Chapter 12

After a couple of days, Kim was able to use her leg again, but was resting it as much as possible. While sitting on the couch, her 'Tweeb Sense' kicked in, and she came to the door in time to see Jim and Tim disappear into her room.

She quietly followed, and interrupted them before they could pull anything.

"AHAH! Caught you red handed!" she shouted, triumphantly.

But they were ready for her. Jim pushed a button on a hand-held control box, and Kim found herself trapped in the same containment field they had used on Ron last year.

"Let's see you," said Jim.

"Get out of that one!" finished Tim. "Your speed can't help you if you can't touch the ground."

Kim gave them a nasty grin. "You think so? I don't."

She had noticed the emitter was portable, which means she should be able put enough strain on the field for the feedback to drain the battery in short order. The white glow surrounded her, and she started hitting the field, which just bounced her fists back slightly.

The twins looked at each other, confused.

Kim kept hitting the field, moving faster and faster, until her arms were just a blur.

With a yell of pain, Jim dropped the control. The circuitry had been heating up. Suddenly there was a puff of acrid smoke, and the field disappeared. Kim dropped to the floor in a crouch.

Jim and Tim looked at each other. "Uh... gotta go!" they chorused, and hurried past Kim to the stairs.

"Scat! Shoo!" she called after them, "And let that be a lesson to you!"

kpkpkp

A week later found Kim descending the stairs from her attic room; Ron, Rufus, and Anne Possible waiting for her.

"I've got some bad news on the medical research front," said Anne, as Kim reached the bottom. "It seems the glow is attached to you, and only you. Any live cells we take for testing lose the ability for rapid regeneration. I consulted with doctors in Go City, and they say the same thing happens with Team Go." She sighed. "Looks like there won't be any major medical breakthroughs after all."

"Sorry, mom, I know you were really hoping," said Kim. "Any idea why?"

"None. The best theory is that it takes a certain amount of mass to manifest," she replied.

"Maybe it needs to have a brain," said Ron, distracted folding a towel, "You know, for control."

Anne and Kim looked at each other.

"Ron, that's brilliant!" said Anne.

"Huh? Wha'd I say?" he asked, confused.

"That's a theory worth checking out," she continued, thoughtfully.

"Well," said Kim, "When I broke the staff that Aviarius had containing all the glows, they returned to their owners. I just thought they would all fade away."

"Almost as if they knew where they were going?" asked Anne.

"Come to think of it, yes," confirmed Kim.

"Yeah, that seemed strange to me too," said Ron.

"Let me make some notes, then we'll go..." said Anne, sitting down and grabbing a notepad.

kpkpkp

They met Shelly at the University track. Kim filled her in on how she used her speed in her last mission, and when she turned on her power, the glow was plainly visible, even in the direct sunlight.

"That's really amazing, Kim. If you could bottle and sell it, we'd have the best track team in the world!" said Shelly.

Kim grinned and turned red, but couldn't find a reply.

It was soon discovered that the mental breakthrough had allowed Kim to approximately double her speed. Wade theorized it would still take time and training for her to reach full potential, but a lot less time than he had thought.

kpkpkp

Walking up the stairs to their 3rd-floor dorm rooms, Kim and Ron were met at the top by Dr. Director herself. They adjourned to the floor's common room which was empty of other students.

"Well, Kimberly, this new ability of yours is going to be very handy in the future," she said, "I've had my scientists brainstorming to come up with ways to counteract it."

Ron looked confused. "Why? Don't you want her to use it?"

"Of course, Ronald, but if GJ can find ways to stop her, then the villains can too. We have to figure out how, and how to get around them."

"Oh, I get it. You want to stop Kim so she can go again," he replied.

The two women in the room exchanged a glance.

"Yyyyeah, if you want to put it that way," said Dr. Director.

"What have they got so far?" asked Kim.

"The obvious first, of course; covering the floor with a low-friction substance. We'll have to do some experimenting to see what happens," she replied.

"Sounds like a good idea," said Kim.

"The second thing is, you know there are others in the world with special abilities besides you and Team Go. We've been contacting them, and would like to assemble an elite team, with you as the leader," said the GJ head.

"I dunno," said Kim, "I don't want to quit college to go full time," said Kim, thoughtfully.

"Me either," said Ron.

"Uh uh," Rufus agreed.

"Oh you won't have to, nor should you," replied the older woman. "They would be transferring here. The ones most interested are college students too. All cold continue with their majors. They would be part-timers for us as well."

"Okay... who are they, then?" asked Kim, tilting her head slightly.

Dr. Director hesitated. "Well... I'd better not say. We are still in negotiations with all of them, and they may not work out. I will tell you if all of them join, there may be as many as six, of both genders."

"BOOYAH! Kim!" said an excited Ron, pumping his fist, "You get to lead a team of super heroes!"

Kim looked at him. "Let's not get too excited. It may not work out." She looked at her part-time boss. "But I'm up for it, if it happens." She paused, sitting back. "Seems like lately the villains are ramping up their game. A team would be a good idea."

"Thank you, Kimberly, Ronald, Rufus," said Dr. Director, standing up. "That gives me a lot of encouragement. I'll see you later." She left, leaving the late-teen heroes alone.

Ron grinned. "And even if it doesn't, the villains will find out that the 'girl who can do anything' can suddenly do anything in a LOT less time!"

Kim laughed. "Yeah, gonna be interesting, that's for sure." and she kissed her boyfriend, leaving the glow off. After all, there are some things shouldn't be rushed.

The End

Author's Note:

I don't have any plans for a sequel to this, at least not now. I've got a Winx Club story I really want to finish, and the next in the "Green Glory" series. I've put aside "Jinx of the World" for now. I'm seriously reconsidering the last chapters of "Tears", and may rewrite it first.

Sigh But now two plot bunnies have mated and given birth to a second storyline for "Fifth Color", which I inserted into the last chapter. Have to see where it takes me...