Codename: Kids Next Door

operation:

g.a.l.a.c.t.i.c.

SEVEN

"1, how are you," Numbuh 9L stated as soon as Nigel walked into the room.

To his surprise, she wasn't wearing her "human" disguise. At times 9L would display different disguises but in actuality, she was an alien-like cat creature that had long whiskers and claws. Her name 9L even references a cat's 9 lives. Nigel joked about this with her when he first met her, but decided not to make the joke again since she didn't it find it that funny. She was also one of the first operatives to be assigned to Numbuh 1's missions. The two shared a close bond since they were both recruited to the GKND at the same time.

Numbuh 1 took off his sunglasses and rubbed his eyes. It seemed he had gone at least two days without any sleep. Numbuh 9L took notice of this and smiled. She had known Nigel long enough to know that no matter what she said to him, he wouldn't listen. Being a workaholic was one of the qualities he had that caused the GKND to recruit him in the first place. Not only was he tired but he was a bit depressed. Getting reprimanded by the GKND was not something he was proud of, but getting reprimanded just for talking to his teammates was even worse.

"What did you want to talk to me about 9L," he said sitting down in a chair.

"Yes, I wanted to ask you about the KND moonbase," she replied.

"The Kids Next Door moonbase? What ever for!?"

"Listen, Nigel, there's not an easy way to say this, but I've been charged with investigating the inner workings of the Kids Next Door," she said looking down. "With the rise of adulthood on Earth, who knows what information the Kids Next Door Moonbase could be hiding."

Numbuh 1 slowly sank back into his chair. He was exhausted, tired, depressed, and now even more depressed. Ever since he had joined the organization, they had told him time and time again about the disease of adulthood and the fact that it is running rampant in all parts of the galaxy. Pretty much that was all he had heard for the past two years. He had seen other planets be destroyed or captured by the Galactic Kids Next Door and knew that it was only a matter of time before they set their sights on Earth.

"The Kids Next Door Moonbase is a well of information. If there was anything weird going on in the Kids Next Door, you might as well start at the top. Now was that all you wanted to see me about? I'm tired and I need to get back to the mission at hand," Nigel said as he was about to leave the room.

Numbuh 9L shook her head and looked up a Nigel with sad eyes.

"Um...also we've scheduled decommissionings of some of the operatives."

"Which operatives?" Numbuh 1 said turning back around.

KND. YoU hAvE BeEn warNeD.

Numbuh 2 screamed loudly while Numbuhs 3 and 4 hugged each other tightly in fear. The message they had just received for trying to track Numbuh 1 was clearly a threat. However, the team was at a loss for words. If they couldn't track their former leader, how on Earth would they be able to set things straight with the GKND?

"They can't threaten us! We're the Kids Next Door for crying out loud," Wally said after letting go of Kuki.

"I thought we were on the same team," Hoagie added.

"And I thought Numbuh 1 was our friend," Kuki said sadly.

After this statement, the other members of Sector V looked at one another. It seemed like the Nigel that they had grown to love and care about was just a memory. This new operative that was willing to put his mission before his friends wasn't the same Nigel. Numbuh 5 was also at a loss. Clearly, they couldn't track him. They just had to face facts that they didn't know enough information about the Galactic Kids Next Door to even know where to find Numbuh 1. Just then, Numbuhs 60 and 362 entered the room.

"You guys might not know a lot about the Galactic Kids Next Door...," Numbuh 60 said.

"But we do...," Numbuh 362 said finishing the sentence.

The two operatives then walked over to Numbuh 5's desk. Numbuh 60 stood on top of it as Rachel knocked on the desk four times. As soon as she did, the desk then lowered into the floor revealing a passageway underneath. Numbuh 60 smirked at the stunned Sector V operatives. Numbuh 2 was about to ask why there would be a passageway underneath the Supreme Leader's desk, but 362 covered his mouth. 60 put a finger to his lip as he shushed the other operatives. It was clear that they didn't want anyone hearing about the secret passageway or the information they had about the GKND. Quietly, they each crawled into the secret passageway which led to an underground tunnel. The tunnel was long, narrow, and actually quite dark. Luckily, 60 carried a flashlight with him.

"Once I heard there was a Splinter Cell in the Kids Next Door, Numbuh 60 and I put a plan into action," 362 whispered.

"No one knows about this passageway but us, so keep quiet," 60 whispered.

"But it's so dark in here!" Numbuh 3 yelled breaking the silence.

"Numbuh 3! He said be quiet!" Wally replied only adding to the noise.

"You be quiet!" Kuki retorted back.

"You!"

"You!"

"YOU!"

"YOU!"

Suddenly, the yelling ended once Numbuh 60 flicked on a light switch. They found themselves in a tiny room. Inside were two Kids Next Door computers, transmitter equipment, and...a mini-fridge for snacks.

"I had this bunker built just in case the Splinter Cell got any ideas," 362 said.

"This is nice and all, but Numbuh 5 wants to know what you guys know about the Galactic Kids Next Door," Abby said growing impatient.

Numbuh 60 walked over to a computer and input a strange code. Then, a large galactic symbol appeared on the screen. It was the logo for the GKND organization. 60 then went on to explain that someone from inside the organization allowed them to hack into their system. The source of the hack was unknown, but it gave a considerable amount of information to the KND. Rachel sat down at the computer and took off her helmet. Looking forlorn, she then turned toward Sector V. Tears were beginning to form in her eyes.

"After Numbuh 1 was recruited to the Kids Next Door..." she began.

"Wait! You knew!" Wally yelled.

"Would you let her talk Numbuh 4?" Abby grumbled. Then Rachel continued.

"Yes, I knew. After he left, I wasn't so sure about the organization's goals and values. It seemed too mysterious to me. So, I began looking into the organization's whereabouts, their operatives, and their missions. However, I couldn't learn much until a source leaked information to us. And what I found out is shocking. I just hope you guys are prepared for what I'm about to inform you," she said turning around in the computer chair.

"Which operatives have you scheduled decommissionings for?" Numbuh 1 said asking Numbuh 9L to clarify.

"Numbuh 362."

Nigel gasped.

"Numbuh 60."

Nigel folded his arms.

"And...your former teammates."

Nigel's heart sank. Clearly, his friends had known too much about the organization which was probably the reason that they wanted them to be decommissioned. As for Numbuh 362 and 60, Nigel hoped that they hadn't gotten involved as well.

Author's Note: I got the idea of Numbuh 362 and 60 digging into the organization because when the G:KND was pitched, if you go to the RainbowMonkeys website and type in their numbers this is revealed:

NUMBUH 60: Fugitive: Presumed Dangerous

NUMBUH 362: Fugitive: Search Underway

I thought it would be interesting if the reason for this is that they become targeted interests of the GKND due to snooping around and digging for too much information.