OPERATION: War

Part One: Undiscovered

Chapter Three: Forgivable Subterfuge

You know they already suspect you.

Yes, sir.

If you make a mistake it will be your last.

Yes, sir.

Do you have a plan to remain uncompromised until the operation can be completed?

Yes, sir. I most certainly do.


"Numbuh 60!"

Patton wheeled around to see Numbuh 86 jogging after him, her red curls streaming behind her.

"Yeh had no rite ta go off on Numbuh 362 like that," she said with a furrowed brow, disappointed at her coworker's short temperedness, as ironic as that may be.

"You honestly can't think that there's nothing whatsoever strange about this new Numbuh 7," Patton growled, crossing his arms, "You're smarter than that Fanny, and so is Rachel…or so I thought."

"Don't you dare!" Fanny shrieked, taking a swing at Patton. Fortunately he managed to catch the big left hook, as well as the sneaky right uppercut that followed. Patton took a moment to smirk.

"Come on Fanny, I taught you that move," Patton scoffed before having his arms twisted in front of him and being tossed over Fanny's hip. "And that one. I forgot about that one though," he groaned from the ground as he leered up at his attacker, "Are we done now?" Fanny took a long breath and stepped back from her fallen opponent.

"Yeah, sorry about tha'" she gasped, slightly ashamed of overreacted just a little (a lot), "But you know about the drop out rate Patton. We can't afford ta turn down new recruits. You of all people should know tha'."

Patton brushed himself off after another impromptu sparring match. Such matches had become more frequent after he had been transferred to Moon Base, but around the same time Fanny began to scream a little less at everyone and give orders like a regular commanding officer at a reasonable volume. Patton had to admit the bruises were irritating, but the therapeutic effect the bouts had on his friend were well worth it.

"We also can't afford to let security threats infiltrate our sectors," Patton countered gravely, to which Fanny gave no verbal response, but instead became rather interested in the side of her shoe. "I'm going to have Numbuh 2 and Numbuh 5 start an investigation on this Jim Goodman. Discreetly, of course."

"Heh, have fun with yer new favorite watchdogs," Fanny scoffed. She paused for a moment a cleared her throat before continuing, "Sooo…Pick me up at 5?

Patton grinned and said, "Always. I think I'll have Hoagie and Abby join us this evening. See ya then."

Fanny let out a little sigh and leered affectionately at Patton. "Right. Now get back ta work yeh lazy Eskimo!" she hollered, which was fortunately the only thing that the passerby operatives noticed since the quick tussle. Zero help her if anyone noticed the exchange that followed. One must keep up appearances after all.


The new addition to Sector V was really quite something. He stood as tall as Abby with a shock of likely dyed ice-blond hair. His figure was giving hints of the fledgling man he was soon to become, only a pinch of childhood scrawniness still about him. His crooked grin could almost be called condescending if you were the assuming type. But the most unsettling part of this boy was his eyes. Jim Goodman, now Numbuh 7, had dull green eyes that seemed to be watching everything at once. From the moment he stepped out of the transport, Numbuh 1 couldn't help but feel that he, his team, and everything in the hangar had instantly and meticulously been analyzed, categorized, and permanently stored behind those dusty emeralds.

His team remained disciplined behind him in tight formation, waiting for their leader to make first contact. Nigel could not help but be thankful for that.

"Greetings Numbuh 7," Nigel called out once the newcomer was at a reasonable distance. The tall boy closed the remaining gap with naturally long strides, expedient but not the least bit hurried.

"Greetings yourself Numbuh 1, sir," Jim—Numbuh 7—said with crisp elocution, off putting coming from a boy his age. Not quite as creepy as the Delightful Children, but still not expected. The voice itself was also a tad odd; it had the slightest bit of rasp, like thick gravel being lightly brushed by a boot. It made him sound weathered. "Thanks for letting me on you team. From what I hear about Sector V, it's an honor."

"The honor is ours, Numbuh 7," Nigel replied, matching his new subordinate's crispness, "It is rare for a Sector to be allowed six operatives. The privilege is quite exciting." Numbuh 1 did not show any of the excitement he spoke of, but the mentality was not out of place. This was a formal first meeting; truth could come later. That is, if Jim Goodman could really be trusted. Nevertheless, Numbuh 1 extended his hand to Jim, and Jim shook it with expected firmness.

Good hand shake. But is it too practiced for a boy his age? Come now, can't be that presumptuous. Most would say the same of me.

"Numbuh 7, these are your new teammates," Nigel said, turning profile to Jim to properly list off and indicate his team, "Numbuh 2, pilot and 2x4 Specialist; Numbuh 3, Diversionary Tactics and Medical Specialist; Numbuh 4, Hand to Hand Combat Expert; and Numbuh 5, my Second in Command."

"Hi there," Numbuh 7 said to the still stoic Sector V, though Numbuh 3 was squirming a bit with anticipation to properly greet their new friend, "I'm Numbuh 7. I suppose I don't have a designation yet, do I? Well, it's a pleasure to meet you all."

"This way," Numbuh 1 interjected, eager to keep the situation from becoming stagnant. No need for brooding stare-downs. "I'll show you to you room. You'll have half an hour to settle in, then I'd like to have a Sector meeting to properly get to know you. Welcome to Sector V."


Lime Ricky's was packed and swinging like any other Friday night. Kids age 6 to 12 were enjoying a great assortment of sodas and each other's company to celebrate another school week survived. At a booth on the far side from the door sat two Friday night usual's with a reputation from causing commotion, plus two guests who were also no strangers to the bar. Patton was nursing his second root beer while Fanny was half way into her third (she always had to be at least one ahead of him, especially when he was paying). But the rabble rousers were rather quiet this particular Friday though, for they had company tonight; Abbigail Lincoln was playing with an empty can of orange pop, and Hoagie Gilligan, Jr. was sipping on a club soda (a recent preference Abby was sure had only come about so Hoagie could look more sophisticated).

"Numbuh 5 was hoping she and Numbuh 2 weren't the only ones gettin' the heeby-jeebies from the new Numbuh 7," the jazzy twelve year old said, adjusting her hat so it remained over her eyes, "That boy's eyes, they creep Numbuh 5 out. Like he's always lookin' for something, you just never know what."

"Seriously, what was with the thousand yard stare he was giving Numbuh 1?" the portly pilot added, followed by another sip of club soda that garnered a hardly distinguishable grimace. "And do they teach history at Artic Base anymore? No one in their right mind would willingly wanna be a 7."

"Those 44 boys'd best be teachin' tha proper curriculum," Numbuh 86 quipped between her final two gulps of root beer. She finished her drink and slammed the glass down on the table heartily before standing half way up to yell over Patton's head. "One more for the night Ricky!"

Lime Ricky sent one of his servers off with Fanny's drink and shot back playfully, "It had better be Numbuh 86, I was about to cut you off. Shouldn't keep a girl who takes to the bottle Numbuh 60!"

"Ah stuff it Ricky!" Patton hollered back jovially, long accustomed to Ricky's silly insinuations, "If you want her, take her. I'd gladly pass her to ya!"

"Nah," Ricky hollered back with a chuckle, "Last time I said something sweet to her she almost bit my hand off."

"How do you think I lost these?" Patton returned, holding up his right hand with his pinky and ring finger bend so it looked like they were cut off at the first knuckle. Fanny gave him a smack in the face with her hat, and when she took her drink from the server she made sure that some root beer foam smeared on Patton's face. Patton chuckled as he wiped away the foam. He gave Fanny's knee a little nudge unseen under the table with his own, and she returned the nudge not unkindly, smirking smugly behind her glass.

With the moment of fun passed, it was time to return to business. "So you'll do it?"

"Yeah Eskimo, we got'choo." Fanny smirked more at Abby's recent pick up of one of Patton's nicknames. Abby had been using it since the foursome's last visit together to Ricky's a couple weeks ago.

"Any particular payment you'd like for this one?" Patton asked. He always paid them if favors unique to a fellow of his position. To this day, he was exceedingly surprised that Fanny did not protest his methods and report him to Rachel. The Fanny of yesteryear certainly would have. I suppose even the Red Devil herself can change. Heck, the ME of yesteryear would've reported me. I guess even Eskimos have to adapt to the heat.

"Another shot at Joshua Tenor," Numbuh 2 said full knowing that it was an impossible request. It just felt good to say.

"Impossible soldier, and you know it," Patton said sternly, not particularly enjoying that deep of back alley dealing, "The Council of Kyd made it clear that Josh Tenor is now just short of untouchable by the KND. And totally unapproachable by Sector V."

Patton had two theories as to why the KND's brand new judicial branch had come into existence: 1. Rachel's ever present and deepening depression that now more than just Fanny and Patton had noticed, or 2. Numbuh Infinity. Last time Patton had seen Numbuh Infinity, he had made a beeline to Numbuh 362 and stayed attached to her hip for three days. And not a full twenty-four hours after he left, the Council of Kyd (named for the location of the courthouse facility on the Moon, Kyd Crater) was born.

A heavy silence descended on the four KND veterans' table. After half a minute of uncomfortable pensiveness, Hoagie couldn't help it, "Heh. You rhymed."

Numbuh 2 received a simultaneous hat smack from both the girls at the table.

"Ow!"

The girls replaced their hats as all but Hoagie had a good laugh, much welcome following the melancholy silence.

"Thanks Numbuh 2, it's nice to not be the one receiving that once in a while," Patton said. An instant later he deftly caught Fanny's wrist as she attempted to give him another smack. A stare down followed.

"Ye have three seconds ta go a me wrist. One. Two!"

"Three," Patton finished for her with a smirk.

A rabble rousing for the ages followed.


A/N: While I had more to put into this chapter introducing the ever suspicious Numbuh 7, I've decided to leave his full introduction till next chapter for the sake of actually updating before the next bloody blue moon. Looking back, last chapter of this one was pretty weak, so I hope this chap is a turn for the better. Terribly sorry to my few followers of how infrequent I am, so I do hope you enjoy more of this filibustering. I just can't help writing 60 and 86. They're my favorites, especially due to their cult following on this site. Anyhowzin, hope you enjoyed.

-Regards,

Mr. Askanius Trick