Chapter 2. A Time For Action

"It's quite a bad burn, sir." Remarked the remedial healer, Numbuh 124, as he finished bandaging the injury. "How did it happen?"

"You wouldn't believe it, but Father attacked me in my dream and when I woke up, the burn was re-AH!" Numbuh 362 gasped in pain at the one bad move Numbuh 124 made on her shoulder. She took a breath and continued, "I don't know if I'll be able to sleep again."

"What are your orders marm?"

Numbuh 362 knew exactly what needed to be done, "Spread the word and contact every sector. And tell Numbuh 86 to get over here, I have something I need her to do."

"Yes marm!"

"Sector V! This is Numbuh 86! Pick up!"

Numbuh 1 quickly set aside his work and answered the call. Numbuh 86's head appeared on the screen, with the same foul expression on her face as usual. Numbuh 1 wondered what she was going to yell about now.

"What is it Numbuh 86, sir."

"What is it! I'll tell you what it is! Father found out how to attack Numbuh 362 through her dreams! We can't figure out how to help her! Numbuh 362 requests that your sector goes and finds out how he is doin' this!"

"Understood, we'll get right to it."

"I should hope so! End transmission!" Then the screen went black.

"Attackin' Numbuh 362 in her dreams? Wot is Father troiyin' ta do naow?" asked Numbuh 4 as he entered the room.

Numbuh 5 was right behind him. "Not sure, but whatever it is, Numbuh 5 thinks we have to find out before it's too late."

Numbuh 1 agreed with Numbuh 5, "Agreed Numbuh 5, time to get ready for a spy mission."

Back at the Moonbase, Numbuh 362 was terribly tired and fading fast, she hadn't slept very long after all. Perhaps just a little snooze wouldn't hurt. She slapped herself. No! She needed to stay awake. Maybe some sugar would do the trick. Before she could ask for a sugary beverage, sitting in her chair, her head lolled to the side as she drifted off to sleep.

Father sat there waiting in the realm of Numbuh 362's dreams, and evil grin carved on his face. The pipe was clenched neatly in between his teeth. Numbuh 362 wasn't scared this time, but annoyed and angry. She tackled him to the floor and glared straight into his face.

"How are you doing this? And why?" she shouted demandingly at him.

"I thought even you could figure it out," Father sneered, "haven't you ever heard 'cut off the head and the body must die?'"

Father grabbed both of her arms and forced her off him. Then he pushed her onto her back, "And you're the head!"

Numbuh 362 suddenly began to slap Father. Once, then again, and again. She was shocked, because she wasn't doing it.

Numbuh 362 slowly regained consciousness and felt Numbuh 86 giving her one last slap to wake her up. Numbuh 362's cheeks stung and her body ached from another encounter with Father as she realized she was awake. Numbuh 86 seemed to realize it too. "Sorry, sir, but you weren't wakin' up, and, it was sort of frightening."

"It's okay, Numbuh 86. I'm just glad to be awake. But Father is trying to cut me off from you guys. He's figured out that I'm only truly alone when I'm asleep. Tell me when Sector V comes back from their mission. Whatever they find out might be able to help."

At the mansion, Father removed the dream helmet from his head. His face stung terribly from the slapping he had been given. He noticed that Numbuh 362 had looked just as surprised as he did when she had slapped him. He would figure out what had happened and make sure it wouldn't happen again.

He heard a loud crash and saw Sector V sneaking in on one of his cameras.

It was time to welcome his guests.