Memories

Please Note: Flashbacks will also be in italics.

Warning: There's cutting self-injury in this chapter. Don't read if you're extremely offended.

Chapter 3: Madness and chaos.

(Two weeks later at the Uno residence on a Sunday Evening)

"You have the paper Father?" Nigel asked formally as he came downstairs.

"Catch son!" Mr. Uno cried and threw the paper, which hit his teenage son on the side of his baldhead, "oops," he added.

"Dad!" Nigel cried in annoyance and bent to pick up the paper that fell at his feet, "it's been six months and you still throw it despite it hitting me in my head ALL the TIME."

"Sorry son," Mr. Uno said with a laugh, "force of habit," he stated.

"Whatever," Nigel muttered and went up to his bedroom and closed the door.

He noticed a picture of himself on the floor at age 10 at the beach. He was standing at the front in orange swim trunks and even though his sunglasses hid his eyes, Nigel could tell by his expression that his ten year-old self was sour about being there. Beside him was a blonde haired boy in blue swim trunks grinning and a behind the boy was a grinning Japanese girl in a floral purple bathing suit making bunny ears behind the blonde boy. He had found the picture three months ago when he was putting together some of his baby and early childhood stuff to give away to charity. What always haunted Nigel was that he never remembered knowing these kids even though he recognized the Japanese girl to be Kuki Sanban from ARO and was certain that me might have seen the blonde boy somewhere around the neighbourhood. But he just never remembered knowing any of these kids personally or even recalled taking these pictures. As far as he could remember he was never a very social child. Preferring doing research over a day frolicking with friends anywhere, especially at the beach, made him a bit of a social recluse.

Nigel sighed. He had tried to find anything else to make him remember anything he did with those two kids but he found nothing. He sometimes wondered if his younger self had purposely gotten rid of it all and left this picture by accident. But he soon told himself that idea was preposterous and being a news reporter at his Junior High School was getting to him.

Nigel picked up the picture and rested it on top of a pile of books on the bookcase then went to sit on the bed.

He opened the newspaper and started to read the news. Soon he saw an article about the search for agents from the KND and gasped when he noticed pictures of kids who were being searched for or caught as suspects of being apart of the dangerous KND Organization. He noticed that the blonde haired boy was among the pictures of those being searched for not only as a suspect of being a KND agent but also positively identified as the boy who was with Kuki Sanban on the night that she had arrived on the Gilligan's property to kidnap a teenager named Hoagie P. Gilligan. He got up and grabbed the picture that he was looking at earlier and everything came together.

I must've been an agent! That would explain why I don't remember these two. I only knew them while I was apart of the KND. But why would I join an organization to enslave teens and adults. I'm not STUPID! I'd never join something that would mean me becoming enslaved once I reached a certain age. Unless…. Father and those teens must be lying! But why? I've never really spoken to Hoagie but he seems like a nice honest guy. Despite the fact that he's now around Father and those uptight bratty kids of his. Hmmmm What if Father is feeding him this garbage? Yes! Father is the type of man to do just that. I was always suspicious when Father offered me a job. He just wanted the skills that I had learned from this KND place to use to his advantage. I never liked that guy. Neither my parents nor I approved of how mean he seemed to be to kids for no reason at all. I have to see Hoagie and that girl who was with him that night. Maybe we can all figure out the truth behind this mess. (Nigel's thoughts)

Nigel locked his door then proceeded to pack a few provisions in a knap sack. Then he climbed out of his window and ran off leaving his home behind as he went to get some answers.

(Meanwhile at Moon Base)

"Where's Herbie?" Numbuh 5 demanded as she entered the Moon Base, "I need him to crack…."

"He was turned in to the authorities by his own parents earlier today," replacement Numbuh 2 said sadly as she looked at her feet, "he had called me earlier that day mentioning how his parents were giving him weird looks after reading the morning paper," she added sadly.

"Shoot!" Numbuh five cried angrily, "I was at his house three weeks ago!" she shouted, "they must've put two and two together after seeing my picture as being one of those being searched for by the police as a suspect of being apart of the KND," she deducted, "this world has gone mad," she concluded now on the verge of tears.

"I have more bad news," Numbuh 2 stated and Numbuh 5 glared at her, "hey it's not my fault!" she cried angrily.

Numbuh 5 looked the new Numbu 2 over. The new agent was nine years old and specialized mainly in kung fu and mechanics. She was from a family that surprisingly supported the KND since they were strong activists for kids rights and had always mentioned to Numbuh 2 t that they never believed that the KND was evil like most adults claimed. Numbuh 2 had arrived at the Moon Base nine in the morning because her parents had allowed her to run away from home after seeing her picture as one of those suspected of being a KND agent in the morning paper. Numbuh 2 was four foot six, had shoulder length brown hair, blue eyes, and a petite but slightly muscular build. She was currently wearing a yellow shirt, blue skirt and black shoes. Her real name was Gwen Hunter.

"It's not only here," Numbuh 2 stated, "worldwide there's a massive panic and besides a few miscellaneous countries," she continued, "practically all countries worldwide are having massive search and capture operations going on for KND agents," she told Numbuh 5, "Japan has had parents leave their kids at camps to be kept, fed and schooled until all the agents are found or surrendered," she said and Numbuh 5 gasped, "in the Amazons kids have been put together in pits and are barely fed to make them confess," she reported, "in most parts of America it's been rumoured that suspected KND agents are being secretly beaten and tortured," she said, "and President Bush is on the verge of officially allowing any kid suspected of being or even knowing a KND agent to have all their human rights taken away and can be made to reveal information by any force short of a death sentence," she concluded.

"What are we going to do?" Numbuh 5 asked, "more than half of our agents are running scared trusting neither their homes or the KND to keep them safe," she stated, "the agents we have are barely able to upkeep the Moon Base and also defend our tree house bases," she continued, "we have no choice," she said suddenly.

"What?" Numbuh 2 asked curiously.

"We have to shut down our earth bases," Numbuh 5 said sadly.

"What!" Numbuh 4 screamed as he entered, "we can't give up!" he shouted.

"We're not giving up Numbuh 4," Numbuh 5 said tiredly, "we're just going to close the earth bases and have all it's equipment and anything connected to the KND transferred to the Moon Base," she stated, "plus we're going to use the Moon Base as a safe house for agents so that they can escape capture and stay here where it's safe," she told him.

"And when are we going to attack the adults?" Numbuh 4 demanded but Numbuh 5 looked away.

"We don't know when we'll be able to attack Numbuh 4," Numbuh 5 admitted, "I don't know if we'll EVER be able to attack," she confessed solemnly.

"What!" Numbuh 4 shouted incredulously, "we have to attack!" he cried, "we can beat cruddy adults and…"

"WAKE UP NUMBHUH 4!" Numbuh 5 shrieked in fury, "we're barely able to use our satellite technology to keep them away from the Moon Base and a few other important places," she listed, "and we need all the manpower possible to defend the Moon Base," she pointed out, "if we fight now and lose," she said, "we lose everything and the KND is finished."

"I thought you had guts Numbuh 5," Numbuh 4 said coldly, "guess you're too cowardly to protect the KND just like you were when Numbuh 3 when she got captured at your house," he accused, "and you're supposed to be our leader," he said with scorn.

"How dare you accuse me of being a coward," Numbuh 5 responded in an angry and shaky voice, "I tried to defend Numbuh 3," she told him, "but she made me promise not to intervene and left quietly with the police," she revealed, "she was the brave one," she said proudly, "you're the coward," she snarled glaring at Numbuh 4.

"ME!" Numbuh 4 cried, "how can I be the coward when I'm willing to FIGHT?" he demanded.

"Because you're unable to admit defeat," Numbuh 5 responded and surprised Numbuh 4, "I could order a fight, beat up a couple of adults and feel proud," she told Numbuh 4", she told him "but how brave would I be if my sent my fellow agents to be massacred just because I don't want to be a coward?" she asked in a hiss.

"But we can't…!" Numbuh 4 started to protest.

"You know what!" Numbuh 5 exploded, "why don't YOU go and return Numbuh 3 to us!" she shouted, "that's YOUR brave little mission," she told him, "and don't return until you do," she said.

"But…" Numbuh 4 started to say but Numbuh 5 interrupted him.

"Get out of here Numbuh 4!" Numbuh 5 interrupted, "I always knew that you were far from the smartest agent on the force," she declared to a shocked Numbuh 4, "but I never knew you were so DUMB and WORTHLESS!" she snapped at him.

Numbuh 4 opened his mouth but then closed it. He turned to leave but stopped at the door and looked back at Numbuh 5.

"I always knew that I was NEVER smart much less anywhere near the smartest agent here at the KND," Numbuh 4 told her, "but I always thought that my friends thought better of me," he added and left.

Numbuh 5 stood still in shock. She had never expected to tell Numbuh 4 that. She always knew that he was never very intelligent but she never expected to explode on him and tell him that the way she said it. Worse yet she called him worthless. She honestly felt that he was FAR from worthless. She knew that out the door walked out not only an agent. But her friend

as well.

"Are you going to go after him?" Numbuh 2 asked.

"No," Numbuh 5 responded after a moment of silence, "I think he needs some time alone."

(Twenty Minutes Later in an old storage room in an isolated part of the Moon Base)

Numbuh 4 sat in the furthest corner of the storage room crying. He always knew that in truth that he was useless. Hand to hand combat was nice in a fight but what about everything else. Nigel had logics and strategies, Hoagie had his technological smarts, Kuki had her cuteness and charms and Abby had her stealth and quick thinking. To him those things could be used to get the best grades, create new things, win friends or be considered really cool. Fighting could be considered cool but it always ended up with him in trouble and he always thought of what mattered and realized that his talent was useless. Outside the KND he had no friends and barely passed school enough to not be held back or thrown out. His teachers hated marking his papers and his parents soon left report cards unopened since they always knew what the grades would be. Bad and Mediocre.

"Wally you sure know how to show others your usefulness," Wally told himself sarcastically, "even Numbuh 5 believes you're worthless," he stated, "I just…."

Wally stopped talking and removed his sneakers and soon pulled off his baggy blue jeans and rested them aside after folding them. All he had on now was his blue boxers, white shirt and his orange hoodie. He dug into his pocket and soon found what he was looking for. He pulled out the little box and opened it. In it was a razor blade. He remembered when he first used one and how great it felt.

(Flashback)

"These are your grades!" Mrs. Beetles cried angrily and flung the report card in ten year-old Wally's face, "how dare you bring this into our house!" she exploded, "get to your room!"

Wally walked up to his room muttering under his breath. He locked the bedroom door behind him and sat on his bed. Soon he was sobbing into his hands. He had actually studied and studied hard. And he still ended up barely passing most of his subjects by one percent and failed three horribly. He hated himself for being so dumb. His fists were useful in battle but not useful in bringing up his grades in school. He used to be cocky and proud of his work but as more and more horrible grades came in, reality struck him and struck him hard.

"I'm so sick of this!" Wally shouted angrily, "bet they wouldn't mind if I were dead!"

Wally started to muse over that thought. Suicide always seemed a coward's way out to him but then he thought of how few people even gave a damn about him anyway. But then Nigel came to mind. His best friend. Nigel would be devastated. Wally sighed in defeat and decided to go to the bathroom.

After reaching the bathroom for some reason he never figured out he started search through the medicine cabinet. His eyes moved along lines and lines of medicine for sleeping, the flu, migraines and several different types of vitamin caplets. Then his eye fell upon his mother's razor blades. He stared them for a moment curiously then reached his hand out and took out the small white box that they were in. He opened it and took out two then placed the box back into the cabinet and closed it. He looked at the blades closely then ran a finger along the edge.

"OWW!" Wally cried and shook his hand on which the cut finger was now ringing with pain, "that hurt!" he shouted and stuck the bleeding finger in his mouth.

Wally glared at the blood-covered razor blade; as he sucked his finger, hatefully. Even inanimate objects were hurting him!

Wally soon took out his finger out of his mouth and looked at it. It was still bleeding slightly but he wasn't feeling any more intense pain. Suddenly he felt calm. He started to glare at his finger suspiciously.

What are you doing? Wait a minute! Am I asking my finger a QUESTION? Man I must be totally bonkers! (Wally's thoughts)

Wally suddenly bit down on his still bleeding finger and had to struggle not to cry out with the pain he felt. It didn't feel anything near pleasurable at all. He stared at his finger silently for a moment then looked back at the razor. He suddenly started to roll up the left sleeve of his hoodie after resting the razor blades on the sink. He looked at the white flesh of his arm closely; it looked a bit paler than the skin on his hands since it got much less sun. He ran a finger along it and noticed how smooth it was. He smiled for a moment then shook his head out of his strange reverie ready to see whether or not he was nuts. He picked up one of the razors and slowly ran it along the flesh of his exposed shoulder. He closed his eyes and hissed in pain but the pain quickly went and he felt fine. Well the pain didn't exactly go away but he didn't feel like he was hurting. At least not in a bad way. He watched the blood that ran from his cut and down his arm in confusion.

Am I not supposed to be feeling panic right now? What's wrong with me? (Wally's thoughts)

Wally touched the cut and felt a slight jolt of pain. He winced and closed one eye but for some reason he still felt strange and suspicious. He quickly went to the bathroom door and locked it. He looked closely at his bleeding arm and concluded that it would be safer to just get out of his clothes and take a shower. He undressed but didn't go to take a shower. Instead he prepared the tub and turned on the water. He rested his back against the wall as he sat on the edge of the tub. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the silence that was only interrupted by the water slowly filling the tub. No one barking orders, cussing him about grades, taunting him because of his performance at school and no one calling him to do anything. Just peace and quiet. Wally suddenly a slight jolt go through his thigh and smiled, it felt good.

Wait. What was that I felt go through my thigh anyway? (Wally's thoughts)

Wally looked down to realize that his hand with the razor blade had cut his thigh by accident when he rested it there. He watched the blood ooze from the small cut slowly. Instinctively he tried to make another one. He felt the same jolt of pleasure combined with pain as he felt before. He looked at his thigh wondering what was wrong with him.

I've heard of some weird kinky people who for some reason feel pleasure when they get hurt. Am I one of those people? Am I not only an idiot but a freak as well? (Wally's thoughts)

Wally fought the urge to break into tears. Everything was wrong with HIM. He was stupid, useless unless he used his fists and now he was some pain liking freak. Wally felt the anger boil inside him. Why should HE feel this way? Didn't he deserve to Be happy too? Feel pleasure at the fact that he was a good fighter and just leave it at that.

Wally sighed. He felt so drained. Tired of feeling all these negative emotions. He looked down at the razor. So far it had been the only thing that never called or seem to think at any point that he was stupid. Then he felt stupid for taking comfort in an inanimate object.

Oh to hell with it! (Wally's thoughts)

Wally took the razor and made another cut and felt the pleasure from it almost immediately and sighed with relief. He felt as if as he cut himself he let out some of the pain and anger from inside him. He smiled brightly with closed eyes as he made another cut and chuckled to himself as he made yet another. He felt like he was in total bliss.

(End Flashback)

Wally took it out and stared at it. He had remembered how great it felt against his skin cutting against his worthless flesh. How ironic it was that back then he didn't know that other people did the same thing when he first started doing it. He later found out what it was five months turning eleven. Unfortunately it was when Nigel caught him doing it when he accidentally went into Wally's room in Sector V without knocking. Nigel was alarmed and Wally was frightened that he would lose his best friend. But later on Nigel spoke to Wally and after finding out why Wally did it, finally told him what it was. Wally never knew anything about this type of 'cutting' or even the definition of 'self-injury' before Nigel told him. Nigel also asked Wally to stop doing it. At first Wally protested but Nigel firmly told him then explained how 'cutting' ruined a lot of people's lives and even led some people to committing suicide or being locked up in mad houses. Wally thought it over but was still a bit hesitant. But when Nigel pleaded with him as a friend to stop Wally soon caved in. He still cut himself about seven times two months after but soon stopped doing it permanently. He had kept his promise to Nigel. At least he kept his promise to Nigel, until now.

Wally sobbed softly as he lifted his hoodie and shirt to reveal his unscarred stomach. He had only focused on cutting his arms, thighs and legs the last him he cut himself.

"Time to try something new," Wally whispered and started to cut himself carefully along his smooth stomach and felt the old pleasure that he had left so long ago return to him almost instantly.

(Meanwhile in an underground dungeon under the DCFDTL's Mansion)

"Give us information on the KND!" a female shouted and punched Herbie in the stomach, "you WILL give the information that the teenagers and adults want mister!" she shouted angrily as she glared at the chained agent.

"Never!" Herbie cried then coughed, he was in a lot of pain and soon realized that he was coughing up blood.

"You have to talk sooner or later," the female said as a grin spread across his face, "Father…."

"Father's a liar!" Herbie shouted, "you have to listen to me Francine!" he shouted desperately, "you were once one of us…."

"And I'm not now am I?" Francine declared interrupting him, "I'm no longer apart of you and your friends evil organization dedicated to enslaving adults and teens," she said hatefully.

"That is not true!" Herbie told her, "that was NEVER our intention!" he cried, "we just want a world where kids aren't oppressed," he said, "we're not looking to enslave or harm any teen or adult without reason!" he tried to explain.

"LIAR!" Francine screamed and kicked Herbie in the face causing his glass to go askew, "Father told me all about your little organization," she told him, "and Hoagie even has a few memories of the KND," she added.

"Clear memories?" Herbie asked trying to hide his hope.

"No," Francine responded, "but they're getting clearer by the day," she said happily, "soon his remaining memories will be clear enough for him to truly know the KND for what they really are," she said proudly.

"What if he likes what he sees?" Herbie asked suddenly and Francine's eyes flared, "what if he reverts and Father orders you to take him down?" he pursued, "what will you do now that you've joined up and become one of his new spies?"

"Hoagie will never side with you?" Francine snarled.

"What if he did?" Herbie pushed.

"Then he'd be just as dead as the rest of you," Francine responded after a moment of silence and Herbie's eyes widened, "don't think that I don't see Hoagie as friend," she continued, "but I'm willing to KILL him the moment that he becomes a THREAT."

Done.

Death's Soulmate: Intense. Please Review.