I'd like to think that I'm doing a good job on timely updates.

Flt. Sk.: This is why Floating Skull says you should not think.

Quiet! Anyway, I'd like to thank my reviewers. I assure you, your time spent reading this will not be wasted.

Flt. Sk.: That Floating Skull finds hard to believe.

…I realized upon looking over my last chapter that I forgot the whole "INTERRUPT TRANSMISSION" stuff and whatnot. Sorry.

Well, let's get started.

Floating Skuuuuuuuuuuuuuuull!

TRANSMISSION REASTABLISHED

"Hey, Numbuh 3," said Numbuh 4 on the bus a couple days later. "Do you mind if I sit with you?"

"Of course not, silly," giggled Numbuh 3. "Why would I?"

"Oh, no reason I guess." Numbuh 4 sat down.

"Isn't the morning sky just beautiful?" sighed Numbuh 3.

"Yeah, it reminds me of your eyes," replied Numbuh 4, leaning ever so slightly closer to Numbuh 3.

Numbuh 3 blushed. "Awww, you're so sweet."

"Man, Numbuh 5 thinks this is just getting weird," said Numbuh 5.

"I know," agreed Numbuh 2 from his spot next to her. "It almost looks like Numbuh 4's sweet talking Numbuh 3."

"I know Numbuh 5's gonna sound crazy, but I think we were better off with the old Numbuh 4."

"What are you talking about?" asked a confused Numbuh 2. "I like not getting beat up by him anymore. Besides, the mood at the treehouse has never been more positive."

"I know," said Numbuh 5. "But without Numbuh 4's blind enthusiasm, the team just doesn't have the same drive we used to."

Numbuh 2 thought about this for a minute, then nodded. "It's so peaceful at the treehouse that I have a hard time motivating myself to do things. With the old Numbuh 4, things got broken so often that I knew I had keep things fixed. But now, it feels like I can put things off because I know nothing bad's gonna happen. Except for an occasional mission."

"So we need to get Numbuh 4 to revert back to normal," said Numbuh 5. "The question is, how?"

"Easy," said Numbuh 2. "Like I said, we just need to tick him off enough. Observe." He turned up front. "Hey, Numbuh 4!" he shouted across the bus. "Enjoying being with your girlfriend?"

Half the bus burst out with laughter. Numbuh 4 just blushed. Numbuh 3 on the other hand, was confused. "You have a girlfriend? Where is she?" Numbuh 4 gave a small chuckle, then continued his conversation, ignoring the question.

Numbuh 2 sighed. "Well, I tried, got any ideas?"

Numbuh 5 smiled. "Yeah, but we'll have to wait awhile."

Later

"Are you sure this will work?" asked Numbuh 2.

"If this doesn't work, nothing will," replied Numbuh 5 with a smug smirk on her face.

"Ok, but if we get caught, I had nothing to do with it."

"Your selflessness never ceases to amaze me," said Numbuh 5 with heavy sarcasm in her voice. Numbuh 2 was about to respond when Numbuh 5 shushed him. The bell had just rung for first period, and Numbuh 4 was walking towards his locker. He undid the lock and opened the door.

Huge, gigantic piles of Rainbow Monkeys came spewing out of his locker. Numbuh 4 was quickly entombed in a prison of multicolored fuzziness. All the while, speakers were blasting out the all too familiar theme song. Everyone in the hallway turned to look at the mountain of rainbows, then immediately started laughing when they saw whose locker it came from.

"Oh my gosh, Numbuh 4!" cried Numbuh 3, rushing to the scene. "Are you all right?" She extended a hand to help him up.

"Yeah, I'm fine." He took her hand and got to his feet. "But who would put a bunch of dolls in my locker."

Numbuh 3 looked confused. "You mean you're not mad. But you hate Rainbow Monkeys."

"Yeah," agreed Numbuh 4. "But you like them, so I'm not going to do anything to insult or harm them. You're my friend, and your feelings matter to me."

Numbuh 3 smiled at this statement. Everyone else in the area simply stood with their mouth agape. Never in their conscious recollection had Numbuh 4 ever hesitated to insult a Rainbow Monkey. Yet here he was, simply shrugging it off. In time, the crowd dispersed and proceeded to their classes. Numbuh's 2 and 5 just stood there.

"Hoo boy, this is hopeless," said Numbuh 2.

"I hate to agree with you, really, but you're right," sighed Numbuh 5.

"So, got anything…" Numbuh 2 was cut off by a hand on his shoulder. There was one on Numbuh 5's as well. They turned around to see…

"Ms. Thompson!" exclaimed Numbuh 5.

Their English teacher towered over them, a beacon of dread in the empty hallways. "Strange, I don't remember seeing you two in homeroom. And yet, here you are."

"We can explain…" started Numbuh 5.

"We'll talk about this after school. As for now, I suggest you get to your next class."

"But…" began Numbuh 2.

"NOW!"

That day at lunch, Numbuh's 2 and 5 were sulking over the morning's turn of events.

"Two failed plans and detention with Thompson," said Numbuh 5, her face buried in the cafeteria's 'Meat Surprise'.

Numbuh 2 sighed and proceeded to eat his last cookie. "Well, at least they're serving sugar cookies, my favorite. Numbuh 4's too." He stuffed an entire cookie into his mouth and proceeded to chew. Suddenly, he stopped. "Mfmfmffm fmmfmf mffmfmfm fjfmfmfmf."

"What?" exclaimed Numbuh 5.

"Numbuh 2 swallowed his cookie and tried again. "Maybe our mission can still be salvaged."

"What are you talking about?" asked Numbuh 5. Numbuh 2 just held a finger to his lips and nudged his head slightly in Numbuh 4's direction, who was just sitting down with them.

"How's it goin', guys?" asked Numbuh 4.

"Not bad," replied Numbuh 2. "Say, that's some mighty fine lookin' cookies you got there." He stood up and went to stand by Numbuh 4. "It'd would be a shame if something were to happen to them." He picked up one of the cookies and slowly took a massive bite out of them. He looked expectantly at Numbuh 4.

"Ya know what, Numbuh 2?" said Numbuh 4 softly.

"Yeah?" replied Numbuh 2, waiting for Numbuh 4 to snap.

"I've always admired how you don't care about your outward appearance. You stay true to who you are." Numbuh 4 stood up with his tray and went to sit with Numbuh 1.

"Wow, I can't believe he just took that." Numbuh 2 sat there eating the rest of his food while Numbuh 5 just shook her head. Then it hit him. "Hey! He just insulted me! I don't believe. Numbuh 4 beat me! Without even throwing a punch!"

Numbuh 5 just sighed. "I was hoping it wouldn't come to this, but I guess we have no choice. Numbuh 2, do have a camera?"

"Yeah, I always keep a spare camera on hand. You never know when you're going to need one."

Numbuh 5 just grinned.

Later, in Ms. Thompson's English Class, the class was in the middle of sharing reports they had to write over the weekend. Numbuh 5 had just finished hers, a stunning report on how the Mongols invaded China. As she sat down she gave Numbuh 2 the signal. Their plan was about to reveal itself.

"Ok class, the only person left is…ugh…Wallabee Beetles," groaned Ms. Thompson.

Numbuh 4 proudly stood up and marched to the front of the room. He was about to begin when Ms. Thompson told him to wait. She reached into her desk drawer and pulled out a bottle of Pepto-Bismol. "Ok, now you may begin."

Numbuh 4 began recounting his report on the adventures of Lewis and Clark. Surprisingly, no only did it make since, but it was captivating as well. He had the class's full attention, save for two young operatives.

With attention fixed on Numbuh 4, no one noticed Numbuh 5 sneaking around him. In one quick motion, she grabbed the legs of his pants and yanked downward.

Silence ensued for a few seconds, and a blinding flash covered the area, allowing Numbuh 5 to retreat undetected. Then, the class exploded into the laughter. Numbuh 4 was as red as a beet as he hastily pulled up his pants.

That afternoon, at the tree house, the kids gathered in the living room.

"Hey, Numbuh 4," said Numbuh 3. "I heard that someone shanked you today during English class. Is that true?"

Before he could respond, Numbuh 2 cut in. "You bet he did! I even got a picture of it. Wanna see it?" He extended the photo towards her. Numbuh 4 reached to intercept it, but he was too slow.

"You wear heart covered boxers?" She tried the stifle her giggles, but soon gave up as she collapsed on the floor laughing.

"Heh heh, I guess it was pretty funny," said Numbuh 4, redness slowly crawling up his cheeks.

"Hold up," said Numbuh 5. "Are you telling Numbuh 5 that after everything that happened today, you're not in the least bit pissed off?"

"Nope," replied Numbuh 4. "I can't think any good thing about being pissed off."

"Well," said Numbuh 2. "It's a lot better than being pissed on."

Numbuh 4 burst out with laughter and joined Numbuh 3 on the floor. Numbuh 1 just looked at his teammates and shook his head.

Downloading target specs…

Subject: Nigel Uno
Power…87
Speed…72
Possesses great leadership skills. Tends to take life too seriously.

Subject: Hoagie P. Gilligan, Jr.
Power…55
Speed…25
Technology expert. Possesses little common sense.

Subject: Kuki Sanban
Power…44
Speed…110
Medical officer. Carefree nature keeps the team in good spirits. Very naive and oblivious to what's going on around her.

Subject: Wallabee Beetles
Power…100
Speed…95
Greatest warrior of the team. Intelligence is low. Becomes corrupted with power.

Subject: Abigail Lincoln
Power…78
Speed…90
Second in command. Tends to be impatient and sometimes indecisive.

"You have done well, my faithful servant."

"Thank you, master. I live to serve you."

"Now, begin Phase 2."

"At once my liege."

"Soon, my plan shall come to fruition, and the Kids Next Door shall be destroyed! Ha ha ha ha ha HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!"

INTERRUPT TRANSMISSION

Another chapter completed. I would like to thank my reviewers again. But I've noted that not all of you have reviewed. Floating Skull has claimed three souls thus far.

Flt. Sk.: Nothing gives Floating Skull more pleasure than devouring unworthy souls.

Yes. For the record, I am not, I repeat, NOT satanic. I just have an evil muse that I use to my advantage. I'll have the next chapter up soon. Until then.

Floating Skuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuull!