Hello everyone, and welcome to chapter three! Today, I have a very few minor notes to let you all know about before reading this chapter.
1) At the time this was written, this was in fact that story's longest chapter.
2) If you've read my previous Rachel centric story "Of Fragile Leaders and Terrorists", then you know about Alex's otaku (as well as mild weeabo) status.
3) The joke utterd by Hoagie in this story was an actual joke from my brother. I had asked him to give me a joke in the veign of Hoagie, and he gave me the one he tells here.
Other than that, read, review and enjoy!
The Demon Master's Puppet
Chapter 3: Lies and Deception, Colds and Destruction
The Moon Base Zero Main Bridge; it was by far the most lively room of the Kids next Door's main base of operations, operating as though it were a living, breathing metropolis. It was here that operatives busily raced around in, sending out important missions or messages, trying to maintain their own work, or even just playing Whisby where they weren't suppose to be playing. And yet ever since the announcement of the Kids next Door's beloved Supreme Leader out of commission the previous day, things seemed to be as quiet as the scurrying of a small mouse. That's how it seemed to Herbie, or Numbuh 65.3 at least as he sat at his work station, trying to sort out missions to send to various sectors as he tried to ignore the unusual silence. Unbeknownst to him and everyone else however, a familiar figure had quietly entered the room. That familiar figure was none other than Rachel herself. She wore her usual full orange sweater and aquamarine jumpsuit complete with her symbolic samurai helmet, and her infected hand lay tucked away in a giant "cast". A sad look became present on her face as she looked down at her bandaged hand for only a second, allowing a stern look to replace it mere seconds later as she walked down the stairs and over towards her plump cohort and acquaintance.
"Good morning Numbuh 65.3", she replied in her usual calm yet stern tone as the nerdy boy yelped in surprise, only to find himself become pleasantly surprised to see the stern face of his leader staring intently at him as usual.
"Numbuh 362, Sir", the plump nerd shouted as he saluted his leader and good acquaintances.
"At ease solider", she calmly replied, signalling for him to put down the guard of formality.
"Sorry, it's just that it's great to have you back Sir", he replied.
"I never thought I'd say this...but it actually feels good to be back...Even though I've only been absent for one day", she replied in her usual calm yet stern manner.
"Yeah, I was actually surprised when Numbuh 60 phoned in to tell me you weren't coming in yesterday", he replied.
"Yes, well I would have called in myself, but I was having problems with the satellite feed on my computer for some reason" Rachel calmly replied.
"Well I'm not surprised. That computer of yours is so old, you really need an upgrade", the plump nerd replied in his usual snooty tone, one which caused the young girl to stare at him in an annoyed manner.
" Yes, I suppose it does", she replied in a rather low yet annoyed tone, shrugging ti off however, she went back to her usual stern look being present on her face. "Now then, what to I have to accomplish today?"
" Well, your monthly inspection of Arctic Base is today, and you have a giant stack of papers on Hamster Regulations to read and sign for tomorrow", Herbie explained.
"Lovely", she replied in a tone of blunt sarcasm.
"Hey, it could be worse. You could have two whole stacks of paperwork to sign like Numbuh 86 does", he replied.
"She's still sick", the young blonde asked in a tone of concern.
"Fortunately, she is. In fact, she called in sick this morning, she muttered something about how the Common Cold regretting the day he ever became a super villain when she gets her hands on him", he said in a low tone, the words he muttered causing Rachel to quietly giggle.
"That sounds like Fanny", she replied in a slightly amused tone, reverting back to stern soon after the sentence's novelty wore off for her. "Now as for my schedule, tell Numbuh 60 he can expect me at around twenty after eleven this morning."
"And the paperwork", he asked.
"Have all of it sent to my office, I need to start catching up before I fall behind on my work", the young Supreme Leader sternly replied.
"Yes Sir", the plump nerd replied in an authoritative sounding voice, saluting his Supreme Leader once more as he did. "Oh, I forgot to mention, Sector V is coming up here for a visit."
"What", she asked in a panicked tone as she turned to her acquaintance. Realizing she had let her guard sip down, the young girl cleared her throat and looked up at him with her normal stern expression. "I mean...Really? Why?"
"Well apparently, there's not very many missions for them to go on today, so there just going to hang around here for awhile", Herbie replied in his usual snooty tone.
"I see...", Rachel replied in her usual stern yet calm manner, turning away from her cohort immediately soon afterwards.
"Oh no...this is exactly what I was fearing would happen...If Alex senses the presence coming from my hand, then I'll have to...", she thought to herself in a panicked tone as her mind began to race a million miles per hour. "Alright Rachel, just calm down...All you need to do is-"
"Hi Numbuh 362", chirped a familiar sounding voice.
Upon hearing said voice, the young Supreme Leader felt panic surge through her body as she saw what she feared appear before her very eyes; Sector V. Her fear had become reality, but even as it did, she kept a soft yet stern composure upon her beautiful face, determined to mask her panic as she continued to watch the Kids Next Door's top sector walk down the stairs. In the front was Sector V's chipper Asian distractionist Kuki Sanban, or Numbuh 3, a big smile present on her face as she happily ran down the stairs. Behind her followed the three boys of Sector V. In the middle walked the team's suave and determined British leader Nigel Uno, or Numbuh 1. On his left side walked the team's geeky scientist and Pilot Hoagie P. Gilligan Jr., or Numbuh 2. And on his right walked the team's Australian hand-to-hand combat expert Wallabee "Wally" Beatles, or Numbuh 4. Despite her composure and anxiety, it pickled her curiosity that the team was missing two of it's members as the small group came to stand in front of her.
"Good Morning Sector V. Where is the rest of your team" Rachel asked in a mixed tone of calm, stern, and curious.
"Numbuh 5 is bringing Two-Seventy-Three in with her right now" Nigel replied.
"Yeah, she hasn't been doing so well since she got sick", Hoagie commented in a tone of slight worry.
"Alex is sick", the young girl asked in a tone of mixed concern, and surprise.
Upon saying those words, the young blonde could hear a very hoarse cough not too far away from the room's entrance. Feeling a surge of intuition as to who the cougher was, she rose her head up in the direction of the bridge entrance doors to witness two figures enter. One of these figures was the team's African American stealth spy and second-in-command, Abigail Lincoln, or Numbuh 5. The other figure she was helping in was the team's Canadian telekinetic- mutant Alex Dawson, or Numbuh 273, who continued to cough into her elbow as she walked down the stairs, her idol and best friend still supporting her.
"So, did gettin' a little bit of soda help at all", Abigail asked in a soft tone.
" Oh, yeah it did, unless you consider helping to feel like you have gerbils stuffed up your head", Alex replied in a stuffed, yet usual snarly tone, her tone angering her friend.
"Don't back sass me girl", she replied in a rather stern tone.
"I wouldn't back sass you Abby-sama", the mutant brunette replied in the most apologetic and fangirlish voice she could muster in her condition.
"I don't know, that still sounded like back sass ta' me", the spunky African American replied in a calm tone as they reached the bottom of the stairs to join their friends.
"Good Morning Numbuh 5, and to you too Numbuh 273, how are you feeling", Rachel asked in a stern yet polite manner.
"Well, I'd be better if my head didn't feel like a twenty-pound rudabager", she replied.
"Well if you still feel bad than why didn't you just stay home like I told you to", Kuki asked in a rather annoyed tone.
"Oh come on, you know I can't just sit around and sleep all day, I'd go crazy", Alex replied.
" Yeah, but you already are crazy, maybe gettin' a cold and sittin' around would do you some good", the short Australian replied in a somewhat cocky tone, showing off his usual dislike for the mutant girl.
"Not on your life shortie", she replied in a tone of stuffiness, and determination.
"Oh, I swear to God, once I get my hands on that Common Cold, he's going to reap the day he ever-", the Canadian mutant began in a mixed tone of over dramatic anger and determination, only to be cut off by an on-coming sneeze. This on-coming sneeze not only caused her Sector to cringe in fear, but also her leader/friend, for they all knew what was coming.
"Oh no, not again", the British bald boy said in a tone of slight panic.
"Get her away from all communication devices, stat", Rachel yelled. But it was too late, for by the time she had finished speaking, the mutant girl had now not only sneezed, but she had blown up Herbie's work space. And not only had she left a place of destruction, she had also brought the plump nerd to tears.
"My computer", Herbie screamed as he continued to cry over his workspace, gently stroking the remains of the computer as he did. "Oh...my sweet, beautiful Betsy".
"Betsy", Hoagie asked in surprise and confusion. Not long after that though, Herbie stood up to face Sector V anger very clear on his face as he opened his mouth to speak.
"Sector V, for being so careless with your teammates and letting them blow up my computer, I want your little friend here to-"
"Oh relax tubby, it's not like I meant to blow up your precious "Betsy"" Alex said in an angered, yet snarly tone. "And besides, do I look like a mechanic to you! There's plenty of other people you can ask to fix your computer for you, but don't pin it on me!"
"But...I just-"
"Oh wah, your needs", she replied in the same angered yet snarly tone. "What about mine! You think I enjoy feeling like this! No I don't! At least you full humans are lucky, you just get a little run down when your sick! I feel like someone dropped a 200 pound anvil on my head, and I can't even coordinate myself in battle now! Meanwhile, I'm blowing stuff up, I'm seeings auras all over the place, I'm having premonitions that don't make sense, something's got to give!"
"Woah! Heal girl, heal" Abigail said in a panicked tone as she grabbed her friend by the arms and dragged her away, leaving the snooty nerd in a state of cowardice and shakiness.
Despite the condition her cohort had been left in though, the young Supreme Leader could not help but quietly find her friend's reaction somewhat amusing. It did her heart good to know that her mutant friend was blending in so well with her teammates, despite having only being Sector V for almost a year at this point. And yet simultaneously, she could not help but feel both relived and concerned about her friend's cold. Concerned because Alex was almost like the sister she'd never had, and relived because now there was no way she could detect an odd presence from her arm. Seeing this as the perfect getaway to her office, Rachel began to quietly walk towards the Bridge steps.
"You seem to be in a hurry today", said a voice that startled the young girl, until she turned around to see that the voice belonged to Nigel.
"Oh, Hello Nigel. I am actually quite busy today, what with having taken a sick day yesterday" she calmly replied.
" Say, what happened to your arm? It looks like it's really swollen", the little Asian girl asked as she walked over to her friend and caressed her bandaged hand, a concerned look present on her cute face as she did.
"Oh, I sort of sprained my arm when I fell out of bed yesterday and had to go to the hospital. That's why I wasn't here yesterday", the young blonde explained.
"Uh, no offence Numbuh 362, but don't ya' think that bandage is a little too big fo' just ya' arm", the spunky black girl asked in a suspicious tone.
"Oh...well that's because I put on a pair of new bandages myself earlier this morning, so they're not as neat as they would normally look", she replied in a calm yet slightly nervous tone.
"Yeah, but I've neva' seen ya' be sloppy when it comes ta' First Aid", Abby suspiciously replied.
"Yeah", Alex suspiciously replied, for she knew just as well as her friend that Rachel was actually rather knowledgeable in the way of First Aid.
"Ah, lighten up guys. Besides, she might be able to make a great play, she's got the perfect "cast" ", the plump pilot said in a rather enthusiastic voice, laughing at his own bad pun as per usual. As per usual though, the braided beauty was rather annoyed by his horrible pun, so much so that she proceeded to take off her signature red baseball hat and smack him with it.
"Give me the hat Numbuh 5", Wally said as he walked over to his geeky best friend, who continued to happily laugh at his own joke. Unbeknownst to him however, his short-Australian friend quickly smacked him him on the head. This caused Hoagie to screech in pain as his friend returned the hat to a devious looking Abigail.
"Thanks man", she said in her usual calm and cool tone.
"Don't mention it", he said as he crossed in arms in pride, a wide cocky grin clear on his face as he did.
"Thank you Numbuh 4. This is a serious issue after all", the bald boy replied in a low and suspicious tone, one which angered the young Supreme Leader profusely.
"There is no serious issue at hand here Nigel", Rachel replied in a rather annoyed sounding tone.
"Too bad you actin' defensive doesn't help yo' case", replied the mature African-American girl.
"The only reason I'm acting defensive is because I can't believe you would accuse me of lying when you know I've never been very fond of the mere concept", she stated, her voice increasing from annoyance to emerging anger.
"And as a result, you're not very good at it either", the mutant brunette replied in a stuffed yet snarly tone, one which cause her blonde friend to quietly fume in anger.
"Fine then. Believe what you want to believe, but I know what I think", she sternly replied. "Now if you excuse me, I have paperwork to attend to."
"But Sir, your paperwork's still in my office", Herbie replied.
"Then have it sent to my office immediately", she replied in a stern yet angered tone as she walked up the stairs. Upon her exit, a thick blanket of silence covered the room. It remained this way for quiet some time as the six friends pondered what they had just heard, and witnessed. That is, until Kuki spoke up.
"Well that was awkward", the little Asian girl replied.
"Yeah, that was kind of aw-oww", the plump pilot remarked as he rubbed the sore spot on his head. "Geez Numbuh 4, did you have to hit me so hard?"
"Well you weren't taking the situation seriously Numbuh 2", Nigel replied in a slightly annoyed manner, defending his short friends actions as he did.
"I was taking the situation seriously. I'm just not above adding humour wherever it's called for", Hoagie stated in a matter-of-fact tone, trying his best to defend himself.
"More like addin' stink bombs wherever possible", the spunky African American quietly whispered, causing her mutant friend beside her to giggle in delight.
"Still though, I wish we weren't as hard on her as we were", the sweet Asian girl replied in a tone of regret and concern.
"Well, sometimes stuff like that just has to be done", Hoagie replied.
"Yeah, but we could've just used Two-Seventy-Three", Wally chimed in.
"Oh please, I know Rachel-san well enough that I don't even need to use my powers to know when she's lying", Alex replied in a stuffed yet sassy manner.
"So Boss, you think she's gonna' have a problem on her hands", the braided beauty asked in a curious tone, interested in knowing what her leader thought about all of this.
"There's no denying Rachel is lying to us, it's just a matter of knowing why", the British boy replied.
...
It was quiet in the cold and gloomy corridors of Moon Base ZERO as Rachel walked towards her office, guilt and disgust swirling around inside her as an obvious expression of sorrow lay carved in her face. Oh, how she hated to lie, especially to her friends. But a small glance at her bandaged hand only forced her to endure the same dilemma she had through with Patton nearly a day earlier, to reveal their suspicious would be to involve, an option that was non involve . And in all honesty, all she could do was sigh sadly at the thought.
"I'm sorry my friends...", the young girl thought in a stern yet calm tone as she caressed her bandaged hand in sorrow and guilt. "But I refuse for any of you to be involved in this twisted game..."
End chap. 3