Chapter 7:
That first mission had gone –
Splendidly. Totally and exactly as it should have. All the members of the renewed Sector V had performed their respective assignments without a hitch and COMPLETELY shocked Numbuh Five (and themselves) with their ability to work together, reading and anticipating the moves of the others. In tandem, never applied more than now – except while Numbuh One was leading them. He would be proud, they all felt it. Abby most of all.
"Thanks boss," she whispered to the starry sky above as she swung her legs over the tree-house back deck.
Abby had retreated from the clamor within to star gaze. Most of the noise was that of boisterous boys playing a celebratory round of Yipper Squadron video games and the hoots and whoops of the winners blended with the shouts and lamentations of the losers, until all that traveled to any sane persons ear, adult or otherwise, was noise. Kuki had very contentedly settled her self on the floor in front of the couch upon which Numbuh Four competed. She wanted to be there – in the room – when he finally won. Despite the fact that he had yet to do so, even once, Numbuh Three somehow retained unshakeable faith that he would win. At some point he would win, and she wanted to be there to see it happen; to cheer him on, and to proudly smile when he made it. In a way she had a sort of shadow of a suspicion that she'd like to do that for a long time. It would be a nice place to be – beside him as his dreams came true, next to him as he began to achieve. For now it was a silly boys video game, in the future, who could say? Certainly not the Rainbow Monkey obsessed girl chattering away to her plush friends that evening.
Hoagie had seen his best friend slip softly out of the room, even as he played a victorious round against Wally. However, when it came time for him to play against Peter, who had defeated his twin in their part of the tournament, Hoagie appointed Wally as his proxy and begging off with a mumble about wanting a snack more than another game, he waited until the boys were reabsorbed in the competition and stole outside to check on Numbuh Five. Kuki giggled quietly to her Rainbow Monkeys as she watched him from the floor without his knowing it.
"Hey chief, what'cha doin' out here all by yourself?" he questioned her as he leaned on the rail nearby.
"Aw, Abby's just thinkin' how glad she is that the mission was a success baby," she answered without turning his way, preferring to keep her eyes on the stars, knowing he wouldn't mind.
"Numbuh One would real proud, Abs", he joined her in sitting with his gaze heavenward. They were two small silhouettes, two children hovering very near something that would be their future. It was nice, it was warm, comfortable, safe. It was home – to sit like this side by side with just the to of them was more than they could really understand yet. Hoagie looked at the person he looked up to the most of anyone, other than Nigel Uno, and smiled. Nobody but Abby Lincoln could be so cool, so excellent and not know it. She was nothing like the other girls at school, the ones who knew how pretty they were, or how smart, or who took full advantage of their parents' money and status. No – Abby was just Abby. Simple, strong, smart, and perfect just the way she is. He turned away strangely intimidated by his own thoughts. They felt foreign and *gasp!* almost mature. He must be slipping, or just really tired. Yeah, that's it – tired.
"Yeah, Abby thinks so too, Hoagie. Abby thinks so too", she replied before slipping back into the easy silence and counting the dots of light before her, lazily.
The ensuing weeks flew by in a whirlwind of activity, missions, remodeling the tree-house, supply runs to Moon Base, et cetera. The time drew near for Tube-a-thon, and everyone was keyed up, polishing up their personal competitive watercraft for the event. Everyone, including the sector leader was intently working to be sure that they personally piloted the fastest craft on the water that year. Hoagie once again pulled out, patched up, and renewed the air pressure in 'Ol' Betsy'. Numbuh Four and to an extent, even Numbuh Three had laughed raucously at his insistence that he would win with that old tube. Numbuh Five just shook her head and smiled from under her hat. Later that morning, Abby got a relay from HQ that assigned the gang a mission just as the boys trudged in from working on their vehicles. The mission was an escort assignment, to protect and defend the latest soda shipment bound for Lime Ricky's. That mission too, was a success and with its completion Sector V had returned to its borderline legendary status. They were an unstoppable force against adult tyranny everywhere and an inspiration to kids worldwide. Lime Ricky bought them all a round of his finest fresh Root Beer, and the team accepted with pleasure. They snacked, and laughed, and drank together until curfew compelled them each to head home.
Tube-a-thon was an upset of epic proportions that year! They had no interference from Father or the other evil adult super villans, which was a relief, but the hands down favorite to win – the boy publicly known only as 'The Kid' – didn't win. In contradiction to his lesser used moniker – Ace, he was unexpectedly sunk, quite literally, by a large hole torn in his tube by an unidentified projectile. Only a few people, like Hoagie, who had heard the enemy adult christen him 'Ace' ever used that handle. The enigmatic male himself, never commented on either name, nor did he confirm his true one. As to his loss that day, the Spanish speaking boy would later assert that the object of his downfall had been a boomerang. He would give testimony to that effect before the Tube-a-thon judges table, but unfortunately none of the KND News Network cameras along the race route had captured any proof. The wrecking of the hotshot in the middle of the race caused a significant back up among the tubers, and allowed the underdog of the competition to take the winner's prize at long last. Hoagie P Gilligan, II finally won with his trusty tube 'Betsy'. The 2x4 Technology Specialist was overjoyed as were his mother, Tommy, and Sector V. Abby was probably the most proud of him, because among his friends, only she was aware of the connection this event held for Hoagie with his father. She beamed at him as he collected his trophy and she tried, only semi-successfully not to tear up. When her team had finally calmed down back a the tree-house, she called a team meeting. Abby stepped up, and stood in the space between the seated members of her team and Numbuh One's podium and adjusted her hat calmly.
"We're headed up to Moon Base, team," she stated "Let's go. Numbuh Two, fire up the M.O.S.Q.U.I.T.T.O.H. ASA-now!"
"Right, chief!" he answered as he bounded toward the hanger.
The others followed him happily, and boarded the vessel with their usual clatter. Numbuh Three was chirping to Pete while Wally tried, most earnestly to get her attention. Peter had chased after Numbuh Two to help ready the ship. This left poor little Wally to bounce along beside the other two, like a puppy begging at the table, hopping along trying to get someone to notice him and going entirely ignored. Comical as the scene was, Abby could not suppress the twinge of guilt at the chaos she was about to create. However, this had to be. Nothing else could be done. She would tell them mid-flight, like before, and like before hope that they didn't destroy the ship.
Whatever anxiety she had harbored, this time the news Numbuh Five gave them was not really a surprise to her team. The remaining original members of Sector V had actually had the idea that this was the real reason that the Numbuh 44 twins had been transferred to their team when they were. It really made more sense to move two operatives in now that Abby would be moving out. They took it remarkably well, though Kuki cried. Wally was the only one able to cheer her up, though both the 44 twins tried, a fact and proof of status in which the Aussie basked for a good while. He was the only one who could make Numbuh Three really smile. That made him unreasonably happy somehow. Numbuh Two sat stone faced in the pilot's chair and made no comment at the news. He couldn't trust his voice at all. Besides, he could hardly see through the fog on his flight goggles as it was. Trying to talk too, would be more than he could handle.
The Moon Base Auditorium thundered with the approval of thousands of kids as Number 362 announced the name of her successor. Everyone was pleased that Rachel had abolished the use of a game of tag to decide the next Supreme Leader after the nearly disastrous fiasco with Father. Numbuh Five was willing to serve and though she had initially hesitated, she agreed to take the post. Numbuh 362 would soon be thirteen, so there was nothing to be done but find someone to take the reins.
Sector V had been restructured with Numbuh Two leading them, and the tree-house remodel was well underway to accommodate the different needs of the new team. Numbuh Two had been keeping very busy with the re-design because he liked the challenge and also to keep his mind off how far away his best friend would be most of the time. Now he stood proudly behind her with his team beside him and beamed as she took the podium and assumed her new duties with the grace and poise everyone admired in her. After the inauguration concluded, the Supreme Leader walked up to her lifelong friend with a glass of soda in her hands for each of them and a glint in her eye as she spoke. Numbuh Five looked up from under the red rim and asked the boy in front of her the same question yet again.
"Why is it always me, Hoagie?," she smiled when he answered with complete conviction and bell-clear admiration in his tone.
"Because no matter what happens, you are the one we all look up to. The one we can count on, the one Numbuh One trusted to do the job. No matter what doubts you have Abby, the reason is simple: You're the best there is."
END
Author's Notes:
Did you like it? I know, I have been gone forever, but I am alive and well as you see. Please write and tell me what you thought of it.
I tried to make it light 2/5 and light 3/4 since they are still young. I think I might have failed there, I don't know.
I have no where near the time to write that I once did, nor the time I wish I had. Therefore, don't expect anything new from me except this for an indefinitely long, or unspecified time. Sorry.
I hope you like this one! I took forever, but I'm glad it's done.
Chapter two needed to be longer, but I just didn't get there on that one, sorry. If I ever fix it, I'll let you know. :)
