HHII: "I couldn't tell you this when I was evil..." -or- Massive Anticlimax

Ok, trying to get a decent post about what happened with my ankle (which I indicated I'd give four days ago) will have to wait another day because I still haven't gotten a picture of the porch.  Why a picture of the porch?  You ask.  You said you broke it inside.  Yup.

After the pain lessened to the point I could move I crawled to the matress to wait for the pain to lessen more.  It didn't.  I crawled upstairs to the phone and called my dad to give me a ride to somewhere medical, didn't much care where.

He suggested maybe we should call an ambulance, I said not to.  His car wasn't quite within spitting distance, but definitely within a distance of two solid spits.  I thought I could make it.  It wasn't the ice.  I didn't slip.  I failed to keep my left foot from touching anything.  It was only the lightest graze but the pain was so great it overpowered everything else including but not limited to my sense of balance and control over my body.  I fell backward and broke the porch.  My dad said something like, "This is what I mean about an ambulance" or "I rest my case" or some such.

Thus I need a picture of the porch.  Until then, have random Kim Possible:

-

I was trying to get this on fanfiction dot net, but they like more meat on their dialog.  I seriously can't ever post Snarky Twilight there without breaking the rules because it's in script form.

So here's the context, in season 4 (the one after the show ended and a fan movement got it revived) there was an episode that was made to kind of throw a bone to the Kigo shippers in the audience.  Within the constraints they had (Kim/Ron is the OTP even if the chemistry isn't there, Disney doesn't acknowledge the existence of non-straight people, so on, so forth.)

So they had Shego zapped good and end up hanging out with Kim where they're instant best friends and . . . so forth.  Shortly before the episode ended they invoked the rule that Schrodinger's secret is more cool than any given state the waveform can collapse into and had this:

Kim: It was good to be on the same side.
Shego: Yeah.  Kimmie, I couldn’t tell you this while I was evil, but—
*Shego is zapped back to evil (which is her normal)*

A lot of people have made way too much of this line, though the comic that invoked Sailor Moon censorship and had it be "I want to be cousins," was admittedly hilarious.

Here's my stab at it, taking place well after the show is over.

It may be useful to know that the Wego twins have the power of multiplying themselves.  Or not.  You probably could figure that out from context.

⁂

As Kim looked contentedly up at the ceiling a thought took root in her mind: finally, at long last, she could get an answer.

"Hey," she said.

The response was somewhere between a groan and an "Mmmmph?"

"Hey," she said again, this time accompanying it with a gentle shoulder shake.

"Let me sleep, Princess," Shego said.

"I have a question," Kim said.

"I have a desire to sleep."

"There's something I've been wondering for ages."

"I don't care; give me sleep."

Kim propped herself up on an elbow so she could look directly at Shego.

"Come on, I've seriously wanted to know for years," Kim said.

Shego made a show of rolling so she was facing away from Kim.

"Just one question."

"Let. Me. Sleep."

"It'll only take a moment to answer."

"I liked you more when we were on opposite sides," Shego said. "Let's go back in time, prevent Dr. D from rapping, thus stopping the Lorwardians from ever coming here, and making it so you aren't keeping me from sleeping now."

Kim laughed.

"That kind of effort doesn't sound very much like you," Kim said while trying not to crack up again.

"Leave me alone."

"No."

"I could kill you."

"If you haven't killed your brothers yet-"

"We don't talk about Theego," Shego said, though she failed at pretending to be serious, "that doesn't mean it didn't happen."

"I think I'm safe," Kim said.

"Go away."

"I've been wondering about this for years," Kim said, "and now I'm finally in a position to-"

"Away."

"No."

This was the longest silence there had been so far, just before Kim took action to make sure Shego hadn't managed to go back to sleep without her permission, Shego spoke:

"Coffee."

"That, I will do," Kim said.

⁂

Shego finally acknowledged that Kim existed and was sitting across the table from her half way though her second cup. Two thirds of the way through the second cup she asked, "So what's more important than letting me sleep?"

"Remember the whole Reverse-Polarizer sitch?" Kim asked.

"As a rule I try not to remember times I was mind-controlled," Shego said.

"Right before Ron zapped you back-"

"As I recall," Shego said, "you and the buffoon thought me being freed was a bad thing-"

"That is manifestly unfair," Kim said, "we were caught up in the moment and-"

"Would have zapped me back into a mind-controlled state had I not been saved by the timely intervention of a streetlight-hoverpod collision," Shego said.

"I don't deny that," Kim said, "but we came to our senses and turned Electronique back to her real self less than 12 hours later and we would have done the same for you."

"Sure you would've."

Kim wasn't sure if Shego really believed Kim would have left her under the influence of the Reverse-Polarizer or was doing it to get a rise out of her.  If it was the first it was a horrible accusation, if it was the second it had worked.  She tried to think of how best to explain, then decided to just plow forward and hope she said the right thing.

"People were swapping from good to evil and back again so much that it just sort of lost . . ." Kim fumbled and couldn't find the words.

"Lost what?"

"It didn't seem like a big deal anymore," Kim said. "It just took Ron and I a little while to go from fifteen people swa-"

"You don't get to count every Wego instance," Shego said.

"That many people swapping from good to evil in less than two seconds made it seem jejune," Kim said.

"Have you been using a word a day calendar?"

"Don't smirk," Kim said. "You're right that switching Electronique and not wanting to make you you again was wrong; you deserve an explanation."

"I deserve more coffee," Shego said.

While Kim was getting Shego another cup, she said, "It just took us a while to go from the mindset we had during the fight to the reality that rewiring someone is horrific to the point that our language lacks appropriate words to describe it."

"It's got them," Shego said; "you just don't use them because you worry about setting a bad example."

Kim handed Shego her coffee.

"I can think of no profanity that conveys the wrongness of mind-control," Kim said as she sat down.

Shego took a sip of her coffee.

"So what is so important that you'll go through all this trouble just to ask?"

"When you were zapped you were midway through a sentence," Kim said.

"That was a while ago," Shego said. "And my brain was being rewired."

"You said that there was something you couldn't tell me when you were evil, but . . . something," Kim said. "That's when you were cut off. Right before you reached the actual point."

Shego thought for a moment, then she burst into laughter.

"Um . . ." Kim offered.

Shego just kept laughing.

"What's so funny?"

"You've been wondering about that for years?" Shego asked.

"Well, yeah," Kim said. "It's not often that your arch foe gets cut off just before making a dramatic confession."

"Not very dramatic," Shego said. "You're going to be let down."

"I've been wondering forever."

"It's not forever, Kimmie," Shego said; "but it might be better for you if it becomes forever. Less disappointment."

"I have to know," Kim said.

"Well, on the topic of forever," Shego said, "I was going to say, 'I've always . . .'"

Shego looked Kim over.

"Ok," Shego said, "you're looking at me like you're a small child and I'm the present that's going to make this the best Christmas ever."  She paused a moment and mulled over the sound of her own words. "It sounds kind of flattering when I put it that way, but the truth is it's actually rather disturbing."

Kim hadn't realized she'd been leaning forward, or how she'd been looking at Shego, but now that she noticed she tried to sit back in her chair and have a more neutral expression.  At least she succeeded on the first count.

She offered, "It's been bugging me since I was a senior in high school," by way of explanation.

"You really shouldn't have let one little sentence get to you like that," Shego said. "Even if it were something truly profound, it would be bound to fall short of your expectations after so much build up."

"You're switching into child development mode," Kim said.

"Am I?" Shego asked.

"You know you are."

"I guess it means I've had enough coffee."

"Then tell me already."

"I'm telling you," Shego said, "it won't live up to the hype. Just make up something interesting and believe that."

"I already did," Kim said.

For once Shego was the one at a disadvantage, if her, "Wha?" was anything to go by.

"Very articulate," Kim said.

"You're the one who said not to smirk."

This time Kim succeeded in returning her expression more neutral, but still quipped, "Couldn't help myself."

"What did you make up?"

Kim looked away. She blushed slightly.

"Well, it was after we met again when I was in college," Kim said, "I was thinking maybe-"

"Whoa!" Shego said. "Stop right there. No-no-no, no, no. No."

"Well shatter my hopes and dreams, why don't you?" Kim said playfully.

"I said, 'always', Princess," Shego said. "I said that I'd always, and our 'always' started when you were fifteen. You were just some kid."

"So it really is something you've been keeping from me since we first met," Kim said.

"Again with the blowing out of proportion, I still can't believe you've been waiting all this time on that one sentence," Shego said.

"So get it over with, already."

"Ok," Shego said. "Talk about an anti-climax. I was going to say that I've always liked you. Actual 'liked', not a euphemism for something more."

"You always liked me?" Kim asked.

"Ever since you 'for lunch'ed Dr. D while he had you over his shark enclosure," Shego said.

"Oh God," Kim said. "I'd forgotten about that. 'My pets are famished,'" she said doing a Drakken impression, "'perhaps you two could . . .'"

"I even liked Stoppable a bit when he got in on the action," Shego said.

"You're right," Kim said. "Massive anticlimax."

"Told you."

"Don't start."

⁂
⁂ ⁂

The members of Team Go, the team formed by Shego and her brothers after they were origin-storied into having super powers all have names of the form [English pronoun ending in "e"]go.  With "He", "She", "Me", and "We" already taken they'd really have very few options for additional names "Theego" is the only one I can think of.

The scene referenced, which is indeed the first time Kim and Shego meet, goes like this:
[Kim and Ron are on a small platform in the middle of a shark pool, Drakken and Shego are standing off to the side of the pool, Drakken has the thingy that can drop them in the tank in his hands]

Drakken: Enough chitchat! My pets are famished.  Perhaps you two could stay...
Kim: For lunch?
Drakken: I wasn't going to say that.
Ron: Oh dude, you were so 'for lunch'.
Drakken: Argh, yes! Then, stay for lunch!
*Drakken pushes the button that dumps them into a shark tank*

HHII: sharing

[Lots of notes at the end.  I'm posting this because there's been some discussion of how many things are built on never even considering the poly-amorous solution.  This is NOT Life After.  Look to the notes at the end if you want more detail on that.]

Kieran looked at Jacob warily.  She didn't actively dislike him, but right now he brought up way too many unpleasant feelings.  She wanted him to disappear from her sight, not be walking toward her.

"I think we have to talk," he said when he reached her.

"About what?" Kieran asked, not meaning to put so much venom in her voice.

"So, I love Shin," Jacob said.  Of course he wanted to talk about the thing that made her hurt.  "And Shin loves me."

"Are you here to rub it in?" Kieran snapped.

"And you love Shin," he continued, "and Shin loves you."

"You are here to rub it in," Kieran said.  "That never seemed your style."

"So she keeps on bouncing between us because she can't bear to ditch either of us, not forever," Jacob said.  "I've put a lot of thought into this and . . .  I think I don't mind sharing."

Kieran's brain stopped.  "What?"

"As long as you're not making out with her in front of me or something," Jacob said, "I don't think I'd really have a problem with my girlfriend being yours too."  He paused. "There would probably be bumps, maybe spikes of jealousy, but I think between the three of us we could make it work."

"Are you serious?"

"Completely."

"What does Shin think?" Kieran asked.

"I don't know," Jacob said.  "I didn't want to bring up the idea with her unless it was ok with you.  I just know that when she's with me she pines for you."

"And when she's with me she pines for you," Kieran said.

There was a long silence.

"I don't hate you," Kieran said.  "I don't particularly like you, but I don't hate you.  And the only thing I hate about you being with her is that she's not with me."  Kieran took a pause.  She closed her eyes, took a breath, and slowly let it out.  "Do you really think it could work?"

"I think it's worth a try."

"Would have thought you'd be telling her 'you know you better make up your mind // And pick up on one and leave the other one behind,'" Kieran said.

"The 60's had great music, but some fucked up ideas about relationships," Jacob said.  "Even the song says, 'It's not often easy and not often kind.'  Why should pain and tears and unkindness need to happen when there's an obvious third option?"

"It's possible that I might one day like actually like you," Kieran said, "maybe even see you as a friend."

"Not like it's a done deal," Jacob said.

Kieran nodded, "It's never really come up how Shin feels about polyamory."

-

Shin Possible and Kieran Stevens are the creations of Blackbird, used with permission.  I've only asked for a handful of characters, not giant swaths of plot, so their origins, Kieran's parentage, and various other things do not remotely match Blackbird's presentation of them.

In Blackbird's work Shin is exclusively interested in women and Kieran is, if I'm remembering correctly, the one who is almost exclusively interested in them.  I've swapped that for my version, which is how Shin/Jacob is even possible.

If I ever get around to starting it, the Here's how it is 'verse will be built around me giving the same treatment to Kim Possible that I've given to things like Twilight, Narnia, and Left Behind: rewriting rather than accepting existing canon and telling new stories.  It won't, however, end when Kim graduates from high school.  Jacob, Shin, and Kieran are all second generation characters, and this takes place when they're adults.

The way Life After ties into all of this is that Life After is set off when an individual in the HHII 'verse changes the past and knocks everything wildly off course.  The beginning of Life After Part I Chapter 1 takes place in the HHII 'verse, after that everything's been changed.

It should be noted that Kieran has pretty much the same requirements as Jacob: totally fine sharing, if you get excessively affectionate right in front of me, my jealousy is probably going to be triggered.  Note that Jacob said "making out" not mere "kissing".

Random jottings

I rounded out sad day yesterday with sick day.  I think what happened is that I dealt with the need to eat without also dealing with the fact that I dehydrated and my body rebelled like whoa.  Woke up today and felt fine at first, but feeling sick slowly reared its head again.

Except I'm pretty sure, not completely but close, that it's not a hydration thing today.  So still not good for writing.

Regardless even if I can't write, I don't want everything here to be all, "Woe is me."  It especially since people have chipped in to help and now instead of needing $2,000ish that I don't have it's more like $1,500ish and, while that still feels pretty daunting to me, I'm very grateful to help and having more posts about things sucking doesn't seem the best way to demonstrate that gratitude.

So, random scraps of things:

* * *

From future installments of Ash:

El wasn't letting it go, "How many more hints does the universe have to drop Cinderella?"

Ash snorted.  "I am not Cinderella,"

"Then why were you cleaning out the hearth?" El asked.

"Because I got stuck with all of the chores for a month and somehow 'cleaning the fireplace' became a chore instead of 'that thing we never even consider doing,'" Ash said.  Do you want me to list the ways that this is not Cinderella?"

"Oh, yes," El said. "Please do."

"My dad is still alive," Ash said.

"You said it yourself, that relationship is dead," El said.  "And it dying coincided with..."

"I'll grant you the wicked stepmother," Ash said, slightly angrily.  This was mostly fun-bickering, but some memories were best not relived.  "There's no prince charming."

"I told you already," El said, as if this were completely obvious, "Zenia will be there."

Ash shrugged, El smiled.  A point to El.

"If I'm Cinderella," Ash said, "then that would make you the evil ugly stepsisters.  You're not evil, you're not ugly, and you're not plural," Ash said, counting the three points on her fingers,

"Well maybe the production can't support a full cast," El said, "Budget restrictions, a lack of availible talent, whatever, and so they combined the characters of the step sisters with the fairy godmother."

"Because that makes so much sense," Ash said.

El just smiled.

"Just because you're in the drama club doesn't mean everything's a play," Ash said.  "Nor does it mean you should look at the world as if that were true."

"But," El countered, "All the world is a stage."

"No one even performs that play," Ash said, "but speaking of Shakespeare, remind me which one the masquerade ball is in?"

El didn't respond to that one.

Ash knew she had, if not a winning one, at least a decent argument, "There's no masquerade ball in Cinderella, but in the play where there is one... well, remind me.  How did Romeo and Juliet turn out?"

"We are not in a generational blood-feud with Zenia's family," El said.

"Neither are we in the mythical land of the Middleish Ages in which the only surefire route out of poverty and oppression was to become a monarch-spouse to a monarch who is a decent human being."

"Exactly!" El said. "Exactly..." and then she didn't say anything.

"You just wanted to so say, 'exactly' so it would seem like I was making your argument for you," Ash said.  "Didn't you?"

"No, of course not," El said, not even trying to hide the fact that she was lying.  "I merely meant bringing Cinderella into a modern day setting necessitates certain changes.  We make them all the time when we edit or update a play.

"The most notable one here being that, while it is believable that a prince might not recognize all of his subjects and thus have to resort to something as bullshit as testing shoe size, that doesn't work for two students in the same high school so it only makes sense if--"

"Just give up on this one, El" Ash said.  "You're tangling yourself in--"

"I deal with knots the Alexandrine way, thank you very much," El said, though she was visibly relieved to be out of that explanation.  She didn't admit to that, of course, she said, "Besides, how do you know that my recognition of this as a total Cinderella situation--"

"Which it isn't," Ash said.

"is because I'm in the drama club?" El said.  "Did you ever consider that maybe I took a class on Chinese folklore and that's what allowed me to see the obvious parallels?"

"Did you?" Ash asked.

"No," El said, "but--"

"And how do you know that Cinderella has roots in Chinese folklore?" Ash asked.

El gave an impish grin.  "Drama club."

"I rest my case," Ash said.

"You may have won today," El said, "but it'll be overturned on appeal!"

Ash laughed.  "You're such a doof,"

"The only reason I can't refute that," El said in a completely serious tone, "is because neither one of us knows what a doof is."

Then they both laughed.

* * *

Jacob, last seen in this though I think I've aged him down since then and am considering making his boss female:

Dramatic moment: "Release the mongeese!"

Nothing happens.  Into radio, "Yes I know that's not the proper plural ... because mongeese sounds like a million times better.  ... Look, there are heroes here trying to destroy our work and possibly blow up our home, so I really don't think ... fine."

Dramatic Moment: "Release the mongooses!"

* * *

Mongeese scattered, security forces routed, everything falling apart

"I told myself I would never do this, but you leave me no choice," *Jacob points to a place behind the heroes* "Monkey Ninjas!  Attack!"

The highly honed reflexes of the heroes had them spun around and in defensive positions in the blink of an eye.

Boss said, "I didn't know we had--" before Jacob grabbed boss by wrist and ran for the bolt hole, hitting the self destruct button on the way out.

There were no monkey ninjas.

* * *

(months later)

"Release the octopi!" pause "We talked about this." pause "Look, we really don't have time for..." *sighs* "Release the octopodes!"

* * *

(the next year)

"Monkey Ninjas!  Attack!"

The heroes weren't distracted, which allowed the monkey ninjas to take them completely by surprise.  Once safely clear of the blast radius Jacob stopped, caught his breath, and looked at the boss.  "I love that trick," he said, "but it only works twice."

* * *

[the band story]

"Come on, we go our separate ways tonight." *pause* "I know, but when are you going to get another chance to play live in concert?  Come on, give it a chance.  You pick the song, I'll help you hit-"

"Isa, your mic is still on," Angela said.

"Oh shi--" and Isa turned the offending microphone off.

Angela looked out and saw a lot of confused fans in the audience.  The concert was over, after all.

When Angela heard notes she knew by heart coming over the speakers, in the unmistakable sound of Isa's glass armonica, she decided that maybe the concert wasn't over.  Even though they'd never preformed this song before.

When the time came, she started to sing, "Now the seats are all empty // Let the roadies take the stage // Pack it up and tear it down..."

Cassy and Kaki, who had been packing things up because they didn't actually have roadies, came running back on stage, Kaki actually vaulted over ... something or other, to get back by her mic and ready to play.

* * *

From "The Princess Story"

---

Actually this is the part where I get distracted for several hours.

---

"Ok, so," Melitta said, "we have no money, no supplies, no identification, and people who are presumably trying to kill us in the general vicinity.  Plus, if anyone hears me speak they'll assume I'm a spy or worse."

"Pretty much," Lara said as she carefully rolled the wounded carpet.

"Any ideas on what to do now?" Melitta asked, fairly sure she didn't want to hear the answer.

"Get food," Lara said, putting the carpet into its case.

"No money," Melitta repeated.

"I know that, now let's get food," Lara said, standing up with the case strapped to her back, "the market's this way."

* * *

Melitta picked up a karaba, and looked it over.  It was a twisted tuber that looked more or less like any any other karaba.  She'd picked it, though, because it showcased a problem that all of the karaba at the stand had, only moreso: it was too white.

"I'm not impressed," Melitta said to Lara, showing her the karaba.

"What would an Eray know--" the merchant said.

"They royal kitchens employ people from all regions," Lara said, "and you would do well to respect those who work in them if you wish to maintain your contract."

Melitta wasn't sure this ploy would work, but there was a sudden change in the merchant's demeanor.

"I was just taking this one out," Lara said, "because some of the newer staff have been buying ... substandard," Lara said the word like it was some particularly hideous and unmentionable disease, "karabas of late."

"Certainly not from me," the merchant said.  "I grow the finest karabas in the islands.  I only bring the best to market, the rest can be given to livestock."

Melitta raised an eyebrow and showed the karaba to Lara again.

Lara took it, looked at it, and then the others in the merchant's offerings.

"Honestly," Lara said, "this was merely meant to be a trip to train this one," she gestured to Melitta, "but I'm strongly considering recommending that the kitchens look to other vendors if these are your best."

"It's been a hard season for karabas," the merchant said.  "I can't control the weather."

"Perhaps," Lara said, "you might show us evidence of what you can control.  If you've tilled your soil properly, it should be visible in the state of your," and then Lara started a list of a dozen crops, each of which was to demonstrate the merchant's supposedly exemplary cultivation practices.

The merchant gave them all of the requested food.  For free.

When they'd taken their spoils to a secluded spot on the island's coast where they could eat, Melitta finally asked, "How did that even work?"

"Who supplies food ingredients to the royal kitchens is a closely guarded secret," Lara said, "to reduce the chance of would-be assassins poisoning it."

"It can't be guarded well enough that just mentioning a contract with the kitchens automatically means you must work there," Melitta said.

"No, but it raises the possibility," Lara said. "As does the fact that I have the accent of the royal court."

"Whatever, I'm just glad we managed to get juice-fruit out of the deal," Melitta said, taking a huge bite out of a slice she'd cut.

"That's disgusting," Lara said.

"What is?" Melitta asked, genuinely confused.

"You're getting it all over your face," Lara said.  Melitta noted that there was juice dripping from her chin, but that was to be expected.  Juice fruit was many things; clean was not one of them.  "Didn't anyone teach you manners, honey bee?" Lara asked.

Melitta took an inventory of the seeds in her mouth.  The soft ones she'd already eaten.  The hard ones though...  she got the first in position and said, "Oh you'll pay for that, seagull," and spat a seed at Lara.

Then another.  And another.

"Wait!" Lara shouted.  Melitta fully expected the other princess to say something about decorum or the like.  Instead Lara said, "I'm unarmed," and lunged for a slice of the juice fruit.

After Lara took a bite Melitta had to dodge incoming fire.

HHII: Graduation 1.5 - Larry makes contact

[Graduation 1.5 here.]
[So, I realized that I forgot to have a follow up on Larry's mission in Graduation 1.5, thus: a follow up on Larry's mission.  Vivian, Oliver, and Larry are the only characters from the show here, everyone else was hastily made up on the spot because the background characters at the robot rumble never really got names or characterization.]

“How many geniuses does it take to screw in a lightbulb?” someone asked.

Someone else, clearly in no mood for jokes, said, “Not screw in, build. Build a light source in total darkness.”

“No need to get snappy, Mary,” the first voice said.

“Shut up, Peter.” Mary almost shouted.

“Could both of you be quiet, some of us are trying to work here,” a new voice said.

For about twenty eight seconds there was silence and then the same voice said, “Almost … there.”

About a dozen people in the underground chamber blinked as their eyes adjusted to the light.

Vivian, the owner of the third voice, said, “Now we need to find out how bad things are.” Then she noticed a body on the floor, “Oh, god! Oliver.”

Mary and Rob joined her in checking on Oliver, the others started to do diagnostics.

“What's wrong with him?” Mary asked.

“He's lost power,” Vivian said while pulling back fake skin to get at the machinery beneath.

“Oliver's an android?” Rob asked, though it was more an expression of shock than a question.

“Who built him?” Mary asked.

“I did,” Vivian said without looking up from what she was doing.

* * *

The night's events hadn't started yet when the power had been lost, there were only a dozen members present and they'd all been in the antechamber at the time.

Vivian continued to work on Oliver as Rob and Mary watched.

Peter and Alicia had gone off to set up a generator that they had never used. It was intended to power a line to the outside world in the case of an eventuality such as this. The set up was designed so that the generator would power a small computer terminal, a vertical conduit, and various equipment for sending and receiving data at a small, disguised, surface station.

The system was wonderful, of course. It was designed by geniuses. The gas generator that was supposed to power it had been bought at a Smarty Mart, hauled in, and largely ignored (because it had never been needed.) It was proving very difficult for the geniuses to get working.

The six other members took it upon themselves to find out what was working and what wasn't in the other rooms they could access, and, of course, see which other rooms they could access.

* * *

“What's going on?” Oliver asked. “How did I get here?”

“You lost power,” Vivian told him while putting his cosmetic pieces back in place so that he again resembled a human being.

At the same time Peter and Alicia finally got the emergency line to the outside up and running. When the data came in Alicia said, “This is impossible.”

“I don't see anything,” Peter said.

“Exactly. All systems are operational,” Alica pointed to some readouts, “but we're not receiving anything. No internet access on the wi-fi or the hard-line, no phone line, cell phone towers aren't responding, no AM or FM broadcasts. No television. No shortwave.”

“Satellites?” Peter asked.

“Nothing yet, I'm still looking.” She closed her eyes, composed herself, then delivered her conclusion: “It's like the outside world stopped existing.

Oliver had finished describing his memory of events to Vivian, Mary, and Rob. Mary explained, “It's called blacking out. It happens to human beings sometimes when they drink too much or hit their head. Things that are in short term memory don't get transferred to long term for whatever reason, so it gets lost.”

“You can't have lost too much,” Vivian said. “You update your permanent memory a minimum of once every two hours.”

Vivian noticed that Mary was looking away. “What is it?” she asked.

“Did you hear--” Marry stopped. Then walked to the door. She put her ear on it. “Someone's out there.”

“If they were allowed in they'd be in by now,” Rob said. Then his face met his palm with a loud smack. “Except that without power the security system is down so no one can get in or out.”

Mary knocked on the door. A knock returned from the outside.

“We need to let them in,” Vivian said.

“We don't even know who it is,” Peter said with suspicion.

An underground robot fight club wasn't technically illegal. It wasn't technically legal, either. It was in a technical gray area that involved subterranean rights disputes, definitions of pets, anti-dog-fighting laws, the push and pull between the desire to stimulate innovation and the desire to clamp down on sensitive technology, baroque restrictions on AI, strange interpretations of what it meant to corrupt minors, the '93 Tri-City Skate Park Accords, SV-288, the UN Accord on Non-Human Workers' Rights, the precise definition of “person” at any given moment, a semi-secret agreement between NATO and the Warsaw Pact countries following the industrial mishap of '82, whether or not certain people were within 500 meters as the crow flies, what “as the crow flies” means when discussing underground tunnels, which judge was hearing the case, who had been bribed by whom, and the brand of root beer the eventual jury was given access to.

There was a reason attendance was by invitation only.

“Whoever it is might know what's going on outside,” Alicia said mainly to Peter.

Kit Bash, a recent addition to the rumble, had been drawn by the discussion and asked, “What's going on?”

“Do we have access to the tool room?” Vivian asked Kit.

“Yeah,” Kit said, “but it's about all we have access to. The others are still looking into things, but most of the doors are too heavy to move without power.”

“Get the others, get some tools, and cut open that door,” Vivian pointed to door the knocking had come from. It was a standard sized door, made of metal, and it served as the main entrance and egress to the robot rumble.

* * *

“The ventilation system is down; there are only so many rooms the air can circulate in; keeping the generator running is a danger to us all,” Peter said.

“There has got to be something out there still operational. Just give me a few more minutes,” Alicia said without looking away from the screen.

“You said that a few minutes ago.”

Alicia typed in a new set of commands and waited for a new batch of data.

* * *

Kit was kicking the door while Mary and Rob cut it. Vivian and Oliver were overseeing everything and everyone. Unfortunately, at this point there wasn't a lot of hope left, and there weren't many things to do to pass the time. Everything had been checked and double checked. Cutting through the door and looking over the results from the outside line were the only things left to do.

Mary Rob and Kit worked on the first, Alicia and Peter had the second taken care of, Vivian and Oliver supervised, and the five other people just sat, stood, and walked in circles doing nothing.

Finally the door gave.

So much attention was paid to that event that no one save Peter noticed Alicia say, “Oh my God!” a heartbeat later.

In a moment everyone recognized the person on the other side.

Vivian said, “Hey, Larry!” as Oliver said, “Greetings, Imperial Senator Bernilus.”

“Do you know what's going on?” Mary asked him.

“We've been cut off since we lost power,” Vivian explained.

“Alien invasion,” Larry said.

For a moment there was silence, then cacophony. Rob's “Your kidding,” was the only statement it was possible to make out.

“He's not,” Alicia shouted. “You all better take a look at this.”

Soon everyone was crowded around her at the computer terminal. “It took forever to find a satellite that was still online, but once I did I found videos from all over the world.” She punched a few keys and brought up video of the alien war machines defeating a battalion of tanks with ease. “People are reconstructing a global communications network using the handful of satellites and ground stations that are still active, but so far the only messages seem to be people comparing notes on how the alien machines are unbeatable.”

“My cousin Kim was abducted from her graduation just before the invasion started,” Larry said.

“That's right,” Vivian said as a memory came to mind. “Middleton High School Graduation tonight, it's why Justine was a no-show.”

“Justine and some others are trying to make defenses for the people who took shelter in the high school,” Larry said, “I was sent here to see if we could make some robots of our own to fight those things.”

“Those things?” Mary's voice was an ode to incredulity.

“I've always wanted to work with bigger things,” Rob said.

“I know where a construction company stores their equipment,” Kit said.

“Hydraulics are fun,” Mary conceded.

“The space center is set up for large scale construction,” Vivian told everyone. “If you can get it there, we can assemble whatever you find however you want it.”

“The power would be down at the Space Center too,” Alicia said. “The blackout is global. The attack took out everything that was generating power along with most active transmission lines.”

Vivian smiled, “The Space Center can make its own power, and the system would have been safely shut down when the attack started.”

Alicia shrugged. “So, away we go to build giant robots?”

“Not you,” Vivian said.

“No?”

“You know the tunnels better than anyone. I want you to get as many people underground as possible,” Vivian said. “It's not safe up there.”

“Nice plan,” Alicia said, “but there's only one of me. How am I supposed to reach more than a handful of people?”

“The robots from the rumble might be too small to fight the things out there,” Vivian said, “but they're far from useless.” Addressing the whole group she said, “Everyone give your command codes to Alicia,” then addressing only Alicia she said, “They'll be your messengers, just get the message out that it's safe here, and let people know how to get into the tunnels and caverns.”

“That's a nice plan,” Peter said, “but we can't get to the robots.”

“I can,” Alicia said. “There's a back way into the storage room from a spur path half a mile down that tunnel,” she said pointing through the door they'd cut open.

Vivian smiled. “I said no one knew the tunnels like her.”

“Ok, good,” Peter said. “Can we turn off the generator before the carbon monoxide kills us all?”

“Yes,” Alicia sighed, “we can turn off the generator.”

They split into four groups. Alicia went on her own to where they stored the robots so she could start her “Search and Tell to Hide” operation. Vivian and Oliver went to the space center to get the fabrication equipment ready. Kit led Rob and Mary to construction equipment they hoped to use in building their own giant robots. Peter led the rest in a mission that was one part reconnaissance to see if the alien robots had any exploitable weaknesses, one part scavenging anything that seemed like it might be useful in fighting them, and three parts keeping heads down and hoping to live through the night.

-

[Kim Possible Index]

HHII: Graduation Part 1.5 (Kim Possible)

--First, a bit about the continuity.

I have in the dark corners of my mind the idea of creating my own version of Kim Possible.  Not one story, the entire continuity.  Every episode (except for maybe one that has serious DO NOT WANT and implies that Valentine's Day takes place in September) all the way through.  A complete alternate version everything.  This is obviously a massive project that would take time, dedication, and lots of effort.  Or, in other words, I'll probably never do it.

It none the less has a name: "Here's how it is" and a theme: continuity.  What happens in one episode doesn't get forgotten about.  Which leads to a secondary theme of growth (since lessons learned stay learned and all that.)  I've only written one previous thing in this continuity, it can be found here.

--Second, a bit about the timing.

In Graduation Part 1 aliens abduct Kim (when she was making a speech during graduation) and launch and invasion.  This story only covers the first two minutes of Part 2 (not counting "Previously" and the credits sequence) because I feel like that was handled poorly, they should have been thinking more thoughts, and they should have been doing more things.

Actually, it takes up less than the first two minutes because I'm only doing the earth-bound portion

--Third, and final since I do actually want to get to the story here, Relationships.

This isn't a shipping story, but it does help to understand interpersonal stakes and whatnot so: Kim is dating Alex.  Ron is dating Tara.  Bonnie is dating Monique.  Felix is dating Zita.  I don't think that any of the other relationships matter here.  Ron transitioned (first name changed to Ronda officially but usually not called that.)  As for why so many F/F relationships, Kim Possible doesn't actually have that many male characters (in high school at least) to work with.

Josh Mankey and Ned may be good for various things, but they don't have a lot to bring to the table here.  Brick graduated the year before

Oh, one last thing Ann Possible = Mrs. Dr Possible.  James Possible = Mr. Dr Possible.  The reason that people use the Mrs. and the Mr. when normally you omit them if the person is a doctor is that it's just confusing if you say "Doctor Possible".

Ok, actual story time:

-

- - -

-

The high school had sustained heavy damage, but most of the structure was still sound.  Power had been lost and the primary source of light was moonlight through the windows.  Even the emergency floodlights had been knocked out.

Wade, Ron, Kim's father, Alex, and Tara huddled around the monitor of a system he'd set up on an independent power supply.

"Ok," Wade said, "I up-linked to Jim and Tim's satellite.  Definitely getting a clearer picture."

"Annnd?" Ron asked.

"It's bad," Mr. Dr. Possible said.

"Bad doesn't begin to describe it," Wade said.  He hit a few keys and pulled up video.  Ron was smarter than most people gave her credit for, but she worked better with visual aids than raw text-based data.  "First they took out the power, all over the planet.  They activated these machines," the video switched to giant walking alien robots.  Quadrapods. "Everywhere.  And they can't be stopped, at least by conventional means." The robots wrought destruction by smashing things with their legs and firing disintegration rays.  The video showed them defeating a tank battalion without getting a scratch before the camera itself fell victim to one of the rays.

"Wha-" Ron said before she and Alex simultaneously asked, "What about Kim?"

No one said, "Jinx." No one owed anyone a soda.  Things were too dire for that.

Wade turned slightly away from Ron, Alex, and Mr. Dr. Possible.  "Nothing yet," he admitted.

Mr. Dr. Possible frowned.

Ron walked to a window and looked up at the stars. Tara followed silently and gave her a hug from behind.

Ron said, "If Kim's lost in the stars, I'm finding her."

Alex allowed a glimmer of hope to enter her.

"We're gonna need a rocket," Ron said.

Doctor James Possible was a rocket scientist.  No one had any doubt where the rocket would come from.

"It's dangerous out there," Alex said, "I hope you filled the tanks on the rocket boosters attached to your scooter."

Ron nodded.  "I have."

"Then bring her back," Alex ordered.

The lights in the room flickered on.  Soon power to the whole school was powered up.

* * *

Tim and Jim Possible stood in the cafeteria, looking at the giant disgusting mass of what passed for food and the various things they'd cobbled together and attached to it.  It was a rush job: no insulated wires, no safety features of any kind.  The electricity arced and sparked.

"Hoo-sha!" they declared.

From behind them, their uncle Slim said, "Pretty Slick fellas: electrochemical energy."

"Take the operating principles of a potato battery," Jim said.

"Substitute the mystery meat," Tim said.

"You can power the whole school," they said in unison.

Rufust watched the diagnostic equipment they had set up, and, when everything was stable and in the green, turned to the humans, gestured a thumbs up, and declared, "Booyah!"

* * *

Bonnie and Monique entered the room where the Wade and the others were.

Bonnie announced, "The twins and uncle accent got us power, the other Doctor Possible," Kim's mother was a brain surgeon, "and the parents Stoppable are making sure that we know where everyone is and that no one is injured.  What have you found out?"

"No sign of Kim," Alex said.

"Power is out globally," Tara said.

"And these things," Wade told her pointing to the monitor, "are all over the world and can't be stopped by conventional weapons."

"Please tell me no one is thinking of nuclear strikes," Monique said.

"They can think all they want," Wade told her; "Without power they can't launch."

"Well, that's a relief," Monique said.

"This is bad," Bonnie said.

Mr. Dr. Possible, Ron, Alex and Tara all repeated what Wade had said to them, "Bad doesn't begin to describe it."

Bonnie was taken aback for a moment by the uniform response, but then explained, "No, this," she pointed to the lights, now on, in the classroom, "is bad.  If the power is out globally, and we just turned the power on here..."

"We're lit up like a beacon," Alex realized.

"We need to get the twins to turn it back off!" Ron shouted as she ran for the door.

"No," Monique said, clearly a command rather than a suggestion.

"No?" Mr. Dr. Possible asked.

"They've probably noticed that the power is on," Monique said.  "If we turn it off then they'll know for sure that someone is controlling it, I don't think we want that."

Mr. Dr. Possible nodded, then added "Making them think we don't want to be noticed would probably bring them here faster."

A voice from outside the room said, "Can I have a moment, Ron?"

* * *

"Penny," Ron said.

"Ronda," she returned the greeting.  "I got in touch with Mr North.  The mansion is kaput, but the Ferret Hole is holding.  I might be able to help if I can get there."  She paused, "But that's a pretty big 'if'."

Ron's eyes lit up, then she slumped her shoulders.  "The war machine things are immune to conventional weapons.  I don't think Ferret power is going to help here.

"The twins installed a new weapons system, dual plasma shooters."

Ron tilted her her head in appraisal.

"The weird thing is, they said it was based on one of your designs," Penny said.  "A plasma catapult or some such.  I didn't know you were an inventor, Ronda"

Ron looked away, "Yeah, well ... I had sort of turned evil at the time.  It's not something I like to think about very often."  There was a long, and Ron thought quite awkward, silence.  Then Ron said, "We should go see what the others are doing."

* * *

When Ron and Penny walked back into the room, it seemed like a debate had just ended.  The only part of it they caught was Tara's concluding remark:

"Tricking them into thinking we don't have a plan sounds nice and all, but given that we don't have a plan, what good will it do?  Even if they don't think the school is an immediate threat, they're going to come to the only lit up building in the state pretty soon regardless."

Ron sighed, "The rescue mission is on hold," she said, looking at Alex and Mr. Dr. Possible with silent apologies.  "We can't leave until we have a defense set up."

"I can work with the twins on that," Wade said.

"I know someone who can help," Monique said.  Everyone in the room just stared.  Monique was smart, strong, capable of keeping track of complex patterns of information flow in dynamic word of mouth systems, and not at all into science.  Monique looked at Ron and said, "Kim's lab partner from my first year here."

Ron and Bonnie said, "Ohhh,,,"

Wade, Alex, Tara, and Mr. Dr. Possible all still had confused expressions on their face.

Bonnie said, "She made an inter-dimensional portal in one week."

Ron said, "She used it to get rid of a giant rampaging dinosaur-thing."

Bonnie said, "Which Barkin then unleashed on the science wing by fiddling with the machine when he had no idea what he was doing."

There was a bit of silence, then Ron said, "Monique has a good idea, we should gather the people we think can help and then meet back here."  Various people nodded.

"I think I could help most by assisting the Stoppables and Mrs. Dr. P," Tara said, starting to leave.

"Same here," Alex said, following her.

Tara stopped at the door and said, "Ronnie, come by before you leave to get Kim."

"I will," Ron said.  Then she thought for a moment.

"Monique, your idea is great, get Justine.  Mr. Dr, P, you know most of the scientists, in the area, so you should know any who were here for their kids' graduation.  Gather up anyone you think can help Wade and the others," Ron said.  "Wade, you get the twins.  Someone needs to get Zita and Felix"

"On it," Bonnie said.

"Penny, I need you to find Kim's cousin Joss.  She wears mission clothes as her street clothes, her hair is darker than Kim's, she's about the same age as the twins and Wade."

"I'll get Larry," Ron said after everyone had left the room on their various assignments.

* * *

Most of the people were gathered in the gym.  When Ron got there to start to look for Larry she thought of  something, "Oh, snap!"

"Isn't that a Drakken line?" Ron spun at the voice and saw Alex.  She was carrying a clipboard, helping with the checking the names of everyone known to be in attendance at the ceremony against those they could verify were safe.

Ron shrugged, "We all sort of rub off on one another."

"What's wrong?" Alex asked.

"I need to record a message," Ron said. "Two messages actually."

"Is audio only ok?"

"Perfect."

Alex handed Ron her mp3 player.

"Thanks," Ron said.  "Do you know where Larry Possible is?"  Alex pointed and Ron said, "Thanks again."

* * *

"Hey," Ron said to Larry.

"Hey," Larry responded flatly.  There were a lot of things he could deal with without trouble.  An actual alien invasion was not one of them.  He had taken to pretending it was one of his games to take the edge off, but if it were a game there would be something he could do.  He was helpless.  Eventually all of the emotions, even the bad ones, had drained away.

"Is the robot rumble still active?" Ron asked.

"Yes."

"The competitors would probably be there right now, right?"

"Yes."

"Do any of the tunnels connect to the high school?"

"Yes."

"Then I have a mission for you Imperial Senator Bernilus."

Larry did perk up at the use of his code name, but just a bit.  He asked, "What?"

"There are giant robots out there tearing apart our homes; go to the rumble and see if you can get some robots to fight on our side."

Larry nodded.  Then he finally graced Ron with a response of more than a single syllable, "Without power, it'll take forever to get there."

"It's a save the world thing, Larry," Ron said.  "Scenario 21.  If you can get the help, it'll be worth the time."

* * *

"How is it going Ronda?" Ann Possible asked.

"Considering the situation, pretty well," Ron said.  "We're trying to make sure this place is protected before we go after Kim."

"James told me," Ann Possible said.  "Kim would have wanted you to."

"I was thinking you might be able to help with that."

"Someone need brain surgery?"

"I remember you being pretty good at welding.  There's no way we would have stopped the Little Diablo scheme without you."

"It's a nice thought, but someone has to watch all of these people," Ann. Possible gestured to the students, parents, and family that had gathered for the graduation.  "Most people aren't as used to this kind of thing as we are."

"I understand," Ron said, then she left the gym. 

* * *

When Ron returned to the classroom that had become their defacto headquarters, Jim, Tim, Wade, Justine, Bonnie, Monique, Felix, and Zita were already there.  Mr. Dr. Possible was still rounding up the adult scientists.  Penny had yet to return with Joss.

Jim, Tim, Wade, and Justine were off by themselves, discussing things Ron couldn't make out.

"Are they working on defenses?" Ron asked.

"Yup," Bonnie said.

"Zita," Ron said, "you're great at magic in Everlot, have you ever wanted to try the real thing?"

"The real thing?" Zita asked, clearly confused.

"It's just like in the game --in fact it's just like a game-- lots of rules, archaic tomes, esoteric requirements, high risk if you mess up, and magic words."

It seemed like Zita wanted to make a sarcastic reply, but didn't end up saying anything.  She just gave a look.

"Miss Hatchet opened an inter-dimensional portal with no idea that the thing she was saying was even a spell in the first place," Ron said. "Someone who could understand the rules of Everlot, even just the basic ones that involved not dying, should be fine."  After a pause she added, "Just don't, you know, say anything out loud until you know what you're doing."

Penny came in the room with Joss at her side.  Ron waved to them.

"What would I have to do?" Zita asked.

"The book you'll want is in the secret vault under the school library, Wade can talk you though cracking the three layers of security, now--"

"Why is there a secret vault under the school library?" Zita asked.

For a moment all were silent.  Then everyone but Joss, including Zita herself, said, "It's Middleton," in unison.  Some said it with pride.  For others it was more of a groan.

"There's no inventory in the vault and really no sorting system, and the book you want has no identifying marks on the outside, so before you go in the vault you're going to want to get this book." Ron took out a small notebook --since she got a job on the school paper, she always kept one with her-- quickly wrote out a call number, ripped out the page, and gave it to Zita.  "The book isn't important, it's just 'A Brief History of Cheese', but it has the misfortune of looking exactly the same as the book you'll want to pull from the vault."

"Ok," Zita said, "get the cheese book, break into the vault, find the book that looks like the cheese book, study that book until I know what I'm doing, and then what?"

"Command the phantom monkeys to protect us from the alien war machines," Ron said in a way that seemed more like a request not to be yelled at than an answer.

"And Wade will tell me how to get into the vault." Zita said.

"Yup," Ron confirmed.  Then Ron turned to Penny and asked, "Think you can provide air support?"

"If I can get there," Penny said.  Ron detected a touch of impatience in her voice and maybe some annoyance at the question being asked.

"How long do you think you can hold out?" Ron asked. "These things may prefer to smash things, but they've got those disintegration rays too so you will be under fire."

"I should be good for a while, the twins installed a shield based off the one in Kim's supersuit."

That caused heated discussion between the twins and Wade.  Wade didn't appreciate people looking at his top secret designs.

A few attempts were made to get them to calm down, but it was Bonnie who got through, "GUYS!  This is not the time."

Ron wrote an address in her notebook, tore out the page, and gave it to Felix, "Can you get her," she said, pointing at Penny, "To this--"

"Hey," Penny said.  "At least introduce us first."

Ron stood back, "Felix, Penny.  Penny, Felix.  Felix, can you safely get Penny to that address?"

"Easier than I can beat you in Zombie Mayhem," Felix said.

"You're sure?" Ron asked.  "You've seen the things that are out there right?"

"I'm sure," Felix said, and turned around so the back of his wheelchair was facing Penny.  "Hop on."

Penny studied it for a moment before figuring out how one was supposed to 'hop on.'  She eventually realized that a bar near the bottom could be used as a footrest, while one where near the top of the seat-back could be used as a hand hold.  By the time Penny got on, Zita had surprised Felix with a hug.  As soon as the hug ended Felix sped away with Penny.

Zita went over to get advice from Wade on cracking the vault.

Ron turned to Joss.  "Think you're up for saving the world?"

"You got it," Joss said.

Ron started scribbling something else in her notebook.  "There's a very special car... SUV actually.  Her name is SADI.  She's artificially intelligent, self driving, and she has disintegrator ray the size of a cannon."

"You think the disintegrator ray will help?" Joss asked.

"It couldn't hurt," Ron said.  "Just ... be careful.  I don't exactly feel good about sending a twelve year old out under these conditions," in fact Ron considered the possibility she might be going to Hell for it, "but I've seen your moves, and you are a Possible."

"I can do it," Joss said.

"I know you can."

As soon as Joss was out of earshot, Monique asked, "Easiest mission?"

Ron nodded but then said, "It still would be safer to have kept her here."

"What have you got for us, Ronnie?" Bonnie asked.

"You've been going on about how you're just as good as Kim since middle school, and you've been on a mission with her so you've got a pretty good idea of what it's like when she's in mission mode.  Is it true Bon-Bon, are you on her level?"

"Stoppable," she said, with a hard edge in her voice and an unstated threat behind it.

"Because if you're not there is no way I'm sending you out to do this."

"Whatever the mission, Ronnie, I can handle it," Bonnie said.

"I need you to deliver a message," Ron said.

"That's it?" Monique asked before Bonnie could respond herself.

"Not on a rocket powered scooter, not with the help of Felix's flying combat-ready chair, and definitely not a short distance like Joss," Ron said.  "I need someone to get to the other side of Middleton... the outskirts of the other side of Middleton, probably on foot."

"Where and who?" Bonnie asked.

"You'll love it," Ron said with obvious sarcasm.  "It's degrading, disgusting, dirty, and involving things that even Kim can't cope with."

"Sounds wonderful Ronnie," Bonnie said.  "Where do I go, who do I deliver the message to, and what is the message."

"You're going to the dump,"

"Great," Bonnie said, the sarcasm slathered on thick.

Ron pulled out Alex's mp3 player.  "I wanted things to be simple you'll need to play two files so I named the first one R-1 and the second one R-2."

"Ronda One, Ronda Two?" Bonnie asked.

"Sure, why not?" Ron said.  "Play the first one until he comes.  You'll know it's him because he's a lot smaller than the others, about this big," Ron indicated a size in the range of large house cat/small dog.  "Once he's there, play R-2 and he should recruit the big ones to our side.  It'll be nice to have some giants working for us."

"Giant what?" Bonnie asked. "Who am I giving this message to?"

"I think it's better if you don't know," Ron said, "and remember, if you don't freak out, you'll have done something even Kim couldn't do."

"Ronnie, you're starting to piss me off," Bonnie said.

"Just remember, save the world and prove you're better than Kim," Ron said.

Bonnie growled, but got ready to leave.

"I'm going with you," Monique said.

Ron objected, "Mo, you've been on, like, one mission."

"Same as Bonnie," Monique said.

"She's an athlete," Ron said.

"And what were you when you and Kim started?" Monique asked.

"Someone those things out there would tear apart," Ron said.

"I am not letting my girlfriend do this alone," Monique said, "You said it was the most dangerous mission you've given out, she's going to need help."

Ron looked at the determination in Monique's eyes and realized that she couldn't be talked out of it, so she simply grabbed Monique in a hug and, "Stay safe."

They disengaged and Bonnie and Monique were about to leave when Ron said, "Wait.  I meant to ask this when everyone was still here, but I never got around to it.  Can either of you think of any way that a magic sword or about a dozen monkey ninjas could possibly be useful in this situation?"

Monique and Bonnie just looked at each other.

Ron sighed, "That's what I figured.  Good luck."

* * *

The adult scientists had joined Tim, Jim, Wade, and Justine in planning unconventional defenses against the alien war machines.  Several other people had skills that were being put to use in constructing the school's defenses.

Ron and Mr. Doctor Possible were ready to head to the Middleton Space Center.

Ron had promised to stop by to see Tara before they left, and James Possible wanted to see Ann Possible.  So the two of them headed back to the gym.

* * *

Mrs Stoppable finished double checking the various lists: Graduation Students, Staff, Family, photographers.  Then she reported, "Okey Doke, everyone is accounted for."

"And handling the crisis well," Ann responded.

It was at this moment that Mr. Barkin reached one of the loud stages of his breakdown.  Crying out and just plain crying.

Ann Possible watched as her mother-in-law approached the teacher.

"Now, just listen to Nana.  These kids need to see adults who are brave and strong."

"You want me to pull myself together?" Barkin asked.

"No, I want you hide in the nurse's office until this whole business blows over."

Even though she thought it was a bit harsh, Ann couldn't help but smile at her mother-in-law's method of dealing with the situation.

She was pulled away from thinking about that by Alex and Tara.

"Mrs. Doctor Possible," Alex said.

"Now that we've finished the headcount," Tara said.

"And patched up any scrapes and whatnot," Alex said.  Ann reflected on that.

It had been a relief to find that there hadn't been any major wounds.  The injuries were all minor and had been caused by the panic, not the attack.  If anything it seemed like the invasion was going out of its way to spare people and instead attacking infrastructure and buildings.

Then she noticed the teens staring at her expectantly.

"Sorry, I spaced out for a moment," Ann Possible said.

"What do we do now?" Tara asked, Ann assumed Tara was repeating something she had asked before.

"I'm not sure," Ann admitted.  "It's not good for everyone to be cooped up in here with nothing to do but think about what's going on outside.  Do you girls have any ideas on how to keep people's minds occupied?"

"I think I know where the Chess Club keeps supplies," Tara ventured.

"I could scrounge around for CDs and play them over the school's PA system," Alex said.

"Those are great ideas," Ann told the girls.  "Do it."

* * *

The garage had been smashed half open, so Joss went right in.

"Um, hello.  I've been sent here to find a car named Sadi."

"Who are you?" a voice asked.

"I'm Joss Posssible, Kim's cousin.  Ron Stoppable sent me," Joss said.

A car pulled forward out of the darkness, "I'm Sadie," the car said.

Joss explained how Kim had been abducted, survivors were taking shelter in the high school, and the alien war machines were immune to conventional weapons.

Sadi told Joss to get in --Joss took the driver's seat-- and said that her disintegrater ray was unconventional.

* * *

Felix landed his chair in the ruins of Timothy North's mansion.  After a bit of rubble searching Penny found the entrance to the Ferret Hole.

The two found Mr. North waiting for them in cavernous lair.

"I know the rules about letting people in here," Penny said, "but I wouldn't have made it here with out him, he's a hero in his own right, and Stoppable vouched for him."

Before Mr. North had a chance to respond, something clicked in Felix.  "You're the Fearless Ferret!" he shouted.  Ron's love for the show had rubbed on on Felix as well.

"Correction, I was the Fearless Ferret," Mr. North said.  "Now, she is," he said pointing at Penny.

Felix looked around the Ferret Hole. "So you really did spend your savings bring the stuff from the show to life?" he asked.

Mr. North nodded.  "I spent a long time in my own world.  After I reconnected with reality, it seemed like it was a waste not to put the things I had built to good use."

"The gadgets and vehicles worked like they did in the show when he built them," Penny said.  "For more than three years Kim's brothers have been upgrading everything."

Felix's eyes widened.  "No wonder Ron thought it was so important to get you here."

Penny turned to Mr. North, "I'm taking out the Ferret Flier, can you stay here and direct me to where I'm most needed."

Mr. North nodded.

"Felix," Penny asked, "can you help?"

"Sure," Felix said, rolling up to the main computer terminal.

* * *

[Added]
I forgot to show Larry arriving at his destination, so I wrote that up here.
[/Added]

* * *

"So," Bonnie said, "we're at the dump."

She and Monique were worn out.  They'd been scraped and slashed at.  They'd narrowly dodged disintegration rays and come close to being crushed by the mammoth legs of the war machines so many times they lost count.

"Yeah," Monique said as she caught her breath.  "We're at the dump."

"Stoppable better be right about this being worth it."

"I'm more worried about what it is that we're going to find here," Monique said with a shudder.

"Apparently giants, but giant what?"

"Remember the thing with the zombie snowmen?"

Bonnie put the first message, which seemed like nonsense, on repeat and started to chant, "Please don't let it be toxic monsters made out of living trash, please don't let it be trash monsters, please don't let it be trash monsters, please don't let it..."

At first, nothing seemed to happen, then "Ahh!" Monique screamed.  "Look at the size of that thing!"

While she didn't find the giant cockroach particularly endearing, Bonnie did not panic.  Instead she evaluated the size of it and judged it to be about the same size as Stoppable had said "he" would be.  She played the second message.

The giant cockroach looked up at her, gave her a salute with one of its forelimbs, and turned to the dump.  It made some sort of animated speech in cockroach, and suddenly massive piles of garbage began to stir.  The "giant" cockroach the size of a small dog was nothing compared to the beasts that responded to its call.

The smaller ones were the size of cars.  The larger ones were as buildings.

"Ok," Bonnie said, "she was right about them being giant."

"This is so wrong," Monique said. "And sick.  Wrongsick.  Sick and wrong."

One of the behemoths, about as long as a bus, approached the two young women and the dog sized cockroach, then settled into the garbage in front of them.  The dog sized roach climbed on its back and motioned for the humans to do the same.

Monique was petrified, but Bonnie walked forward with a crooked smile on her face.  She helped Monique along and told her, "Just remind yourself that we're saving the world here."

Three minutes and thirty five seconds later the roach army made its first contact with the alien war machines.

* * *

Zita looked over her notes a final time.  She'd employed a strategy that helped with word problems in math: translate into a language you know.  For her it was game stats.  She'd also used the same for cooking; it had been Ron's idea to not think of a recipe as a way to make, for example, cake in reality, but instead as a potion to be brewed in Everlot.

She then did a final check of critical points in the book to make sure that she hadn't had any transcription errors when creating her notes.

She took a deep breath, held it for a second, and then let it out.

She reminded herself that the entire world was in jeopardy, and then spoke the incantation summon the phantom monkey army.

A purple vortex shot upward, obliterating the library roof then stretching beyond sight, and from it came giant red figures with glowing yellow eyes.  Their upper-bodies like those of monkeys, save for their mouths that were nothing but sharp ethereal teeth surrounding gaping maws.  Their lower bodies lacked form, like flame they flickered and transformed and never ceased to change.

To these, Zita gave two commands: protect earth life; destroy the alien war machines.

* * *

The battle of Middleton had begun.

-

[Kim Possible Index]

Breaking up can be easy

Most of the school was blocky, filled with right angles, but this part, rebuilt after a doubting Mr. Barkin had pushed a button he shouldn't have and unleashed a genetically engineered giant monster on the science labs, had its fair share of curves.

What made it become their place were the large circular windows.  The windows were built around a light well and didn't even pretend to have a view, but their recesses did provide a nice place to lay down if you didn't mind being somewhat curled.

Coming here after school and talking while looking up at the featureless white ceiling had become a mainstay of their relationship.

"Hey,” Bonnie said as she climbed in and laid down next to her girlfriend, facing the opposite direction (feet to head and head to feet.)

“Hey.”

“How was your day?”

“Jellyfish free.”

“Always a good thing.”

Silence took over.  Bonnie sighed and then said, “We need to talk.”

“I thought we were.”

“About us.”

“Yeah...” the word trailed off gradually, and was replaced by a moment's pause.  “It's not working out,” was said at a more normal pace, “is it?”

“Nope.”

“It started out so good, though,” no hint of protest, just an acknowledgement that things had been better.

Bonnie nodded, not that the gesture would be seen.  “It was good, but then...”

“We drifted apart.”

“Yup.”

“I kept hoping it'd turn around.”

“Me too." For a moment she thought she was finished, but then she decided to add, "It's not happening though.”

“We seemed perfect for each other; where did we go wrong?”

“I'm not sure that we did; we had a good run.”

Bonnie heard movement, she guessed it was probably a shrug.  “I have to take your word for it.  I don't have much experience.”

“Best relationship I've ever been in, before the spark died.”

“How could it just go away?”

“Donno.  Maybe some things aren't meant to last.”

“I guess.  I can't feel it anymore.” Another pause.  “If you hadn't beaten me to it, I was going to bring it up.  I just wasn't sure how to start.”

“What made you realize it was over?”

“I almost kissed Tara.  We both realized what we were doing before it actually happened but ... yeah”

“Wake up call?”

“Pretty much.  What about you?”

“I think I'm falling in love with Monique.”

A long silence.

“So what do we do?”

“Well, we stop dating.”

“Obviously.”

“Then we hope that Tara and Monique feel the same way about you and me as you and I feel about them.” Pause.  “'Cause otherwise we'll be single for prom.”

“I don't really care about prom.”

“You wouldn't.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing bad,” Bonnie said. “Indifference about those sorts of things suits you.”

“If we do get the girls, I hope we can keep any sparks with them alive.”

“Me too, but...” she trailed off into silence.

“'But' what?”

“Even though it didn't work out in the end, I don't think our time together was wasted.”

“Me neither.” A pause. “You're right: we had a good run.”

-

Random fiction brought to you, basically, as a result of reading too many stories where the only way for someone to switch partners is with angst, animosity, and other bad words starting with the letter “a”.

Which is kind of weird because in the show itself there's no aversion to, “We broke up without any friction or bad feelings.”

It's quasi-original in that it could stand alone perfectly well but it was thought up within a specific context and so I threw in details from that context (the names Bonnie, Tara, and Monique, the destruction of the science wing of Middleton High School as a result of giant monster, unfortunate unspecified encounters with jellyfish) and if I ever get around to writing a comparatively pedestrian Kim Possible universe that I've had in my head for a while, this would take place within that.

If anyone cares, Bonnie's interlocutor here is MTF Ron.  The Possible-verse needs more diversity, and I feel like Ron fits.