Four
"That's not possible," Abby and Hoagie exchanged looks, like expected Wally couldn't get his head around what Abby had heard. She couldn't get her head around it so in a way it was understandable.
"I know what I heard Wally," She softly stated, putting her hand on his shoulder, "I don't want to believe it either but she's-"
"No! There has to be another operative. Numbuh Three wouldn't do that," Wally stated firmly shaking her hand off, "she wouldn't turn her back on the KND you know that as well as I do."
"We also thought that Chad and Fanny wouldn't turn their backs on the KND and now look what's happened." Abby pointed out and Wally glared at her, "look I know you don't want to think it would happen but we've got to put in the possibilities Wally."
"But-" Wally started to protest again, "she'd never agree. She'd rather be decommissioned first than be a traitor. You know that Abby."
"As much as I hate to say it Wally I'm not so sure. Yes the Numbuh Three I knew wouldn't do that it doesn't mean that the Numbuh Three now won't. It's been nearly a year since I've worked with her. People change, you know that as well as I do." Wally held her gaze for a few moments then turned his gaze to Hoagie.
"Come on Hoagie, you know she-" Hoagie was shaking his head before Wally had finished his sentence.
"Abby's right, Wally. We don't know how she is going to be acting now. I mean we all thought Nigel was going to be invited to join the Teens Next Door and look what happened- two days later he moved to England."
"That doesn't mean anything." Wally protested, "Maybe Nigel failed his tests or something. I know that he failed his entrance exams to the kids next door, he could of done the same then."
"Nigel failed his entrance exams? How'd he get in?" Wally just shrugged but Abby narrowed his eyes at him not completely satisfied with his answers to Hoagie's questions.
"How did you know that he failed his entrance exams?" She asked with her eyes narrowed. Wally looked rather sheepish and stared at his feet.
"Well… you… see…" He paused and then remembered the original subject, "that's beside the point! What are we going to do about Koo- Numbuh Three?" He questioned quickly correcting himself. Abby frowned but decided to let the subject slide for now.
"I'll contact Maurice and let him know what I've heard and then we can wait his orders." She finally stated and this time Wally narrowed his eyes at her.
"But that could be too late. What if Cree and the rest of the teens get to her first?" Wally yelled and Abby just raised an eyebrow at him.
"Look, we need a stable plan before we can get to Numbuh Three. We don't even know whether or not it is her that they're going after. It could be another teenager. We don't know just yet Wally." She threw his earlier words back at him hoping to get him back in a semi stable mind. Well as much as a stable mind that Wally could get anyway. She reasoned with herself. Wally glared at them for a few seconds and then finally stormed away.
"Well that went well," Hoagie, said after a few moments of silence, Abby just fixed him with a glare of her own.
"Shut up Hoagie."
"Shutting up."
Three days later they where still no close as to determining who Cree was really going after. They had narrowed it down to three operatives, one of which being Numbuh Three the other two being Numbuh Ten and Numbuh Forty-Four. They had passed the information on to Maurice but he hadn't gotten back to them yet.
Which was causing Wally to drive Abby insane. Both Hoagie and Abby knew that Wally still cared for Numbuh Three but they also knew he couldn't do anything about it unless she admitted her feelings to him.
It didn't stop Wally's worry for Numbuh Three though and Abby also noted that Cree was going out more and more the last couple of days and it was obvious that she was planning something big.
But what Abby couldn't understand was why Cree was aiming for Numbuh Three and didn't aim for Nigel. It didn't make any sense. She couldn't figure it out and neither could Hoagie or Wally.
Well when Wally's mind was on the matter that was. They kept an eye on Numbuh Three after school making sure that she didn't see her or put any conclusions to the matter.
They knew that anything that jeopardize the TND or Numbuh Three would be bad for them and they wouldn't be able to accept any help from any of the teens next door. It was too dangerous.
"You come up with any brilliant ideas yet?" Hoagie hissed to Abby who shook her head while watching her sister climb on board a spacecraft five days later, "heard from Wally then?" this time she nodded with a grim smile.
"Numbuh Three has just stepped on board the Kids Next Door Decommissioning craft without so much as a fight." Hoagie gave a smile.
"That's great news. If Numbuh Three's not planning to do anything…" Abby started shaking her head before he could finish his sentence.
"It could mean that she's planning something," she pointed out, "from previous experience ninety five percent of operatives who go quietly are normally planning something."
"We didn't plan anything." Hoagie noted, "and neither did Wally or Nigel. Who's to say that Numbuh Three's not following our example?"
"Care to explain why Cree's flying up to moon base?" Abby retorted. Hoagie went quiet for a few moments and then shook his head.
"I'm still going to side with Wally on this one Abs, you know that Numbuh Three wouldn't become a traitor. She's not like that."
"You don't know that Hoagie and its Kuki now." She said with a sigh keeping her eyes peeled on the sky.
"Hoagie, Abby I want you to head to Wally's location ASAP." Maurice's voice came over the communicator. She stared at the Hoagie's locator for a few moments and then nodded.
"But what about-" Hoagie started however Abby shook her head.
"It wasn't an official mission you know that, this one is." Hoagie glared at Abby and then turned on his heal and headed towards Wally's location with Abby following behind him.
"So you're just going to let what ever happens…"
"Happens, look you know orders Hoagie. Kuki might have been our teammate once-upon-a time but now she's not. She knows how to look after herself and that's all we can do about it. The sooner you and Wally realize that the better," Hoagie just glared at her for a few moments and then followed.
"You know up until a few moments ago you where keen to help her as well." Hoagie pointed out but she kept on looking ahead. She couldn't show her weakness now. That she really did care about what happened to Kuki.
"Your point?" She asked gruffly as they spotted Sector V's tree house coming up. Abby pulled out her communicator choosing to ignore Hoagie, "Wally give us a sign as to where you are."
"What are you doing here? Your supposed to-"
"Maurice ordered us to come and meet up he has a mission for us." She watched as Wally's face went from confusion to anger in a few moments.
"A mission that he couldn't put off until tomorrow? What the bloody hell is so important?"
"Just come out so I can contact him and find out what. I can hear ya so I know that you're close," Abby stated with a grim smile.
"Fine," Wally grumbled coming out of his hiding place, "go ahead and contact him."
"You don't need to," Maurice said coming out of his own hiding place, "look I know you care about Kuki but for the good of the Kids Next Door we need you three to leave her alone."
"The good of the kids next door? How can it be for the good of the kids next door if she becomes a traitor?" Wally exploded glaring at Maurice.
"Unfortunately Wally I can't tell you. It will compromise her position as well as other agents in the same position and we don't want that do we?" All three operatives shook their heads equally. However Abby's head was reeling what was going on? Why did it have to be so secretive?
"Does this mean Kuki isn't getting decommissioned?" Hoagie asked hopefully and both Wally and herself looked up at Maurice as well. Maurice however shook his head.
"I can't tell you. All I can do is remind you not to give up your position." Maurice informed the trio. Wally frowned at him and Abby couldn't help but glare as well. What happened to giving straight answers?
Why was he so admit for them to not worry about Kuki? What was so important? Abby wondered to herself. She sighed and looked down finally giving in. A few seconds later Hoagie gave in as well and a few moments after looking at both Hoagie and herself Wally gave in as well.
"She is going to be safe though right?" Wally asked giving him a single glare. Maurice nodded evenly.
"You know we would never put anyone in a extremely dangerous position Wally." Hoagie scoffed in the background causing Wally to smile.
"Ya know you're also not a very good liar Maurice. But yeah I'll leave her alone." Abby could almost hear 'the for now' and if Maurice had noticed it he didn't bring it up. She knew Hoagie had just from the exchange of look they had exchanged.
"So have ya got any other missions for us or was this just a speech about Numbuh Three?"
"It's not Numbuh Three anymore remember." Maurice reminded all three of them, "and Hoagie can you stay here afterwards? I need your help with some things." Abby watched as Hoagie looked baffled for a few moments and then realization came on his face.
"Yeah sure. I'll see you guys later," They both nodded and waved walking part way home together.
"Ever wish you could have a chance at being twelve forever?" Wally asked as they turned the corner. She thought for a few moments and then shook her heads.
"You know nearly a year ago I would have said yes instantly, not a second thought about it. But knowing what I know now and knowing that I somehow by a stroke of luck managed to keep my memories I'm perfectly happy the way I am."
"I guess your right, Ab's" Wally said looking up at the sky. Abby gave him a cheeky grin.
"Now Wally you know its Numbuh Five." Wally looked at her for a few moments and they shared a laugh.
"Pity we can't keep the code names." Wally said wistfully while Abby nodded in agreement. Finally giving in to the part that she had kept hidden for nearly a year.
"Numbuh Five has to agree with you there."
Transmission Interrupted