Hi all!!!!! Wow, thanks for all the reviews!!! I never expected this much when I started!!! Now I feel really special!!!! Okay, first of all I'd like to point out to some who think that Nigel committed suicide (you know who you are), that he didn't. When he jumped out the window, he just flew away (y'know, with his jet boot things. He can fly with those!! ). Anyway, just letting you know. Okay, now, to introduce this story, I would like you all to meet the news announcer person!!

News announcer person: When last we left this story, Nigel Uno had officially left as leader of the Kids Next Door. In doing so, he had left behind his trademark sunglasses, the symbol of his leadership, as he said, "Just like these sunglasses are used to protect one's eyes from the sun, a leader is supposed to protect his teammates…" But what exactly did he mean by that? Where did he get that saying? Where did he get those sunglasses? And how did he become the leader of that sector's Kids Next Door? The answers, in this authoress' interpretation, lie in this next chapter. So read and enjoy.

A BTW, I don't own the Kids Next Door. There are some original characters in this chapter, but they're kinda important.

Continuing Transmission

The lights flickered slightly, before finally coming on, illuminating the large interior of the tree house.

The five kids, four sitting on the couch and one standing in front of them, looked up at the lights.

"It's about time we fin'lly got da lights on in here," a dark skinned girl said, pulling her cap down a little lower over her eyes.

"Ah know," a small blond boy, Australian by his accent, said. "We've been sittin' in tha dark for how long now?"

"Well, Abby, Wallabee, it's not like you two were doing anything to help matters," a bald, British boy, the one boy standing, replied to them.

"Ah didn't see you doin' anythin', Nigel."

"Because they told us to stay here."

A round boy, removing the pilot's helmet from his head and scratching his head, looked at Nigel. "And…who were…they…again?"

Nigel sighed, shaking his head. "They, Hoagie, are operatives from the Kids Next Door International Headquarters, or KND IHQ. They're here to help us get started."

"Get started on what?" an Asian girl asked cheerfully, playing with her long black hair.

"Doncha 'memba, Kuki?" Abby asked. "Those guys from the KND IHQ or whateva are here to help us start with own Kids Next Door."

"Not to start our own Kids Next Door," Nigel corrected her, "but to settle into our own sector, where we'll set up our own base, and do our part to stop adult oppression around us."

Hoagie placed his helmet back on. "That sounds like a lot of work, Nigel."

"Not much fun at all," Kuki said.

"Yeah," Wallabee agreed. "Ah thought the whole point of us joinin' this organization was to get rid of stupid adult stuff."

"That is the point, Wallabee, but in order to do that, we have to get set up first. The Kids Next Door is a complex operation, with sectors all over the world, stopping adults who are oppressing kids' freedom. That's why we have some other operatives, Numbuhs 17 and 18, helping us set up our sector, and they will help us familiarize with all the KND procedures."

"Yeah?" the Aussie boy said. "Well, they sho are takin' foreva."

"They're making sure everything's in place," Nigel said.

"Does it really take that long?" Hoagie wondered.

Kuki had begun to play with Abby's braid, but Abby pulled her hair away from the perky girl, neither paying attention.

"Hey!" Nigel said, placing his hands on his hips. "When you all were complaining about how adults are always bossing you around, you asked me if there was anything I could do about it. So I looked up the Kids Next Door. I even asked if you all wanted to join, and you said 'yes.' Since we're going to be part of the Kids Next Door, it's part of our job to stop adults who are trying take away kids' freedom. We all agreed to do this together, didn't we?"

"Yes," they all replied.

"So, then this requires some sacrifice. I know it seems like a lot of hard work, but won't it be worth it?"

They all nodded.

Nigel smiled. "Don't worry. We're all in this together."

Hoagie nodded. "Well, I guess it won't be so bad since we're all doing it."

"Yeah," Wallabee agreed. "As long as I get ta kick some grown-up butt."

"Tha's a sho thin'," Abby said. "Abby's in, too."

"Me too!!" Kuki said gleefully.

The British boy nodded. "Now, I think it would be wise if we went over some of the Kids Next Door protocol that we already know. So, we should start with…"

Standing at the entrance, leaning against the doorframe was a young girl, about eleven in age, sunglasses covering her eyes. She watched the young nine-year-olds as the one boy standing was testing his friends. Checking her files, she discovered that those kids had been friends since they were all five.

Looking up again, she marveled at how the British boy, Nigel, took charge and responsibility of this whole situation. She remembered that, when she first started, that she had acted similar to what the others were acting, because she was nervous of the whole thing. But this Nigel boy…

She suddenly heard footsteps, as her fellow operative entered the room. "Well, Numbuh 17," he said to her, and loud enough for the other kids to hear, "things seem to be clear here, huh?"

She nodded.

"Well, what do you think? We're pretty much done here, huh? We just need to explain how everything works, right?"

"Actually, Numbuh 18," she said, "there are still some other things that we need to do."

"Huh? Oh, that." He looked over at the younger kids, who were watching both of them. "Why don't you all come here? We have some things to discuss."

Those on the couch got off, and all five of them walked over to where Numbuh 17 and 18 stood.

"Now," Numbuh 18 said, looking at them, "we've set and hooked up everything, and later, we'll be explaining it to all of you. But right now, as Numbuh 17 has reminded me, we need to assign all of you a number. Also, you need a leader. Now, normally, we would let you decide among yourselves. Anyone think they're up to the challenge?"

All the younger kids looked away.

Numbuh 18 sighed. He knew that getting kids, or adults for that matter, to volunteer for anything was difficult.

Tapping her partner's shoulder, Numbuh 17 leaned forward and whispered something in his ear.

"Oh yeah?" he asked, listening to what she had to say. "Who'd ya have in mind?"

Pulling out a folder from the various ones she held, she handed it to him.

Raising an eyebrow, he took the folder, opening it enough to thumb through it. "Nigel Uno?"

The others turned to look at Nigel, standing in the back, who, in turn, had a surprised look on his face.

"Me?" he asked, stepping forward.

Numbuh 18 shrugged. "I don't know. Do you think you can handle being the leader?"

"Well, I…I don't know…I…"

"Comon, Nigel," Abby said. "Y'know ya want to. Besides, Abby thinks you'll make a good leada."

Nigel looked over at his best friend. "You really think so?"

She smiled, nodding.

He looked back at Numbuh 18. "Well…I-I guess…"

"Great," the older boy said, writing it down. "Now, for your number…" He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Numbuh 17, what Numbuhs are available right now?"

She handed him a list.

Looking over it, he bit his tongue a bit. "How about……Numbuh……1?"

"N…N-Numbuh…1?" the young British boy repeated.

"Well, it's available, because our old Numbuh 1…grew up…a few months ago…"

Everyone shuddered slightly.

"So, how about it Nigel? Or should I say, 'Numbuh 1'?"

"I…I don't know if I should…I mean, Numbuh 1? Isn't that such an honorable number? The first number?"

"Well, technically, zero is the first number," Hoagie pointed out.

Nigel ignored him. "I'm just a new member. Should I really have that number?"

Numbuh 18 shrugged. "I don't see why not. What do you think, Numbuh 17?"

"I think it's okay."

"What about the rest of you? Do you think that Nigel should have that number?"

Wallabee just shrugged. "Whateva."

"I think it actually suits you," Hoagie said.

"Yeah, Numbuh 1!!" Kuki cheered.

Abby placed a hand on Nigel's shoulder. "Way ta go, Numbuh 1," she said.

But Nigel was still slightly unsure of all this. 'Leader?' he thought. 'Numbuh 1? Can I really handle all this responsibility?'

"Now, for the rest of your numbers…" Numbuh 18 said.

Looking up, Nigel saw Numbuh 17 looking at him, then nodding her head away from the rest of the group. As she walked away, he followed her.

"So, what's wrong, Numbuh 1?" she asked when there was some distance between the two and the group.

He looked down at the ground. "It's just that…I don't think I'm worthy enough for all this."

"Worthy enough for what?"

"For everything. I'm not sure if I can be leader. And being Numbuh 1…I don't know about this."

She shrugged. "Well, what are you afraid of?"

"I…I guess I'm just scared of…letting everyone down."

She sighed, sympathetically. Removing her sunglasses, she held them in her hands. "You know what being leader is about, right?"

"I think so. Isn't it about taking charge, organizing, making sure everything gets done?"

"Well, that's half of the job."

"Then…what's the other half?"

"Well…" She looked at the sunglasses in her hand. "It's kinda like these sunglasses."

The eyebrow that was raised indicated that he didn't understand.

She held out her sunglasses to him. "Sunglasses are used to protect a person's eyes from the harmful rays of the sun, right?"

He nodded.

"It's just like a leader. A leader is to protect his team, and the people, from harm. In this case, as leader, you must protect your team and other kids from the harmful repression of adults. Do you think you're up to that?"

"I…I think so…"

"Well," she said, placing the sunglasses in his hand, "in case you forget what a leader must do, these will help remind you."

"Your……your sunglasses?"

"Use them to remind you of a leader's true mission. So whaddya say? Will you take them, Numbuh 1?"

Looking up at her, Nigel smiled as she did, nodding.

"Thank you," he said, slipping them on.

She chuckled, looking over him. "The shades definitely look better on you," she said. "Definitely very leader-like."

She extended her hand out to him. "Welcome to the Kids Next Door……Numbuh 1."

Numbuh 1 smiled, clasping her hand in a handshake.

Transmission Interrupted

News announcer person: And there you have it. A look into the past of how Numbuh 1 got his sunglasses and how he became the leader. And now, we return you to the current time of the Kids Next Door.

The chapter's over!

News announcer person: Oh………Well, then stay tuned for the next chapter, where we will return you to the current time of the Kids Next Door. Please review, and see ya soon!