Seeing Double (MI Universe)

Chapter 1: The more things change...

Warmth. She felt it all around her, a very calm and comforting warmth, liking being wrapped up in a blanket. She also felt very light as if her body was floating. Floating inside the warmth as the only way she could describe it. It was all very relaxing, like being in a bathtub or a pool. In fact, she could swear she could even feel the water around her. All around her. Even over her head. Like she was beneath the water!

Kim's eyes snapped open. Panic quickly started to rise within her when she realized she was in fact underwater. Or at least something that resembled water. It was a green liquid encased in a glass tube. She tried to take in her surroundings, but the wavy distortion from the liquid made it hard for her to make out any details. All she could tell was that she was in some kind of lab. Inside the tube, however, it was all-too-easy for her to tell that whoever had abducted her had also removed her clothes. The breathing apparatus over her nose and mouth made it obvious that they wanted her alive, but for what she didn't know nor did she intend to stay and find out.

She struck out as hard as she could with her left fist, but only succeeded in hurting her knuckles as they bounced harmlessly off the glass. She shook her now throbbing hand to try and sooth the pain, then studied the glass more closely. Placed her right hand against it and moved it along it's smooth surface. It wasn't very thick but the liquid she was in slowed down the force of her punches just enough to where she couldn't do any real damage. The very small amount of room she had to work with didn't help either. Still, she had to get out. She laid her palms flat against the other side of the tube to brace herself then carefully brought her feet up and began to kick the glass in front of her as hard as she could. Unfortunately, it still refused to so much a crack, but the force of her kicks was beginning to rock the tube. Seeing that as some progress, she continued her actions until the tube finally broke free of it's base and fell to the floor. A loud shattering sound filled the lab as it practically exploded open, sending pieces of glass and green liquid everywhere. Kim yanked off the breathing device and took in a deep breath of fresh air, before she struggled to her feet. By how much her muscles ached in protest of this simply action, she gathered that had been in that tube for quite awhile now. She took unsteadily as she looked around the laboratory while waiting for her strength to return. It was pretty much like every mad scientist's lab she had been in over the years. A few consuls here and there, machining humming in the background, very poor lighting, the works. The thing that did stand out, however, were the series of tubes identical to the one she had just broken free off scattered throughout the room. It meant whoever had done this to her either planed to do it again to other people or had already done it to other people.

One of those other people, it turned out was someone she was very familiar with and was floating in the tube next to hers. She stared at the body in disbelief as she wobbly walked over to the other tube, ignored the pain from the tiny bits of glass she was stepping on. She placed a hand on the glass cylinder as she continued to stare at the figure floating almost lifelessly in front of her. Although she couldn't believe it, there was no mistaking that pale green skin and the luxurious black hair that was slithering around her as if it was alive.

"Shego," Kim whispered in concern.

Drawing on her quickly returning strength, she wrapped her hands together and held them above her head, intent on smashing the glass open. Her rescue attempt was thwarted, however, when she heard a door from the far side of the room slide open and muttered voice combined with rushed footsteps coming her way. Acting out of instinct, she quickly dove for the nearest console and hid behind it, until she could see who her abductors were and, more importantly, how she would beat them. She was a little surprised when she found that the three men who had entered the room were dressed in the red and white uniforms of W.E.E. agents, but quickly pushed it aside. At least now she knew she could take them, she just needed to wait for the right moment.