Memories

Chapter 5: Hard Choices

(Half an hour later in Hoagie's Room)

"What do you think of the KND Organization?" Nigel asked.

Hoagie thought about Nigel's question for a moment, then answered honestly.

"I don't know," Hoagie said and Nigel raised an eyebrow, "I just don't understand why the KND just decommission their teenage agents instead of imprisoning them if they're really planning on enslaving teenage and adult kind," he told Nigel, "plus I wonder why I'd join an organization that would at some point enslave not only me but, my mom, Dad, older relatives and friends as well," he added.

"You too?" Nigel asked in surprise, "I was worried that you'd start declaring quotes from Father," he said and Hoagie picked up an underlying hatred in Nigel's voice when he said 'Father'.

"Do you and Father have a problem?" Hoagie asked.

Let's just say I trust him as much as I trust a lion to not bite my head off it I stick it into it's mouth," Nigel said frankly.

"Wow, you really don't like him," Hoagie said with a laugh, "I don't hate him, but my gut tells me there's something about him that I must NOT trust," he admitted.

"Do you know that Father hates children?" Nigel asked and Hoagie shook his head and looked very surprised, "I don't know why I didn't remember this before, but I'll tell you anyway," he stated, "he believes kids that don't obey everything an adult tells them are evil," he continued, "my Dad told me about him a little after I turned thirteen and Father started to offer me jobs," he told Hoagie, "Father has privately tried to have crazy laws passed including getting rude kids cooked in cakes," he said and Hoagie's eyes widened, "that guy's insane and I BET the KND are really trying to stop him and not trying to enslave anyone," he added.

"If that's true the KND probably attack adults only if they try to harm kids in some way," Hoagie said and Nigel nodded, "but they broke into my house and tried to kidnap me!" he shrieked suddenly, "how can I trust them if they do something so loony and well BAD!"

"Well Father wants to have kids baked," Nigel put forward, "would you rather that than kidnapping?" he asked bluntly.

"Good point," Hoagie admitted, "but Francine's already employed by him," he said and Nigel's face fell, "and no offence," he continued, "but I think she'd report you if she heard what you were saying," he added.

"Would she report you?" Nigel pressed.

"Hmmm," Hoagie wondered aloud, "maybe," he said with a shrug, "but what's the worst Father can do?" he asked.

"What has he hired Francine for again?" Nigel asked instead of answering Hoagie's question.

"She's some secret agent for him," Hoagie revealed, "but I'm not supposed to tell really anyone," he added and blushed.

"Well thanks for trusting me enough to tell me," Nigel said gratefully, "do you have any idea what number you were before you were decommissioned?" he asked.

"I was numbuh two, why?" Hoagie responded.

"And Wally was number 4 and Kuki was number 3," Nigel added, "do you think that I might've been number 5?" he asked.

"You were numbuh 1," Hoagie revealed.

"That's awesome," Nigel said happily, "but seriously," he continued, "what are we going to do with what we know?" he asked Hoagie.

"What do you mean we?" Hoagie asked carefully.

"If Father's evil we can't let him destroy the KND," Nigel told him, "imagine your kids living in an age where they can get baked for being rude?" he asked incredulously.

"I'd bake the guy who'd dare harm my child myself," Hoagie said seriously, "but what about Father helping me and Francine…"

"Think about it Hoagie," Nigel spoke, "Father had started offering me jobs and even hinted that I'd be doing adults and my kind (teenagers) a favour," he told Hoagie, "now he's helped you and I'm certain that he has offered you A job already," he added.

"Yeah he did," Hoagie confessed, "but I turned him down," he said, "things were just too confusing and they still are," he stated, "none of my memories so far have shown the KND doing anything wrong," he continued, "I've had memories of us fighting adults," he admitted, "but they've always been in self defence."

"Exactly!" Nigel cried, "you've had no memories of the KND being evil right?" he asked Hoagie who shook his head.

"But they DID try to kidnap me," Hoagie pointed out, "so understand if I don't exactly trust them," he added.

"I don't trust that they'll trust us either," Nigel admitted, "for whatever reason this organization has separated itself from anyone who's age 13 and over," he deduced, "and it might just be because they fear that these teens can be influenced by adults and give away vital information," he said and Hoagie agreed.

"So what do you want to do?" Hoagie asked.

"You mean…?" Nigel started to ask.

"I'll help in whatever way I can," Hoagie responded before Nigel could finish, "I'll be betraying Francine," he admitted, "but I feel that my heart belongs to someone or something else," he added.

"Okay," Nigel said, "first we're going to have to find out where the KND agents who've escaped are safe housed," he started, "but first I'm going to need you to use your mechanical expertise to me break….."

(Ten Minutes Later at 9:30pm at the Moon Base)

Abby sat in front of a computer checking the security systems to ensure that they were all functioning at optimum proficiency. It had already been checked by those assigned to do the job, but Abby needed to check it for herself. Even if her number was Numbuh Five, she wasn't fifth place in ensuring that the KND Moon Base was properly defended against enemy forces.

Just then she heard the metal doors opened and the new Numbuh Two entered.

"Hi Numbuh Five," Numbuh Two said humbly, "may I speak to you for a moment?" she asked.

"Sure," Numbuh Five said kindly and turned to Numbuh Two, "what's wrong," she asked seriously when she saw the girl's pale and worried face.

"I went looking for Numbuh Four earlier," Numbuh Two blurted out and soon she was in tears, "he was…" she tried to say but couldn't continue.

Suddenly the doors opened again and in stepped Numbuh Four. His eyes couldn't be seen under his bangs but it was obvious that he was looking at Numbuh Two and his hands were closed tightly in fists. He was also panting hard and Numbuh Five could tell that he was angry.

"What did you tell her?" Numbuh Four snarled.

"Nothing," Numbuh Two responded in a tiny voice.

"Yet," Numbuh Five added.

"This is not your concern Numbuh Five," Numbuh Four told her.

"To HELL it aint!" Numbuh Five exploded, "I'm the leader here Numbuh Four," she reminded him, "I have every right to know what happens on this base."

"Even it's none of YOUR business?" Numbuh Four asked her almost angrily.

"Yes," Numbuh Five responded firmly as she hid how unnerved she really was.

"I'm a cutter okay," Numbuh Four revealed.

After a moment of silence Numbuh Five responded.

"Are you insane?" Numbuh Five demanded loudly, "do you know what happens to people like that!"

"Yeah they feel better afterwards," Numbuh Four told her.

"They sometimes go mad Wally," Numbuh Five told him, "some even commit suicide Numbuh Four," she informed him.

"I read!" Numbuh Four cried, "some people cut themselves and still lead normal lives," he informed Numbuh Five.

"Cutting aint normal Numbuh Four," Numbuh Five said urgently.

"Well if you haven't noticed Numbuh Five!" Numbuh Four exploded, "I'm not the typical pre-teen," he told her, "I attend a special school for bullies with an electric fence and gun carrying janitors!" he reminded her, "I'm not even a bully but I'm stuck there because I can kick butt, skip school and that's society's ingredients to what they believe are the next criminals in their society!" he shouted, "I stopped going to school with you guys (Numbuh One-Five (except Numbuh Four- DUH!) two months before I became eleven!"

"And you've changed," Numbuh Five observed, "and we were too dumb to see it," she said softly.

"You weren't dumb," Numbuh Four comforted her, "people change," he said, "it's a natural fact," he said with a shrug.

"How have I changed Numbuh Four?" Numbuh Five asked him in barely a whisper.

Numbuh Four's cheeks suddenly went red.

"Oh um, you're growing and uh you've become more responsible as leader and all," Numbuh Four said as Numbuh Five smiled slightly and shuffled her feet, "I'm sorry about Hoagie," he said suddenly.

Numbuh Five gasped. Why did he have to bring him up?

"I'm just saying," Numbuh Four started to say, "you don't have to pretend yah don't miss him."

"What?" Numbuh Five asked.

"Come on Numbuh Five," Numbuh Four prodded, "you guys were an item for three months before he was decommissioned," he reminded her and Numbuh Two gasped, "oh," he added realizing that he had forgotten that she was also present.

"Um Numbuh Two," Numbuh Five said, "please exit this room and make your rounds," she said seriously, "that's an order!" she shouted when Numbuh Two started to protest.

"Yes Leader Numbuh Five!" Numbuh Two obeyed and quickly left the room.

"I thought you liked Numbuh Three," Numbuh Five said formally after Numbuh Two had left for three minutes.

"I do," Numbuh Four admitted, "but you can tell when you like something more," he continued, "or love," he added.

"Or love," Numbuh Five repeated for him, "let's eat," she said instead of following her primal urge of kissing him.

"Okay," Numbuh Four said with a shrug, as he seemed oblivious to Numbuh Five's attempt to not go 'primal'.

They walked out, with their hands intertwined.

Done

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