Operation: A.A.F.T.E.R.

Adults Against Father's Tyrannical Everlasting Rule

Chapter 7: To Father's House We Go...

Here's a deliciously long chapter for you all!!!

They had just arrived at the hotel they had booked, and the friends dumped their belongings in each of their respective rooms. The boys had a room and the girls shared the one across the hall. They had planned to meet in the lobby downstairs in thirty minutes, hopefully giving them enough time to situate their rooms.

Later, downstairs....

"So, what did we find out?" The four had regrouped at a table with five chairs. Abby looked at her friends, then at the extra chair. Soon, Boss. Soon.

"I know that Father is a horrible person!" Hoagie was the first to speak up. "He locked me in that closet for at least half an hour after we had lunch. He didn't even bother to finish his. He said he had business to attend to. The nerve of that guy!"

"O...kay. Anyone else?" Abigail searched Wally's face.

"Nope. Not a thing!"

"I did." Kuki looked at her closest friend.

"Spill."

"Well, when I was in the room with Father, he told me all about how he had been the one of the Delightful Children that the original Father liked best. He trained Kenny to be the second Father, and initially ignored the other four. He didn't mention where they were, but that's okay." She took a sip of her water, then continued.

"So he was in training, Father's apprentice, if you will. His training was almost complete when the KND ops took Father I away. So, to avenge his loss, he became Father II."

"Wow," Hoagie said after a long silence. "Think we should tell the KND? I mean, so they can update their L.U.N.C.H.B.O.C.K.S. system, that is."

"No, Hoagie," Abby said flatly. She directed her attention back to Kuki. "Go on, child."

"Well, then he offered to show me his prisoners. I said no politely, and so he finished his st–"

"Did you say prisoners?" Wally asked, surprised.

"Yeah, but I declined."

"Kuki, did he say where they were?"

"No."

"Oh." He looked to Abby for their next approach.

"I think it's about time fo' some shopping..."

"You let them get away! You never let them get away!"

"Will you relax, Jenny?" It was the first time he had said her name in years. "They'll be back."

"How do you know?" The young woman was chained to the wall, but she still struggled every ten minutes or so to get out.

"Because. I. Am. A. Genius! I gave the Asian girl just enough information to lure them back to the mansion." He nursed his sore face, muttering, "Everything falls into place."

"You're psycho, you know that?"

"Okay, you guys know the drill, right?" Numbuh 5 looked around the huddle, seeing black, green, and brown outfits. They each had on a black beanie, a walkie-talkie headset, and anti-squeaking boots. She saw nods all around, and they broke apart.

She headed directly to the door, walking up the expansive staircase. Wally and Kuki snuck around the hill, being extra careful not to fall off the cliff, and Hoagie stayed in the Jeep, monitoring their movements. He had used his new computer to hack into the mansion's mainframe and security cameras. By doing this, he would see where his friends were and where Father was. He would then turn off any security cameras that would show them by using the tracking chips implanted in each one's beanie. "Operation A.A.F.T.E.R. is now...well, operational!" Hoagie said into his mike.

Wally and Kuki moved into the mansion's perimeter, not making a sound. Kuki climbed on Wally's shoulders, reaching for the window above her. She scrambled in, then stuck her hand out for him to come in after her. They worked together, gripping each other's arms. He finally climbed in, jumping onto the floor.

Abby reached the top and put her finger to her ear. She pushed the communication button, speaking into the mike hidden in her sweatshirt. "Are they in, Hoag?"

"Hoag? Hoag?"

"Are they in?" she asked again, agitation in her voice.

"Err, yes. They're in. And I like Hoag, by the way."

"Whatever," she mumbled after letting go of the button. She rang the doorbell, prepared for her role as the distraction.

"Come on, Kuki! Hurry up! Didn't you hear the signal?"

"Don't you mean the doorbell?"

"Yeah, which was also the signal! Now move!"

"Right behind you, bossy pants."

"Yes, who is it?" Father asked, opening the door. "Ah, Abigail. How nice to see you again. How are you doing?"

"Cut the sweet talk, Father. I want to know just who you're keeping prisoner and where they're at!" she snapped in her rudest voice.

"What, you don't know already? I guess Kuki isn't as smart as I gave her credit for..."

"And the prisoners are...?" she prodded, acting impatient.

"There are two: Jenny and...Nigel."

"N...Nigel?" her mouth hung open. This was why she came to England! She regained her composure. "And who is this Jenny?"

"My, aren't we uninformed. Jenny is my sister, an ambassador of the United States of America." The man smirked, knowing the news was a blow.

She casually depressed and locked the earpiece button while running her hand through her hair. "And where are Nigel and your sister Jenny, the ambassador of the United States? You are keeping them prisoner, correct?"

"Nigel?! And an ambassador named Jenny?" Hoagie was amazed. Two mysteries rolled into one!

"Yes, well, wouldn't you like to know? Anyway, I would appreciate it if you would leave now."

"You think that I'm going to leave? Especially after you told me about your prisoners?!"

"I have confidence that there is nothing you can do to stop my plans, or rescue my guests. Good day!" He slammed the door in her face, leaving her enraged.

"Nigel's the prisoner? Oh, man that just made this personal!" Wally was listening to the report from Hoagie. He looked at Kuki, who was also listening intently.

"Can you do a heat scan for their locations?" she suggested.

"I'm on it! Good idea, Kuki!"

"Why that little–"

"Abby! Get back here, Wally and Kuki are going to get him outta there!"

"No! I want to be a part of this, okay? I feel like...I feel responsible for it somehow, I don't know. It was my idea, right? And I'm in charge?"

"Uhh...I guess..."

"Okay, then. I'm going in after them! Let them know, will you?"

"Sure..."

"Okay, thanks Hoagie. Wally, Hoagie says that Numbuh 5 is gonna help us."

"Sure, let's go." Soon she appeared with a grim look of determination on her face. "Abby, we're going for Nigel, you take Jenny." Wally and Kuki already had a plan in place.

"Alright, as long as I get to bust that jerk for his ugly lipping to me!"

"Woah! Two words, boss: Anger Management!" Kuki backed away slowly.

"Guys, I got a fix on both of them! Nigel's in the lowest room, Jenny in the highest. Father's with her, manning his computers. Can you do it?"

"Yes," they all answered at the same time. the three friends split up, going to their designated places.

"Stupid, ugly, dumb jerk thinks he can get away with dissin' me, does he?" mumbled Abby. The mumbling had become a habbit for her. "Well, he's got another thing comin'! Oh, yeah, I'm a gonna bust his chops so bad he won't be able to eat for a month! Won't get no lip from him anytime soon!" She worked her way silently up the many flights of stairs, relying on Hoagie's expertise to shut off any security cameras in her area. All the way up, she was thinking of different moves to pull, and in each situation, he surrendered after his butt was whooped.

"Abby, what're you gonna say when you burst in there?" Hoagie asked over the mike.

"You wanna know? I'm gonna tell him that he's an egotistical pompous jerk who needs to be put in his place!"

"No, no, no. I mean, what are you gonna say?"

"That is what I'll say."

"No, you hafta say something like, 'Welcome to Painsville, population you!' or 'Who's your Daddy?'"

"Hoagie, let me do this, okay?" She cut off the communication link, sighing.

"I think we've found it, Kuki." Wallabee pointed to a large door at the end of the dark hallway.

"Ya think?" She pushed her mike button, talking to Hoagie. "Numbuh 2, are we close yet?"

"Yeah, you're like, right next to him!"

"Thanks, Hoagie!" She looked at Wally. "Ready?"

"As always," he replied. They unhinged the door, slowly opening it. A blast of smells hit them, making them gag. They saw nothing. "Put on your infared goggles," he instructed.

"I already did."

"Oh. Yeah, so did I," he said as he put them on.

She giggled, obviously not buying it. "Yeah right. I saw you without 'em. Let's go." They both walked cautiosly towards the figure ahead of them, noting his bent shape. "Nigel?" Kuki asked in a low voice. She saw his head jerk up and look around. "Nigel, are you alright?"

"Get away from me, you blasted freaks!"

Kuki coiled away. "Hey, it's alright," Wally whispered to her. "He's been here a long time, remember?"

She nodded, trying again. "Nigel, it's me, Kuki. Are you alright?"

"K...Ku-Kuki?" he stammered. "Where are you? Am I finally in heaven?"

She stifled a laugh before saying, "No, you're in Father's prison cell. Are you okay?'

"Yeah, come on! Tell us already," Wally said, pretending to be annoyed.

"Wally?! It's really you guys?"

They approached him, the smells growing stronger with every step. "Yeah, it's us, man. Let's get you outta here."

"This is the place, right?" said Abby to Hoagie. She had reconnected the communications mike after cooling off.

"Yup. Just inside the door. So whatcha gonna say?"

"Hoagie..." She opened the door slowly, expecting it to creak. It didn't. "I'm in," she whispered.

"...And so, dear sister, that is why I'm trying to take over the world."

"Freak! Just because our father is in the KND moon base, you're going to take over the world to avenge him? Am I the only one who sees something wrong with that plan?"

Seeing her opportunity, Abby rolled and sprung up in between the two siblings. "No, I see it, too!"

"Numbuh 5?! How'd you get in here unnoticed?" Jenny asked, surprised.

"Your distraction sure helped." She directed her attention to Father. "And as for you," she said, punching his gut, "you are an egotistical pompous jerk who needs to be put in his place!" She kicked his stomach as he struggled to get up, then chopped his neck with her hand, knocking him out.

Jenny's jaw dropped, amazed at what she just saw. "That was...AWESOME!"

"Yeah, well, I had some training back in the day...Anyway, I'm here to rescue you."

"No, no get your boss! He's been here for six years!"

"It's being handled," she said slyly. "Right, Hoagie?"

"Yep, they've got him outta there. They're leaving though mansion as we speak."

"Good. Now, Jenny, let's get you out of here."