KND: Moon Base. 2 Years Ago.
Numbuh 832, Josh Puncture, examined his arm…well what was left of his arm anyway. The edge of his wrist was bandaged up. Just four days ago, Numbuh 832 had gone on a mission to help keep kids safe from a rampaging Moose at a local zoo. To his and the rest of his team's surprise, the Moose had extraordinary powers, such as the ability to become intangible, flight, and laser vision.
Numbuh 832 cringed at the end result of the battle. His team was battered and exhausted, the Sector N operative had charged at the Moose, only to be shot into the crocodile pit. Numbuh 832 was taken immediately to an ER where he was treated. When he walked out the very next day, he no longer had a hand attached to his arm. Just a stump.
"Sup stumpy!" an operative called out to Numbuh 832, earning snickers and laughs from many onlookers.
"Tic toc, tic toc, watch out for the croc!" another operative laughed.
"Ha, ha, ha" an operative sarcastically laughed as he slowly walked up to Numbuh 832. "Don't any of you have anything better to do? Say, get lunch before they run out of pizza bagels?"
"Oh yeah!"
"That's right!"
"I want me some pizza bagels!"
The operatives all ran down a hall leading to the mess hall, leaving Numbuh 832 and the operative alone.
"I didn't need your help Nolan" Numbuh 832 said as he stared out a view port.
"That's not what I saw Josh" Numbuh 2030 shook his head "I just saw one of the few friends I still have just surrender to hurtful words. Care to explain?"
"Look Nolan, I lost my hand! My hand! I'm not fit to be an operative. I don't fit in anymore!" Josh yelled before punching the metal wall his one fist.
"You don't fit in? Really? Just a month ago, didn't you break the accuracy record? You beat Numbuh 802, Josh, you beat him and you've beaten dozens of other adults. You've saved your fellow operatives and your fellow kids from harm's way so many times, I've lost count. And you have the gull to say you don't fit in?" Numbuh 2030 shook his head once more. "The only people who don't fit in around here are the ones who'd skip out on their thirteenth."
"I'm not that operative anymore, Nolan. I can't do those things anymore. I can't take on adults anymore. What good am I to the KND now?" Josh said holding back the urge to cry.
"Look Josh. You're still you, all that happened was a messed up accident. But you're stronger than that." Numbuh 2030 said in an inspiring tone "Where's the operative who willingly threw himself down the taffy pit? Fought off the 5th grade rocker gang? Where's the operative who helped me out of that jam back in basic training?"
Josh sat in silence. He looked down at the floor, unable to look up. "He's here…just with a piece missing or two."
Numbuh 2030 smiled. "Come on Josh" Numbuh 2030 patted his friend on the back. "I hear Numbuh 48 Flavors is sneaking his latest shipment onto the Moon Base during the lunch rush."
"I do prefer Ice cream over pizza" Josh smiled before getting up from the bench. The two operatives began to walk away, heading towards Landing Bay 01. "I guess I could always get a hook or something."
"Nah. If you want something to freak your enemies…get a harpoon."