Start of Page 7: Operation A.N.O.H.A.N.A.
Everyone began to tie the Teen Ninjas and Yukiatsu in existence-grade shoelaces, with Yukiatsu separate from the Ninjas. Immediately, Numbuh 362 began the interrogation on the Teen Ninjas, as they were the first ones to wake up.
"So, Teen Ninjas." She said while bringing out a nearby spade that Poppo stored in his tool set. "What exactly are you doing in here?"
"Why should we bother saying anything?" one of them grunted at her. "You got us, we are just under reconnaissance, and took this as an opportunity to strike the Soopreme Leader of the KND down."
"Oh, is that so." Hirai said with a glaring stare at them while slamming a pickaxe to the ground.
"What is the pickaxe for Poppo?" whispered Jintan as Poppo, Shinonome, and Nano are busy calibrating the Mainframe.
"Occasional gold rushes."
"What is a teen doing…." Hirai points the pickaxe at them, cutting their protest, and replied "I'm a TND agent. Seems to me that you have been ignorant to this fact. Speak or I'll use this to end your miserable existences."
"That threat ain't doing a thing." Another one of the Teen Ninjas replied. "We are just here for a reconnaissance. Isn't that enough reason?"
"Reconnaissance?" Numbuh 362 replied "You have 2 American agents with you. How the heck is that reconnaissance? This is clearly a deliberate capture mission to get Meiko Honma!"
"Meiko… Honma." The unconscious Yukiatsu muttered, followed by the words "Men…ma."
"Jintan, make sure the civilian doesn't wake up!" Numbuh 362 ordered. Jintan whispered to himself "I'm sorry, Yukiatsu." And when Yukiatsu open his eyes, he was immediately knocked out again by a frying pan.
"How lowly of you, hitting civilians like that." One of the captured adversaries snickered. Numbuh 362 lands a shovel near him, and said "That is none of your affairs!"
"Whatever it is, it means that the conspiracy that someone within KND has immediate contacts with this figure known as Father exists." Whilhelmina told the KND leader. "They may even have a distinctive knowledge of Existence as a whole."
"Which makes sense. I heard from May and Drew that the Nuke used was designed specifically for Anti-Existence… what if it's similar to the one that Menma has to stop before?" Numbuh 362 spoke her ideas loud.
"Whatever the case, the reason why you wanted her is to study her, correct?" Hirai said. But one of the Teen Ninjas just smiled, and said "If it were, can you really stop us? You are currently undermanned, against the best the Teen Ninjas can offer. We are at striking distance and you have no chance against us!"
"Every Teen Ninja says the exact same thing." Numbuh 362 said. "Are the temporary holding cells now working?"
"Yes!" Poppo replied to her with a smile and the thumbs up. "It's on the loft up the ladder."
Whilhelmina immediately used her ribbons to lift the Teen Ninjas to the loft, where they would remain until they are picked up to the Arctic base. A holographic green bars appeared with all 8 of them still tied, surrounded by another shield bubble, ensuring that they cannot escape.
"Interesting that it is also soundproof." Poppo remarked. "The KND sure got advanced over the years."
"Anyways… we need to have plans with regards to the civilian back there." Numbuh 362 said while pointing at Yukiatsu. "He is still decommissioned and we currently have no use for…"
"I disagree." Menma remarked. "You may not agree with me, but maybe the recommissioning of all the members of the Super Peace Busters might make Menma whole again."
"I agree with her." Whilhelmina nodded her head. "We needed all possible memories to be completed so that she can be fully restored."
"I will not give permission to that." Hirai remarked. "The rest of the Super Peace Busters have already been decommissioned voluntarily, including that crossdressing teen over there. Who knows what bag of worms we might open next! I never even have an idea that Poppo here became an Outlaw agent in the first place. Heck, remember the time the KND opened Pandora's Box back when the KND ordered Kazumi's recommissioning? Good thing I was technically a stealth operative back then inside of Shana, and Kazumi choose her loyalty for the KND over them instead."
"Poppo, Jintan, won't you support me right?" Menma looks at them, begging for the two teenage boys to agree with her. Poppo stops his actions, and immediately said "I was recommissioned for this exact same purpose, and although the memories are painful, remembering your smile before…" Poppo just paused a bit "…before you did the unthinkable. I'll be glad to be here making sure you are whole again, and I would make sure that it would happen."
"How about you, Shinonome, Nano?" Numbuh 362 asks the Professor and her assistant.
"I think Nano and I will pass." Shinonome said. "We have no say in the matter."
"How about you, Jintan?" Menma said. "You are still our leader, you still have a say on…"
"Of course I will support your restoration, Menma." Jintan replied. At that, Menma felt glad and happy and immediately hug him. Immediately, Jintan felt speechless, but his body language seems to indicate something else.
"THANK YOU JINTAN FOR VOTING TO RECOMMISSION THE SUPER PEACE BUSTERS!" Menma said as she continued the hug and began to swings him from side to side.
"Ehem." Numbuh 362 said "I'm still the Soopreme Leader, and it is still my call. I mean, just look at that crossdresser!" Numbuh 362 said while pointing at Yukiatsu. "I still need to access his file from Moonbase, but whatever that is, it means his memory is deeply tied to his memory of you, Menma. Who in their sane mind would dress the exact same way the person that died usually wears?"
"And here I thought he already moved on from your supposed 'death'" Jintan berated.
"Jintan, why are you joining them in insulting Yukiatsu?" Menma said as she separates herself from the hug.
"He, Tsuruko, and Anaru have distanced themselves from me the day they are decommissioned and our memory replaced. I thought they already moved on and I was stuck here to fulfill my duties as a KND/TND agent, while Poppo is having a lot of time travelling the world. That only accounts our actions based on our replaced memories, not the real ones."
"Jintan, don't insult how I have to travel to overcome my grief, damn it." Poppo said with a shout out of nowhere. "Seeing Menma drowning is one thing, seeing her smiling while being unable to do anything, from a S.C.A.M.P.E.R., outside the bunker you are raiding is another." He immediately stood up from his chair, and continued "If you think everything is easy for me, then…"
"TIME OUT!" Menma immediately yelled in the air, snapping everyone to their senses. Visibly, Rachel noticed that Menma is hurt by the fact that two of her close friends are about to fight, and is tearing up. "Jintan, Poppo, I don't want you to fight! Menma is hurting seeing her friends fight, especially if it is because of Menma, so please…."
"You're right Menma." Poppo said as he returns to his seat. "Whatever happens in the past no longer matters. I vow to every flame of my existence that I will restore you and enjoy your life again, no matter what." Menma's face began to glitter some hope, but nowhere compared when Jintan spoke up.
"Poppo, forgive me for bringing the issue up again. We are all hurt, but I'll take this opportunity to return Menma again and for all of us to be together once more. This might be a once in a million timeline of opportunities."
"And it will be a unique timeline." Menma said while wiping her tears. "Imagine Menma dying but instead of being reincarnated, she went back into being Menma, with even an opportunity to catch more Pokemon!"
"And Menma becoming the first Champion from our world, imagine that!" Poppo said to try and lighten the mood. "I heard that there was an expedition to the other world sent, so upon their return and assessment of the place, we might have a League in this world as well. There are already plans for a second expedition that we can apply to join as well."
"Hopefully after Sector V, we could be selected." Jintan continued on with the idea.
"Still ain't gonna convince me to recommission everyone." Numbuh 362 replied coldly.
"Please?" Menma looked at the Soppreme Leader, begging for her approval.
"I'll decide after this mission is over."
"Hahahahaha!" a laugh was suddenly heard, coming from a still closed-eyed Yukiatsu, prompting Hirai, Numbuh 362, and Whilhelmina to summon their weapons. "Menma, Menma, Menma, Menma… cannot you see Menma over here? Right in front of you, tied down, you jerks."
"Numbuh 1SPB, knock him out!" Numbuh 362 commands, but before Jintan was able to do so, Menma holds his hand and immediately snatches Jintan's glasses from his pocket.
"Let me deal with him." Menma said.
"There is no way you freaks treat as if Menma is alive, she is already dead, long dead, and there is no way she is here, but she still speaks with me, and only to me…"
Menma slowly places the glasses on him, and said "Yukiatsu, open your eyes."
He opened his eyes and clearly saw Menma, and Menma smiled. At that point, it was as if Yukiatsu has seen a ghost.
"M-Me-Menma!"
"Yukiatsu, it's ok." Menma said. Menma touches his cheeks and wipes his tears away, and took away the hairclip from his head. "I'm surprised you wore the hairclip you were supposed to give me, Yukiatsu. Menma would like to say, and Menma should've said it before… Thank You."
"No way, is that really… you?" Yukiatsu said.
"Release him." Numbuh 362 said. Hirai came near him and unties Yukiatsu. Yukiatsu begin to come near Menma, touching her arms first. Then upon realizing she's tangible, hugs her. He then begins to sob.
"Menma… Menma, you finally appeared… after all these years." Yukiatsu said "I… I regret saying those words back then, I should've waited, and…"
"I forgive you, Yujiatsu." Menma comforting him. "For pressing the button that made Menma leave this world."
"Huh?"
Menma turns to Jintan, and said "You can recommisssion him now."
"Even better idea." Numbuh 362 said. "Hirai, get the recommissioning module, set it to sleep recommissioning, and make it a more gradual recommissioning process. We have to make sure to make it gradual."
Hirai grabs hold of the camera, tweaks at the settings, and creates a flash that puts Yukiatsu in a slumber while still hugging Menma. At that, Menma said "Sleep tight, Yukiatsu." Immediately after, migraine overcame Jintan, Menma, and Poppo, and this caused Poppo to suddenly look behind and said "Why did I remember that just now?"
"Moments before the raid, and before the entire Sector met up with the other Sectors, Yukiatsu gave the exact same clip to Menma, and even confessed what he feels for her." Jintan said, and suddenly stops speaking.
"Yet due to the urgency of the mission, we landed and the hairclip was never given." Poppo said. "Good grief, that migraine is over."
"YUKIATSU!" Everyone heard voices in the distance.
"JINTAN!" Another voice said.
"That's Anaru and Tsuruko!" Menma cheered.
"I've dealt with enough drama and teenage angst already this night." Numbuh 362 remarked "I need a Fuzetsu right now. I'll send the report later."
"Permission accepted." Whilhelmina said, before yelling "Fuzetsu." The background and the object around it became doused in a cherry-blossom color, placing everything to halt. Everyone (except Menma) saw what that was, and Numbuh 362 said "I don't need teenagers to find out more about this. We will pack up and continue our mission tom…"
"Um… Mam, you forgot that not everyone has a birthday suit." Professor Shinonome said, as Whilhelmina is on her phone contacting Tokyo Outlaw. Poppo was safe and was able to move in such environment because he has a Treasure Tool with him (which happens to be the pouch around his neck containing the flowers he uses to offer to Menma earlier). Meanwhile, being the caster/Flame Haze, Whilhelmina is already immune to the effects of the Fuzetsu. The rest of the Taskforce Blue Flower minus Menma, Poppo, and Whilhelmina have a force field covering them, rendering them artificially immune to the Unrestricted Spell.
Unlike the previous iterations, and due to battle experience from the previous wars, the KND opted to remove the umbrella fixture and the said birthday suits is now just a headgear and a force field. Similarly, Outlaw now requires every Fuzetsu activated to be recorded and with proper reason, as its activation can now be easily tracked, hence the need of a report. Also, it should be of limited scale, about 200m radius, in order to be conspicuous enough that the entire city is not affected.
Jintan seemed to be prepared and he immediately has his bonnet on to have the anti-Fuzetsu Force Field activate. The Teen Ninjas are somehow immune to it because they wore Forcenium-enhanced Battle Ready Armor, and Whilhelmina, as a Flame Haze, has no need of it. The rest of the agents are prepared, except Menma, who immediately blended with the environment. Yukiatsu was spared because he still has the Forcenium-enhanced glasses with him, causing him to have a force field around him as well.
"Get that hairclip and convert it into a birthday suit." Numbuh 362 said. The Professor takes the clip off of Menma, places it on the holographic table, which floats it in place, and sprinkles some dust on it from one of her pockets. She then uploads a program on it and places it on Menma's hairclip, forming a force field around her and enabling her movement.
"What is happening?" Menma asks upon regaining movement. At that, Numbuh 362 explains to them the situation again.
"I don't need more teenagers to find out more about this. I ordered a Fuzetsu up so that nobody else aside from Force-sensitive users will notice. We will pack up and continue our jobs tomorrow."
"What's a Fuzetsu?" Menma asks.
"It is one of the most used Spells of Unrestrained used by Flame Hazes and Crimson Denizens. It freezes everything and anyone that didn't have a Treasure Tool, isn't a Flame Haze or Denizen, or isn't equip with Existence-grade weaponry or Birthday suits."
"But Tsuruko and Anaru…"
"No buts." Numbuh 362 cuts in on Menma's protests. "Poppo, Shinonome, bring the prisoners, go to Moonbase and upload the video tape to the database. Everyone else, we will fetch this Yukiatsu dude back to his home and complete his recommissioning."
"Roger." Everyone said.
The prisoners are now loaded in the S.C.A.M.P.E.R. and Poppo, Shinonome, and Nano are preparing to leave. Meanwhile, Menma just stared at the pathway going to the Secret Base, hoping to catch a glimpse of Tsuruko and Anaru before they leave the area.
Poppo lands his hand on her shoulder, and said "Don't worry about them. They'll be fine. It is better for things to happen this way for now, given that they may not be able to take the circumstance surrounding you immediately."
"Hey, Thanks Poppo." Menma said. Numbuh 362 then summons another S.C.A.M.P.E.R. and Jintan called them out to take a ride.
"Well, that's our signal." Poppo said. "See you tomorrow."
"Hey Poppo… do you think we can gather everyone for an adventure."
"Well, it depends…" Poppo said.
"Keep that as a promise ok!" Menma said as she went on and ride the other S.C.A.M.P.E.R. as they proceed to the next objective. Whilhelmina then lifted the Fuzetsu and everything went rolling.
END OF PAGE 7
Anaru and Tsuruko continued to cry and yell for Yukiatsu and Jintan's whereabouts.
"Are you sure about this Tsuruko?" Anaru said as she beams the light around her.
"Yukiatsu usually goes here, so we might be getting some clues…" Tsuruko then saw the Secret Base and it looks abandoned, except there are signs like a smoke in front of it. Before leaving, Task force Blue Flower 'emptied' the place, leaving only the banner, the table, and the map behind.
"It's the Super Peace Busters base." Tsuruko said. She went and ran towards it, with Anaru behind her. She went inside and the place seemed abandoned. However, she and Anaru noticed that it had signs that someone was here, as evidenced of the coffee maker with freshly-brewed coffee, a bunch of crackers, plastic cups, and plates all around a round table.
"Seems like a homeless man took refuge in here." Anaru said. Tsuruko walked and took notice of a white-haired wig on the floor and picks it up, and muttered "Yukiatsu."
"What is that?" Anaru asks.
"It's nothing." Tsuruko replied. "We need to continue our search."
They went outside and continued, not knowing that someone is watching them from above, among the treetops.
"I saw the two girls entering the SPB squadron base, probably looking for their missing friends." The Teen Ninja said, spying right above them. "Your orders, Cree?"
"Stand down and observe those girls more closely." Cree said. "We must gather as much information as we can. If it is proven to have connections with the SPB squadran, then we must act then capture our target."
"Roger that."