They say that old habits die hard, and for Rachel McKenzie, retiring Supreme Commander of the Kids Next Door, that rang very true. She was different from the other kids at the hotel, tougher, more outspoken. All the other tithes seemed to flock to her for her advice or came to her with their problems. She tried to stop being Number 362 of the Kids Next Door and become a tithe, but somehow she was finding it very difficult.
Her first kid was her roommate, Sarah. She was a mousy girl a year older than Rachel, but as far as Rachel was concerned she could have been a newly graduated Cadet Next Door who was lost on the bridge. She was shy and timid and she came from Roberta's world. That's the way things were done at the hotel. A newly-made pearl(as the counselors and preachers liked to call the kids who were scheduled to be tithed in Rachel's world) were to be roomed with a kid from Roberta's. The idea was for the new tithes to learn from the older ones.
"Most of these children should have already been tithed, but as I already informed you, the Teenage Uprising in my world almost robbed them of the honor."
Children. Besides the handful of kids from her world and two twelve-year-olds from Roberta's home, everyone here was 13 or 14. Were teenagers kids? Rachel used to wonder about that, but not anymore. Sarah was definitely a kid and that Friday night she proved it.
After supper and a couple hours of playing, everyone had retired their rooms. Sarah and Rachel were getting ready for bed and Rachel was about to turn off her light when she heard crying from the bathroom.
"Sarah? Are you okay?" Rachel knocked on the door, but all she could hear was more crying . "Sarah, come out. I'm here and it's okay." The soft tone of voice lured her out. The older girl opened the door and sat down next to her bed.
"It's my eyes." Sarah said sniffing back a sob. Rachel, who had heard this excuse from Wallabee Beatles, Patton Drilovsky, Nigel Uno, and Fanny Boss just hugged her and gently said, "It's not your eyes, Sarah. Now what is it?"
Sarah wiped the tears of her cheek. "No, it's my eyes. They aren't good enough."
"What?"
When Rachel realized what Sarah meant, she felt her stomach do a flip. This girl was worried that her eyes weren't good enough for donation?
Sarah sniffled again, looking just like a scared cadet. "We're tithes, we're supposed to be the best of the best! We're not unwinds. Our parts are supposed to be perfect."
"Unwinds?" Rachel asked, confused. It was the first time she'd ever heard that word.
Sarah looked just as confused. "You know, kids who are so horrible that their parents send them away to be harvested." She said it so calmly, like she was talking about a dentist appointment.
Rachel continued to hold Sarah and comfort her. Luckily her experience as Supreme Commander allowed her to focus on the task at hand. She needed to calm Sarah and she did so beautifully.
Rachel told her that there was nothing wrong with her at all. "Someone is going to be lucky to have those eyes, I promise. They're some of the prettiest eyes I've ever seen." Then Rachel gave Sarah her Rainbow Monkey that she brought with her and Sarah went to sleep that night without a single worry on her mind.
Rachel may have acted like everything was fine, but she was shocked. Harvest a teenager's organs for bad behavior? When Roberta had first shown up at her school she warned of a great teenage uprising, a bloody and horrible war that would sweep though this world if Roberta didn't help the Kids Next Door get ready for it. Roberta was supposed to be on the Moon Base on Tuesday to go over all the details. That's one thing that had been bugging Rachel for the last two days. Roberta had become increasingly controlling and kept paying her a little too much attention.
At first Rachel always talked to her at dinner and looked forward to spending time with her. In her mind, she had found a new purpose as a tithe(at least that's how it felt at first) because of Ms. Griswold. Recently though she had become more strict and started treating Rachel more like her subordinate than she had any right to.
Saturday morning started with a gourmet breakfast, but Rachel didn't have very much to eat. She had way too much on her mind for a big breakfast .
When the daily group therapy session started, Rachel asked Roberta, who was leading a group activity, a question that was bugging her all morning.
"Miss Griswold? What's an unwind?"
Some of the kids from Roberta's world fidgeted, but Roberta smiled and said brightly "Unwinding is the process of harvesting you, dear. It's what we called it back in our world."
"But what is an unwind?" Rachel asked flatly. She had used that tone of voice before when dealing with an operative who was trying to cover up some mistake. Roberta just stared back at her for a minute until a boy from Roberta's world cut in.
"That's a kid who's parents chose to send in for harvesting, only they're not like us..." The kid was about to continue but Roberta cut him off, "There are some children who aren't well adjusted. They act out and hurt people, but you all don't need to worry about those kinds of children ".
Rachel looked up at her. "You mean teenagers, don't you?"
Roberta smiled back her perfect smile. "Of course, Rachel, dear, teenagers."
Rachel secretly thought the perfect row of pearly-white teeth looked very shark-like at the moment.
After the group was done they had a another excellent meal and then Rachel and the other tithes were left to their own devices. The hotel had an arcade, a swimming pool, mini golf and a whole bunch of other things that would keep any kid entertained. Rachel wandered from activity to activity trying to be interested in SOMETHING but she felt restless. She eventually decided to go hang out at the pool.
She grabbed a white towel and started to sit down in a pool chair when she heard a voice(actually, more like five voices talking in a chorus) coming from the middle of the water.
"Well well well…if it isn't Number 362, the illustrious leader of the Kids Next Door."
Rachel sat bolt upright. The Delightful Children from Down the Lane were floating in the middle of the pool on a dragon pool raft that looked suspiciously like Father. They were all wearing white bathing suits and the boy with the football helmet still wore it even in the pool. Normally Rachel would have been less than pleased to see the Delightfuls, but today seeing them was actually kind of… comforting.
"Hey guys," Rachel said with a little smile "so you're all tithes too, huh?"
The Delightful Children exchanged surprised looks, shocked that Number 362 herself was not only here in white robes just like theirs, but was so laid back about this. Maybe she wouldn't be so bad to talk to. Just for now.
"Yes, we are."
They gave their best shot at a proud smile, which looked more like a wince. This was something they should act happy about… Right ? Father wanted this, so they did have to do it.
Rachel smiled ruefully, "Well, looks like Father did something good for a change."
The Delightful Children suddenly looked down at this. The Supreme Leader probably didn't know she struck a nerve. Why should she? This was a good thing. They should be ashamed of themselves for not wanting it to happen(except of course they were fine with it since Father said so, right ?)
Something occurred to Rachel. When she and Number 5 were back at the Candy Bar, Roberta already knew the Delightful Children were tithes. Time to get to the bottom of this.
"Does Roberta know Father?"
The Delightful Children must not have liked that question very much. All of a sudden Bruce pressed a secret button on the dragon floatie and out of the dragon's mouth emerged a water cannon.
"I think the idea of coming to the pool if you're not even going to get wet is a little foolish, don't you think, Number 362?"
Before Rachel could answer, the Delightful Children sprayed her, laughing with fiendish glee.
They aimed the water cannon again, but the target was nowhere in sight.
"Hey where did she go?" The Delightful Children said in unison. As if to answer their question, all five of them felt a cold spray of water coming from behind them.
What ensued was the mother of all water fights. It was The Delightful Children's fancy dragon and ruthlessness versus Rachel's agility and speed. The Supreme Leader nimbly darted around the room blasting with water guns and pelting them with balloons. The Delightful Children couldn't keep up, but even Rachel had a limit and she was panting from running so much. After making another attack run with a particularly good shot that knocked Constance's glasses off, she stopped to catch her breath. How long could she keep this up? Not only was she getting tired, but she was running out of ammunition. Only two water guns and a handful of water balloons remained.
Stopping to hide was a big mistake because the Delightful Children were busy reloading their dragon, which sprayed a burst of water that was strong enough to destroy a wicker footstool. Rachel barely avoided being pulverized by the flood and crouched down behind the hot tub, still panting from the chase.
"Alright," she thought "this is getting dangerous. They're not playing anymore. They actually want to hurt me."
Looking around for something, anything, Rachel found her answer. She grinned with excitement.
The Delightfuls looked around for their opponent, smiling mischievously. This was the most fun they'd had all week. It just felt good.
"What's the matter, Number 362? Can't handle a little water?"
No response.
"Well, what do you know? It looks like being a tithe is finally starting to wear off on you. What's wrong? Afraid someone will get a part of you that's waterlogged?"
Rachel didn't answer. Instead she made a calculated dash to the far side of the pool area and reached for the hose that the hotel used for cleaning the pool. It was a standard garden hose… but it had all kinds of different settings, like spray or mist. She clicked the dial until it landed on Jet.
While the Delightful Children were distracted, Number 362 took aim. Instead of aiming for her enemies, she primed a shot for the dragon floatie.
The water pressure was definitely not as strong as the Dragon's water cannon, but it was enough to blast the group across the pool. One hard hit of the rubber against the edge of the diving board did the trick. Before the Delightful Children knew what was happening, they heard a pop and in a matter of seconds they were scurrying out of the pool.
Ashley's hair was soaking wet and she lost her hair bow, Constance looked miserable, Bruce and David were dejected in their defeat and poor Lenny was dumping pool water by the gallon out of his football helmet. Rachel began to laugh. She just couldn't help herself. It wasn't because her infamous enemy looked liked a bunch of drowned white rats(although that didn't exactly hurt). It was a laugh of relief. Rachel needed a release after holding everything together for so long. The laugh echoed all through the room and it was contagious, for just as soon as the Delightful Children gave her a death glare, they took up the laugh too. If Sector V or any of the other operatives who had to face the Delightful Children on a regular basis could have seen this, they would have been shocked.
It was so surprising because the laughter that came from the Delightful Children wasn't maniacal at all, just innocent and childish and the last thing you would have expected from the Delightful Children From Down the Lane. The six kids laughed until their sides were sore and Rachel threw them a towel to dry off.
"You guys put up a good fight." Rachel said, sitting beside the Delightfuls and wringing out her hair. Constance shook the water droplets off her glasses and put them back on.
"Thank you. You did alright too…for a Kids Next Door operative."
Rachel smiled in spite of herself, "Thanks, guys."
In the hot and humid air of the pool room, without saying a word, the Delightful Children and Rachel had an understanding.
This might be Rachel's best chance to get the answer. She decided to go for it.
"So how exactly does Father know Roberta?"
The Delightfuls looked at one another, and were about to say something when Roberta came barging though the door. She scolded "So there you children are!"
Rachel thought that included her, but to her relief the brunt of Roberta's rage was directed at the Delightful Children.
There was venom in Roberta's voice as she went on. "I thought I told you to check in as soon as you got to the hotel. I gave simple instructions: when your Father drops you off, go and see Pastor Fred and he was to direct you to me. What part of that was so difficult to understand?"
"Hi, Miss Griswold." Rachel said timidly. She was a Kids Next Door operative and it was her duty to try to take the heat off of kids who were getting it bad from an adult, even if the kids were a pain.
Roberta noticed Rachel in the room for the first time since her furious entrance into the pool area. Her lips pursed. For a moment Rachel thought she was going to get it too, but instead the ruby red lips opened slightly to reveal a smiling set of perfect pearly whites.
My Master Sauron the Great bids thee welcome, Rachel thought.
Roberta gently put a hand on her soaking wet shoulder. "Oh, hello Rachel, dear, I didn't see you there. Tell me, have the Delightful Children from Down the Lane been playing nice with you?"
Rachel stepped in front of the broken wicker stool and hoped the ceiling wasn't still dripping. "Yeah."
Rachel tensed up and felt an anxiety spell coming on again. She suddenly wanted to get out of there. Roberta gave her another motherly nod.
"If you don't mind, Rachel darling, I would like to have a word with them alone for a moment. Why don't you run along and play?"
Like a frightened kindergartener, Rachel scurried out of the pool area. The nervous feeling in her stomach was a full-scale anxiety attack now. Her heartbeat was pounding in her ears and her mind was racing. She forced herself to take a deep breath.
"Hi, Miss Griswold." Rachel said timidly. She was a Kids Next Door operative and it was her duty to try to take the heat off of kids who were getting it bad from an adult, even if the kids were a pain.
Roberta noticed Rachel in the room for the first time since her furious entrance into the pool area. Her lips pursed. For a moment Rachel thought she was going to get it too, but instead the ruby red lips opened slightly to reveal a smiling set of perfect pearly whites.
"My Master Sauron the Great bids thee welcome." Rachel thought.
Roberta gently put a hand on her soaking wet shoulder. "Oh, hello Rachel, dear, I didn't see you there. Tell me, have the Delightful Children from Down the Lane been playing nice with you?"
Rachel stepped in front of the broken wicker stool and hoped the ceiling wasn't still dripping. "Yeah."
Rachel tensed up and felt an anxiety spell coming on again. She suddenly wanted to get out of there. Roberta gave her another motherly nod.
"If you don't mind, Rachel darling, I would like to have a word with them alone for a moment. Why don't you run along and play?"
Like a frightened kindergartener, Rachel scurried out of the pool area. The nervous feeling in her stomach was a full-scale anxiety attack now. Her heartbeat was pounding in her ears and her mind was racing. She forced herself to take a deep breath.
When Rachel was out of earshot, Roberta put on a sickly sweet grin for the Delightful Children From Down The Lane. The Children shivered, but Roberta kept smiling.
"You five are very naughty children and you don't deserve the gift that has come for you from Pastor Fred and the esteemed families of my world."
Into the pool area rolled a wheelchair pushed by two strange-looking guards. Strapped to that chair sat a girl of 14 maybe 15 years of age. She had raven-black hair and bright green eyes that were glaring at her captor. Roberta gently ran a manicured hand through her tangled hair.
"A fallen tithe, poor thing, but I know how delightful you are all and I think you would be the best ones to set this girl back on the right path. You will be going home to prepare for the party and to rehabilitate this girl. Her name is Miracolina Roselli."
The Delightful Children got the message. They began to laugh, and their laughter was not innocent and childish anymore. This time it was sinister and evil ...
I need to go somewhere quiet. Rachel thought. Stupid coward! ' Hi Miss Griswold '. Of all the idiotic things to say. You might as well painted a target on their backs. Why are you scared of her? You weren't scared of Father, were you? Why were the Delightful Children so scared?
Rachel was panting now. Her heart was racing like she just ran 10 miles. She couldn't take it. She crouched down on the floor and tried to get the whole room to stop spinning. She mumbled to herself without knowing it. "Stay calm, Rachel. Don't make a scene."
But she was already making one. By this point she was sitting on the floor in the lobby and had attracted attention from the six or seven kids there and three or four adults.
"Are you okay, Rachel?"
"You looked flustered, honey, do you need to talk?"
"What happened?"
By Zero, it was the Moonbase bridge all over again. She forced herself to get back on her feet and gave the worried crowd a fake smile.
"Yeah, no I'm good really, just been running is all, no I'm not in the mood to play mini golf."
She just gave everyone the best answers to make them stop worrying. This surprisingly calmed her down too. It was exactly like the Moonbase all over again! And Rachel McKenzie already knew how to handle that. A typical tithe would have had his or her butt in a pastor or counselor's office or sent to have some mandatory fun with the other kids. Rachel, on the other hand, was able to get everyone off her case and before she knew it she was face down in her hotel bed letting out an audible sigh.
For the first time since Rachel brought copies of the paperwork home in her backpack, she wasn't sure if she wanted to be a tithe anymore. As a matter of fact, this whole operation was starting to look very suspicious. Her parents didn't want this, her brother didn't want this and she'd lied to Number 86 about her plans for her birthday to avoid the redhead's fury…or hurt.
She needed to uncover whatever was really going on. When she was back on Moonbase, she would open an investigation. Anyone who scared the Delightful Children has to be bad news, right?
Until she had total confidence, she'd just have to fake it for a week.
She felt another weird sensation in her stomach, but this one wasn't the start of a panic attack. She laughed to herself when she remembered that she hadn't eaten anything since lunch.
Time to head downstairs and grab a snack. She was wondering if there were any ginger cookies left when her suitcase started buzzing.
Locking her door and darting across the room, she opened up her suitcase. She dumped out the folded white robes and pressed a hidden button to reveal her top-secret stash of weapons and 2x4 technology(she was the Supreme Commander and it wouldn't be smart to go anywhere without the tools to do her job) and a buzzing spy phone.
Who the heck was calling her emergency phone instead of going to the Moonbase? That could only mean there was something really wrong. The phone suddenly stopped buzzing.
She opened the secret KND communication smart phone and saw it was Number 274! She was getting more and more nervous about this.
She took a deep breath and opened the file—/-/-/
/
/ERROR/
/TRANSMISSION—HIJACKED/?/
RECONNECTING…