OKAY, so I apologize for the short POVs that'll be in chapters 2-4. They will change to longer POVs at a time.

Numbuh 14, KND Sector N

I sweep through the shadows of the grand mansion, watching the KND's greatest enemy slip inside. The weighted door slowly swings shut, but I dart through.

I've only been in here twice before, both for missions, but never for a rescue. The elegant residence is beautiful, but I'm not here for the view.

I observe as he pads down a flight of stairs concealed by a door that seamlessly melts into the delicate wallpaper. Once again, I get inside as it nears a shut. The bottom is dark, and I would've lost Father if it weren't for his crimson outline. He disappears as he walks beneath the edge of the wall, and a small light flicks on from his location. I jump down, resuming my place in the shadows. Spare technological parts litter the edges, but a heavy iron door sits at the emd of the narrow space. He enters whatever lies beyond it, and I run at the door that is closing way top quickly. It slams in my face. I huff, preparing to jab the bobby pin in my hair into the silver lock.

I'm plunged into darkness. Before I can do anything, a soft hand clamps on my mouth.

"Leave," a feminine voice snarls. "Leave before you join me."

I am released. I don't even know what happened to whoever did that, but I sprint for my life. I gasp for breath as I collapse on the lush grass that carpets the yard. I hit the small button on my earpiece.

"Numbuh 14?" Numbuh 362 inquires.

"Father," I choke. "He's got something down in this wierd cellar thing. Someone told me to leave; to leave before whatever happened to her happens to me."

"Her?"

"Girl voice," I wheeze.

"Alright. V and W'll investigate ASAP. Get back in Moonbase. Do you know if your teammates got any other information?"

"Not as far as I know. I'd call it off if I were you, but keep tabs on Mr. Boss."

"Roger."

Static hums through my ear. I sigh, running off to the cluster of shrubs concealing my S.C.A.M.P.E.R. As I start up the engine, I can't stop thinking.

Who was she, and what happened to her?

...

Numbuh 83, KND Sector W

I stand by, watching Sector M and Numbuh 2 pull and cut the multicolored wires of some mechanism.

"Whatcha guys doing?" I ask, curiosity eating me up.

"Programming their L.O.C.A.T.E.R. to find Numbuh 86," Numbuh 2 replies from beneath the machinery. "This can track any KND operative, actually."

"So it could track Teens who were operatives?"

"Nah. Just from induction to decommissioning. From Numbuh 60 to Numbuh 86." I nod my head even though he can't see me.

"Numbuh 222.2! Is it the purple or the green cord that goes on the grid?" Numbuh 245 asks from beside Numbuh 2.

"Purple," Numbuh 222.2 replies. "Wait, lemme see." Two hands poke out from beneath holding the two wires. "The left one."

"Gotcha," Numbuh 245 says. It's the last thing I hear before I go black.

I ease my eyes open, the light blinding me. My sight adjusts, and I see I'm in the hospital wing. Numbuh Rebecca is beside me in the clinical white.

"Numbuh Rebecca?" I croak, my throat scratchy. "What happened?"

"Circuits blew up. You'd think people would remember that Numbuh 222.2 is colorblind." She shakes her head. "You should be fine, but Numbuh 60's gonna be replacing you for a day or two."

A ruffle of sheets sounds to my left. I try to twist and see, but my neck is as stiff as Numbuh 1.

"That's just Numbuh 383. He'll be fine too."

"Anyone else?"

"Just Numbuh 2 and 222.2. But Numbuh 2 was released hours ago."

I press my lips. "Did they track Numbuh 86?"

"No. She wasn't showing up anywhere."

I nod, but it hurts. "Thanks."

"Anytime, Numbuh 83."

...

Numbuh 85, KND Sector W

I pace the docks, awaiting Numbuh 83. Where is she? The port is only allowed to be open five minutes at a time, and it's already been three. She's never late.

"Numbuh 85!" someone calls, and it's not Numbuh 83. I turn to see Numbuh 60 racing up to me.

"Where's Numbuh 83?"

He climbs into the S.C.A.M.P.E.R. "Technology accident. She'll be okay, but I'm coming with today." He tugs me up. I fasten my seatbelt as Numbuh 60 starts it up.

"Numbuh 14 said that somebody was in this cellar sort of thing. Numbuh 362 said to check it out, and it's gonna take a day or two. Three tops."

Numbuh 60 stares intently at the black oblivion ahead. "Three days tops?! Are you kidding me?! We need to get to Numbuh 86 ASA-NOW!"

He keeps mumbling throughout the entire trip, something about incompetence and time. My anger keeps growing in the meanwhile.

"Three days tops my a-"

"Quit it!" I snap, my irritation at its acme. "Quit it! Quit it right now! Stop acting like this is just your problem, like you're the only one hurting! You may care about her or whatever, but I'm her brother. Stop acting like it's the way around." I huff at my outburst.

Numbuh 60 looks at me guiltily for a second, but quickly turns away in silence. It's still soundless as we jump out on the grass of Father's mansion. He pulls a needle from his pocket and the front door opens with a few jiggles.

The house is eerily quiet, our footsteps echoing even as we try to muffle them in the plush rugs. I fish the scrap of paper from my back pocket, Numbuh 14's account scrawled in it. A door that blends into the red wallpaper in the foyer. There was another door after it, but I didn't get to see it.

I open my mouth to read it to Numbuh 60, but he seems to have read it from behind my shoulders. He nods and starts running his hand along the walls.

"Keep watch," he says. I gaze around the high room, not a speck of life. It's feels like we're being... watched.

"Found it!" Numbuh 60 calls, a wooden door swung open. I run down the stairs it revealed, the door shutting behind. Numbuh 60 produces a flashlight and aims it about, nothing of interest in sight. The beam of light flies past a steel door.

"Wait!" I exclaim, squinting as Numbuh 60 points the flashlight at me. "The door." I point at the direction of it.

The light resumes its spot on the metal entrance. We approach it, but we quickly find that it's locked. Numbuh 60's pin, my stick of chewed bubblegum, nothing we had even remotely worked.

I flick on my earpiece. "Numbuh 85?"

"Yeah. Door won't open. Nothing'll do the job."

"It's okay," Numbuh 362 says. "I'll have Sector M develop a drill. Numbuh 60 with you?"

"Yep."

"'Kay. Just get back." Static.

When we get back to the safety of our S.C.A.M.P.E.R., I still can't shake the feeling of being watched. Like there's a presence here, other than Numbuh 60.

We soar through space, the gray dusty Moon looming into view.

Why is the feeling still here?

...

Numbuh 60, KND Arctic Training Base/Sector Moonbase

I yawn, the shadows of Moonbase casted across the tiles. The snores of the millions of operatives that are sprawled across the floors for another night of lockdown reach me from behind the next few corners. I stumble towards the sound.

I round a corner, and I stop. The silhouette of girl is just visible in the dark.

"Hey," I mutter, about to walk past her. However, my plans are foiled as she steps into a thin stream of light emitting from a window.

"Patton," she whispers. Next thing I know, we're kissing. I melt into it.

Through my lashes I realize that she has changed. Her hair has lost its untameable frizz, her eyes are an icy sky blue, a crisp schoolgirl's uniform on her body.

But I realized it too late.