Chapter 9:

The Serpents Strike

James and Cree sneaked into the warehouse.

With weapons in hand and ready for the worst they walked through the dark room. They passed big wooden boxes bigger than 5 kids on a row.

In short, the typical warehouse.

As they passed a very big wooden box James' eye suddenly fell on something.

"James? What are you doing?" Cree asked.

But James didn't respond. He walked around the box like he was looking for something.

"James?"

"Cree, come here." He waved.

Cree walked to James and looked at the box.

"Don't you see something strange?" James asked.

Cree walked around the box, but nothing truly was worth of her attention.

"I don't see anything. It's just a box."

"No, it is not. Look at the address."

Cree looked at it, then she shrugged.

"So?"

"That is the address of the DCFDTL. Now, what would it be that is in this box?"

"James, we don't have time for this. We must search for numbuh 700."

"I agree. Every minute counts. But on the other hand, we can't leave this here without investigating it. So here's the plan: you search for good old 'Vicky', if I recall correctly, and I will examine this box. When you've found numbuh 700, do not engage him. Come back to me, then we will take him down together."

"But what if he's gone by then?" Cree asked.

"Then we hunt him down again. Now go. And remember: do not fight him alone. Get me first."

"Ooh, is little James worried that I will win and that there's no more fun for you?"

James smiled.

"No, Cree. Little James is worried that he will win. Now go."

There. James thought satisfied. That will give them a lot of trouble.

He took a look around.

Where is Cree? She should've returned already. Did something went wrong?

After he waited for a few extra minutes, he decided to look for her.

As he walked through the labyrinth of boxes, he heard something.

With every sense on sharp James walked towards the noise.

Voices…

Just as he got close enough to see a glimpse of numbuh 700, his sixth sense warned him for immediate danger… behind him.

He turned around swiftly, saw someone holding a weapon, disarmed him and threw him on the floor. While he pointed both his own weapon and the weapon he just took at his attacker he saw to his surprise that it was Cree who was laying on the ground.

"Cree?"

"No, the Pope! Why the hell did you do that?" She asked angry.

"Why did you sneak up on me?" James asked while pulling her up.

"I was looking for you. I found Vicky and came back, as you asked. But you were gone, so I searched for you. When I found you, you were hiding behind a box so I assumed you've found him too. Is it then so strange that I come to you as quiet as possible? And how did you know I was right behind you? I'm pretty sure I didn't make a single sound."

James shrugged.

"Sixth sense, I guess."

He gave Cree her weapon back.

"Well, whatever it was, you were the first one ever who was able to surprise me like this. So I have no idea if I should congratulate you or threat you like a dangerous rival?"

"Decide that after we've taken care of our business here."

They both nodded to each other.

"Right behind you, Jamie."

James calmly walked towards numbuh 700.

Half to his surprise, numbuh 700 wasn't alone.

A tall, mysterious man stood at his side, half in the dark. He wore a long, dark coat. His hood hid his face.

The first thing that James noticed was a filthy stench, but he didn't pay much attention to it.

"Good evening, Victor." James said calmly.

Victor looked at them. First at James, then at Cree who was a few steps behind James.

He spread his arms, like he wanted to hug them both.

"Triple! How nice of you to show up."

The fact that two weapons were pointed in his direction didn't seem to bother him.

He wore a long, brown coat. That, in comparison with his cowboy hat made him a real western outlaw.

"I must say that I am a little disappointed in you, Triple. After all, I expected you" He looked at his watch. "5 minutes ago. What was the delay?"

"None of your concerns, Victor." James said.

Victor smiled.

"None of my concerns indeed. But it was an annoying situation, waiting so long for you. A very annoying situation. As you can smell, he isn't exactly the most suitable companion." He pointed at the hooded figure.

"Now, now. Let us stay polite. Aren't we all gentlemen here? I think that introductions are in order. Won't you agree, Victor?"

"I completely agree, Triple. But there is one small complication. You see, you two have already met."

At seeing James' confused frown, Victor laughed.

"Come on, Triple. Think. Or should I say: smell?"

Victor laughed and James knew who it was. Actually, he'd already knew, but now he realized it.

"This is not funny, Dante!" A gurgling voice said.

The man in the dark coat slowly stepped in the light while he removed his hood, revealing his face.

James couldn't suppress a cry of disgust at seeing that face.

Most of it was overgrown with purple pimples. Some of them with the size of a tennis-ball. His eyes were bloodshot and his hair, or what was left of it, was grey and washed-out.

He didn't look like the redhead Teen-Ninja who was ordered to capture James back at his home anymore.

"What you've done to him is cruel, Triple. I never thought you'd had that in you. Another mistake from my side, but it's not so important."

"Not so important?" The gurgling voice said.

He pointed at his face.

"Look at what he has done to me!"

"I prefer not, but I get your point." Victor said.

"You deserved it. When you laid there on the floor of my house, I recognized you. After what you've done to those first-graders, you deserved a harsh punishment." James calmly replied.

"He has a point, champ." Victor said.

"You have turned me into a freak!"

"Don't exaggerate now, please. It's not as bad as it looks. Your pimples will disappear after a month or two. Your hair will grow back and will even get some of its color back. The smell shall reduce and in a few years it shall disappear completely. Or at least, that is what should happen. I never actually had the chance to test it, so let me be the first to thank you for your sacrifice in the sweet name of science."

James made a gracious bow.

"This is not the end. I shall have my revenge. Watch my words, numbuh Triple Three, for I will hunt you down. I shall become the one hiding in the dark. I shall become the one who will follow you like a shadow. I will be your worst nightmare. This, I vow. I will have my revenge, numbuh Triple Three of the Kids Next Door. From today forth, you shall never know piece, nor rest, nor…"

"Yea, yea. Now, do us all a favor and shut up." James said.

He aimed and shot him in the face once again, and once again the green liquids covered his entire head.

"Aaargh! Noooooo! Not again! Aaargh!"

While he started to run around in circles he kept screaming. He then ran into a box and fell down, unconscious.

"Damn, am I glad you shut him down. Nice work, Triple. I owe you one." Victor said.

He sniffed.

"Too bad of the smell, though."

"My pleasure, Victor. Now, you have approximately three seconds to tell me where Rachel is before you can join your companion over there."

Victor chuckled.

"So there is the five million dollar question. It's truly a surprise you could restrain yourself for so long, Triple."

"Only but two more seconds left."

"Don't try to intimidate me, Triple. We both know you're not going to pull the trigger as long as I have this."

He grabbed a remote control out of his pocket.

"What is that?" James asked.

Victor smile when he pressed a button.

A big crane to their left was activated and started to pull something up.

And there, packed with robes and hanging on a large chain, was Rachel.

"Rachel!" James yelled.

She was gagged, but the way she looked at James told him that she was all right and that she was as happy to see him as he was to see her.

"Let her go." James said that with as much threat in his voice as he possibly could.

But Victor didn't seem to be impressed.

"Or else what? You're going to shoot me? There's no way that you're going to shoot me. Especially not because you know that your beloved hangs above a crate filled with broccoli, that this remote is very sensitive and that I no doubt have plenty of strength to press the right button before I run around like a moron like the champ over there."

James looked back at Rachel. He saw now that she hanged above a big box, that that box was open and that there was something inside that looked like the lethal vegetable.

He knew Victor wasn't bluffing. For him, Rachel meant nothing.

James lowered his weapon.

"What do you want of me, Victor?"

"Oh, let's see… I want a cheeseburger, a new hat and… something else? Yes… what was it again? Oh, yea. The KND organization. Preferably on their knees. That is what you can do, Triple. Well, the cheeseburger and the hat too, but that would be a waste of your skills. So let's skip it to the part where you and I bring the organization to their knees."

"You can do that all by yourself. With the knowledge you possess given to the right Adults, the organization would be devastated."

"Correct." Victor said, a smile from ear to ear. "But I want you at my side. And as long as I have your beloved, I'm pretty sure you will become loyal to me."

He suddenly started to laugh.

"Oh, Triple. We're going to have a great time. Just wait until you see it."

James' hand slowly went into his pocket. He then smiled when he found what he was looking for.

"Victor." He said almost on a playful tone.

Victor and James looked each other right in the eye.

"You lose." James whispered it, but nevertheless everyone could hear it.

James quickly pulled a long robe out of his pocket. He wielded it as a whip and slapped the remote out of Victors hand.

Victors surprised face quickly turned mad with rage, his hand disappeared into his own pocket to draw his weapon. But before he could shoot, James hit him again with his whip, disarming him.

Meanwhile, the remote flew through the air. Victor didn't exaggerate when he said that the remote was sensitive. With an ominous sound the crane was activated.

With a frightened look in her eyes Rachel saw the broccoli coming closer to her.

James noticed the danger and ran towards the remote, cursing himself that he never had any interest in baseball.

With a desperate duck he was able to catch the remote before it could hit the ground.

Knowing Rachel didn't have much time anymore, James examined the remote closely before he pressed some buttons.

The crane stopped, the box with the broccoli closed and Rachel was saved. Carefully, James let the crane put down Rachel.

He then turned his attention to Victor again.

"Too slow, old man." He said.

His face turned angry.

"You fool. Did you truly expected that I came unprepared? You should've never betray the KND. But now you will finally pay for your treason."

To his surprise the only thing Victor did was starting to applaud.

"Bravo. Quite a show you've put up, Triple. Didn't I told you he was the best? But I'm afraid it ends here. You see, Triple. You are good, but I am better. I am still ahead of you."

James lifted an eyebrow.

"No, you're not." But his confidence was faltering.

Victor shrugged.

"Time to end this show." He said.

What is he…? James thought.

But then he felt an enormous pressure on his back. He fell forward, his weapon rolled over to Victor's feet.

Painfully, he looked behind him.

Only to see Cree, her weapon aimed on him.

"Cree…" He said.

I should've known. Me and my stupid trust.

"Why?..."

Cree shook her head.

"I'm sorry, James." She whispered.

Rage. More rage than he'd ever felt before filled James.

"Traitorous witch!" He yelled.

Seeing so much anger and even hatred into James' eyes made Cree almost afraid. But she quickly restored herself and fired again.

James rolled over and the shot missed him. He stood up when Cree fired again. He quickly dashed to the left, but not fast enough. The shot hit him right on his chest.

Again feeling that enormous pressure James was hurled backwards, hitting a wooden box.

Coughing, he knew he was defeated.

Weakened and half stunned he looked at Rachel one more time.

"I am sorry." His soundless lips told her.

One look in her beautiful brown eyes was enough.

"I have failed you…"

He looked at Cree, who slowly came to him.

A single tear slipped his cheek.

"Why?" he asked her again.

But Cree didn't answer him. In fact, she didn't even dare to look him in the eye.

"Well played, Triple." Victor said. "But like I said, it needs to end here."

He walked towards Triple and took the remote out of James' powerless fingers.

"I'll be damned."

He looked at Rachel.

"I must say I am very impressed. The crane didn't move even once. You must've kept that remote more tighter to you then I, given the sensitive nature of it."

He looked James right in the eye.

"You disappoint me. You should've now numbuh 11 wasn't trustworthy. Yet you let her watching your back. Hah! It was almost too good to be true. For you see Triple, your determination to always see the best in others was always one of your biggest weaknesses."

He laughed.

"What garbage did you feed him so that he believed you?" He asked Cree.

Cree quickly hid her sad face behind a mask of victory.

"I just said that it was the same as in Siberia. The fool believed every word after that."

Victor laughed and Cree sobbed a bit before she could restrain herself again.

"Siberia? Truly? Hah, you're not as smart as I thought. But no worry, uncle Victor will explain. You see, when you first met numbuh 11 in Siberia, she was the traitor. After I ensured our Russian friends would think that the traitor was someone of their own, Cree had free play. But then I send you, and everything went wrong. That was the first and last time I underestimated you. You retrieved the computer spike and you proved that the enemy wasn't an inside men. Who else but you could know that? And when Cree was unmasked, I thought it would be all over. But your preposterous belief in Cree's innocence and the fact that you came all the way to the Moon base to support her sure was very helpful. I guess me and Cree owe you a big thank you for that. I still don't understand why you would take Cree's place to be Decommissioned. Such loyalty towards her… It was very impressive. But why? Why would you selflessly take Cree's place?"

"Because… I believe…" James said.

"In what? Don't tell me you did this all for the organization. Those morons would've Decommissioned you if it wasn't for me."

"Some things are… worth the… sacrifice. The fact that you… don't understand this… is your own… weakness. I would sacrifice… myself for every… member of the KND. Always…"

Cree looked at him with respect and admiration, but Victor laughed in his face.

"That is truly the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Truly. But if that's truly what you think of it, then let me ask you a question: where did it brought you?"

James didn't answer.

"Nowhere." Victor answered his own question. "Absolutely nowhere. Take Cree for an example."

Cree didn't look very happy for that prospect, but she remained silent.

"Did you thought it was a coincidence that numbuh 86 called you at the moment she did? The only problem was that that fury was arrested before she could tell you this location. I hope you didn't thought for a moment that I would allow someone to spy on me? I knew she knew some things. Or at least she had suspicions. Suspicions she would surely share with you, the boyfriend of her best and only friend. It really was a shame she couldn't give you all the Intel you needed. Cree would've escaped on her own anyway. But no, you needed to go all the way to the Moon base. I thought for the info, but you did it all for her, didn't you? To safe someone you don't even like. Who no one likes, actually. And when you were almost captured, I knew I needed to act. So I ordered Cree to rescue you and escape with you. The only danger was numbuh 30 and his Decommissioning squads. I noticed that you eluded them by slicing into the KND data banks. Good move. It surely bought you some time. But then they got to you, and you were able to escape. Now that too was very impressive. There are not many who can claim that they escaped a direct confrontation with numbuh 30 and his squads. And then you and Cree got here, exactly as I intended. And right on schedule too. The only small liability was that idiotic Teen-Ninja. You did a good job by shooting him down. Again."

James didn't respond.

"It's shameful to see you now, Triple. To see you defeated. A pity. You could be so much more. Why you've put your loyalty on the organization I would probably never know, but I sure regret it that I don't have it."

Victor followed James' gaze to Rachel.

"Even now she is the only thing that truly counts, isn't she?"

James looked back at Victor, but then he faded.

Victor watched how James lost his conscious. While Cree examined him, he picked up James' weapon.

"Ingenious." He muttered.

"He's unconscious, sir." Cree said.

"No problem. We take him with us. Him and her." He pointed at Rachel.

Rachel watched James very carefully, clearly worried.

"What do you feel now, seeing your grand protector lying there, defeated?" He asked her.

Rachel looked at him furious, but Victor only laughed.