The auditorium was filled with the screams and shouts of the thousands of Kids Next Door operatives who came to see Rachel off. As she blew out the candles on her birthday cake, she raised her fist in the air for one final farewell.
"Kids Next Door RULE!" roared Rachel, her voice carrying over throughout the entire assembly hall, reaching the ears of every Kids Next Door operative, no matter how far away they sat. All this without a microphone. Rachel poured her heart and soul into her last words, making sure every kid would remember her.
Every operative in the room was shedding tears, the ones more closely related to Rachel taking it the hardest. The current operatives of sector V had to wipe away tears multiple times else it caused them to go blind. Fanny, Rachel's closest friend, couldn't stop bawling her eyes, her hands covered in tears from wiping her eyes so much, a puddle of water forming at her feet. Despite her job being to act stoic and to watch the room for any suspicious activity, she couldn't focus on doing her job properly. It was just too sorrowful.
Fanny walked towards Rachel, sniffling with every step she took. She met face-to-face with Rachel, their nose only a few centimeters away. Fanny's face was an absolute wreck, with snot and tears smeared all over her face. Rachel couldn't help but give a bitter smile, her eyes becoming watery just by looking at poor Fanny. Of all of the people in the room, nobody cared more about Rachel than Fanny did. Which only hurt her more.
"P-p-p-p-pl-please, R-R-Rachel, I-I-I-I n-need t-t-t-to t-t-t-tell you s-s-s-ometh-thing," stuttered Fanny, her eyes were completely covered in tears, and it was hard for her to speak clearly from all the crying. Hiccups dotted her sentences, making it hard to understand. But not for Rachel, who may not have understood Fanny's sentences, but she understood Fanny's heart.
"Fanny, you don't have to say anymore. I love you too."
Fanny's eyes went wider than dinner plates, and her mouth opened wide like she was at the dentist's office.
"Y-y-you k-k-knew?" Fanny choked out, her hands grasped into a tight ball, holding it close to her chest.
"I knew all along Fanny. I was just worried that if I told you, you would get too attached to me and would stop doing your job," Rachel whispered, her eyes filling with tears from just talking with Fanny about this. "My only regret is that we never got to go out on a date. I'm sorry Fanny."
"Waaaaaaaah!"
Fanny crumpled on the floor, her spirit was destroyed. She couldn't think. She couldn't even look at Rachel. All she could do was pound her fists against the floor and wail like a grieving mother. Her hands were bruising, and even blood started to spew out from the absolute beating she was giving herself, but she did not stop. And Rachel didn't stop her either. All Rachel could do was turn around and walk away, but not before whispering one final "good bye."
Every kid in the room was taking it hard. Every kid, except for Rachel. She knew something that the kids in the auditorium did not. She knew that she was going to be a Teen Spy. Even if the rest of the kids would never see a kid Rachel ever again, the same couldn't be said for her. And such knowledge gave Rachel peace. She wouldn't have to part ways with the Kids Next Door. That was the true benefit of being a Teen Spy.
Rachel made her way into the decommissioning room, where Numbuh Infinity and Numbuh 74.239 were waiting to 'decommission' her.
She walked past the Numbuh 44 twins stationed at the door, crying their eyes out like every other kid. With one final tear-jerking salute, they opened the door and made way for Rachel to enter. Before making the last leg of her journey, she decided to give one more look back at the chaos.
Fanny was still on the floor, tears streaming from her eyes and not looking like it was going to stop any time soon. Her hands were beaten raw and were covered in blood, her blood soaking through the floorboards. Operatives were all crowding around Fanny, trying to grab a hold of her hands to stop her from beating herself even more. Rachel was able to keep a calm composure for the most part during this announcement. Except at the end, when a single tear fell from Rachel's eye. A single tear filled with regret. Regret for making Fanny lose her heart like that. But no matter. Fanny's strong. She'll get over it. She always does.
Rachel continued through the door. Once in, the door behind her closed with a silent thud, until all was quiet. Despite the door being made out of wood, the room was as quiet as a library. She couldn't even hear Fanny's loud sobs any longer. It was all quiet.
Perhaps too quiet.
The only noise that could be heard in the decommissioning chamber was the sound of Rachel's footsteps as she slowly stepped towards the center of the room where the decommissioning seats are.
"Alright, Number Infinity, Number 74.239, I'm here! What now?"
Rachel scanned the room, searching for any signs of movement, until she finally spotted something moving in the corner. It was Numbuh Infinity and Numbuh 74.239, coming out of the shadows.
"Now? Why, it's time for your decommissioning of course," spoke Numbuh Infinity, his tone seemingly unfriendly than usual, something Rachel noticed immediately. He gestured towards the empty decommissioning seat.
"Uhh, I thought we were going to fake it? I don't… I don't have to sit in the chair to fake it right? Just do what you did with Maurice. Shine a bright light and then I'll just go back through the door and pretend like I'm a dumb teen."
"Yes, we did that for Maurice because he earned the right to become a Teen Spy," said Numbuh Infinity, his eyes growing narrower. Numbuh 74.239 was standing to his side, impatiently tapping his foot like he had somewhere more important to be.
"Wait, hold on, what do you mean he earned the right? Uhh, I… I earned the right too, didn't I? We agreed on this plan last month."
"Ah, that little chit-chat? I thought it was just small talk. And no, you did not earn the right to be decommissioned," spat Numbuh Infinity, emphasizing the word earn harshly. "You made too many mistakes. Need I remind you of how the Kids Next Door was almost taken over by a disgusting adult? By Father?"
"That was just one mistake! And I swear, it won't happen again!" begged Rachel, her arms flailing around like a maniac.
"Just one mistake? It was possibly the biggest mistake that ever happened to the Kids Next Door! I don't think you understood the gravity of that situation. Let me remind you again. You. Almost. Let. Father. Take. Over. The. Kids. Next. Door." Numbuh Infinity enunciated every single word he said, spitting all over the place. Rachel could only cringe in embarrassment. She knew she made a huge mistake, but she put that all behind her, and so did every other operative! It was an honest mistake! She's changed! She knows it. Though it looks like Numbuh Infinity and Numbuh 74.239 don't believe it for a second.
"Now, Rachel, what are you waiting for? You're the Supreme Leader, are you not? You're supposed to be a good role model for all other operatives, right? So you should set an example for everyone else. And let yourself be decommissioned."
"Uhh, but I—"
"Will you just hurry up and sit in the darn chair already?" shouted Numbuh 74.239, getting more impatient by the minute.
"Seriously, every other operative sat in the chair gracefully, like they're supposed to. It's in the KND rulebook, which you do follow, right? The only other options are to become a Teen Spy, which you don't meet the requirements for, or to defect and run away. But surely you wouldn't do that, would you?" sneered Numbuh 74.239, a smirk appearing on his face. It was like he was just asking Rachel to defect. Numbuh Infinity stood there like a statue, no emotion showing.
"Umm, uhh," Rachel could do nothing but look around for anything that would give her a sign. A sign of something, anything at all. This wasn't what was supposed to happen! She was supposed to become a Teen Spy, and help fight evil adult tyranny in secret! She wasn't actually supposed to be decommissioned.
"Please, guys, you know me right? I've been part of the Kids Next Door for six years! Every day, I've worked so hard so we could make this place better for all kids!"
Numbuh Infinity could only shake his head in regret, "Please, ma'am, you're embarrassing yourself. Though I suppose we'll have to do this the hard way." Numbuh Infinity snapped his finger and pointed at Rachel. "Grab her."
Chad appeared right behind Rachel, appearing in through some strange booger teleportation technology that Rachel had never seen before.
"Sorry Rachel, but this is for your own good."
Rachel could only gasp in shock. She didn't know where or how Chad was able to get in here, but she didn't see many options left other than to try to plead with him. "Chad! Please, help me! You know what it's like right? You ran away from the Kids Next Door because you yourself didn't want to be decommissioned. Can't you understand how I feel?"
"Ran away? Oh, that little fiasco? I didn't run away from the Kids Next Door. I got a promotion, to the biggest title that you've never even heard of. A title bigger and better than being a Supreme Leader," Chad said braggartly, a grin appearing on his face. "Now be a good little girly and get over here."
Before Rachel could react, Chad grabbed onto her shoulder lightning fast and pulled her with all his might. Rachel had no weapons on her, and she was caught off guard. She pounded her free hand against Chad's arm in the hopes that he'd let go, but to no avail. He was just stronger than her. He always had been.
"No! Chad! Stop it, don't do this!"
"Sorry girl, but I can't disobey orders, can I?."
Chad shoved Rachel into the chair and strapped her in tight. She struggled with all her might, but the restraints showed no sign of giving way. She could only sign in frustration, her hopes snatched away from her.
Numbuh Infinity and Numbuh 74.239 were watching from a distance, Numbuh 74.239 still tapping his foot impatiently.
"Hurry up and get this over with, we have more pressing matters to attend to," said Numbuh 74.239 impatiently, not even bothering to look at the scene, more focused on his wristwatch.
"Sorry Rachel, but it's just how it goes. Say goodbye to your childhood! And hello to teenhood!." However, before Chad could lower the plunger onto Rachel's face and start the process, the large window burst open and in came a ship, flying at breakneck speeds for the decommissioning machine. It was hard to make out due to the speed it came crashing in, but if one paid close attention, one may have noticed the shiny, black, metal that coated the ship. Metal strikingly similar to the teens' Battle Ready Armor.
"Who the crud is that!" screamed Numbuh Infinity, the ship catching him, along with Chad and 74.239, by complete did not foresee such an incident happening.
The ship crashed into the machine, which caused it to blow up but not before launching Rachel out of her chair screaming. Chad got the worst of it, his hand was still in the machine trying to start it when it exploded. He screamed out in pain, clutching his hand from and whimpering on the floor. Infinity and 74.239 covered their faces from the shrapnel while Rachel stood up in shock.
The window hatch of the motorcycle ship opened up, and out popped Numbuh 60's head, commander of the Arctic Base, Patton Drilovsky. And in the pilot's seat was none other than former Numbuh 11 of the Kids Next Door, Cree Lincoln.
"Rachel, hurry up and get in! Now!" Patton roared, stretching out his hand towards Rachel.
Stay with Chad or run towards Cree? She didn't even need to think twice. She ran as fast as she could towards Patton's extended hand. The second she grabbed it, Patton commanded Cree to get them the heck out of there, and Cree obliged, but not before looking at a cowering Chad, still gripping his injured hand.
"Sorry we had to meet under such unfortunate circumstances, Chad. Don't worry. I'll be back for you later. So just hang in there."
Patton pulled Rachel into the ship before the window hatch shut, and the ship flew out of there as quick as it arrived, before anyone knew what hit them.
"Chad, get out of here! Those kids in the room over are going to come barging in here any second thanks to all this commotion, and we can't have them seeing you!" shouted Numbuh Infinity, a loud, commanding voice aimed at Chad.
"Yes sir!" Chad shouted back, before sticking his uninjured finger up his nostril and letting the green boogers cover his entire body, before it disappeared into the air, with Chad along with it.
The wooden door busted open, and in came the dozens of kids who were still in the auditorium, including Numbuhs 2 through 5 of Sector V and Fanny in the front.
"What's going on here! Where's Rachel?" Fanny shouted, both of her hands bandaged up completely, from wrist to fingers, still so bloody that it was seeping through the gauze, the bandages turning a light red.
Numbuh Infinity stepped forward, motioning his hands towards the broken window. "She betrayed us! You remember Chad Dickson right? Numbuh 274, the previous Supreme Leader? Well, Numbuh 362 betrayed us the exact same way! She had outside help! From teenagers!"
A gasp went out from all of the kids, and Fanny could only drop to her knees again in shock.
"Rachel? Betrayed us? That's not possible, she would never do this!"
Now it was Numbuh 74.239 who stepped up. "Well, she did, and we have to stop her! Now the teens have two former supreme leaders, two Kids Next Door traitors. If we don't stop them, then it's only a matter of time before they destroy us! They know all of our secrets. All of our bases. All of our weaponry and defenses and even important classified information! It was bad enough with one Supreme Leader traitor, but now with two? Even you all can see how terrible this is!"
Fanny couldn't believe what she was hearing. The only thought that was swimming through her mind was how could Rachel betray the Kids Next Door? Betray Me?
"Numbuh 86!" shouted Numbuh Infinity, pointing his finger at her while she was still kneeling. "As head of decommissioning, and as Global Tactical Officer, it is your duty, your mission, to find these traitors and bring them back here for immediate decommissioning. While you do that, the rest of us must decide on who is to be the next Supreme Leader. Do you hear me, Numbuh 86?"
Fanny slowly stood up and looked Numbuh Infinity dead in the eye, her mood turning sour with each passing second. "Don't worry. I'll get Numbuh 362 — Rachel back. I've got a few personal questions to ask her as well."
Numbuh Infinity and 74.239 started escorting the other operatives back to their stations, while Numbuh 5 couldn't help but be skeptical of Numbuh Infinity and 74.239, but she kept such skepticism to herself.
While the other operatives started to disperse and head back to their stations, Fanny could only stare at the shattered window. She was going to get Rachel back, if it's the last thing she does. This was only the beginning of a long and arduous journey, for both of them.
Notes:
What a ride! But you ain't seen nothing yet! This is just a prologue of what's to come!
Anyways, I hope you like it. I decided to take matters into my own hands and explore what G:KND could possibly be, since sadly it's unlikely that G:KND would ever get officially made. You know me though, I'm really lazy. So don't expect frequent updates to this story. I'll still be working on various one-shots here and there when I find some cool ideas, but in the meantime, I'll catch you all later!
Again, if there's any spelling/grammar mistakes, please call them out in the reviews so I can edit it! Thanks!