Yes, another chapter. I might bump this up to a rated M eventually but for now staying at a solid T. I've looked at this long enough and it has to go up. I only have plans for this to have five chapters unless someone has something they want me to add. Also thanks to the anon! Not only did I fix that mistake but also two more I noticed and included Father in the character tag that didn't save.
Please review if you're enjoying this.
Rachel felt the thumping in her chest as she rolled out of the makeshift bed. Climbing down and out of the broken-down ship to empty her stomach. Whatever they had cooked the last couple of nights did not taste good. Well, she wasn't able to keep it down but Nigel was.
Her dark eyes focused on their campsite to find breakfast left for her and her change of clothes drying on the line. That was when she realized that Nigel wasn't there. He was probably training as she pushed around the food on the plate and ate just enough. It wasn't the same to eat without him next to her. Sighing, she turned and started toward his training spot. She liked to watch him train with his powers.
That was when she heard the voices and saw the working space craft.
"Numbuh 1," said Abby her eyes wide with disbelief in her voice. Her lips repeating what she just said realizing who that was. Numbuh 5? What was she doing here? She couldn't hear the entire conversation as she got closer, making out parts of the words. Ignoring the churning in her stomach she leaned in.
"It doesn't matter who your family is," said Abby. "You know what Cree is like! You don't have to be like him."
Nigel stared at her and tried to keep his lips from turning into a smirk. "You're right I'm not like... my uncle," said Nigel darkly standing over the spy that landed at their camp. "You think he's dangerous? I am... worse... much worse."
The shadows covered his face as he threw a ball of fire, as if it were a baseball, in the direction of the dark-haired girl. Abby tried to leap out of the way as it singed her braid and burned down their outhouse. Rachel resisted the urge to puke as she held it in.
"Nigel!' called Rachel getting his attention.
"Go back to our bed," he said snapping at her, his yellow eyes trained on Abby.
She backed up glancing at the girl who had stopped next to her. She glanced at Nigel and she pursed her lips unable to look at her former friend. The dark-haired girl looked up at her just as shocked.
"Numbuh 362," said Abby just as surprised as she felt.
"You don't get to call her that," snapped Nigel advancing on her.
That didn't seem to matter as she lurched forward and put a hand over her mouth. Maybe she should have ate before her little breakfast before puke and she saw black. The last thing she remembered was both of them running to her.
Benedict Wigglestein aimed his fireball at the intruder, who had scrambled away. The kid in question screaming and crying barely getting any info on his 'mission.' His golden eyes narrowed as he went back to his map. He was busy trying to track down his nephew and marking off locations after he checked. He was even spent the night as his brother's house hoping that Nigel would come home. All he managed to get out of that was a homemade meal and reminiscing over stuff he'd rather forget.
"This is useless, by the time I find him he'll be an adult," said Ben slamming his fists against the table. "The last I saw him; he was thirteen or about to be. He'll be 16 coming up according to Monty and I still can't find him. I want my pipe back and I want my revenge."
The delightful children flinched as they laughed nervously, glancing at each other. They've been hiding out lately, waiting to battle sector V in full. It's been about three years at this point since they had fought the KND or at least sector V in full. Their attack would be a grand surprise when they revealed themselves.
Behind them the doorbell rang as Father straightened himself.
"That might be the food, go and get the door," he instructed placing markers on his map. There had to be some logical place he was hiding. That treehouse of coolness maybe? Then again it was only a few miles underground from his house. He would have had to resurface at home eventuall—
Before he could finish that thought the Delightful Children screamed and he raced to the front door.
There in front of him, duking it out with his five kids, was Nigel Uno. Somehow, he had made his way to his mansion.
"You," said Father gesturing for his kids to step aside.
"You," said Nigel shouting as they finally face each other.
Finally, he thought, with a sadistic kind of pleasure. "I've been waiting for you, Mr. Uno. I believe you have something that's mine."
"Oh and what would that be? Your pride?"
"Give me my pipe back you little brat, and you might be able to walk away alive."
He was steaming ready to stomp over to him and search his person for his pipe. When that was done, he'd figure out what to do next. Nigel had a haughty look on his face and something in his hands. He stopped short when he saw whatever it was in pieces. Gasping he rounded on his nephew realizing what exactly it was.
"You mean this?"
Nigel threw down the pieces of his pipe between the two of them.
Okay that was it, he had enough and was going to put the boy in his place. He wondered if the delightfulization machine will work on someone older then 13. It was always supposed to be used on children, but he could make an exception. Maybe he could convince his delightful children to have their go at him.
"How dare you break that pipe boy. That is from your ancestors," said Ben looking down at the pieces throw on the floor in front of him.
Flames grew from his suit growing bigger and bigger ready to attack his own nephew. Much to his chagrin Nigel pretended to study his now longer nails. Unaffected by what he had said to him. Furious at even being ignored Ben marched toward him.
"Is that really all you got," said Nigel in a mocking tone.
"What do you…" said Ben shouting before his yellow eyes grew wide at what was happening.
Electricity cackled in the air and the floor started shaking. Coils of shadows from his knickknacks and the people in the room wrapped around him, as Nigel strode over to his uncle. Orange and red flames in his wake. The burning carpet smell filling the air. Oh, oh, oh boy. Now that was a turn of events. His nephew had been gone for years now and he came back stronger then ever before.
For a second, he thought about being worried, but would think about it later. This was great! Now he had the best chance of getting back at the Kids Next Door. His own apprentice that knew weaknesses and almost as powerful as him.
"Now that I your attention. Perhaps this might sway your mind."
Nigel had telekinetically dropped an unconscious Abigail Lincoln in front of him, his jaw firmly step trying not to let it drop.
"Isn't that your friend?"
"Not so much anymore. I want revenge against the GKND for what they did to me and I think you can help."
Oh boy, that was cold, but he had captured one of his friends and brought her here. Nigel was offering him a lot. He'd question what reason later as he found himself slow clapping. Nigel puzzled as they met in the middle of the room.
"You got your powers," said Ben feeling like a proud uncle. "This is better than any comfort that pipe would bring me. You know I'm most delighted to see another generation come after me and of course put those children in their place."
Nigel paused and narrowed his eyes at his elder.
"You knew this would happen," he said cooly yet his voice intense.
"For every generation there's another one of us," he said gesturing for him to sit in the nearby armchair. "Me, Grandfather, Great Gran Gran… They say that we're descendants from the guy that invented spanking."
He paused gauging for his nephew's reaction. Nigel's face straight but a small smirk gracing his face.
"By the way congratulations! You know," he paused a few seconds while examining him, "I think you'd make a wonderful apprentice. Think about it; with my inventions and our combined powers we could rule this planet, I'll even buy you a snazzy new outfit."
He was extending the offer. They could sit down and talk about it over hot chocolate or something. With luck they'd have success, and the downfall of the Kids Next Door would be within his grasp by the end of month, hey maybe even next week. Heck, he could even train his nephew into taking over the world once he was gone one day.
Nigel gave him a side eyed look and stood up straighter, analyzing the offer. Then he drew a person from the shadows. A blond girl about his age, scantily clad, and brown eyes wide stood next to him. Ben realized who that was. It was that 362 girl, the one that force fed him that broccoli. He shuddered and felt his knees wobble at the memory.
"Listen, Ben, as tempting as that offer stands; Rachel here is part of this deal too."
Ew. They probably had the hots for each other. They were probably dating. Not only that but he hated her ever since said broccoli incident. It was just bad memories of his childhood that he'd rather not think about. Probably ever again. Did he even want her here?
The girl looked like she was ready to pounce, the look she was sharing with Nigel was intense.
"Listen," he said thinking. He had to get Nigel to say yes and if that meant being in the same mansion as her. "I don't like her, and I don't think I can stand being around her."
"Well, the feeling is mutual," she said darkly glaring at him. "Do you think I have broccoli hiding on me?'
She smirked as he felt the urge to rage and cower at her at the same time. Instead, he did neither yet eyes blazing.
"Why you little…"
"Listen, we're a package deal," said Nigel cracking his neck eyes trained him. "If you train me, she stays. Rachel knows her place and it's right next to me."
The blond smiled coyly as she laced her fingers through his. Although he did notice when Nigel put a hand on her elbow she quieted down, and a passive look on her face. Hmm, she seemed to be easy to control by him at least. Ben nearly gagged that they were still holding hands and resisted from rolling his blue eyes. Fine, if he wanted to play that way, then he could fight fire with fire.
"I wasn't finished," he snapped trying to keep himself together. "The girl can stay. We can lay out our terms and do any negotiating."
"Like a partnership," said Nigel flatly, the glint from the fire in his eyes said otherwise.
Ben saw the wheels turning in his head at those words. He could think of a few rules he could include in that. Excellent as he nodded along with the idea.
"Exactly. You want her to stay, and I'd like to train you, I'll pick out the time and schedule it all," he said.
It was silent as Nigel's lips formed a line while thinking of it. Ben tapped his fingers against the leather chair he was sitting on. His delightful children not saying anything, staring at their nemesis slowly turn into a younger version of him. It probably just shocked them.
"What else do you have in mind?" asked Nigel more curious than anything.
Together they had bartered and come to an agreement both compromising on not betraying each other. Plus, the fact that they had to come up with plans together.
Nigel agreed to the training part no problem. No broccoli or even talking about that incident ever again with Rachel staying at least three feet away from him. Ben also promising to not recommission Monty or his dad under any circumstance. He thought he had it pretty good until Nigel had his demands.
Which made him feel like he got the short end of the stick after some disagreements.
Naturally, Rachel had to stay, it was the deal breaker after all. Somehow Nigel had managed to get him agree to bossing around his delightful children, along with them to not even look at Rachel much less try to torture her. Everything in his mansion is now half Nigel's on the agreement he lived there.
"Finally, you have to answer any questions I ask…" He paused and saw him tense up and jaw lock before rolling his eyes. "That are relevant when necessary. Don't worry my dad explained where babies come from."
Stunned at their ultimatum he could only nod. Did his nephew just pull a fast one over him?
Nigel just smirked shrugging his shoulders as he knew what he did.