SPYING

Numbuh 3 looked at the grand vista before her with eyes opened wide, drinking in all that there was to see. She was smiling so wide it looked like her face could only barely contain it. Numbuh 4 was squinting as he observed the same sight, and his eyebrows sloped down, giving him a look of absolute forlorn and misery.

"WHY-Y-Y-Y…? he moaned.

Numbuh 3 was astonished.

"How can you possibly be complaining? I mean look how great this is: a mission to RAINBOW MONKEY WORLD, USA!" she was so jubilant she was almost screaming. Numbuh 4 stuck out his tongue, making a gagging sound and an even more pained expression.

"Would you two knock it off and proceed with the mission." Came Numbuh 1's voice over the receivers in their ears. Numbuh 4 winced at the cackling sound and Numbuh 3 clutched her ear in pain.

"Not so loud Numbuh 1." She complained. "Cause if you perforate anyone's ear-drum, don't expect me to fix it."

"Never mind. Just get in there."

"Ugh. I can't believe we flew all the way to Orlando for this crud. Why do I hafta do this anyway? Why isn't Numbuh 5 going in there. I mean at least she's a girl, this probably wouldn't be quite as painful for her."

"Hey, Numbuh 5's takin' care of her end. Now would you just get going and stop whining." Came Numbuh 5's disgruntled voice over the communicators.

Numbuh 4 and Numbuh 3 proceeded towards the park entrance. They were dressed quite normally, Numbuh 4 had on an orange t-shirt with carpenter jeans and white shoes with some dirt and mud smudges to make them look worn in, though this was probably the first occasion that anyone had worn them. Numbuh 3 was wearing a green tank top with black spandex and her green sweater wrapped around her waist; her hair was held back in a bun with chopsticks. Both were wearing thin Ray ban sunglasses and gave the impression of being an ordinary college couple having a day out.

"Remember guys," Numbuh 1 continued, "You're a boyfriend and girlfriend…" Numbuh 3 gave a tiny hiccup when she heard this, and Numbuh 4's face went bright red, but both kept themselves composed and didn't falter as they walked toward the entrance.

"…from University of Central Florida. Numbuh 3, your name is Mumi and you're studying to become a veterinarian. Numbuh 4 your name is Warren, and you're a music major. If you start getting a lot of questions from one of the tourists the job of acting and fabricating answers falls to Numbuh 3. At some point, Numbuh 3, you need to create a distraction near the Sugar Mountain of Love ride to draw the crowd away and to yourself. Numbuh 4, as soon as Numbuh 3 has everyone distracted you go and enter through one of the authorized personnel entrances. Numbuh 5 will be there to help you out in subduing the terrorists inside. Once inside, switch to night-vision by…"

"…Pressing the little button on the right lens rim, I remember the procedures Numbuh 1, give it a rest, I got it under control."

"Just making sure, no harm in being thorough."

"Okay team switch on cameras," came Numbuh 2's voice, and Numbuhs 3 and 4 each turned a small dial on the left lens rim, activating the tiny cameras in their glasses.

Numbuh 4 was excited about being paired with Numbuh 3 for this mission, even if it did involve him having to go into Rainbow Monkey World, and though it was just an act, he liked the idea of playing her boyfriend.

Why am I thinking these things? He thought. I don't even know this girl… and yet I'm thrilled to play pretend-boyfriend? What is up with me?

He and Numbuh 3 had made no mention to the rest of the team about the intimate moment that they had shared in Central Park a few nights ago, and they'd barely spoken to each other since it happened.

After purchasing their tickets the two undercover agents entered the park and Numbuh 4 headed straight for the Sugar Mountain of Love, wanting to get in, do whatever needed to be done, get out and go back to headquarters in New York. Numbuh 3 however had no intention of getting through this mission with any haste, and as Numbuh 4 was marching towards the Sugar Mountain of Love she twisted his arm and led him away towards some other rides and games.

Numbuh 4 immediately began to complain.

"Num… sorry, Mumi," he corrected with poorly concealed agitation, "is this really necessary? I mean we're dealing with a terrorist threat here, shouldn't we put our focus on getting into that Sugar Mountain thing and securing the weapon store? I mean who knows what those Kids Next Door are planning to do."

Please don't take me into that stupid, girly excuse of an amusement park. Plea-ea-ease… He was begging in his head.

She easily countered, "I'm in charge of Diversionary Tactics, and the first thing we have to do is create an illusion of innocence; make it so no one suspects us of being unusual or threatening. What better way to do that than to wander through the park and have a bit of fun? It'll help us blend in."

She covered her receiver so the rest of the team wouldn't hear her as she spoke to Numbuh 4.

"Who knows Warren, you might have a bit of fun by accident."
Numbuh 4 complained to his leader: "Numbuh 1, back me up here."
"Numbuh 3's right, it may look suspicious if you go straight to the objective. Besides, Numbuh 5 is well concealed, she can afford a few more minutes."

"Oh yeah, take your sweet, sweet time…" Came Numbuh 5's less than enthused voice

Numbuh 4 had little to no reason to object, so he allowed Numbuh 3 to drag him into the thick of the fair. At every turn was a soft, cuddly article of Rainbow Monkey paraphernalia. From pink ear warmers, to pocket-sized Rainbow Monkeys and every conceivable piece of merchandise with the Rainbow Monkey brand name slapped on. Numbuh 4 felt so smothered and overwhelmed by this environment he felt as though he were suffocating. Like when a nightmare gets worse and worse but doesn't diminish in realism.

After racing Numbuh 3 in Rainbow Monkey go-karts, going through the Cuddly-Wuddly Pagoda three times, and climbing the Rainbow Monkey Jungle Gym, Numbuh 4 was ready to explode. With a face contorted in pain and boredom he turned to Numbuh 3 on his knees, grasped one of her hands and began pleading:

"Please N…Mumi, can we just go on with the mission and not do this anymore?"

A group of little girls happened to be walking at that moment. One among them, who had a purple Rainbow Monkey balloon tied around her wrist, stopped to watch the young couple. She brought her hands to her mouth, thinking that she was watching a proposal, like the ones she had seen in the movies. And before racing off with her friends she squealed to Numbuh 3.

"Say yes."

Numbuh 4 blushed and immediately stood up, Numbuh 3 also blushed and giggled as the little girl went by.

"Maybe you should stay on your feet Warren, I'm the one that's supposed to attract attention. Come on just one more thing, then we'll go ahead with the mission."

Numbuh 3 brought Numbuh 4 into a picture taking tent. There was a background of open fields and blue skies with a smiling sun and a big beautiful rainbow stretching from one end of the screen to the other. The photographer insisted that the two of them pose behind some Rainbow Monkey cutouts, which they did. Then they took a set of photos of just the two of them standing together, then one of them making goofy faces.

"Hey that was fun," said Numbuh 4 as he started walking out. Truthfully he had had some fun, but was eager to get on with the job.

"Just one more set." Numbuh 3 stopped him from leaving. Numbuh 4 didn't look as enthusiastic as her but he was certainly less morose than before.

"Ok, what theme this time?"
"Hmm… lets try a macho theme."

Numbuh 4 rolled his eyes but he got into it well enough. For the first picture he brought his fists together as he flexed his abs and chest while Numbuh 3 flexed her arms, holding them off to her sides.

In the next picture, Numbuh 4 tried Numbuh 3's last pose, and she wrapped her arms around one of his biceps and held one foot out behind her – like how an actress holds out her foot in the movies while kissing her true love. This surprised Numbuh 4, but he certainly had no qualms about it. And in the next picture he picked up Numbuh 3 in his arms and held her by the back and under the knees, she laughed and gave a wonderful smile for the camera.

The rest of their pictures involved a lot more playful creativity: Numbuh 3 piggyback riding on Numbuh 4 with her arms around his shoulders while he held her legs as they came out around his hips, the two of them doing 007 back-to-back by making pistols with their fingers, and the two of them trying to make their code numbers with their bodies (which left Numbuh 3 with a sore back from trying to make the bottom arch in 3).

The two came out of the photo station laughing richly.

"A 'hem…" came Numbuh 1's voice over their communicators. The fantasy shattered, Numbuhs 3 and 4 immediately snapped back to reality.

"We're on our way to the objective now Numbuh 1," Numbuh 3 tried to appease him.

"Well would you hurry up, I've been waiting here for more than half an hour." Now Numbuh 5 was the one complaining. "Not that I don't mind a work out, but hanging from a water pipe in a dark room gets tiring after a while."
"We're on our way Numbuh 5, just hang in there." Numbuh 4 admonished her.
"Huh, easy for you to say."

As Numbuhs 3 and 4 approached the Sugar Mountain of Love they started to part ways, Numbuh 3 headed towards the center square in front of the attraction, Numbuh 4 to the authorized personnel entrance, and it was then as they tried to part ways that they both realized that they were holding fast to each other's hands. Blushing madly as they let go, Numbuh 3 whispered a quick good luck to Numbuh 4 as he proceeded to the objective.

Inside an unmarked van outside the park, Numbuh 2 and Numbuh 1 were watching the team through the cameras on their glasses. Numbuh 2 put his hand over the microphone on the keyboard and turned to Numbuh 1.

"Is it just my imagination or are those two getting a little too into their acting roles?"

"I think there's some merit to that observation Numbuh 2. Either that or the two of them are naturally good spies. Best check on Numbuh 5, make sure she's ready to proceed."
"Numbuh 5, hanging in there all right?"
"One more crack about me hanging and Numbuh 5 is gonna whoop all your butts!"
"Relax Numbuh 5, it looks like Numbuh 3 is starting the diversion. She's got a big crowd around her… a-a-and… Numbuh 4 just went inside the authorized personnel entrance, he'll be there shortly."

Numbuh 5 breathed a sigh of relief – she'd been hanging from a water pipe like a sloth for almost an hour and her limbs had begun cramping. She had entered the structure earlier in the morning and found a large storehouse of fuel and weapons and dozens of Kids Next Door operatives all over the place. She'd scurried like a fly along the walls and ceiling with the use of suction devices and harnesses, not to mention the aid of several years in gymnastics and acrobatic martial arts.

She spotted Numbuh 4 coming into the middle of the room, making no attempt to keep hidden, just walking right out in the open for everyone to see him. She tightened her muscles, waiting for the exact moment when she would drop and begin the fight.

No sooner had Numbuh 4 stepped into the center of the huge storehouse, when a dozen Kids Next Door surrounded him with drawn 2x4 weapons. One kid of about 11 or 12 who was clearly the leader raised a demanding, though childishly nasal voice.

"All right adult, I thought that Authorized Personnel sign would've been enough to keep you out, so I guess will have to show you out the hard way."

Numbuh 4 glanced up at Numbuh 5 and they both exchanged a wink before he replied.

"Sorry kids, but I think today I'll be the one showing you the exit."

Numbuh 5 came down on the leader, knocking the weapon out of his hands and kicking him into two of the other KND operatives at his side. Numbuh 4 took the advantage of his enemy's surprise and flew spinning like a whirlwind at two heavy-set 12 year olds, knocking their weapons away and sending them sprawling on the floor. Both adults flew at their remaining adversaries, taking care to incapacitate them, but avoid causing any lasting bodily harm.

The whole fight was over in a matter of seconds, and the whole KND guard force was sprawled on the floor, battered, bruised, and beaten. Numbuhs 4 and 5 looked up at one another with expressions of shock and amazement that they had been so effective and had won with such ease.

"Masterfully done guys, the DAFDTL said that they have agents to shut down the ride and remove the weapons without anyone's noticing, so our job is done. Numbuh 3, keep up the ruse just a little longer, Numbuhs 4 and 5, get out of there."

Numbuh 3 had been re-enacting segments of the Rainbow Monkey movies, drawing all the young girls away from the Sugar Mountain of Love ride and all their parents with them. She had even done some of it while doing back flips and cartwheels to captivate everyone's eyes as well as their ears. And her voice in signing the Rainbow Monkey songs had been as flawless as a fine tuned instrument.
As she saw Numbuhs 4 and 5 come out of the large structure she gracefully bowed and said that she had worn herself out for the day. Everyone clapped and cheered for her and many of the little girls came up and hugged her, saying that they wished they had a friend like her. Numbuh 3 was so taken by everyone's applause and appreciation that it took admonishment from Numbuhs 4 and 5 and eventually Numbuhs 1 and 2 over her earpiece to tell her to move out.

"I guess I need to work on being able to lose the attention as soon as I've gotten it, huh?"

"Nice work Numbuh 3, now I say we blow this Popsicle stand and get back to base in New York. How 'bout it boss?"

"Affirmative Numbuh 5. Nice job team, mission accomplished."

Numbuhs 1 and 2 hadn't been seen, so they remained in the back of the van while Numbuhs 3 and 4 took the front and drove back to the airport. Numbuh 3 busied herself looking through the photos of her and Numbuh 4 and laughing and teasing Numbuh 4 about his posture and smile the whole way.

"I swear those guys must have known each other before we met. Nobody hits it off that fast."
"Some people just naturally click Numbuh 5, I don't think there's anything wrong with it."

"She has got a bit of a point Numbuh 2. A lot of things have been happening with amazing ease considering a transition of this magnitude. I don't know how to describe it but I feel something weird when I'm around you guys. I don't know how to describe it, but whenever we go out on a mission I just feel so… I don't know… I guess, used to it. I mean giving you guys' orders and referring to you by your Numbuhs. It's almost like I've done it before, it just feels so natural."

"I have to admit, Numbuh 5 has a strange ring to it…"
"Is that why you keep referring to yourself in the third person?"
"Shut up Numbuh 2." And she smacked him over the head with one of her gloves.

"One thing I noticed," said Numbuh 1 as the team was seated in the DAFDTL's Jet and flying back to NYC. Numbuh 2 had insisted on flying, but had been denied by the DAFDTL's pilot.
"Those kids that Numbuhs 4 and 5 attacked, they had Numbers embroidered on their uniforms and in their helmets. I remember there was a Numbuh 67, a… uh, Numbuh 423 and some others I can't remember off the top of my head, but still, they had Codenumbers just like us."

"So what are you saying?" inquired Numbuh 4.
"I don't know; it just seems a pretty unusual coincidence that both sides of this conflict use the same form of identification."
"Numbuh 5 thinks that there's something that our old bosses know and aren't telling us. And I say we try and find out what it is."

"You mean steal information?"
"No Numbuh 2, I mean keep our eyes and ears open for any opportunities to gain some info about us or the DAFDTL, or the Kids Next Door."

"It never hurt to know more about one's enemy," said Numbuh 3 in support.

"Or one's ally." Mumbled Numbuh 1.

Author Let me hear what you think, I'll have another chapter up as soon as I can.