Operation HELLISH:
Harmful
Environment
Loathes
Life of
Innocent
Scared
Human
1: A Storm is Brewing
Typically, Sector V worked more effectively as a team. Individually they were really quite capable, but it just wasn't nearly the same. Unified they were more victorious than if any one operative took on an enemy alone. It was what they were famous for; not only being the best team on the planet but also the most interdependent. This, of course, granted them a full pardon on their decommissioning, and allowed them to remain in the Kids Next Door well after their thirteenth birthdays. Yes, their sector was the very definition of teamwork.
Except for today.
The youngest operative of Sector V had woken up right around noon to a massive migraine and drenched in a cold sweat. She tossed and turned on her mattress, trying to return to sleep in an effort to cure her ailment, but the pain was too intense. Numbuh 3 hesitantly got out of bed and changed out of her pajamas and into the same green sweater that she had worn four years ago. It still fit, but she hadn't grown much since then anyway and the article of clothing was already over-sized on her lithe frame. Groaning, she pushed aside the curtain that acted as her door and slouched into the hallway.
Numbuh 3 shuffled into the main chamber of the tree house passed her fellow operatives and plopped down on the couch, rubbing her temples gently. If only the light would leave her alone and the pounding in her ears would go away! She scrunched her face up in agony as the muscles of her forehead contracted tightly. The immense amount of noise that the television was emitting wasn't helping, and neither were the flashing lights and bright colors on its screen. Her blond-haired best friend reclined next to her, his eyes focused intently on the TV. She opened her mouth to ask him to turn the video game off, or at least turn the volume down, but thought better of it as she didn't want to negotiate with the Australian's frustration in her current condition. Numbuh 3 slumped further down into the cushions, grasping her head with both hands as the pain spiked sharply.
"You okay, Numbuh Three?"
She glanced at the owner of the voice through her peripheral vision. Numbuh 5 was lying on the floor flipping through a magazine, gaze squarely fixed on the young operative from under her cap. The black-haired girl squeezed her eyes shut tightly.
"Think I have a migraine…" She said, barely above a whisper.
"Well why didn't ya say somethin'?" Numbuh 5 rose to her feet and headed for a cabinet on the other side of the room. "Have ya taken any aspirin?"
All the Asian girl could do was barely shake her head in reply. After some rummaging, Numbuh 5 returned to the couch with a small, white pill bottle in her hand, offering it to her afflicted friend. Numbuh 3 gladly took it and dry-swallowed a couple of the pain-relieving pills gratefully.
"Hey doofus, do ya mind?" Numbuh 5 stepped in front of the television screen, unplugging the video game controller from the console, and was met with an immediate reaction from Numbuh 4. "Can't you see Numbuh Three has a headache?"
"How was I supposed ta know?" He dropped his controller and threw his arms up in protest. "S'not loike she said anythin' ta me 'bout it!"
"She shouldn't have to," Numbuh 5 shook her head. "Honestly, sometimes Numbuh Five thinks you must be the most be da most dense boy she's ever seen!"
Numbuh 5 retreated back to her magazine and 4 fell silent, averting his gaze to the floor after realizing how rude he had been. She couldn't have been in that much pain; she would've definitely spoken up. Right? He looked at the girl in question. Her ivory hair was uncombed, sticking up at odd angles and matted from what he guessed was an uncomfortable night of sleep. The dark circles under her eyes told him that. Her usually pale complexion was clammy and, just barely visible, was a thin layer of moisture. The expression on her face was one of extreme discomfort. He should've kicked himself for not noticing all this when she first sat down next to him.
"Numbuh Three, I didn' know…" He paused while she showed no signs of acknowledging him. "I'm so-"
"Incoming Transmission from Kids Next Door Moonbase!" The computer alerted over the intercom system as red emergency lights flashed throughout the room.
Numbuh 5 jumped from her position and sat at the computer, Numbuhs 2 and 4 not far behind her. "On screen!"
A young brunette appeared on the wide monitor, his face covered in freckles and a frown. The number 263 was painted in black on his backwards blue baseball cap.
"Sector V, reporting for duty, Numbuh 263 sir!" It had been so long since they had been assigned a mission, Numbuh 5 could hardly contain her excitement. Although all they did anymore were espionage missions, it was better than sitting around, being a giant waste of space.
The Supreme Leader looked less than pleased at their enthusiasm. They were teenagers, after all, and teenagers should never be trusted. He sighed and looked sternly at the Sector leader, Numbuh 5. Numbuh 263 simply didn't know how to interact with the famous, adolescent spies. He wanted to hate them, but they excelled at almost everything they did. He settled for regarding them with annoyance.
"Hello Sector V, long time no see."
"Yeah, long time." Numbuh 5 shifted in her seat. "Tell me sir, what'd ya call us for? Numbuh Five don't like ta be kept waitin'."
The Supreme Leader looked slightly offended as he continued. "Ok fine. Well, um…where's Numbuh Three?"
"Numbuh Three ain't feelin' too hot, so she's takin' da day off."
"I see," Typically, the Supreme Leader would've questioned the group as to why one of their members were missing (after all, they were down to four active operatives), but Numbuh 5 had made it clear that she was not messing around. "Well, might as well get this over with. We've picked up on some suspicious adult activity over on the other side of the city. It hasn't escalated into anything serious yet, so we can't call in any real operatives."
Sector V scowled at the screen as he spat the last part with malice, but each operative bit their tongue. They were lucky to still be commissioned; one slip-up and they knew they would be out of the Kids Next Door forever.
"All I'm asking is that you spy on the adult facility and report any findings back to me. The coordinates have been uploaded onto your computer." And with that the transmission faded to static.
"Oh, Numbuh Five better not ever get her hands on dat guy!" She spun around in her chair and jumped down from the platform following the other, who had resigned to regrettably grabbing their mission gear.
"Jus' who does he think he cruddy is," Numbuh 4 kicked a neglected soda can out of his way as he retrieved some two-by-four weapons.
"He's Supreme Leader, Numbuh Four. He can get away with anything he wants," Numbuh 2 replied, adjusting his goggles and shaking his head disapprovingly. "The jerk."
"Ain't no use in cryin' about it," The coffee-skinned team leader placed a hand on the pilot's shoulder. "Let's just get dis mission over with so we can be done with it. Numbuh Three…"
Numbuh 3 lifted her head up slowly in recognition from the horizontal position she had made herself comfortable in. "You gonna be ok while we're gone?"
"Mhm," She purred softly, laying her head back down painfully, glad to have some peace and quiet for her aching head.
"Alright den. Kids Next Door, battle stations baby!" She thrust her S.P.L.A.N.K.E.R. up in the air with zest, running towards the bay with her teammates right behind her.
Numbuh 2 halted as though he forgot something, and dashed back into the main atrium to Numbuh 3's side. A wave of urgency and seriousness washed over his entire person as she gazed up at him, confused.
"Listen to me, Numbuh Three," His voice held dark undertones. "Don't go in my room."
"Why would I go in your room?" Ok, she was in pain and confused now. She would never go anywhere near any of her friend's rooms while they weren't present.
"Just…saying. There's some super secret stuff that I'm working on and I want it to be a surprise!" It was clear that he was lying, but not to the distressed girl who was overcome with pain.
"Ok, fine, I won't, just…you're gonna be late," She breathed through clenched teeth. Maybe it was a bit ridiculous, but she didn't want her friends to see her like this, in so much pain because of a stupid headache.
He was suddenly his cheerful self again as he headed towards the door. "Alright. Feel better soon!"
Tiredly, she closed her eyes and felt the pain medicine kick in, as she drifted off to a dreamless sleep.
\ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ /
When she awoke several hours later, it was evening, and the setting sun cast slivers of light across the wooden floor in front of her. She rubbed her eyes sleepily and sat up. Her fellow operatives still hadn't returned from their mission, she realized, blinking in the dim lighting. At least her headache had gone away. Heeding the growling of her empty stomach, she made her way to the kitchen area of the tree house, trekking through the dark hallways. Maybe she would fix herself a bologna sandwich, or a bowl of Rainbow Munchies. Her stomach roared at the thought of her favorite cereal and she flicked on the light in the kitchen. She found the box of cereal in a cabinet and crossed the room to retrieve the milk and a bowl.
And that's when she heard something skitter down the hallway just outside the ring of light. Terrified, she froze mid-step.
"He-Hello?" Her voice quivered with every syllable and she couldn't keep her hands from shaking. "Guys?"
Not a sound was heard except for the rapid fluttering of her heart, which was momentarily caught in her throat. She shook her head, crediting it to her imagination, and resumed her tasks, humming tunelessly just to fill the silent void with something.
"Hey Kooks," His voice suddenly seemed to echo throughout the kitchen, and the only reaction she could muster was dropping the bowl out of surprise at his proximity. He was standing so close she could feel the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She was so preoccupied with his intimacy that she neglected to realize that he wasn't breathing, and that she hadn't heard any footsteps. "Feelin' betta'?"
When her nerves finally calmed, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness you're here, Wally! I was getting so scared, being here all alone and stuff."
"Yeh, I s'pose. But ya don't need ta be 'fraid o' anythin' 'cuz I'm here ta protect ya," He spun her around and wrapped an arm across her shoulders, eyes glistening dangerously. Numbuh 3 was mostly oblivious as he began to lead them away, shocked at his sudden attempt at romantics.
"You guys just get back then? Where's the rest of the team?"
He shrugged nonchalantly. "Turned in early."
"What's gotten into you, silly?" She giggled to ease the awkward feeling in the pit of her stomach. "You're acting funny."
Numbuh 4 looked down, silent for a moment as his hair fell over his eyes, and he smirked. "Whot d'ya say we go 'n watch some TV?"
Her small smile etched across her features as she conceded to let him lead her down the hallway. She hoped that she only felt nervous because she liked him.
A/N: I know this might have turned out pretty lame, but hopefully as we progress into the story it will become more interesting. Honestly, I suck at writing when there are so many characters interacting with each other. This is gonna be loosely based/inspired by a certain other cartoon, but I'm not giving anything away yet. It's not quite a crossover; rather, one or two of the characters make a cameo later. As always, constructive criticism is welcome!