Thanks to all tha have read and reviewed this story so far. it really means the world ot me to know im pleasing the public. anyway, if you want to see some of the scenes ive drawn for this story so far, please dont hesitate to drop by my deviantart account and see for yourself. The link should be in my profile, so hopefully youll take a peek..and please, tell me what you think of them, i need more comments! anyway, enjoy!
Chapter Eight
Abby turned away from Nigel and sat on the floor with her arms folded tightly across her chest. She couldn't believe that Nigel would accuse an operative of a higher rank of attacking him. Nigel was still in shock that Fanny had just walked out on them without a fight. With a trembling hand, he grabbed Abby's shoulder.
"Numbuh 5…" He started, but she shook him off.
"Numbuh 5 doesn't want to talk to you." She replied.
Nigel sighed and let his hand fall. "I know you're upset about it, and I'm truly sorry for not stopping her from leaving. I just guess the whole shock of being attacked made me too angry to do anything. And just for the record, I wasn't going to tell her to leave."
Abby turned around slightly. "You weren't?"
"No." He gave her a smile, and it convinced he was speaking the truth. "On the contrary, I was going to ask her to help sort this out. I don't think she would attack me ever, though we do have our squabbles, but I could've sworn it was her."
"This doesn't make sense though." Abby wiped her eye. "Why would she do that?"
"I don't know Numbuh 5." He grabbed her hand reassuringly. "But we need to go and find her. And we will." He winked. "Don't worry, you'll have her back."
"Wait, how do you know about that?" She asked.
"I can see in your eyes Abby. You're my best friend, and I'm supposed to know about these things. And I would've understood completely."
"Ah well, let's not discuss the sappy stuff now." Abby stood up and faced him. "We got an operative to find."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
Fanny's eyes fluttered open slowly, and she groaned as her head pounded furiously. The last thing she remembered was Chad's evil grin. Her body felt numb, but she could feel tightness around her wrists and ankles. As her vision began to clear, she looked up to see her wrists shackled to a wall. She made a weak effort to break free, but in her heart she knew there was no way she could escape. She hung her head, and felt salty tears staining her eyelashes. She knew she had made a stupid mistake, and soon she would be paying for it.
"Enjoying your stay?" Came a sly feminine voice. From the darkness, Cree Lincoln unconcealed herself. "Because you've got plenty of time to hang around!" She began to chuckle at her own joke.
"You know, your jokes are as lame as Numbuh 2's" Fanny spat. "My grandmother could be more devious than that."
"Oh, is that so?" Cree leant in a little closer. "You know, for a rat you're quite the talker. Care to tell me why you would leave the tree house, and alone if I might add?"
"How about you let me go and I'll kick your stupid teenage butt?" Fanny retorted.
"Nice try sweety." Cree turned and placed her hands behind her back. "Do you know why you're here?"
"Because I got in the way?" Fanny suggested snidely. "Or the fact that I know who your little sidekick is?"
"Close, but not quite. You see, we need you for a very important job. And before you protest," She held up her hand, silencing the Scottish girl. "You will do it, or I'll take the thing that means most to you."
"You leave Numbuh 5 out of this!" She snarled.
"Oh, so that's what most important to you? And I didn't even get to torture you." Cree smirked evilly. "I hope you enjoy your stay with us, coz you'll be here for a while."
Fanny hung her head in defeat as Cree stalked off, the teenager cackling loudly.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
Abby climbed up the branches to enter a window in the living room. As she landed, she heard a squeak from the kitchen, and the next second Kuki stuck her out.
"Oh, it's just you." She let out a long breath she was obviously holding. "What were you doing anyway?"
"I was looking for Numbuh 86, you haven't seen her have you?" Abby asked hopefully.
"Sorry, not since this afternoon. Why, isn't she in the tree house somewhere?"
"Ah, no. It's a long story, but she's just disappeared inta thin air. Has Numbuh 1 come back yet?"
"Just got back." Came the British boy's voice from the elevator just opening. "There was no sign of her in the East streets. Numbuh 4 can't find her either."
Abby's legs buckled under her body suddenly, and she flopped back on the couch. She didn't understand this at all. First Fanny doesn't remember being with anyone that afternoon, then she just vanishes into thin air. Abby didn't want to admit it, but Numbuh 4 and Numbuh 1 may be right. Maybe Fanny was really a traitor after all.
You don't believe that. You're just saying it because you haven't figured it out yet. A small voice in her head whispered to her soothingly. You hate it when you're kept in the dark, and you know for a fact that your crush is on your side.
Abby shook her head and pulled her red cap down over her eyes. She could tell that the other two kept their gazes upon her, but she didn't want to deal with anyone at that point in time. Until Hoagie came bustling into the room suddenly. He must've been aggravated, as his pilot cap was on atilt, and his brown hair was sticking out slightly.
"Uh Numbuh 1, we have a slight problem." He muttered.
"What is it Numbuh 2. Numbuh 86 is missing and now we have more problems."
"Wait, toots is missing?" Hoagie asked nervously. Kuki clicked her fingers and giggled as she finally got whom he was talking about. "Anyway, all my blueprints that Numbuh 5 was keeping are gone."
"What? But I hid them in a safe place." Abby exclaimed.
"But it gets worse." Hoagie sighed. "In the communication room I left the blueprints for the machine for the Moon Base."
"The one that only two of the Moon Base operatives can access once it's running?" Nigel questioned.
"The very one." Hoagie shook his head. "That's gone missing as well. I checked everywhere for it, but it's gone."
Nigel looked as if it had hit him. "Right, Numbuh 2, I want you to access the computers and find any hidden lairs or anything or the sort. Numbuh 5, I want you to help him. Numbuh 3 and 4 will pack the weapons in the C.O.O.L.B.U.S."
"Numbuh 1, what's the matter?" Kuki asked nervously.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say this foe is going to build the machine to destroy the Moon Base. I need to contact Numbuh 362 immediately."
Nigel didn't stick around to hear protesting or questions as he jogged to the communication room. He didn't even bother sitting down as he furiously typed in the code to the Moon Base. Numbuh 362 came onto the screen, but she seemed like she didn't realize Nigel had contacted her, as she was balancing a pencil on her nose. Nigel cleared his throat, and 362's eyes lowered to see him, the pencil falling into her lap.
"Numbuh 1, I wasn't expecting you to report in so soon." She said quietly.
"We've got a major problem 362." Nigel rubbed his head. "The blueprints for your machine have been stolen, and Numbuh 86…"
"What?" She cut him off. "You know who took them, right?"
"Sure we do, but I need to say…"
"And what about 86, you worry me every time you say her name."
"I'm sorry, but I'm going to make you freak out about this." He breathed in and exhaled deeply. "She's gone missing."
"WHAT?" 362 screeched, making every operative behind her turn and stare in horror. Nigel cringed; he had never heard her yell that loud before.
"She can't have disappeared, she just can't of…" Numbuh 362's voice trembled. "I need her here, I need her…"
"Don't fret, we're going to find her. I've got Numbuh 5 and Numbuh 2 on it as we speak."
362 felt a twinge of jealousy at Abby's mention. "V-very well. But know this, I am coming down whether you like it or not. I need to be there to help you."
"But, 362…"
"No buts Nigel, I'm coming down. I am head of Kids Next Door, and I do what I say. My brother 363 will take charge in my absence. I'll see you in a few hours. Numbuh 362 out."
The screen went blank, and Nigel fell to his knees, his head resting on the desk. This was supposed to be a simple mission, and now it had turned into total chaos. He had failed in ensuring the Moon Base operative's lives, and now 362 was putting her safety at risk in coming down.
What have I done? He asked himself quietly.
