Continuing Transmission

They all quieted down, however, when a lone figure walked towards the podium that resided on the stage.

Numbuh 274's eyes darted across the vast faces of his fellow operatives. He waited until everything was silenced. When they were all settled down, he readjusted the microphone on the stand so that his voice could be projected to the best extent. What he had to say was very important, after all, and everyone should hear it.

"Fellow Kids Next Door," he finally said, "I'd like to call up the operative that we are all here to honor today…Numbuh 1."

The said agent blushed slightly as the whole audience burst into applause. He looked over at his team, sitting along the row, who urged him to go up. Regaining some composure over the small embarrassment, he rose from his seat, making his way up to the stage.

The Kids Next Door Secret Moon Base HQ was just as he remembered it being when he received the Defense Prize a year ago. Then again, hardly anyone goes up there anyway. The only time anyone went up there was for special occasions.

The Secret Moon Base was like an auditorium, where Kids Next Door all over the world gathered to celebrate a special event, such as award ceremonies, which were the most commonly celebrated proceedings that were held up there. It was the only place where all the Kids Next Door gathered in one place where they didn't conduct any business…………well, not really, anyway.

But Numbuh 1 still didn't really know what was going on. The day he had returned from the hospital, they had told him that he had a surprise, but they refrained from telling him what it was. They had noticed that he still seemed a little drained, so they urged him to get some rest. He complied, only because they wouldn't take 'no' for an answer.

It took him about a week more to fully recover, and during that week, his team had acted pretty secretive. When he finally had a chance to ask them about it, he found himself dragged into the rocket and transported to where they were currently.

Not even Numbuh 274 had told him much. All the older operative said was to be ready to come onstage when he was called.

And that was what he did.

He walked up to Numbuh 274, who had a small grin on his face. The older operative held his hand out, and Numbuh 1 grasped it acceptingly in a small, brief handshake.

Then Numbuh 274 turned to face the endless span of other Kids, once again readjusting the mic. "Today, we are all here to honor the past deeds of Numbuh 1, and to appropriately give credit where credit is due.

"As I'm sure many of you know, Numbuh 1 and his team in their region have faced many challenges, overcoming each with courage and determination. Of course, though there have been times where they were scared, that is to be expected, since everyone is scared sometimes. However, when it comes right down to it, each is a trustworthy agent that can be counted on to get the job done."

Numbuh 1 nodded slightly to himself. He alone knew how true that was. Even if his team had a tendency to goof off…a lot…they were always ready and there when it really counted. Looking over at the audience, he chuckled softly as he saw his team sinking lower into their seats, flushed with discomfiture.

Numbuh 274's voice brought the Brit's mind out of his thoughts. "One such example was when my…parents…were……well, you all remember that……"

Everyone involuntarily shuddered at the memory.

"Anyway…They were present when I needed them, and sought to help me, regardless of how much danger it put themselves in. While talking with their group, though, they told me that most of the success of their team should be credited to their leader, Numbuh 1."

The young Brit looked at his team, who just smiled back at him 'innocently.' He had the feeling, however, that even Numbuh 3's smile wasn't all that innocent, if at all.

The older operative, however, continued, not giving him much of a chance to ponder over it. "Time and time again, Numbuh 1 has proven himself to be a strong leader, even when faced with a seemingly difficult challenge. One such challenge was when he himself was turned into an adult."

Numbuh 1 looked down at the ground as a wave of murmurs rose from the crowd. It wasn't a memory he was very fond of, the time he had been changed into an adult. Though he could never forget it, he tried as hard as he could to not think of that time.

"Even throughout such a difficult time," Numbuh 274 pressed on, "and the fact that he knew the age rules of the KND, he returned to help his team, and, after he was reverted to normal, he used what he learned as an adult to his, and our, advantage, proving to be a valuable resource for adult behavior.

"However, the reason for today's celebration is for the events that occurred one month ago. Out of concern for what he believed was right for his team, Numbuh 1 had thought it best to leave his group, and the Kids Next Door."

Another surge of whispers flooded through the audience.

Numbuh 274 waited for them to quiet down before persisting. "Due to complications going on in their sector, the team was beginning to get a little…upset…with things. Like any good leader, Numbuh 1 wanted to alleviate the situation as best he could. However, in order to do that, he felt the need to leave.

"Without the appropriate information, Numbuh 1 could not be an operative of the KND. Luckily, Numbuh 4 and I recreated his info packet with an extra one that was found at the IHQ."

Numbuh 1 looked over at the Aussie, who simply grinned proudly.

"When a trap was sprung on all of them, and one of our operatives was in danger, Numbuh 1 bravely risked his own life to save her."

The Brit looked back at the audience to see Numbuh 5, arms folded across her chest, smiling at him, nodding her head.

"That," Numbuh 274 said, "is why we are all present today."

A fellow female operative appeared from offstage next to Numbuh 274, holding a wooden box in her arms, presenting it to the older operative. Opening the case, he pulled out seemed to be a pendant of sorts, dangling by reddish sash.

He turned back to the Brit, showing him and everyone the medallion. Numbuh 1 bent down slightly, allowing Numbuh 274 to place it around his neck.

"Numbuh 1," the older operative said, "for your bravery and selflessness, I would like to present to you this medal of honor."

Straitening, Numbuh 1 looked down at his chest to see the medal resting there. It seemed more of a large bottle cap, a little larger than a tennis ball. The golden hue, he guessed, was probably spray painted, since none of them could ever afford real gold. Still…the feeling of pride that arose within him as he wore the medal was overwhelming. 'Was this what they were talking about?' he wondered. 'Is this the surprise?' He couldn't stop the smile that began to spread across his lips.

"That's not the only thing, though."

He looked up again at Numbuh 274, who had a proud, yet seemingly sad smile on his face.

Back at the podium, Numbuh 274 turned to face the crowd again. "As…upsetting…as it is to announce this, my thirteenth birthday is approaching in two weeks."

A collection of gasps could be heard throughout the entire auditorium.

He silenced them with his hand, a serious look set on his features. "Yeah. And as we all know, once an operative turns thirteen, they are no longer allowed to be a part of the KND."

Suddenly, for some reason, he smiled. "And so, because of my leaving, I proudly wish to pass on my title of 'Greatest KND Operative' to you, Numbuh 1."

Everyone in the auditorium gasped, the loudest of which being Numbuh 1 himself. "ME!" he asked, pointing to himself. "You're going to pass on your title to ME!"

The older operative nodded. "I am. I think you've proven yourself honorable enough. I'm not just passing the title on to you, Numbuh 1…You've earned it."

And, with a smug look on his face, Numbuh 274 began to clap.

Besides the older operative clapping, the entire auditorium was silent. However, the four members of Numbuh 1's team glanced at each other, then stood up, applauding themselves.

That set off a trigger in the whole hall. Every member of the KND stood as well, applauding. Soon, the whole place echoed with the sound of ovation.

On the stage, Numbuh 1 stood, speechless, as his eyes, hidden underneath the sunglasses, surveyed the support of his fellow operatives. A rush of excitement and awe overtook him.

It lasted for quite a while before things began to quiet down. However, as the applause began to allay, Numbuh 4 noticed the dumbfounded expression on his leader's visage. The Aussie then had an idea to snap him out of it. Cupping his hands around his mouth to increase the volume of his voice, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "SPEECH!"

The other three quickly caught on, also noticing the flabbergasted look, and imitated what their fellow agent was doing. "SPEECH!"

And soon, the auditorium was filled with the sounds of everyone yelling that one word repeatedly, whether in English or in the language of their choosing. "SPEECH! SPEECH! SPEECH! SPEECH!"

The Brit blinked, surprised by the request of all the Kids. He looked over at Numbuh 274, who shrugged and took a few steps to the side to allow him to get to the podium.

Looking over at his team, Numbuh 1 made a mental note to kill Numbuh 4 when they returned to their Tree House, as he walked over to the podium. Since he was shorter than Numbuh 274, he had to readjust the mic to his level.

Clearing his throat, Numbuh 1 finally said, "Fellow Kids Next Door, I am…honored…to be receiving this award, and this title. I can scarcely believe it. However, I must be honest, and inform you all that I don't deserve as much credit as it is believed."

And once again, the audience broke into a buzz, as the Brit's team looked at each other, then back at their boss, wondering what he was talking about.

"There have been some instances," Numbuh 1 continued, "when I have doubted myself as leader of a Kids Next Door section. Too many times have I wondered if I had made the right decision by accepting such. Too often have there been times when things go wrong, and the pressure becomes almost too much to bear. The desire to leave had crossed my mind more than once. The only thing that stopped me from ever leaving before was the support of my team.

"My team…my friends…mean more to me than anything. It was because of them that I joined the Kids Next Door in the first place, when I asked them to join with me. It's because of my team that I strive to be the best that I can be. And if it wasn't for my team, I wouldn't be standing before you today. When I was ambushed by our greatest adversary, they came to rescue me. And when I was in the hospital, it was almost like I could hear their hopes for my recovery. Most likely, if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have awoken.

"I will accept this medal, and this title, that have been so graciously given to me. However, I believe that my team deserves them as much as I do, for all that they have done for me."

He smiled as his eyes focused on his team, who were all looking up at him with admiration and shock. "Thank you," he said, more to his team than to anyone else.

The crowd of Kids once again exploded with a standing ovation, this one much deafening than the previous one. The loudest cheers, however, were coming from the front row, particularly from the four Kids in the center, cheering their leader on.

Many operatives rushed up onto the stage to congratulate the Brit leader, including Numbuh 2, 3, and 4. Numbuh 5, however, stayed in her seat, her arms folded across her chest, content with watching her commander greeted with such praise and respect by the other Kids Next Door. His cheeks were flushed, seemingly embarrassed by the heart-moving speech that he had just given. She chuckled to herself as the tribute to him was still being paid.

'Way ta go, Boss,' she thought. 'Ya definitely deserve it.'

Transmission Interrupted