Things went exactly what the Joker had predicted. His presence in Cleveland set the news to spread all over town and, inevitably, the nation. The police were everywhere, on the search for any trace that might lead to the lunatic and his gang.

Harley's name was also mentioned on the papers. Thanks to her, Cree confirmed – just barely – every bit of information that the Joker was undeniably involved in the robberies these past few weeks. But no one seemed to know the cause for the Joker's being here and all questions started rising as to what he was planning. Of course, that was for him to know and them to find out, sooner or later.

All the parents were pretty much in a state of panic and ordered their children to stay close at home, especially the members of Sector V.

In her room, poor Kuki was a little less shaky than she was on the day of Cree's wounding, but she couldn't get that off her mind. It reminded her too much of something similarly tragic. In fact, it made her think of the time when her life had changed forever. When she learned to grow more responsible. When she nearly lost Wally.

(*Flashback scene*)

One day, she skips along joyfully across the sidewalk with her Skipidy-Dip-Along Rainbow Monkey. She hasn't a care in the world of what might happen. She never notices the stone in front of her path until too late.

She trips over the stone and falls to the ground. The Rainbow Monkey slips from her grasp and lands onto the middle of the road.

"Hey!" Kuki shouts. "Get back here!" She runs over to the Monkey, grabs it, and hugs it tight.

"Next time," she says to her stuffed animal, "we better watch we're going." And she continues to hug her pride and joy, unaware that a large force is about to come right from behind.

Wally, still in his small stature, walks on the other side of the street and then sees Kuki, snuggling her Rainbow Monkey in her arms. This annoys him greatly.

Aw, man, he thinks to himself. How can she still be falling for those cruddy Rainbow Dorkies? It just ain't right. One of these days, she's gonna have to…

His thoughts are interrupted as he hears a vehicle coming from his left. A pretty loud one, too, from the sounds of it. He turns his head around to see a huge truck. In fact, it turns out to be – as an addition to his displeasure – a Rainbow Monkey deliver truck.

Can't they ever stop making those girly nightmares? Wally pleads in his mind.

Suddenly, he notices the truck coming closer and closer. He realizes that it is on a straight course… right in Kuki's direction. And she was still on the road!

The truck honks its horn, but Kuki doesn't seem to notice. What seems to be the worst part is that the truck is being driven by a blind old man, who stubbornly refuses any glasses or eye contacts.

Not wishing to see his best friend get hurt, a scared, but determined Wally runs onto the road and cries out "Kuki! Watch out!"

Kuki snaps out of it and looks back to see the truck, heading her way by a few feet. She is instantly petrified and can't seem to think of what to do next.

However, Wally knows what he is doing. He reaches Kuki just in time and pushes her out of the way. But, sadly, he knows that he wouldn't escape the truck in time.

The truck driver feels a bump at the front of the vehicle as he drives along the line. He then takes no notice.

"Dog gone garbage trucks," he mumbles. "When will they learn to clean up their messes properly?"

Kuki stands back up as the truck rushes past her without any damage. "What a way to have yourself being run over by a Rainbow Monkey truck," she says, letting out a deep sigh of relief. "Thanks a lot, Numbuh 4." "No reply comes to her. "Numbuh 4? Are you even listening to…?"

She turns around, only to discover that Wally is now lying on the road, badly wounded and hardly bleeding at all.

Kuki gives out a gasp of horror. "Wally!" Dropping her Rainbow Monkey, she rushes over to Wally and stops to bend down. "Oh my God, Wally! Are you okay? Can you hear me? Come on, Wally! Say something!"

Wally never gives a response. Kuki's eyes begin to water.

"Please…" she sobs quietly. "Please, don't do this to me. Don't leave me." She sets her head down on Wally's chest, sobbing. "I love y-"

Suddenly, she believes she is hearing something. She lifts Wally's hooded sweater and listens to his heart. There is a beat. He's still alive! Just barely.

Quickly, she rushes over to Abby's house, dragging Wally with her. It is hard going, but in a moment, she manages to get the both of them to house.

She knocks on the door hard. "Hello?" she asks desperately, her voice cracking a bit. "Dr. Lincoln?"

"He's at work, brat," calls a familiar voice from inside the house. "Now get lost!"

"Cree? Is that you? I need your dad's help! Wally's h-"

"Didn't you just hear me? If you wanna get to Dad, go to the hospital!"

Kuki's voice starts sounding more desperate. "Please, you don't understand! This is an emergency! If I don't call your dad fast, Wally's gonna…"

"Look," says an annoyed Cree, as she opens the door. "If you don't get outta here right now, I'm gonna be kicking your… What in the name of George W. Bush?!" she exclaims. She looks at a tear-faced Kuki holding her hurt Wally.

"Cree, please," Kuki begs, despairingly. "Help me save him. He's dying."

(*End of flashback*)

It was lucky that Cree was able to call her father from her hospital. She really had a heart somewhere, after all. Too bad she had been injured greatly months later, only this time by the girlfriend of a lunatic clown.

Wally, before his accidental growth and intellect acceleration, had to stay in the hospital for weeks until Dr. Lincoln confirmed that his body was completely functional. His parents and the rest of Sector V visited him often. But Kuki more of his concern, just to see that she was safe every single day. It made him very happy. Even Mr. and Mrs. Sanban came to see him one time not only to thank him for saving than, but also for learning that self-sacrifice—giving your life for someone else—was a big part of growing-up. Wally had the strangest feeling that they were approving some sort of future marriage or something, but that was fine by him, so he didn't bother to ask.

Kuki, however, deeply felt that Wally's accident had been all her fault and still was even now. Her love for Rainbow Monkeys got in the way of what was most important. At first, she was reluctant to see him in his previous condition. But after Abby convinced her that Wally needed her, she wanted to let him know how much she loved him. And, to her surprise, Wally felt the same. It was the very thing she wanted to hear.

Of course, Nigel, Hoagie, and Abby knew about this from the beginning, but they wanted to hear the words coming from Wally himself, though he was in denial and too embarrassed to discuss the subject with Kuki. He was afraid that she wouldn't fall for someone as short and disgusted with Rainbow Monkeys as he was. He was later proven wrong because, no matter what how tall or tough he was, she would always love him.

For years, obviously, the two kept their feelings from each other ever since kindergarten. Now that they were out, Wally became much kinder towards Kuki and she was more concentrated on him than Rainbow Monkeys or any other toys. It was like a dream come true.

At the present situation, Kuki went straight downstairs to ask parents if it was alright to visit the Beatles for a while. They were both cautious at first, due to the recent events, but they agreed as long as Kuki's little sister, Mushi, would come with her. Kuki was thankful for this and she and Mushi walked straight down across the street, which was under police supervision, to meet their destination.

I always knew I'd count on Wally, Kuki thought to herself, happily. He'll be with me every step of the way.

At the Sector V treehouse, Nigel was speaking to Rachel McKenzie (Numbuh 362) via visual communications.

"You've heard the news?" asked Nigel to his Supreme Commander.

"You bet I do," replied Rachel. "I can't believe someone as crazy as the Joker would want to steal tech from us and our enemies. What do you think he's up to?"

"I have no idea, but from what I've heard from his reputation, it's not going to be good."

"Affirmative. Over and out." A little reminder came to Rachel in a split second. "Oh, and Nigel?"

"Yes, Rachel?"

"If you see Numbuh 5," said Rachel, sympathetically, "tell her that Cree may have betrayed the KND, but she didn't deserve this. She'll need to hear that. Believe me, I know."

"So do I. Over and out."

As the screen went blank, Nigel looked out the window sadly.

Months ago, he was sent to represent the secretive Galactic KND, an alien part of the organization where kids of all species could work together. While there, the scientist cured his hair problem and, by a few days, his head was anything but bald again. He had to admit that the GKND's kind of technology was well beyond anything he could possibly imagine in this universe.

But that mission did not last long. He was forced to return home to Earth and his Sector, on Rachel's orders, after hearing of Wally's accident. After all, he couldn't let one of his best friends down. In fact, they all needed him back. Even though he was missing the GKND, he felt happy to help lead his team again.

Onto the current situation, Nigel knew that Rachel was right. Abby definitely needed some comfort right now. Luckily, Hoagie would be there to help her.