There was nothing moving in the cavernous lair of the man who called himself Professor Dementor as the chronometer display clicked over to midnight. The large open space of his laboratory seemed even more ominous due to the low level security lights that emitted just enough glow to create twisted demonic shadows from otherwise innocuous objects.
"Ah, well done Shego," Dr. Drakken's loud obnoxious voice sounded from one of the access shafts. It was followed by a hasty shushing noise and what sounded like a gloved hand smacking the back of someone's head. A few moments later a grate popped off and the green suit clad form of Shego emerged with Drakken close behind. After she helped him clumsily climb out of the narrow space he clasped his hands behind his back and strode through the empty lair like a conquering general.
"Now phase one of my evil plan will commence…" Drakken cut off his rant unexpectedly and let out a child like squeal of delight. "Lookie, it's a transphasic neurological disrupter."
"Did you actually have a reason for coming here or are you just browsing?" Shego asked sarcastically.
Drakken let out one of his trademark grunts of frustration. "Of course I had a reason," he grumbled as he tossed down the disrupter and continued on through the lab. On a table against the wall was a pyramidal stack of metallic balls. "Here Shego, where is the containment unit?"
"You mean this garbage sack you had me bring?" Shego asked snidely as she held up the black plastic bag.
"Yes the garbage sack," Drakken replied in a sarcastic tone as he snatched it out of her hands. He unceremoniously swept the contents of the table into the bag and synched it up tightly.
"Professor Dementor doesn't realize the true scope of the molecular bonding gas he created. You see Shego, the gas works on a molecular level by changing the nature of the molecule's electromagnetic properties." Drakken explained.
"In English," Shego said.
"They can do more than stick things together," Drakken said gleefully, "Oh yes, much more indeed. Properly modified the gas inside these containers can change other properties of molecules."
"Fine, they're great, whoop-de-do" Shego said with an exasperated tone, "Now can we leave before something goes…"
"HALT," Professor Dementor screamed as he entered the lab. All around the room doors opened and burley henchmen leapt out into attack stance to totally surround Dr. Drakken and Shego.
"Wrong," Shego finished dryly.
"What do you think you are doing?" Dementor asked in a rave.
"Whatever I want," Drakken replied. "Shego, attack!"
The henchmen staggered backwards as Shego's far superior combat abilities drove them back one at a time. Meanwhile Drakken and Dementor were engaged in a verbal attack on each other, which was punctuated with some frenzied openhanded slaps characteristic of two men who knew little about actual fighting.
"You've stolen mine inventions for the last time," Dementor raved.
"Turn about is fair play," Drakken protested, "What about the pan dimensional vortex inducer you stole from me."
"I stole it first," Dementor retorted.
"I planned to steal it before you did," Drakken replied weakly.
"You are a jack of all trades villain," Dementor said. "The vortex inducer is all I ever steal."
"Well…that's…just…" Drakken stuttered as he attempted to find a rebuttal. "SHEGO!"
"We're on our way out Dr. D," Shego replied. She grabbed a henchman as he tried to activate his jetpack and slung him into two of his comrades who were racing to his aid. Next she threw plasma into the nearest door to break it open before grabbing Drakken and his stolen goods. It was easy for the green skinned warrior to outpace their pursuers, even with Drakken slowing them down. The last of them that Dementor saw was a hovercraft disappearing into the night sky.
"Hey there Kimmie-cub," James Possible said as his daughter sat down at the breakfast table after having just come from her loft room. "You look down."
Kim made a noise indicating her disgust. "Its Global Justice, they're being a real pain right now." She replied.
"Really?" James said curiously. "Anything I can do?"
"Not unless you can convince them that it isn't too dangerous to let a civilian have a super suit," Kim replied. "They're pestering me to give it to them."
"Well I had a similar thing happen to me once at the space center," James said. "You see, I wanted to work on my rocket fuel mixture, but the other scientists on the safety board told me that it was too dangerous to take home."
"So what did you do Dad?" Kim asked hopefully.
"I got them to agree to let me take a little bit," James said proudly. "Not enough to do anything but experiment with, but that's all I wanted to do in the first place."
"So not helping," Kim replied. "I need the whole super suit, not just a piece of it."
"Sorry Kim," James said. "That rocket fuel was my own invention anyway. They would've had a hard time forbidding me to keep any of it off premises."
Kim snapped her fingers. "That's it," she exclaimed. "Wade built the suit so if I can't keep it here then he can keep it at his place along with the jet. Thanks Daddy."
"Anytime sweetie," James replied as she ran out and back upstairs.
By the time Kim got back to her bedroom to call Wade the Kimmunicator was already beeping. She dug through a pile of crumpled sheets and flipped it on.
"What's the sitch Wade?" Kim asked.
"I've been monitoring video communications from several of the villains that I've been able to track and found something I thought you should see," Wade said. His image flicked off and was replaced by Professor Dementor.
"Drakken," Dementor shouted, "I demand you give me back mine technology this instant."
"You mean these?" Drakken taunted as he held up two "Bondo" balls. Wade had set the message to split screen so that Kim could watch both deranged scientists at the same time. "It feels positively delightful to be on this side of the theft for a change. I wonder if it felt this good to you when you were gloating about the pan dimensional vortex inducer?"
"I won't forget this Drakken," Dementor promised, his face contorted with anger. "You mark my words, if you don't return my inventions you'll regret it!"
"After that there's about thirty seconds of Drakken laughing," Wade said as the images winked out. "I'm not sure what Drakken thinks he can do with Dementor's molecular cohesion gas, but I'm sure it can't be good."
"Do we have any idea where Drakken's lair is right now?" Kim asked.
"Global Justice took over his known lairs and the time-share lair is confirmed vacant from the last time he used it," Wade replied. "Dr. Director's people think that he's nearly out of resources after the Bueno Naco affair, but I think he's in another hover lair, probably cloaked in high altitude this time instead of sitting out in the middle of the ocean."
"If that's the case he'll be hard to find," Kim said resignedly.
"Well, knowing Drakken he'll probably reveal himself soon as he tries to accomplish whatever plan he stole those Bondo balls for," Wade replied nonchalantly. "I'll keep monitoring the tracking satellites though, just in case."
"Thanks Wade," Kim replied. She shut off the Kimmunicator and jumped off her bed to race back down to the kitchen for breakfast before Ron came over. She had barely taken two steps away from her loft stairs when she ran into her mom.
"Sorry Mom," Kim said hastily.
"What's the hurry Kim?" Ann asked.
"Ron and I have training planned," Kim said. "He had to make breakfast this morning, but then he's coming right over."
"You two sure have been working out a lot," Ann said. "I think you're starting to wear bare patches into the lawn."
Kim's gaze flickered downward for a second. "Ron has a lot of potential, but he's slower at picking things up than I am and he's still got a long way to go," Kim explained.
Ann knew that her daughter had been woken up by the Bueno Naco incident in more ways than one. When she began to see Ron in a different light, as more than just a friend, she had also started to re-evaluate some of her other assumptions about him. One of those was that he could continue to stumble around on luck and reliance on Kim to save him without eventually getting seriously injured.
"Just don't forget to take some breaks and do things together as a couple," Ann admonished. "You're only young once you know."
Kim grinned. "Don't worry mom, training is one of our couple activities just as much as going out for nachos or hitting the mall. Well, actually hitting the mall is more my thing, but Ron likes spending time with me."
"I know, I know, and video games are his thing, but you like spending time with him," Ann finished. She smiled broadly as Kim hurried off. She was so happy that they hadn't tried to change what had made them such good friends, but instead just added more depth to their relationship. Even she and James sometimes had to force themselves to do things together as a couple, like camping or fishing trips, because their jobs kept them apart so often. Kim and Ron on the other hand seemed to both have the rare compatibility that came from deeply shared interests and activities.
By the time Ann made her way downstairs she found Ron had arrived and together they were reading something on the Kimmunicator. She hummed slightly as she noticed that James already had breakfast on the table.
"Great taste hon," Ann remarked to James as she dug into his cooking.
"Don't you want some of this Kimmie?" James asked. He tried to look over his red headed daughter's shoulder to see what she was showing Ron.
"No, I'd better not," Kim said hurriedly. "It's a bit dangerous to eat before exercise involving lots of jumping and tumbling."
"Ah, KP, about that," Ron said sheepishly, "maybe we should wait for a little while."
"Ron, did you eat again?" Kim asked with an exaggerated tone of exasperation.
Before James could say anything else Kim was dragging Ron outside admonishing him about taking better care of himself. Ann laughed softly and tugged James down into the seat next to her.
"Don't worry about it," she said lightly. "Kim was the same way back when she started cheer practice, remember?"
"Ah yes, the cheer obsession," James replied. Kim had practiced non-stop in the run up to getting on the squad and then, much to James' surprise, she redoubled her efforts after getting the coveted position. He watched with a tinge of amazement as Ron, who had been hopelessly clumsy for as long as James had known him, was walking backwards in a measured retreat all the while fending off a blur of fierce jabs from Kim. It was clear that his daughter was making sure that her hyperactivity was being impressed on the willowy blonde.
"Kim," Ron whined, his breathing irregular from exhaustion, "I think we should call it a day, don't you?"
"It can't be that late yet," Kim replied, though she didn't show it quite as much fatigue was beginning to plague her athletic frame as well. Excepting for breaks necessary to watch the twins and eat lunch the two teens had been sparring almost all day.
"Uh, time check KP," Ron said. "I think I just heard your mom pull into the driveway and the sun has already gone down."
"It's really weird," Kim said. Ron followed her into the house where Ann was putting up groceries while the twins ran around frantically. "I was sure that Drakken would try something. Once he starts a scheme it's usually not very long before he goes for his goal."
"Maybe he's trying a more complicated plan again," Ron suggested.
"I hope not," Kim said, shuddering, as she remembered the last complex scheme Drakken had tried to pull off; world conquest with an army of Diablo robots.
"Did you two have a productive day?" Ann asked when she heard the door slide open.
"More like a boring day," Jim piped up.
"Only Kim can turn fighting into a boring routine," Tim added.
"Less sparring, more repetitions," Kim said, shrugging her shoulders.
"My arms and legs are still thanking you," Ron said. Working on technique was much less taxing than sparring while Kim pushed him to his limits.
"Drakken hasn't made his move yet," Kim said. She sat down at the dinner table and picked up the Kimmunicator that had been left sitting there.
Wade's image popped up on the screen. "Great timing Kim, I was just getting ready to call you," Wade said.
"You've got something on Drakken?" Kim asked eagerly.
"Not specifically, but about an hour ago the encrypted military channels started reporting strange activities around Area 5," Wade said.
"Uh, don't you mean area 51?" Ron asked.
"No, Area 5," Wade repeated. "It's a top secret lab developing the next generation of integrated air, ground, and space defense technology. The project is almost finished and ready for launch."
Wade's image was replaced by a basic schematic of a satellite that resembled a bumpy irregular egg.
"This is the main systems module," Wade continued. "This part at least is already finished, but the command and control module is still being perfected, which is why none of them have been launched. Even though the system is being built by several leading companies in the United State's aerospace industry the end user is the United Nations."
"So Drakken wants to deploy some of the weapons pods before the control mechanism is in place so that he can control them himself," Kim surmised.
"Correct," Wade confirmed. "Right now it would be a snap for Drakken to hook up his own homemade control system, but once the designed command system goes into place he would be shut out."
"Why are we only hearing about this now?" Ron asked.
"Top secret, need to know only," Wade said casually.
"No, I mean why are we just now hearing about these 'weird activities' around a top secret government base when Drakken was already known to be on the move," Ron said.
"We still haven't heard about it officially," Wade said. There was a strong breeze outside as the jet landed and went into standby mode. "It was one of those 'we didn't ask for help but we'll take it,' deals."
"Come on Ron, time to nip this scheme before it gets started," Kim said.
"Kimmie, aren't you and Ron going to wait for dinner?" Ann asked when she saw the two teens heading through the door, Kim dragging Ron along by the hand.
"No can do Mrs. Dr. P," Ron said.
"Drakken is on the move Mom," Kim added.
"Be careful kids," Ann said, giving them a small wave as they raced out to the jet. She turned to the twins. "It looks like it's just us until your father gets home."
"We're on our final approach Wade," Kim said. She and Ron had changed into their usual mission clothes during the flight to the East Coast. "What's the current sitch?"
"Drakken is making his move," Wade said anxiously. "Somehow he penetrated the lab even during full lockdown and judging from the radio transmissions I've intercepted the military has lost contact with several levels of the complex. But it's impossible, the defenses are impenetrable in lockdown and the satellite scans I've done show no damage whatsoever. If Drakken is in there he's done it using a technique we've never seen him use before."
"Uh, question, if it's so impenetrable then how are we supposed to get in?" Ron asked.
"I can't help you until you actually get there," Wade said. "The lab's security system is totally off the grid. One hundred percent isolation so there's nothing for me to hack. Even worse, once lockdown goes into effect it lasts for a fixed period of time and can only be overridden by security codes from the civilian side of the defense department. Since the project was accessible by observers from other nations the administration felt the extra security was a must."
"All right," Kim yelled as she opened the door, letting in a blast of air. The jet was hovering over a large building that was surrounded by emergency and military vehicles. "Let's go Ron."
"Is that the Pentagon?" Ron asked as he leaned out into the dark sky.
"Can you think of a better place for a top secret lab?" Kim asked. Ron's eyes widened as he realized she was getting ready to leap out of the plane.
"Uh, KP, shouldn't we land or something?" Ron asked, his words turning into a terrified scream as Kim pushed him out in front of her. She had snapped safety lines on the both of them moments before and with her guidance they reached the ground safely, though Ron ended up in a rather undignified heap.
Before they could even detach their cables several men in military vests surrounded them. A burley man in olive green uniform with three stars on his shoulder emerged from the ranks of soldiers.
"Kim Possible, resourceful as ever," he said brusquely. "I assume you already are aware of the situation here?"
"My arch foe is in your secret lab, right?" Kim replied.
"Then you also know that getting into the lab is impossible," the general said.
"Uh, dude, check her name," Ron said smugly. The general ignored him.
"If you can render any assistance it will be appreciated, but I think you will find this challenge beyond even your considerable abilities Miss Possible," the general said with a gruff voice.
"We'll do our best," Kim said, already jogging away toward the entrance with Ron in tow. She pulled out her Kimmunicator.
"We're coming up on the first obstacle Wade," Kim said briskly. A large thick looking door barred their way.
"Just plug the Kimmunicator into the nearest port and I should be able to hack their system," Wade said confidently.
"Problem, there isn't any access port," Kim replied.
"Scanning," Wade said anxiously. "It looks like the system is not just isolated from the Internet; it's isolated from any point outside the security measures for the lab. I can't hack what can't be physically accessed."
"Then we'll have to do this the hard way," Kim said, her face still determined.
"KP, reality check, that door is totally solid. We don't have anything that can cut through that," Ron said.
"I can do this," Kim said, "Just let me concentrate."
"Kim, do what?" Ron asked, confused, but Kim had already fallen into an unusual stance with her eyes closed as she focused. Ron knew that Kim had assumed a position unique to Monkey Kung Fu, but he didn't understand at all what she hoped to accomplish with it.
After a few seconds Kim took action, her deep green eyes opening sharply, though Ron noticed that they seemed to be unfocused. She leapt along the floor a couple of times to build up speed and slammed into the thick metallic door with both feet. There was a sound of straining metal as the door visibly warped inward. Kim used the door to leverage herself in a backward flip and then assaulted it again with another powerful kick. On the third attack the door groaned and caved inward to crash in a twisted heap onto the floor.
"Kim!" Ron yelled, running up to her. She was shaking slightly and completely winded. "Are you all right?"
"I'll be fine in a minute Ron," Kim said raggedly.
"How did you do that?" Ron asked. Rufus had run out onto Ron's shoulder during the commotion and was staring at her with disbelief too.
"Monkey Kung Fu is very powerful," Kim replied. "Surely you've noticed it before?"
Ron opened his mouth to deny it, but then he remembered how he had inadvertently caused some rather hefty amounts of destruction when he had trained in Japan. Of course, when he had performed such feats it was by accident, but apparently Kim had learned the secrets of the fighting style just by observing his innate talent a few times when his Mystical Monkey Power had surfaced. In retrospect it wasn't at all surprising since Kim had at a young age mastered numerous fighting styles to a degree superior to many individuals who had committed their entire lives to the study of a single style.
"I haven't perfected it yet though," Kim said ruefully. "Using it like that requires I rely on subconscious instinct too much for it to be reliable in a real fight."
"Badical KP," Ron said in an unusually serious tone. With his help Kim steadied herself and together they raced off into the exposed corridor toward Drakken. Neither of them noticed the slack jawed expressions of the soldiers and their commanding officer that had witnessed the entire event.
"Charged net coming up KP," Ron said tersely as they raced down the narrow hall. Kim dug into her pocket and produced one of Wade's lipstick disguised lasers. The electrified metal web slumped to the floor, cut off from its power supply and glowing around the edges where Kim had cut it.
Many other state of the art defense systems consisting of both active and passive deterrents fell to the side thanks to a combination of the two teen's fighting prowess and Wade's inventions. At the end of the twisting trap filled corridor was another, less imposing door.
"Come on Ron, let's hit it together," Kim said.
"You got it KP," Ron said. He watched as Kim bent her knees in preparation for a flying kick and mirrored her actions as best he could. Four feet hit the thin sliding door and caused it to explode inward with Kim and Ron rolling into defensive crouches in anticipation of whatever defenses Dr. Drakken might have waiting for them.
"Dr. D, we've got company," Shego's distinctive voice rang out. She was standing in front of Dr. Drakken's hunched over form as he worked feverishly on one of the many satellite systems that were scattered at regular intervals around the warehouse like space of the lab.
"I'm not finished yet Shego," Dr. Drakken replied. "Hold them off."
"It's the cheerleader and her buffoon," Shego said. She snarled and charged at Kim. "I can guarantee you five minutes."
"I'll handle Shego," Kim yelled as she evaded several shots of green plasma, "Stop Drakken."
"I'm on it Kim," Ron said. He ran to the side and skirted Kim's beginning battle with Shego. Rufus chattered eagerly in Ron's ear. "All right little buddy, you know the drill."
Drakken glanced over his shoulder and grinned as he tapped a small device that was attached to his belt. A half dozen synthodrones stepped out from behind the satellite Drakken was working on and advanced on Ron with glowing energy staff weapons.
Rufus jumped off of Ron's shoulder and scampered toward Drakken as the drones attacked. Ron used the first drone's momentum to toss him into the next two and then he was reliving all the training that Kim had pounded into him. Unfortunately, he quickly discovered that he was still no Kim as the drones steadily pushed him away from his goal.
"Five whole minutes?" Kim taunted. "Don't you think you're overrating yourself?"
"You may be some kind of prodigy, but I've been doing this since before you were in braces Princess," Shego bit back angrily. Her hands flared green again and Kim was forced to parry her blows at the forearm to avoid having her flesh turned to ash.
"So what you're saying is that you're really old," Kim replied mockingly. Shego clenched her jaw and dipped down to deliver a series of kicks to Kim's legs. The red head flipped backward and turned rapidly on her hands to cause her own legs to move in a winnowing effect that rained down blows on Shego, driving her back.
Shego, ever the consummate professional, regrouped instantly and counterattacked with a series of blows that flowed together. Kim attempted to block all of them, but since Shego's attack had begun before she was fully ready a few hits managed to land on her shoulders and torso.
Kim felt her wrist strain under the effort of repelling Shego's glowing fists and silently asked herself if the green skinned woman had always been this strong. Ever since their battle on the rooftop of Bueno Nacho headquarters it seemed like Shego had changed. Before she would taunt and gloat, but now she was a more serious opponent. Kim fell back, giving up ground to slow the pace of the battle in hopes of lengthening her endurance and finding an opening to exploit.
"Aww, is Kimmie running away?" Shego asked in a more familiar mocking tone. She didn't back off of her attack any though, instead pressing forward even harder to keep Kim off balance. Kim realized a split second before she backed up into one of the other satellites. The egg shaped device was open into two main parts with its internal components partially assembled and mostly exposed. She left herself open for a split second and then leapt up as Shego thrust forward suddenly with a plasma charged hand. Kim's hands came to rest on Shego's forearm as her legs slammed together, heels bashing up against each side of Shego's head.
"How long was that?" Kim asked as Shego reeled backwards.
"Long enough," Shego said, her plasma charged claws digging a slab out of the concrete floor. Kim dodged the first two chunks Shego tossed, but she was forced to deliver a bone jarring blow to avoid getting hit in the face by the third.
Ron's chest was heaving with exertion as he clutched the energy staff that he had pilfered from one of the drones and surveyed his situation. Rufus had been forced to hide in a nearby satellite from two drones that Ron couldn't pin down. The device had been reduced to a heap of spare parts by the drone's probing attacks on the little mole rat, but he hadn't been caught yet. The other four drones had kept Ron incredibly busy, even after he got in a lucky shot that pierced the reinforced exoskeletal skins of one of the drones.
Ron glanced over at the ongoing struggle between Shego and his love. As much as he wished he could yell out to KP for help against the untiring drones he recognized that she needed to concentrate on her own fight for once without having to take care of him.
"A-ha," Drakken exclaimed suddenly. "Synthodrones, leave the rodent and help me unplug the satellite from its station."
Ron ducked a pair of fists and tried to sweep the remaining synthodrones that had stayed to fight him off their feet. Instead they grabbed his staff and shattered it in half, knocking him backwards in the process.
"Shego, the gas," Drakken roared as the synthodrones uncoupled the satellite from the cables that had held it to the ground. Shouts filled the corridor indicating that the military had finally gotten its act together and was coming to aid Team Possible.
"I don't think so," Kim said, not understanding what was going on except that it couldn't be good. She kicked a small round metallic object out of Shego's hands as quickly as the dark haired woman produced it. The ball skipped along the ground in the opposite direction from Drakken. Shego and Kim dived toward the escaping orb.
"You don't know when to quit Possible," Shego bit out. "You're going to kill us both if you don't stop right now."
"Like I'm ever going to let you win," Kim retorted. Her hands gripped the slippery smooth surface at the same times as Shego's. Kim twisted to avoid a weak kick as Shego tried to gain the upper hand and bashed her shoulder into the other woman. A faint mechanical whir sounded from inside the device and Shego leaped away frantically. A burst of bluish gas exploded in a dense cloud around Kim who was left holding the sphere.
"What on earth is this stuff?" Kim asked as she brushed the mist away from her.
"Boss, we've got a problem here," Shego said.
"No choice," Drakken said sourly. He pulled out a controller and pushed a couple of buttons. There was an earth shaking impact and the roof of the lab, even buried as deep as it was, began to crumble inward. The satellite that Drakken had been working on was crushed beneath the cave in along with several others. The blue skinned scientist himself barely escaped with the help of a synthodrone.
"You're not getting away again Drakken," Ron shouted. The hole leading to the surface was wide enough that he could see the blinking lights of Drakken's mobile carrier base as it de-cloaked and lowered a capsule in anticipation of retrieving the mad doctor. From the sound of explosions and the scream of jet engines coming from the surface Ron guessed that the military was attacking the ponderous craft.
Suddenly a faint high pitched voice caused Ron's heart to miss a beat. "Ron, help," Kim cried out. He spun around and saw Kim shrinking before his eyes until she was only a few inches tall.
"Kim, what happened," Ron asked frantically as he ran over to where she was and crouched down protectively to shield her from the troops that were finally rushing into the room.
"It was some kind of gas," Kim squeaked. She drew back slightly when Rufus scampered over from where he had been hiding to look curiously at her.
Ron hurriedly dug out his Kimmunicator. "Wade, emergency here." He said.
"Whoa, calm down Ron, what is it?" Wade asked. Ron pointed the Kimmunicator's view screen toward Kim.
"Huge problem," Ron said.
"More like a small problem," Kim replied dryly, "Any suggestions Wade?"
"I'm scanning…done," Wade said. "This is bad guys."
"How bad?" Ron asked anxiously.
"Way bad, at this rate Kim has less than an hour to live," Wade said grimly.
Ron's eyes widened in shock. "No, there has to be a mistake," he said woodenly.
"Right now Kim is so small that air molecules can't interact with her lungs properly," Wade explained quickly. "The gas is still clinging to her on an atomic level and altering the size of the air molecules she breathes, but when that runs out she'll suffocate. Most shrinking or enlarging technology uses highly charged energy fields that can last for long periods of time, but Drakken's gas seems to be designed to be used on inanimate objects, not people."
"Can you reverse it?" Kim asked. Even she looked concerned.
"Not a chance," Wade said sharply. "You've got to go after Drakken, he'll have some kind of reversal agent. I'm sending the jet around, but you've got to hurry. Drakken could cloak his base at any moment."
"Hop on KP," Ron said as a rope ladder dropped down through the hole that Drakken had just escaped through. When she was securely on his shoulder he grabbed onto the ladder and let the jet lift them out of the lab even as he climbed. Below them the soldiers continued securing the facility and all but ignoring the two people that had prevented a complete disaster.
"Ron, stay down there," Wade instructed from the still active Kimmunicator that Ron had reattached to his belt. "I'm going to try to maneuver you over Drakken's base ship."
"Don't worry KP, we'll get you back to your right size again," Ron said over the roar of the wind whipping past them. Wade's remote piloting had brought the Team Possible jet to a position above the lumbering hover base which was starting to cloak. Only sporadic, yet mostly ineffectual impacts from military rockets had kept the stealth feature from completely obscuring their target. Laser bolts that had been directed at incoming rockets now began to track their incoming aircraft.
"I can't get any closer in with these remote controls," Wade said. "You need to get a jet pack Ron."
"No time Wade, the cloak is about to finish taking effect and then we'll never be able to track them in time," Ron replied.
"Ron, don't do anything crazy," Kim said frantically as the blonde teen started to swing back and forth to build up momentum. She tugged on the lock of hair that she was using as a grip to get his attention. "If you jump from this height you'll die."
"No choice KP," Ron said shortly. With one final swing he released his grip on the ladder and plummeted toward the uneven surface of Drakken's ship.
"Ron," Kim yelled frantically as her tiny hands tried to slap him. Rufus grabbed his friend's collar and gave him a shake.
"What happened?" Ron asked dizzily.
"You nearly broke your legs and knocked yourself out," Kim said, "But we made it to Drakken's ship just a few seconds before he finished cloaking it."
Ron shook his head and sat up. Kim didn't have time for him to waste sitting around stunned. He almost groaned in despair though when he saw the thick access hatch that they would have to climb through since going down to the side doors was impossible with the craft in flight.
"I don't think I can do your door kicking thingie," Ron said ruefully.
"You don't need to Ron," Wade's voice came through the still active Kimmunicator. "This is Drakken's base remember? Just plug the Kimmunicator in and we're good to go."
"This place seems really creepy when I'm tiny," Kim whispered as they snuck through the empty halls of the hover base. Rufus chattered in an annoying tone since he was actually still slightly smaller than Kim.
"Okay Wade, next directions," Ron said. Kim marveled that for the first time in a long time Ron was completely serious.
"There should be an access to the ventilation just around the corner," Wade replied. "This base seems to be exactly like Drakken's previous one so with any luck you should be able to gain entrance to the main control center without any problem."
"Thanks Wade," Kim replied for Ron as the lanky teen sprinted for the access point and began prying the grill off of the opening.
"Why…couldn't…Drakken…make…bigger…air…ducts," Ron complained quietly as he felt the rough edges clawing away at his skin.
"They seem pretty big to me," Kim said laughingly. Despite her light tone Ron felt himself flush with self-incrimination at his tactless statement.
"I'm sorry KP," Ron said softly.
"Ron, seriously, stop stressing," Kim said gently. "We've got plenty of time left to get me back to my right size. Just focus on what needs to be done and don't think about anything else."
"I'm picking up just two life signs readings from inside the control room," Wade said.
"Drakken and Shego," Ron said. He leaned over so that Kim and Rufus could see from his shoulders. Drakken was raging into a microphone about damage control measures while his green skinned bodyguard idly filed the claws on her gloves. "We'll avoid them if we can."
"Sorry Ron, no chance," Wade said. "I'm picking up a compound similar to the one that hit Kim, but with enough variances that it must be the reversal formula."
"I see it," Kim said. "Right there, there are two stacks of them in a suspension field."
Sure enough there was a large pyramidal shaped stack of grey metallic spheres floating above some kind of device that was built into the floor which appeared to have been specially designed to keep the balls completely isolated, even from each other judging by the spaces between each ball in the pile.
"Go for the stack of balls closest to you, those should be the ones that will return Kim to normal," Wade said.
"Rufus, you're up," Ron said as he put the Kimmunicator back into one of his hip pockets. The little pink rodent pulled out a laser lipstick and deftly cut a hole in the grate leading into the main chamber. Ron would have done it himself, but when he remembered what happened the last time he used the tool he didn't want to risk it. Instead he made sure that the grate didn't fall into the room by holding onto it as Rufus made the cuts.
"Okay, Drakken isn't paying attention," Ron said. "Hold on tight Kim."
Ron slid out of the duct and twisted during the short fall to the ground enough that he managed to land on his feet in a crouch. He looked over quickly to where Drakken was monitoring some sort of control panel and breathed a sigh of relief that the oblivious madman hadn't heard anything. He turned around to dash toward the stack of balls filled with the enlargement gas.
"We're all clear Kim," Ron said, cutting off with a sharp gasp when he nearly ran face first into the thin green clad form of Shego.
"Look's like that infestation in the ventilation came back," Shego said derisively. "Two little pests and one oversized buffoon."
"Kim, Rufus, make a break for it, I'll hold off Shego," Ron said. Kim looked worried, but she didn't protest when Rufus tugged her off in the direction of the shrinking antidote.
"You have got to be kidding me," Shego said between peels of her sharp high pitched laughter. "You can't take the Princess seriously when she's trying to build your self esteem up loser."
"Quick Shego," Drakken yelled. For once he noticed that wasting time would be a bad idea as Kim and Rufus ran as quickly as small legs could carry them toward their goal. "Don't let Kim Possible return to her normal size!"
"I'm all over it Dr. D," Shego said as she ignited her plasma powers. Ron aimed his counter blows just beneath the green skinned woman's wrists to avoid instant defeat. He saw Shego's eyes widen with disbelief as he ducked beneath her attack and rammed her torso with his shoulder.
Shego leg out a roar of rage while she stumbled backward from the blow and landed in an ungainly heap on the floor. Glowing hands dug pits into the floor as she leveraged herself enough speed to launch a counter attack at Ron.
"So, the klutz finally picked up some moves," Shego said as she hammered home one blow after another that caused Ron to hastily give up ground. "Too bad, you're not even on Kimmie's level, let alone mine."
Ron jumped into the air to avoid a sweeping kick only to realize at the last moment that Shego was just feinting. Shego's real attack, a plasma charged swipe to the head, didn't miss. Ron rolled over and over under the force of the blow until he slammed up against the wall. White light exploded in the front of his skull and his world turned upside down.
"So much for your little friend," Shego taunted. She sprinted for the stack of enlarging gas charged balls where Kim was trying to reach one. Shego swiped at Kim's head, but only managed to knock Rufus aside when he jumped in front of her.
"Why don't you pick on someone your own size," Kim exclaimed as she somersaulted backwards onto the bottom ball and then started to run up the stack.
"And you always say that Drakken has cliché lines," Shego snarled before taking another swipe at Kim. Again she missed, but this time she hit the stack of balls, scattering them. Kim evaded several of the metal spheres, but there were too many for her to dodge them all. She groaned, dazed, and tried to regain her bearings.
"Game over Princess," Shego gloated, her hand glowing green to deliver the final blow.
Ron rolled over and shook his throbbing head in an attempt to clear his wobbly vision. He could hear Drakken crowing exultantly in the background, urging Shego on.
"Kim needs me," Ron thought to himself. He rolled over again and this time managed to push himself to his knees. "She's saved me so many times, but this time she's counting on me."
Shego's hand was halfway through its descent toward Kim's tiny prone form when a blur of blonde hair impacted her from the side. Shego gritted her teeth at the last second interruption and threw Ron off of her even before they stopped rolling. Much to her surprise the teen nimbly raked his hands across the smooth metal floor and used the momentum of her toss to propel himself to his feet. Shego could have sworn that there was a slight bluish twinkle in the blonde's eyes as he immediately rebounded at her with an attack.
Muscles strained for the first time during Shego's battle as Ron's seemingly random attacks wove themselves into a flawless tapestry of unarmed combat. Every time she thought a hole in his defenses opened she found her counterattack being thrown aside.
Ron felt like his arms and legs were about to fall off of his body they were aching so much from pushing himself to his limits without reprieve. Even though he was in excellent shape, as the time he switched bodies with Kim had proven, his movements were still far less efficient than his sleek opponent's. As a result he realized that he was going to tire much more quickly.
"What's the matter?" Shego asked snidely as she finally felt the satisfying feeling of yielding flesh connecting to her gloved fist. "Where did all that energy go?"
"It's not over yet," Ron said stubbornly.
"It's so over," Shego said mockingly. She charged her gloves with plasma, but instead of a fist she extended her fingers straight out like a claw with the intent of stabbing Ron through.
A blur of red connected with her, sending her sprawling, even before she could start to deliver the blow. Kim was back to her normal size.
"The Princess?" Shego moaned. "Where did she come from?"
"Hello?" Drakken yelled. "What do you think I've been screaming about all this time? You let Kim Possible get to the modified Bondo balls!"
"To be honest I block out half of what you say," Shego muttered to herself.
"Ron are you okay?" Kim asked.
"Yeah I'm fine," Ron said, ignoring some minor aches and pains. His pants suddenly fell to the floor. "Er, situation normal."
"Then let's get out of here before this place blows," Kim said, mirth dancing in her eyes as Ron yanked his errant trousers back into place.
"My base is going to explode?" Drakken shrieked.
Kim smirked and pointed at one of the numerous control panels that were scattered around the room. Her Kimmunicator was plugged into one of them and the monitor above it was ticking through a self-destruct countdown.
"Get in the escape pod," Shego growled as Kim disappeared after Ron.
"Do we have a way out of here Ron?" Kim asked. She saw that he was already on his Kimmunicator talking to Wade. Rufus poked his head out of one of Kim's pockets, but he didn't run around since he was still groggy from earlier.
"Wade has the jet waiting for us at the rear exit," Ron said. Thankfully the layout of Drakken's base was the same as the last one they had taken down so the route was fairly familiar.
Five minutes later they had made it to the exit and boarded the hovering jet that was waiting for them courtesy of Wade. They hadn't even made it over the horizon before there was a brilliant explosion followed by a weak burst of random energy emissions as the fusion core in Drakken's hover base finally overloaded its capacitors.
"I'm glad you're back to normal KP," Ron said softly once they were settled into their seats for the flight back to Middleton.
"Me too," Kim replied. "I'm really proud of you Ron. You infiltrated the base, fought Shego, and gave me enough time to blow up Drakken's last known lair."
"It's from years of honing my distraction skills," Ron said with fake egotism.
"Well, I'm certainly distracted," Kim said. Ron's eyes turned up as he melted into her kiss. It had turned out to be a very good day after all.
Author's note: I have no idea when I'll be updating this story again. It all depends on how much free time I have (almost none for the foreseeable future). I hope this was an enjoyable chapter for everyone while we await the new season that is coming at some point in the mid-term future hopefully.