcomed you back with open arms—no questions asked?"

"Well, yeah, but I'm not really working for him. I'm just helping out wherever he needs me."

Isaac threw his head back and laughed. "Then the answer is beautifully simple, my dear."

Shego raised her brow.

"You both love each other."

She jumped up and shook her head violently. "Whoa! Hold up, prof! No one said anything about love."

"Oh, you didn't now? Then let me lay it out for you. You just mentioned three acts of selflessness—acts of love. You left Drew, yet he saved your life for no personal gain whatsoever. Then, he welcomed you back and did not try to take advantage of you, despite how he must have perceived your desperation. Finally, you agreed to serve him without any compensation. What's more, my argument is strengthened by the fact that selflessness is not in your nature. Apart from love, do villains serve each other with glad hearts? I think not."

"I think you're out of your damn mind!" she roared.

The jet shook slightly and came to a halt.

"Oh joy!" Isaac exclaimed. "We landed."

He calmly grabbed his golf clubs out from under his seat and made for the exit ramp, but Shego sunk her claw into his shoulder.

"We aren't finished here, Iversen." she said with no small amount of menace in her eyes.

"I'm afraid we are." He brushed her off haphazardly. "But don't worry—I've already sent you my contact information. Please call if you require my services."

"What? How did you—"

Shego checked her phone and sure enough, Isaac had emailed her his address and phone number. While she was distracted, Isaac made his way down the ramp and started walking off into the fog-shrouded night towards a large marble building.

Shego ran after him. "Iversen, where do you think you're going? Is Dr. Bruiser gonna take me to Drakken?"

Isaac laughed. "Oh no, I'm sure Magnus is much too absorbed in his work, just as I was."

She scowled at him.

"Well, Miss Shego, this is where we part ways, but don't worry—Drew will escort you to the lecture hall." He winked at her. "He's been awaiting your arrival for some time."

Her face reddened. "You slimy shrink. You don't know anything about me."

"On the contrary, I think I know more about you than you do about yourself." he said, walking deeper into the fog.

Shego flared her plasma claws. "That pretentious little . . . err!"

In that moment, she wanted nothing more than to make the old man eat his own golf clubs, but she knew it would only endanger herself and Drakken. She calmed down and extinguished her claws.

"Iversen, I've got one more question!" She yelled.

The old man turned about, his form obscured by the fog.

"Why do you keep calling Drakken 'Drew'?"

She hoped it had caught him off guard.

Isaac tilted his head and she caught the glint of his golf clubs in the moonlight. "Because it was the name given to him by the ones who loved him most."

He vanished as the fog engulfed his slight frame.

Shego stood in the darkness, pondering his words—pondering everything she had just experienced. Whether he was right or not, she felt a great burden had been lifted from her heart.

I don't get it. After all that, I feel so relieved. I should be more confused than ever.

She tried to come up with some argument to refute him, but it was pointless. Of course she could have told him that she was only helping Drakken to repay her debt, but if that was the case, then why was she keeping it a secret? If all she cared about was the debt, then she would have negotiated its terms of payment as soon as possible. The more she thought about it, the more infallible his argument seemed, but it was illogical for her to love anyone. To rely on another was a weakness—a weakness no villain could afford, for there were evil people who would take advantage of her attachment and destroy her. No, she had to destroy them first. That was the nature of evil, to have power over others—power for the sake of power.

Shego tugged at her hair. "Oh, I hate that man! He put me through the wringer, but I'll be ready next time."

She heard footsteps rapidly approaching from behind her. "Oh boy. . . ."

"Shego, you finally came!"

She turned around to see Drakken running toward her, his lab coat flying behind him. To him, that coat had more prestige than a king's mantle. He threw his arms around her and she recoiled but eventually hugged him back and exhaled deeply.

"Hey Drew—Drakken. Dammit!"

She shoved him back and looked away to hide her face with her hair.

Drakken crossed his arms. "Wow, thanks—you don't see a guy for two months and you throw curses at him."

Shego's face fell. "Look, I'm sorry, but your friend Shorty the Shrink put me in a bad mood."

"You spoke with Dr. Iversen!" He motioned for her to follow. "Come, let's walk and talk."

They made their way toward a large marble building that was surrounded by columns and elaborate topiary. The fog dissipated as they climbed the sharply cut stairs.

"I can't believe you got to fly with Dr. Iversen. He's one of the greatest scientific minds in the world, evil or not."

"He's full of it!"

Drakken blinked several times. "Uh, what?"

"It's nothing. He just said some really weird stuff, okay?"

"Did he now?"

"Yeah." She paused. "He said you were doing some dangerous research—research that could get you in trouble."

Drakken smirked. "Fear not, Shego. I'm on five different research teams. If I was doing anything illegal, the whole school would know."

"That's what worries me. . . ."

They entered the college, and as they were walking down its pristine marble halls, Shego noticed an eerily familiar portrait suspended on the wall.

"Um, why is there a giant picture of Monkey Fist?" she asked.

"That's Major Fiske, his great-grandfather. He founded the academy almost one hundred years ago."

"Fiske Academy . . . I knew that name sounded familiar. Hey, didn't he get turned to stone?"

"Yes, they're working on that." Drakken threw open the doors of the lecture hall and let out a disgruntled groan. "Not the crowd I was expecting. Please take a seat, Shego. My presentation will begin momentarily."

"O-okay." She found a seat far away from the scientists who had crowded in the front. "Why is he being so stiff?"

While Drakken took the podium and readied his projector, a tall blonde woman sat down right next to Shego, despite the sea of empty seats about her. The woman seemed to be in her late thirties. She was thin and ghastly pale, almost wraithlike. She sat up rigidly and stared forward, ignoring Shego completely.

She gave the blonde woman an icy glare. "Do you mind? I like my space."

The woman scoffed at her. "Do you know who I am, girl?"

"An egotistical maniac?"

"I'm Dr. Morgan le Foncèe, professor of oblivion theory."

"Ha! So you study nothing?"

Morgan rolled her eyes. "Yes, get all that ignorance out of your system, child. I don't expect a simpleton like you to appreciate my work."

"Glad to meet your expectations."

The lights dimmed and Drakken's presentation began. Shego slumped over in her seat, hoping he wouldn't call her out.

Drakken tapped the mic. "Um, before I begin, there's something I'd like to say."

Shego sunk lower until she was nearly under the desk. "Oh, please stop."

"There's someone very special in the room tonight—someone I wouldn't be here without." He cleared his throat. "Everyone, I'd like to introduce my partner-in-crime and financial advisor—Shego!"

The handful of weary-eyed scientists in the front looked about the room, but Shego had already hidden under her desk.

"Financial Advisor?" she whispered. "I bummed two hundred grand off Junior."

Drakken jerked his neck over the podium, his eyes darting around frantically. "Hm? Shego, where are you? Wave a glowing hand so I can see you."

She knew Drakken would check underneath every desk to find her, so it would only be more embarrassing if she hid.

Shego stood up and threw her hand in the air. "Up top, Dr. D!"

Drakken sighed. "There she is, and she's sitting with Dr. Foncèe. Isn't that just . . . well, let's get started, shall we?"

Morgan stared at her, aghast. "So, you're Drakken's little science project?"

Shego bit her lip. "Ya know, I'd hate to spill your ice-cold blood all over the floor—someone could fall and get hurt."

"What a charming brute you are."

Shego grabbed the sides of her head and groaned. "Look, lady. If you're not gonna respect me, can you at least respect Drakken? I'm trying to listen to his speech."

Morgan scoffed at her. "You needn't trouble yourself, girl. His thesis needs no defense. I already read it and it's nearly perfect, but I know your primitive mind could never comprehend such genius."

"Are you trying to make me rip your throat out? Wait . . . did you say genius?"

Morgan's eyes reflected the light of the projector screen. "Oh, yes. Drakken is the most brilliant mind to grace the academy in decades."

Shego looked the doctor over and noticed how her bosom rose and fell rapidly. "Hey, keep your skirt on, prof."

Morgan smirked and gave her a sideways glance. "Why don't you behave yourself and listen to your master like a good girl?"

Shego could hear the blood pounding in her head. For a moment, she really did consider murdering her. The room was dark and the witnesses were few. She could kill her silently and hide the body under the desk. Her plasma could even burn the blood off her hands.

She rested her elbows on the desk and massaged her temples.

Her treating me like an animal has got me thinking like one.

She breathed deeply and leaned back in her chair. It took several minutes, but she finally cleared her mind and focused on Drakken's presentation. She was speechless. It was the most brilliant, eloquent performance he had ever given, and Shego could hardly understand a word of it. Drakken was so organized and confident that she couldn't help but be in awe, yet the content was meaningless to her. When it was all over, she could not even understand the questions Drakken was asked. Still, the scientists seemed pleased, especially Morgan, so she was proud of him.

Even as Shego joined their vigorous applause, she couldn't help but feel a little sad—not a tearful sorrow, but an empty one. In that moment, she felt more distant from Drakken than ever. Whatever his thesis proved to his colleagues, it proved to her that the man behind the podium was not the mad scientist she had known for five years.

Once Drakken turned off the projector and the lights came on, the scientists lethargically filed out of the lecture hall—all but one. Much to Shego's dismay, Morgan lingered by the exit and leveled a steady contemptuous stare at her. She walked to the front where Drakken was fiddling with his computer.

"How was that, Shego?" Drakken asked, still absorbed in his notes.

"It was . . . something else. I can't believe you made it through that whole presentation without looking like a fool."

"That's because my plans always looked good on paper. It was in the execution that I failed."

Shego crossed her arms. "No, I'm pretty sure your plans were bad in theory too. What I just saw was something else, trust me."

Drakken finally turned to her and scowled, contorting the scar under his left eye. "Can't you just be proud of me for once?"

"I am proud of you. You finally did something worthwhile." She spread out her arms. "Come here. If I don't hug you now, when will I?"

His eyes widened. "Oh . . . thank you, Shego."

He gingerly wrapped his arms around her waist, and she stifled a laugh as she leaned her head on his shoulder.

Drakken squinted his eyes. "Hm? I thought you felt strange earlier. Did you gain mass?"

"Uh, Drakken, what the hell?!" She pushed him away and tried to hide her blushing face. "I've been throwin' weights around in my old room—ya know—the one you turned into a gym!"

"Ha! Then you admit it was a good idea."

Morgan grew tired of their banter and strutted down to the front of the lecture hall. "Yes, she's quite the specimen."

Shego clenched her fists. "Don't you have somewhere else to be?"

"I have a plane to catch—as do the two of you."

Shego glanced back and forth between them both. "What's she talking about, Drakken?"

He tugged on his collar. "Well, you see, I've made so much progress that I was permitted to finish my degree at home."

Shego's eyes lit up. "That's . . . that's great! Why do you look so worried?"

"Well, I'm glad you and Dr. Foncèe already had a chance to get acquainted because she'll be coming along to supervise my research."

Shego made a strangling gesture with her hands. "It'll be a one-way trip for her."