Chapter 6

"The red shirt, the bald head, and…sunglasses". "Who was he….. Nigel Uno?". Alex tossed and turned, still trying to think of who Nigel Uno was. The bed she was sleeping on, felt soft, and silky. Almost similar to Satin. Opening her red eyes, she saw a leopard print lamp on the desk nearby. "Where am I?". she wondered. She then saw a piece of 2X4 technology, hanging out of the closet. Sitting up, she had noticed a soft silky feel against her skin. Looking down she saw, she was wearing red silk pajamas. "This already doesn't look promising", she remarked looking around.

She often made harsh, sarcastic comments such as when she was frightened, or felt uneasy about something. A hamster was heard running on its wheel farther away. "Errmmmph!" she turned back over. The silk slid against the already satin sheets. Tired, and a little anxious, Alex did not want to get out of… bed.

Not her bed, of course but just, bed. Burying herself under the pillows, only her eyes were shown, as she looked up from under a blanket. Closing her eyes, she continued to think of something worthwhile, such as a helium superfluid. "Where do the expounding gases go?". She wondered.

Trying as she might, she could not think clearly at that moment. The sound of the silk, going against the satin on the sheets, kept her from thinking clearly. At a point in time, after dozing off for a little while, she got out of bed, and stomped out of the room, finding it virtually impossible to get any sleep, or think clearly at the moment.

Nervously, she walked around the treehouse, trying to figure out where she was, and just exactly what happened. "Kuki!". She said, trying to find the one team member she at least knew. No answer. "Um… uh…". She walked around, seeing the 2x4 tech that was used, leaning against the wall, along with KND magazines, sprinkle puff donuts, and the hamster wheel. "Um...ok". She said nervously, making her way outside.

An operative with a loosely buttoned-down blue shirt, and goggles on, sat reading a KND magazine. Who was he? Was he it? Where were the other operatives? "Um… excuse me". She said, as if it was her first time there. Perhaps because it was her first time there. "Is it possible, I can have an explanation as to what's going on?". She said. The operative turned around, calmly. His red lips opened slightly to form a mischievous smile. Hoagie was there! "Hey there, adorable". He said closing his magazine. "Oh, hello um...", "Numbuh 2". He said, winking at her. "Oh, yes, Numbuh 2, um…. I um… woke up this morning wearing these pajamas, and in someone's bed, I don't know if…". "Mmmmmm.". Hoagie nodded. "Did you enjoy them?". He asked, laughing a bit. "I don't…. I don't know". Alex said, looking down at her pajamas. "

I'll bet you did, you just don't wish to admit it". He said. "Yes, although… I… I had a hard time staying in bed". She said. "They're very slippery". Hoagie said. "Yes, they are". "They are not appropriate for proper nightwear between the hours of 9:00 pm and 8:00am". Alex huffed. "Someone's not in the mood". Hoagie chuckled. "I am going to have a strict word with Kuki about this later". She still huffed. "Mmmmmm". Hoagie pursed his lips. Walking away with a stern frown on her face, Alex turned around.

"What, what is it now?". She asked. Crossing his legs, Numbuh 2 looked up and down. "Those are mine". He said calmly. "They… they are?", Alex asked. With a look of insight still on his face, Hoagie continued to stare at Alex. The mischievous smile cracked, and only grew as he studied her. "Oh dear!". She said. "Oh dear!". She walked hastily inside, the sleeves hung down as the pajamas clearly were too big for her. "I hope you didn't get germs in here!". "Breach!" she said, running off to the room. "They were clean until you wore them". Hoagie commented. "Oh, oh, well". She returned outside, with a bewildered look on her face. "Mmmmmm". "You're not a big fan of germs, huh?". He asked, taking a sip of his Bisquick. "Obviously not". She said. "I don't like any pathogen that can be transferred or carried". She said. "Hmmm". He nodded. "I don't like germs either".

"They get transferred easily through sharing…. They spread… ugh! Flu season!". He continued. "I hate them, myself". "Yes, it's always customary to take extra precaution when it comes to any germ or form of bacteria in any sort". Alex stated. "It is". He said. "You should wash your hands". He asked. "It helps". "I always wash my hands". Alex stated. "It's rule 34.b in my handbook". She said. "Family members, employees, and all others should wash hands before and after entering or exiting an area".

"Mm" Hoagie said, reading still. "Looks like we have an odd one on our hands". He muttered. "But, hey, odd is good right?".

"I don't classify as odd". "I am a law abiding resident of Allen County, Massachusetts". Alex said. "I am only attempting to keep sanitary". "This morning was nothing of the sort".

"Really? How so?". Hoagie asked, gently. "I found multiple violations". She said grumpily. "What'd you find?". Hoagie asked, calmly putting up with her tirade. "There was a leopard print lampshade in one of the rooms, which violates the 67.B code for gaudy furniture, I had to wear silk pajamas on Satin sheets, and somehow, I managed to find these on the lampshade as well". She said, holding up a pair of tiger print underwear.

"Mm". So I take it you enjoyed sleeping in my palace". He said mischievously. Alex groaned. "You'll have a lot of time to yourself in there". Hoagie said. "No underwear, no adults, no guilt". He continued. "Yes, cheesecake". He said eating a fruit bar. "Feel free to stay as long as you like". He said, gently. Rolling her eyes, Alex joined him on their patio. "Why am I even here anyways?". Alex asked. "I should be home, finishing my equations, determining the ratio of a helium superfluid". "Well," Hoagie said, picking up a (candy) cigarette,

"You've been found". "I… I was found by the KND supercomputer, in a cave". Alex said. "That's right". He nodded. "You were barely conscious, and losing energy, so we thought we'd take you back, and get you revitalized a bit". He said, holding the candy cigarette between his fingers, pretending to "smoke". Alex knew he didn't look any more sophisticated than he did before with the "candy cigarette" in his hand. In fact, the mere play behind it wasn't particularly safe either.

"You still look tired". He said. "You should've stayed in bed". "You know I would've". He said, turning his head. "Why don't you go back to bed?". He said. "I… I'm ok". Alex said. "Besides," "I'm already through my morning routine, and I've already ran the safety drills, and done the morning announcements". "Mm". Hoagie said, again. "Once you're up, you're up". "I get that". He took another sip of his Bisquick. "I look horrible in these pajamas". Alex said, grumpily. "I don't know". Hoagie said. "You look stunning in those". He winked. "Very alluring". He said, mischievously.

Turning her head, Alex looked back at Hoagie after seeing his silk pillowcase. "Yes, I'm very glad you've spotted that". He said. "I've prepared it especially for you". "Awaiting your presence". He said in a low gentle voice, fluffing the pillow. Looking around, Alex saw a bottle of "Gentlemen's Finest" cologne sitting on the desk, alongside plans for a gravity compensator. "Um… excuse me for asking, but, why is there cologne sitting on your desk?". "And, where methodical planning should be?".

"For pleasures only". Hoagie said, clearing off the space on the other side of his desk. He then began putting Alex's essentials there. Her now dry clothes he previously ran through the laundry, he put at the foot of the bed. Looking around, Alex also saw a tube of lipstick near the leopard print lamp, sitting there. It had been used, and the initials, C.L. were painted in red on there.

"I hate to ask but, why exactly do you have um.. a?". "oh." Hoagie said flatly. "That's private". He said, putting it away, quickly. "Is that from Abby's sister?". She asked quaintly. "It Could be". He said. "It certainly has been some time, hasn't it?". He said, his lips pursed as he said this. "I should probably get rid of that". He said, quickly. "I think so". Alex said, sitting on the side of Hoagie's bed.

"Alex". He continued, returning to a low, gentle voice. "It's impressive you've found our research base, on the opposite side of Birchwood". He fluffed the pillow for her. "I think I did quite well", she said. "I mean it was by coincidence being that I.. I don't remember the last part" she said. "You were washed up in that colossal rainstorm". Hoagie said. "That was bad, wasn't it?". Hoagie acknowledged her.

"Yes, and I briefly remember being sick yesterday". "Oh, did you have the sniffles?". He asked, making a face. "Yes, and it was not fun". She said. "Ugh!". Hoagie's graptolite face became more expressive. Perhaps, it was his chub, or that he did look, piney and livery, although he did make the weirdest facial expressions. That and his penchant for comedically adding fluff when the moment called for it. "Hmmmm, and you're on antibiotics, or a mild over the counter cold medicine, I take it". He said.

"I was only taking my mom's standard cold medicine". Alex said. "Hmmmm, I can see it as being helpful". He responded. "Personally, I could understand how antibiotics would raise measure in of themselves". "They are much better than cold medicine". "Yeah". Alex said. "My mom only uses cold medicine because the colds I tend to get are minor". Alex continued. "Oh, does she?". Hoagie asked. "Well, there you go", he continued.

Alex coughed, still having a bit of cold left over from the day before. Her eyes were still red, as allergies, and a sore throat still remained. "Here, do you want your water, or… what would you like, miss beautiful?". He asked, looking down at her. "I'm ok, for right now". She said, a cough came right as she made her answer. "Ugh, I know". Hoagie said, made a face. "It's no fun being sick, huh?". He looked sympathetically at her. She shook her head.

"mm". He looked at her, observantly as she laid down. "Prsssss". The back of his hand ran against the silky smooth, satin sheets. "Alex", he said, in a low gentle voice. "I hope you feel comfortable here, with us, and you find everything quite lovely. What you want, you shall have". "That you deserve". He said in a lower register. Almost similar to that of a sexual nature. "No worries, no pain, no guilt". He said. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear all of what you said". She admitted, turning around. An underdeveloped 7 year old girl look remained on her face. "Excellent". He whispered.

Sitting crossed, she glanced at the Leopard Print lamp, yet again. "Ok". she said. "I have a question". She said. "Ask away". He said. "Um.. is it true that Nigel knows all of that stuff about me, and is he going too hurt me?". She was nervous, at this point. "Are you all going to experiment on me, and make me take medicine?". "No, of course not". A gentle voice said.

"We would never do anything to make you feel, uncomfortable". "Are you sure?". "How do you know?". "We wouldn't do it". "We're not here to hurt you". Hoagie put his hands on Alex's back, massaging it, as a calming tool for her.

While Kuki often blew on her face, and talked softly to her, to make her calm down when she was riled up, Hoagie knew the perfect method was through a good massage. "Why would you ever think that?". He asked going up and down her back. "I don't know". She said. "Maybe because Kuki told me last night what you all were planning on doing, I don't know". "I just don't think you all, children I hardly even know should know that much about me". "I think you should leave me alone". "Alex," he continued, "when we first found out about you, we wanted to assist you". "We knew something was wrong, and we wanted to make sure you were doing well, and nurture you in every way possible".

"If you don't think you need nourishment, which you do, then you're left to your own devices". He said. "Alex, you are still pretty small, you are very malnourished", he said. "That could be detrimental to your health". "We're here to assist you". "Do you feel bad for me?". She asked. "Of course, not". Hoagie said. "You are a very intelligent girl". "You outdo me most of the time". He added. "You are very respected, very wise beyond your years, you're hilarious". He continued. "I never felt bad for you", "you are a star that continues to shine". "Kuki thinks the world of you". He said. "I think you're the brightest in our diamond mine". He said, gently. "I know". "You're mine, as well". A bad pun was then made.

"Not now, I've been through enough for today", she said. Chuckling, he pulled the sheets up for her. "Rest a little bit". He whispered. "Thank you, Hoagie". Alex said, under her blanket. "Of course, love". No, thank you Alexandria" . He then patted her head, before leaving the room. It wasn't long before Alex was asleep, under Hoagie's satin sheets. The scandalous sheets that hid secrets, that had, or had not, maybe, could've been true. Had he made out with Cree? Yes. Had he harbored a crush on Numbuh 10? Of course. Had he given Cree an Aphrodisiac? Alex didn't want to find out the possibility of that.

Faint talking, not so much faint as it was audible, ok, audible talking was heard in the main area, between none other than Nigel and Hoagie. "Yes, yes". The two continued. Sharing data, and conversing amongst themselves, about her. "Well, she is very….. Yes. that is true". They continued. "She has displayed certain…. No I don't… no that's not likely". "She'll likely… she isn't too bad". "No well, she did seem very unnerved for, yes, mm hmmm". "She wasn't that bad". "I think that would help". "Why not.". She caught bits and pieces, although, like everything else, it was lost in the trail of sleep.