Chapter Two: When Things Start Getting Bad

Operation S.M.A.L.L.

Some

Mall

Accident

Leads to

Lots of Problems

We all sat in the C.O.O.L.B.U.S., when we had finally begun our voyage to the stupid Department Store. We were all so ignorant of what could possibly happen on this visit; especially me, but alas, I'm getting way ahead of myself.

Numbuh Five had actually taken it upon herself to fall asleep on the trip; only waking up when Numbuh One had directed orders towards her. She was the main navigator during most operations; including this one, so it was necessary that she was awake at all times. I myself thought it was a bit dumb for letting Numbuh Two drive in these conditions; he was in as bad of shape as Numbuh Five was, but what did I know? I had just been trying to keep myself awake listening to Kuki babble on about every girly thing IMAGINABLE. I didn't want to fall asleep because sleeping would mean nightmares, and nightmares were never a good thing to have; especially around these guys.

The trip felt like it was a lifetime's long. I kept blacking out when I was just sitting there and doing nothing! I found I couldn't quite stand just sitting there doing nothing for that long, and I couldn't help but complain about it.

"Are we THERE YET," I moaned, startling Numbuh Five who had just about fallen asleep again.

"Nearly, Numbuh 4", Numbuh One replied. He didn't seem tired at all! "Look."

And that I did. I looked out the right side window and sure enough it was there; standing tall in the early morning lighting. It was insane to try to go here, I thought, the Department Store always meant adults and teenagers at every corner. It was a no-kid zone. Every Department Store was.

What I found very strange was that the Department Store wouldn't even be open in another... AW HECK, I don't even know! Stupid cruddy clock, what were those pointy thingies for anyways?

"Ooo! It's so pretty," Numbuh Three cooed.

"Yeah, pretty," I said with sarcasm. I was a bit scared to go anywhere near there.

Nonetheless, in absolutely no time at all we had landed the C.O.O.L.B.U.S. Safely, and a small distance away from the large fortress that was the Department Store.

"Okay Kids Next Door," Numbuh One had called, "prepare to infiltrate the Department Store. We need to stop the Delightful Children and their plan in less than... oh, fifteen minutes." We all groaned; with the exception of Numbuh 3 we were all exceptionally lacking in enthusiasm to even be up right now; even Numbuh One seemed to be feeling it. We had all woken up quite a bit after what was about an hours drive. The seriousness that came with this mission must have been what had really woke us up.

"Why did it have to be so dang early," Numbuh Five groaned, "Numbuh Five's watch says three in the morning!"

"Yes I know Numbuh Five," Numbuh One replied, "We will just have to ask the Delightful Children 'why' personally. You guys ready?"

The rest of what happened then was vague to me. I was of course with the rest of the team as we all were to infiltrate and locate where the Delightful Children were. It wasn't all that hard to find them; though I guess they had wanted us to find them anyway. They had been on the second floor in what seemed to be a lobby or area between different stores. The whole mall was empty; not a person in sight. Why would they want to use a weapon in an area nobody was around in?

"Hello Kids Next Door," The Delightful Children droned, "pleasant to see you here."

"Quit the act you Delightful Deviants," Numbuh One called, "Just what are you up to?"

"Yeah," I interrupted, "and WHY did it have to be so CRUDDY EARLY?"

"Numbuh Five can't help but agree," Numbuh Five added.

"Oh come on guys," Numbuh Three giggled, "It's not THAT early!"

The Delightful Children only giggled simultaneously, "Don't you know," they replied, "This Mall opens at five. We wouldn't want to hurt any adults on accident now would we... but you Kids on the other hand..."

"Kids Next Door...BATTLE STATIONS," Numbuh One Screamed.

We never got a chance to even attack them, however. Suddenly, the ground started shaking all around us. An earthquake? If only. The Delightful Children seemed to be floating abruptly, right in the air! It wasn't until I had looked at their feet that I had realized that they weren't actually floating, but something was rising out of the ground underneath them. We started to panic, backing up and away from the object that quickly rose out of the earth. They were on top of a platform; with a large metallic object now in front of them. As I inspected the object up and down I had realized that it was a huge weapon; what appeared to be a large gun or ray of some sort. There was NO WAY we could avoid, let alone fight, THAT!

"W-What is that THING," I heard Numbuh One scream.

I heard Numbuh Three screaming loudly and ran over to try and calm her down. Numbuh Two was backing up far away; he seemed really scared.

"Numbuh Five has no idea," Numbuh Five exclaimed.

The Delightful Children were laughing much louder than they had been not long before, and with much more venom in their combined voices.

"Goodbye Kid's Next Door," they all said. They had then fired up the weapon and it had flashed quite brightly. All I remembered after that was an exceptionally bright flash that was heading straight for me and Numbuh Three. I jumped into the blast's way; there was no way I was letting it hit anybody! Now if only it didn't have to hit me. I blacked out not long after that; hitting the floor on my way down.