Sorry about the long wait but I just celebrated my 16th birthday last week and my parents are letting me cruise around in their car :) Anyway, I want to go through the whole disclaimer thing again. Blah. Blah. Blah. I do not own Kids Next Door. This chapter is short but I'll make the next one really long--I promise!

Chaptuh 3

"Kids Next Door! I have just received a letter from Moon Base!" Numbuh 1 announced as he entered the living room. Everyone immediately stopped what they were doing and gave him their full attention.

Ending his game and putting down the controller, Numbuh 2 looked up and

asked, "Is it good news?"

"I don't know. I haven't opened it yet. I thought I'd open it now, in front of everyone." Numbuh 1 was visibly shaking with excitement as he tore open

the envelope. All KND member's eyes were on him as he read:

"Kids Next Door of Sector V, We have received word from a KND operative that the Delightful Children From Down the Lane are building and testing new missiles. We feel that your team is particularly vulnerable and susceptible right now and your tree house may be one of their targets. We have sent a KND operative to stay with you for a few weeks and help you prepare if such an attack may take place. Expect this agent's arrival within 24 hours after you have received this letter. Sincerely, Moon Base."

Numbuh 1 crumpled the letter and clenched his fists. "I don't believe it..." he mumbled. This whole time he thought the letter might be good news; that the KND headquarters had changed their minds, that their weapons, technology, transportation...would all be returned. But this was a lot worse than he expected. His team could possibly be in danger and they had no weaponry or technology of any kind to defend themselves. And who could this mystery KND operative be? He couldn't fathom the idea of another KND leader coming into HIS tree house, ordering HIS team around, and fighting their missions. He let out an angry hiss and tore the letter in pieces.

Numbuh 2 waited a beat before he joked, "Well, it looks like we've got ourselves another person to help plan this party."

"This is not a time to be joking, Numbuh 2." Numbuh 1 glanced at Numbuh 5, hoping for her input, but she was staring at the floor. He desperately needed her opinion on this whole situation.

Numbuh 3 looked on the verge of tears as she clutched her teddy and cried, "Missiles?! I don't wanna be blown up to little pieces...waaaahhhhh..." She sobbed into the sleeves of her sweater. Before Numbuh 4 could comfort her, Numbuh 1 said, "It's okay, Numbuh 3. We can handle this. We're the bravest team the Kids Next Door has ever had! We will beat the Delightful Children - with or without this new "agent's" help." He gave her a reassuring pat on the back. She lifted her tear-streaked face and gave him a pitiful smile.

Numbuh 4, by that time, had been brainstorming. His face was flushed, as it usually was when he got excited. He came up with an idea. "Ah say, that tonight, when those Delightful Creeps are tucked away in their wittle beddie weddies we go o'er there and beat the crap out of 'em!"

Numbuh 1 only shook his head. "That's a negative, Numbuh 4. We would only be going against the Moon Base's wishes and breaking their rules. We would definitely be decommissioned. And besides, beating the--ahem--heck out of them wouldn't do any good. We need our weapons and technology." He glanced at Numbuh 5 again, but she still looked like she was in deep thought. I desperately need Five's input... I hope she's coming up with a plan, because I am completely stumped right now.

"So...uh...what should we do now, boss?" Hoagie asked cautiously. He always hated asking their leader questions during times like these. With Numbuh 1, you never knew if he was a ticking time bomb ready to go off.

But Nigel only shook his head. "Well, we will have to welcome this agent - whether we want to or not. Who is willing to share their room for a couple of weeks?" He looked at each of them.

"If it's a girl, she can stay in MY room!" Three volunteered.

"Ah am NOT sharin' my room with no one." Four was stubborn.

"Well, I suppose I have room..." Hoagie, not wanting to cause friction between the two males, willingly became the scapegoat.

Numbuh 1 allowed his gaze to stay focused on Five as he continued, "Very well, then. Now, if...anyone...in...particular...has any ideas or suggestions, I'll be in my room..."

Under the brim of her cap, Numbuh 5 watched him as he left the room. A small smile crept up across her face. She had an idea, alright.

The next day, everyone in the tree house busily prepared for the arrival of their new houseguest. Numbuh 3 had happily picked flowers from Nigel's mom's garden--oops!--and arranged them in a wicker basket. Numbuh 2 spent most of his time in his room hiding his cool gadgets and gizmos that 86's troops had left behind. He also hid his Yipper comics under the floorboard. Hey, if he had to share his room, there was no way he was letting these babies fall into the hands of another.

Four spent the morning angrily punching away on his punching bag, and Numbuh 5 spent most of the time writing in a journal.

The doorbell rang. Everyone jumped at the sound, and looked at their leader. Numbuh 1, his heart racing wildly in his chest, his palms sweaty, walked over slowly to the front door and opened it.

Wearing a Hawaiian shirt, sunglasses--and sandals in mid-October, stood Numbuh 30C.