Operation: F.A.T.E.

F – Fate

A – Already

T – Told

E – Eternally

Random Happenings

"I can't believe you'd be such an idiot Numbuh 4!" Numbuh 365 exploded, "what if you had been caught?" she demanded, "we can't lose anymore operatives."

Numbuh 4 stood silently and took his punishment. He had run away from the hospital barely two hours ago and already he had something else on his back. He went to the Moon Base in hopes that telling Numbuh 365 about Mushi would make her send reinforcements to break Mushi out. But instead Numbuh 365 freaked out when she heard where he went and was now berating him on his irresponsibility.

"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" Numbuh 365 demanded angrily.

"No," Numbuh 4 responded bitterly.

Numbuh 365 sighed.

"We all regret Numbuh 3's death Numbuh 4," Numbuh 365 said, "but we have to set the KND first," she told him, "after we've done repairs, we can start formulating a plan to deal with Numbuh 3's murderers," she stated.

Numbuh 4 remained silent.

"Just don't go wildly gallivanting around Numbuh 4," Numbuh 365 instructed, "wait until we have a plan," she emphasised.

"Fine," Numbuh 4 responded.

Numbuh 365 moved to hug him but Numbuh 4 turned away and left.

"You really loved her didn't you?" Numbuh 365 asked sadly.

Numbuh 4 never responded.

----

Jerry Rassic lay immobile on his hospital bed. He had been awake for just a few hours now. He couldn't do anything but blink and move his head slightly from side to side. All he knew was what he had been told. In a fight with Sector V, he fell down a long flight of stairs. He was paralysed from below his neck, all the way down he was paralysed. It would take years for the upper half of him to become mobile again. But one thing was definite according to the KND medical staff. He Jerry Rassic would never walk again. He remembered feeling numb then screaming uncontrollably after hearing the news. Medicine given to him now kept him calm, but the news resonated through his brain. He could feel the fresh tears falling down his cheeks, but the feeling of them stopped when they reached past the base of his neck.

Suddenly the door to his room opened and someone walked in.

"You …you….you're awake?" Numbuh 4 stammered.

Jerry turned his head as far as he could to see him. Numbuh 4, his worst enemy.

"They say I'll never walk again," Jerry said softly.

Numbuh 4 looked away at his feet.

"Look at me," Jerry said softly, "look at me," he said more firmly as he started to get angry.

Numbuh 4 looked at him. But doing so made his bangs rise slightly and it was enough for Jerry to see his reddened eyes filling with tears.

"You've been crying?" Jerry asked almost hoarsely.

"Nothin'," Numbuh 4 said in response confusing Jerry, "nothing's wrong, I'm fine," he said.

But now tears were flowing down Numbuh 4's cheeks and he was shaking.

Jerry was feeling scared. He never saw Numbuh 4 so vulnerable before. The boy who bullied him and gave him a permanent wedgie in the first grade was crying right in front of him.

Jerry didn't know what to say. So he said nothing.

------

The following day at around 6pm there was a knock on a certain door.

"Coming," Lizzie said brightly.

When she opened it she was surprised to see Hoagie. But then her eyes widened in shock when she looked closely at his face.

Hoagie had removed his goggles and his sky blue eyes were horrible swollen.

"I…I wanted you to s…s…see my eyes when I t…t….to…told you," Hoagie stuttered as he shook horribly with a tear streaked face, "I know y…y…you love Ni…Ni…Nig…Ni... Nigel," he said, "but I just wanted you to know in case anything happens to me, I love you too," he revealed.

Lizzie stood there frozen.

"Goodbye Lizzie," Hoagie said tearfully and turned to leave.

"Wait," Lizzie said and walked up to him, "I know you feel guilty about Kuki, Abby and Nigel," she said, "and maybe it is your fault," she continued, "but you have to understand that what's done cannot be undone," she continued, "I love Nigel," she told him, "I loved Kuki and tolerated Abby," she said honestly, "but we have to go on when we lose those we love," she said, "we have to or we'll wither up and die Hoagie," she said to him.

Hoagie looked at her with wondrous eyes.

No wonder Nigel loves her, Hoagie thought.

Suddenly it started to rain. In seconds they were both soaking wet.

The two of them looked at each other. The rain started to fall harder.

Lizzie suddenly heard her mother calling.

Lizzie smiled and took Hoagie's hand.

Hoagie made no protest and followed Lizzie into her home. It was fated.

Eighth Shock Noted