And we're back! Thank you for the awesome reviews! Really, it means a lot! And, yeah...this story is rather dark isn't it? During the planning stages, I knew the 'Numbuh 832' series of stories would be dark, I just didn't know how everyone would take it. But, man, you guys are really supportive! That's awesome! You guys are awesome!

Now without embarrassing myself, as I probably did. THE SECOND CHAPTER!


13 August, 2005

Kids Next Door Moon Base

Decommissioning Squad Quarters

Fanny Fulbright shuffled through the gathered lot of squad operatives. Her usual armor replaced with casual wear, a green turtle neck and plaid orange skirt. The Decommissioning Squad was larger than most Sectors, out numbering even the Spy Sector and its intricate web of secrets. There were around fifty operatives, and only a few of them Fanny could refer to by name.

The operatives circled around a small platform at the back wall of the room, past the office spaces and locker rooms. There, Numbuh 501 herself stood in full armor. Fanny pushed past Numbuh 99, reaching the front of the assembled herd of operatives.

"Alright, let's get started." Numbuh 501 gestured to Numbuh 88B. The twin nodded and flipped a switch, causing the lights to cut out. A projector light hit the back wall behind Numbuh 501, showcasing an image of Numbuh 832.

"As you all know, the Decommissioning Squad has failed once again in capturing Numbuh 832." Numbuh 501 spoke bitterly, glancing at the squad, making them feel ashamed. Fanny winced as her superior's eyes fell down on her. Operatives held their heads low, some stared at the ceilings and off to their sides, anything to spare them Numbuh 501's unforgiving stare.

"This is unacceptable!" Numbuh 501 shouted harshly. "What are we? Some numb nut Sector? No! We're the Decommissioning Squad! We get the bad guy, all the time!" Numbuh 501 shook her head. "So, please, someone tell me why is this one particular operative managed to escape every single time?!"

It was a rhetorical question of course. Or at least they all hoped it was. No one dared to speak up and offer clarity on the subject; no one had any comments or suggestions.

"From now on until we catch Numbuh 832, all other cases or hunts for over aged operatives shall cease." Numbuh 501 crossed her arms over her chest. "All resources will be devoted towards the apprehension of this kid. Understood?"

"Yes ma'am." The squad spoke in unison. It was drilled into their heads since day one of their active participation on the team to end every sentence with the word 'ma'am'.

"Now, get to work." Numbuh 501 jabbed a thumb over her shoulder at the image of Numbuh 832. "And bring that treacherous filth in. Use of deadly force is authorized."


Erie, Pennsylvania

Parks were colorful distractions. Parents could bring rambunctious young tikes out here and allow themselves brief moments of peace. Children themselves would get lost in adventures of the imagination. Slides were suddenly miles longer as butterflies rumbled in their stomachs. The sand below the nearby monkey bars were lava pits and the kids thought them young adventurous Indiana Jones, swinging victoriously defying certain doom.

Yes. The park was the perfect distraction. No one noticed the man with an overcoat peeking out from behind the trees. One paying attention would've thought it odd, it was August after all and the sun was beating down on everything sparing no one.

The man cracked a sickening smile as took in the numerous kids playing in the park. The man's eyes fixated on a young girl playing alone in the sand, her mother relaxing not too close by. The man reached into his coat and drew a shiny piece of candy, temptation personified. The man began to move out of hiding, past the trees near the grassy soccer fields.

An unseen force slammed into the man, knocking the candy out of his hands. The man crashed into a tree back first. His breath lost, the man staggered groggily as he attempted to pull himself up. Using the tree to gather his bearings, the man stared down into an owl's hollow, spotting an angered fully grown Owl staring back at the man for disturbing its slumber. The man cursed like a sailor, swearing retribution on the cause of his grievances.

The man cried out as he was forced upward and jammed head first into the hollow. The man withered in pain as the Owl began to furiously assault the man's face. The man struggled to escape, pushing and kicking against the tree in attempts to free himself, but to no avail.

Numbuh 832 calmly walked away from the scene.

Yes, Numbuh 832 mused as he claimed the fallen piece of candy for himself. Parks were the greatest distractions known to man. No one would draw a glance away from what they were presently fixated on before them to assist so messed up man being mercilessly beaten by nature.

Numbuh 832 took a seat on a nearby wooden bench. He unwrapped the candy and tossed it in his mouth, throwing the wrapper over his head.

"You shouldn't litter." Numbuh 832 glanced to his side to an individual whose seating had gone unnoticed.

Numbuh 832 spat out the candy and turned his attention towards the individual, a youth around his age. "Don't tell me you believe in that pollution nonsense?"

"I do, as a matter of fact." The youth said defensively, crossing his arms with confidence. "There's science and stuff. Maybe if you weren't on the run, maybe you could read some of the reports. You might find it enlightening to known how doomed we all are. You should consider recycling, save the enviorment."

With a grin, Numbuh 832 raised his hand to the youth, he smacked it his opposite hand. The two proceeded to perform a complex handshake before ending with punching the other's fist.

"It's good to see you Josh." The youth smiled. "When I got your call to head down here, I didn't know what to think. You won't believe the things they're saying about you. No one wants your old Sector, they're practically bribing people with extra candy rations to be stationed there."

"It's good to see you too Terry." Numbuh 832 relaxed, reclining against the bench. Numbuh 832 wiped his face with his hand, squeezing his temples as he tried his best to relax. "It's been a while since I saw a friendly face."

"Word on the Moon Base is the Decommissioning Squad's been given order to use 'deadly force'" The youth, Terry, made quotation symbols with his hands. "This is getting serious man."

"It was going to happen sooner or later." Numbuh 832 sighed.

"So…" Terry shyly trailed off.

"It's ok, you can ask."

"Did you do it? I mean…did you guys actually do it?" Terry asked, gleefully.

"No. No we didn't." Numbuh 832 sighed once more. "It's a long story…"

Numbuh 832 mentally recalled the event leading to his grand game of cat and mouse. "Our Sector Leader, Numbuh 527. You remember him, right? His name was Minh."

"I remember him." Terry nodded as he picked at his nose. "What about him?"

"Well, one day he called everyone in, said it was important, that he'd found out something horrible." Numbuh 832 looked upward at the sky. "I had detention that day. I showed up late." Numbuh 832 let out a shaky laugh. "I put a 'kick me' sign on the school bully."

"So, when I finally arrived back at the tree house, there they were, the Decommissioning Squad." Numbuh 832 shook his head at the memory. "They'd placed them all in chains and started hauling them away for immediate decommissioning."

"So what did you do?" Terry asked as he flung a booger off to the side.

"I ran." Numbuh 832 simply stated. "I've been running ever since."

"Heavy." Terry muttered. "Well, so, need me to do anything?"

"If you can, it's much appreciated." Numbuh 832 shot Terry a kind smile. "I've been trying to gather as much information on Numbuh 501 and her colleagues in the past 3 months. It's been difficult, but I've managed to scrape together what Minh discovered. It's not enough to convict her of any crime, but enough for me go on with a proper investigation."

"Alright, that's something." Terry said. "I can see if I can request some of the Decommissioning Squad's mission reports."

"How can you manage that?" Numbuh 832 raised a brow.

"Bam!" Terry whipped out a KND ID card from his back pocket. "Check it. Numbuh 94, recently promoted Munitions Specialist. I can just get them for some bogus excuse about some weapons missing and needing to check the last three months of resource expenditures."

"Nice thinking." Numbuh 832 said impressed. "Really nice."

"Hey, since the attempted assassination of Numbuh 274 and my brother's astronomy division got closed down, all other departments have grown an eighth. That means giving people like me a big fat promotion!" Terry pumped his fist into the air in victory.

"Wait, assassination attempt?" Numbuh 832 asked alarmed.

"Oh, right, three months. I forgot." Terry scratched his chin once more. "It was strange and complicated. Long story short, teens tried to ice Chad. There was an explosion and everything. But they failed and he's doing fine."

Numbuh 832 arched forward in thought. "Do you mind getting me a copy of that case file too while you're at it?"

"Sure. Any particular reason though?" Terry asked, finding the request somewhat odd.

"Because it might be important." Numbuh 832 answered simply. "I need to know if Numbuh 501 was involved at some capacity. When can you get this stuff for me?"

"I can get it to you by tomorrow around noon. It's summer after all." Terry gestured to the sunny sky and lush green fields. "No boring school to go to tomorrow."

"Thanks Terry, I mean it." Numbuh 832 spoke sincerely. The operative on the run sat up then stood.

"Where you going?"

"Numbuh 501 wants me dead. I should at least get my affairs in proper order. You know, just in case." Numbuh 832 nudged at the topic. The most feared division of the Kids Next Door was already out to get him, now they've been given permission to end his life short.

"Right." Terry nodded. "Just be careful Josh."

"I am." Numbuh 832 flashed a smirk to probably the last friend he had on the face of the planet. "I'll see you here tomorrow. Noon?"

"Noon." Terry confirmed.

Finished with saying his goodbyes, Numbuh 832 walked off towards the trees. Currently, the man was still struggling to escape. Numbuh 832's eyes narrowed at the man. With a running start, Numbuh 832 charged at the man. Without warning, the man felt a sharp pain as Numbuh 832 kicked him in the groin with all his might.

"The candy sucked." Numbuh 832 muttered before leaving the park.


Kids Next Door Moon Base

Decommissioning Squad Quarters

What went on behind the doors of the Decommissioning Squad was like a secret none would ever reveal. It was an unwritten rule under Numbuh 501's leadership, a rule presented to any new recruits day one through fast paced speech and flare.

If only Fanny could talk about the Squad's dealings. Maybe people would line up to see. Fanny toyed with the idea in her head as she witnessed the Squad in perfect unison monitor camera screens, rush paper work from one end of the room to another, and operatives cleaning their gear like a well-oiled machine.

Fanny laughed to herself. They were just a bunch of kids, some who would never put this much effort into their homework, and yet here they were, running around and working.

"Any particular reason you aren't helping, operative?" Fanny jumped, taken by complete surprise. She turned to see Numbuh 501 standing beside her, looking down at her.

"Um, ma'am, sorry ma'am, but I'm a field operative." Fanny answered as best as she could. "Medical training aside, I can't work any of the finer camera work."

"Numbuh?" Numbuh 501 asked.

It took a moment for Fanny to catch on to what Numbuh 501 was asking for. "Numbuh 86, ma'am."

"Hm? Oh, yes, you helped solve that investigation a week back." Numbuh 501 said, slightly impressed. "Nice work. You handled the situation well."

"Ah did what any operative would've done, ma'am." Fanny said, not exactly sure how to react to Numbuh 501's praise.

"That so?" Numbuh 501 asked.

Honestly, it was hard to read Numbuh 501. "Yes ma'am." Fanny nodded. She couldn't tell if she was being reprimanded or if they were actually having a conversation like normal co-workers.

"Get your gear then, Numbuh 86." Numbuh 501 said, taking Fanny by surprise once more. "We just pulled his attendance records at his school. He hasn't missed a single day of school since going on the run. Numbuh 88A is to take a team to Numbuh 832's home town. You're going with them."

"Um, thank you, ma'am?" Unsure, Fanny simply walked to the girl's locker room to gather her gear.

Numbuh 501 watched as Fanny disappeared behind the girl's locker room door. "Ma'am?" Numbuh 501 glanced over her shoulder to see Numbuh 88A in full standard Decommissioning Squad field dress.

"Yes?" Numbuh 501 raised a brow at the intrusion.

"My team's ready to depart, ma'am." Numbuh 88A gestured to his assembled team of his twin brother, Numbuh 88B and six other operatives.

"Hold, you're waiting on another operative." Numbuh 501 gestured to the girl's locker room.

"I am, ma'am?" Numbuh 88A raised a brow, earning a glare from his superior. "I mean, yes, of course I am, ma'am. How could I have forgotten?" Numbuh 88A nervously laughed.

"Try not to make a habit of it." Numbuh 501 muttered. "Everyone here in this squad has a function. From body shields to eggheads. No one will remain idle. Everyone will contribute."


I thought it was a good place to end the chapter. I hope you, the reader, enjoyed it!