Chapter Five
Abby stretched out on the couch the next morning. Sure it was comfortable to a point, but sleeping on it all night was not going to be a regular thing for her. She stifled a yawn and stretched her arms once more before flicking off the covers. One thing Abby hated getting up early due to her being a later riser, but due to the extensive sunlight shining in her face, she had no choice. She stepped onto the hard wooden floor and made her way to the kitchen. She knew Nigel would be up in the communication room as always; heck, he'd go without sleep for days to ensure the safety of the tree house. Abby tiptoed past so she wouldn't interrupt him, but stopped and turned back to peek through. There she found Nigel and Francine pouring over some reports. Abby knew I was rude to eavesdrop, but Abby expected the two to be the last to go over reports together.
"So, we know it isn't Father or those Delightful Dorks." Nigel explained, flicking through their file. "Although they are geniuses, they've gone away for the two weeks to Aspen."
"Hmm." Francine replied as her foot tapped the underneath of the table slightly. "Well, I count out The Common Cold, The Toiletnator, Nightbrace and Sticky Beard instantly; none of those dopes could ever think of something that great even if they put their dopey heads together."
"Mr. Boss is definitely out." Nigel added quickly. "I mean, he knows you work for us, so he wouldn't dream of attacking his own daughter."
"I'd love to say don't count on it, but this time you're actually right." She threw some paper to the side. "And I doubt The Cat Lady could be that devious."
"Hm. So I guess you've come to a conclusion then?" He asked her enthusiastically. She merely wrinkled her nose in disgust.
"Ya, and I'm not gonna tell you with that sappy attitude. You sound like a sissy." She merely chucked the rest of the files upon the desk and folded her arms.
"You know, if you weren't so stiff I wouldn't have to talk to you that way. You're too military for a girl." Nigel replied. "We're desperate here."
Francine sighed and unfolded her arms. "I know, I know. Ok, this is going to sound like a long shot, but I believe it could either be a teenager, or a former Kids Next Door operative that knows the ins and outs of our system."
"Wait, you're not saying…" Nigel started.
"Oh but I am." She leant in to make it clear for him. "I'm saying it might possibly by Cree Lincoln."
Abby felt like she had been slapped in the mouth. Sure, she knew her sister was against them, but she surely couldn't be capable of attempting to kill, could she?
"You're right, that is a long shot, but it somehow makes sense." Nigel made his way to the communication computer, and typed in the code to access Numbuh 362. They both waited a few seconds, before the blonde girl came into focus.
"Numbuh 1 reporting in sir." He merely stated. Francine saluted her.
"Oh, Numbuh 86." 362 said in a happy tune. "Obviously feeling a lot better I see. Anyway, what do you have to report?"
"Well, we've come to a very bizarre conclusion to who may be behind this." He explained, watching as the blonde nodded her head. "We think that the new foe is actually just an old one covering their identity. We believe it may be Cree Lincoln."
Numbuh 362 kept nodding, then realised what had actually been said. She shook her head a few times. "Wait, what did you say?"
"I know it sounds farfetched, but it all fits." Francine explained. "She is the only one smart enough to remember everything to do with 2x4 technology. She is the only known villain to be capable of doing something like this. She sees the Moon Base as a threat, hence why she tried to kill us. Also," She dreaded saying the next bit. "I don't really want to say this, but I believe that Cree is out for revenge…on Abigail."
Abby stared in disbelief at what was said. And she'd never heard anyone besides Kuki ever use her first name in full.
"Hmm. Well, if that's what you've come to, I'm gonna have to go with it." 362 nodded once. "Ok. Numbuh 362 out."
The screen went blank, and Nigel began writing a new report. He kept rolling his shoulder as he typed, and Francine couldn't stand it anymore.
"Here, you're working too hard." She placed her hands on his shoulders, and began to give him a massage. "You need to relax once in a while. You're annoying me by working your butt off."
His fingertips slipped from the keyboard, and he began to relax. "You know, you're really good at this. And here I was thinking you had no soft bone in your body."
"Well, looks are deceiving." She smirked. "Why do you think 362 keeps me joined to her by the hip?" She giggled, then leant in close. "But just for both our reps, don't tell anyone I was actually nice to you, and you were back."
"You're right. Like I'm going to breathe a word about you being a great massager anyway, can't have the rest of the team pulling you off duty for one."
"Of course." She stopped, and leant over his shoulder to help type up their findings. Abby shook her head in amusement, and in a bit of jealousy.
So, Numbuh 86 is after Numbuh 1. She thought as she continued her delayed journey. I'm gonna hafta start working a lot harder now if I want to get what I want.
0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o
That night Wally was training extra hard. He knew if anyone was to attack, it would be sooner rather than later, and he had to be ready for anything. He jumped up his windowsill, and something odd caught his eye.
Francine was hopping down the branches of the tree house, and once she hit the ground she looked around her. Wally was stupid, but he knew that she was seeing if anyone was following her. Noticing she was in the clear, she flicked on a cloak of some sort and began down the road.
"I wonder where she's going?" Wally wandered out aloud as he merely watched her. He pondered for a moment and made an equation in his head. 2 + 2
Pizza.
He smiled and assumed it was no big deal that she was leaving, it was probably nothing…
He shook his head and scratched it. That equation was not right at all. He had never known anyone to be in her condition and be able to use trees as a jungle gym. He went to follow her, but stopped when he heard his door squeak open.
"Wally?" Came the tiny voice of his girlfriend.
"Yeah, I'm up on the windowsill." He called back.
Kuki came in and placed her hands on her hips. "Well what are you doing up there silly?"
Wally went to tell her about Francine, but instead just made something up. He didn't want to freak her out. "I just thought I saw something move while I was training. Turns out it was just the leaves on the tree."
Kuki giggled. "You are a silly billy."
"Hey, I was just cautious. I was just looking out for ya." He replied.
"Well, Numbuh 2 wants us to help him with some of his inventions." Kuki left the room without another word. Wally looked out the window once more, before leaping down and following his girlfriend.
Yeah, looking out for ya. He thought to himself. Because if know any better, we have a traitor on our side.
