Me: Here we go again. I don't own Kids Next Door but I do own the group from Florida and I own Numbuh 17 (but not her numbuh), and I'm only going to call our heroes (Nigel and Matt's group) by their real names. Everyone else will be called a Numbuh except for Numbuh 274, Numbuh 86, and Numbuh 362 when they finally come along. This chapter is longer to make up for not updating. Man, what is it about this fic that makes me want to update it in a hurry?
Chloe: Why are you asking us?
Me: Ah…I dunno.
Chloe/Alexis: (sigh)
Me: So are you mad at me Numbuh 5?
Numbuh 5: Why?
Me: (shrugs) Well…considering last chapter…when Numbuh 10…and Numbuh 1…
Numbuh 5: I ain't mad at you. I told ya, Numbuh 5 only likes Numbuh 1 as a friend.
Me: (looks mischievous) So you wouldn't mind if they kiss?
Numbuh 5: WHAAAAAAAAT?!
Numbuh 1/Numbuh 10: 0_0
Chloe: (grins) Told you that would get her attention Caro.
Numbuh 5: (grabs my neck) Ya BETTAH not make that happen!
Numbuh 1/Numbuh 10:
Chloe: (uses her telekinesis to lift Numbuh 5 away from me) Run for it Caro—and don't say I never did anything for you.
Me: (nods) I am never making fun of you ever again. Gotta go!
Now downloading Kids Next Door Mission…
Operation: R.E.S.C.U.E.
Real
Evil
Situations
Cause
Real
Unhappy
Experiences
Log 3—The Best of the Best
Time: ???
Location: ???
"Numbuh 9? Wake up Numbuh 9!"
"C'mon leader. Wakey, wakey!"
Matt's eyelids slowly fluttered open. "Uuuh?"
Eric and Kayla both looked relieved. "Thank goodness," Kayla muttered. Her cowboy hat had fallen off, revealing her messy red hair. "Ya'll had us worried."
Matt sat up with Eric's help. His back ached something terrible but otherwise, he felt fine. "Oh man. How long was I out?"
"Longer than Numbuh 13 and I were, that's for sure dude," Eric replied softly. He looked around the locked prison. "Man, that was some pretty powerful stuff they injected us with. We don't even know where we are."
"Oh that's easy," said a voice from the cell opposite their own. A boy with blond hair sticking out from underneath his blue hat peered out from between the bars. "Yer somewhere below the Delightful Children's mansion."
"At least we think it is somewhere beneath their mansion," said another kid inside another cell. This one was a girl with dramatic dark eyes and a hood.
Matt's eyes widened. "Hey, you're Numbuh 142 from the Kids Next Door in Texas and Numbuh 17 from the sector in Egypt!"
The boy nodded. "An' yer Numbuh 9 from Florida. Ah heard the Delightful Children targeted you guys next after us. Nice to finally meet you."
"You're the latest batch after 142's team," said Numbuh 17 briskly. "My team was captured a week before his and before us were the teams from Spain, Canada, and China. I think they're ready to do France next."
Numbuh 142 cocked his head at Matt. "When they brought you in though, Ah wuz confused. Ah thought they said you had six members in yer team, not five."
"One of our teammates escaped," Matt informed him. "But we don't know if she's okay or not." He stared at the ground. "I hope she's okay."
Kayla nodded grimly. "It's all Numbuh 12's fault. He should've warned her about the ship."
"Well how was I supposed to know she was going to use that ship?" Eric snapped. "I wish you escaped instead so I don't have to listen to you."
Kayla's green eyes flashed. "Ah didn't ask to be here!" she snapped back. "Besides, Ah pity Numbuh 10! She's out there all alone with nuthin' an' nobody who gives a tinker's toot about what happens to her!"
"I care about her!"
So do I, Matt thought darkly.
"Sure got a funny way of showin' it."
"What do you know about feelings Tex?!"
"Plenty more'n you do surfer boy!"
Eric glared at her. "What is your problem girl? Are you jealous of the fact that Numbuh 10 has people who care about her and you don't?"
Kayla flushed crimson. "Ah ain't jealous of her!"
"Are too!"
"Are not!"
"Are too!"
"Are not!"
"Too!"
"Not!"
"TOO!"
"NOT!"
"TOO!"
"NOT!"
"SHUT UUUUUUUUUUUUUP!!" Matt yelled at the top of his voice. He was breathing heavily. "Can't you two quit fighting and give us all a break?"
Kayla and Eric turned around, crossed their arms, and snorted. "Hmph."
Numbuh 142 looked perplexed. "Are they always like that?"
"Welcome to my world."
Time: 8:00 PM
Location: Kids Next Door HQ
Hoagie P. Gilligan Jr., otherwise known as Numbuh 2, added the last slice of bread on top of the club sandwich he was making. The sandwich filled with lettuce, cheese, beef, tomato, and some more cheese; was nearly the size of a small box.
Knock Knock
"Aw darn it." He slid off the chair, leaving his sandwich. "Someone's at the door."
His friends, parked in front of the TV, did not move.
"Well don't all jump up at once," Hoagie muttered sarcastically. He stalked off toward the door, still holding his sandwich.
Outside, Siri was admiring the structure of the treehouse. "Yours is a lot more high-tech than ours," she said to Nigel. "Then again, you don't live in a palm tree."
"That's true," Nigel agreed. The door creaked open and a round kid with goggles worn around an aviator cap peeked out. "Ah hello Numbuh 2."
"Hi Numbuh 1!" he said cheerfully, letting the pair inside. He shut the door and turned around, stopping at Siri. Then he looked at Nigel, then back at Siri. "Wow! You actually broke up with Lizzie?"
Huh? Nigel and Siri looked confused, and then they glanced at each other. "WAH!" Both jumped away, blushing furiously.
"No I didn't," Nigel said briskly when he recovered. "But I'd like you to meet Numbuh 10 here."
Siri smiled at Hoagie, her golden hazel eyes shining. "Nice to meet you."
Hoagie stared back at her, a goofy grin on his face. She is so…beautiful. "H-hi. My name's Hoagie but my code name's Numbuh 2."
She nodded, still smiling. "I heard." Her smiled wavered to one of confusion when she eyed Hoagie's sandwich. "Um…that's interesting."
Nigel noticed the goofy look on Hoagie's face. It disturbed him greatly. "I'll introduce you to the others. They're probably parked in front of the television again."
Siri obediently took his hand and followed him. Hoagie, still struck by her beauty, followed.
"Guys? Guys!"
"Wot?" A boy with a blond bowl-like haircut and wearing an orange hoodie and blue jeans appeared from the kitchen. His eyes could barely be seen underneath his bangs. "Oh hey Numbuh 1. Glad ta see yah're home." He had a thick Australian accent.
"Glad to be home Numbuh 4," Nigel replied.
The small boy nodded before his eyes zeroed in on Siri. He raised his eyebrows—what could be seen of them anyway. "Who's the girl?"
"This is Siri Kaldorei, Numbuh 10 from the Florida sector of the Kids Next Door," Nigel replied briskly. "She's sort of stuck here so I asked her to spend the night."
Numbuh 4 stuck out his hand and shook hers. "Pleasure ta meet ya. Ah'm Wallabee Beatles but ya bettah call me Numbuh 4."
Siri nodded. "Sure thing."
Well this is a good start, thought Nigel to himself. It was not like Numbuh 4 to be polite to females so at least this proved her being an operative prevented him from saying something rude.
"Is dat food ready yet Numbuh 4?" a voice called from the living room.
Wallabee closed his eyes and sighed. "In a minute."
"You have to get food for your teammates?" Siri asked him in surprise. He nodded. "Why?"
"It's mah turn." With that said, he turned around and walked back into the kitchen.
Leaving Wallabee in the kitchen, Nigel and Siri headed over to the living room. Hoagie cocked an eyebrow at them. "Uuuh, you guys don't have to hold hands, y'know."
The pair blushed again and let go. Hoagie smirked. I guess Numbuh 1 just figured out that Numbuh 10 is cute, Lizzie or no Lizzie.
The living room was completely different from the living room at the Florida KND HQ. In Florida, the living room was large and airy with skylights in the ceiling. The smell of the ocean constantly drifted throughout the room and the whole area resembled an indoor beach.
Here though, the room resembled an ordinary living room save for the large screen TV. There were a few couches and a throw rug scattered around. It was pleasantly cozy.
A small head peeked out from the top of the couch. The head squealed in delight. "NUMBUH 1!"
Nigel raised his hands in defense but the girl attached to the head leaped over the back of the couch and tackled him a tight hug. He was thrown off of his feet and onto the floor.
Siri's mouth dropped open in shock but Hoagie was shaking with laughter. Nigel struggled out of the girl's hearty embrace and stood up. "Good…to see you too…Numbuh 3," he gasped.
The girl bounced up, grinning broadly. She was quite pretty with long black hair that reached to her waist and sparkling dark eyes. She wore an oversized green sweatshirt with long sleeves that covered her hands. Her whole appearance seemed to radiate boundless energy and innocence.
"Oooh! You brought someone home!" She looked Siri up and down and clapped her hands. "What's your name?"
Siri grinned foolishly. She couldn't help it; the girl was just too cute. "Um hi. I'm Siri, codenamed Numbuh 10."
"I'm Kuki but my friends call me Numbuh 3," the cheerful youngster replied. "Where'd you come from?"
"She came with me Numbuh 3," Nigel spoke up.
Kuki giggled. "I like your new girlfriend Numbuh 1. She's really pretty and she's even an agent like us."
Nigel's face turned red for the umpteenth time in an hour. "You have it all wrong Numbuh 3. Numbuh 10 is just a new friend of mine."
Kuki's face fell for a minute. "Not your girlfriend?"
He shook his head. Her face brightened. "Oh well!" She turned around, avoiding the bewildered looks on Nigel and Siri's faces, and called to the TV set. "Oh Numbuh 5! Come and meet Numbuh 1's friend!"
"If it's Lizzie, Numbuh 5 don' wanna move." A female voice drifted back towards them.
"It's not Lizzie," said Nigel irritably. He honestly didn't know why Numbuh 5 despised his girlfriend so much.
"Well, why didn'tcha say so?" A girl with darkish skin leaped over the back of the couch and landed neatly in front of them. "Wazzup?"
This girl could not have been more different from Kuki. Her skin was the color of cinnamon brown sugar and she had her long black hair plaited in a French braid down her back. She wore a blue-and-white T-shirt that reached to her knees, gold hoop earrings, and a red cap over her head. She looked laid-back and absolutely sure of herself.
"The name's Abigail Lincoln," she said carelessly. "But you'd be bettuh off callin' me Abby or Numbuh 5."
Siri nodded. "You can call me Siri or Numbuh 10."
Abby nodded once and looked over at Nigel. "So is she duh reason ya took so long on your date wid Lizzie?"
"Sort of," said Nigel. His expression behind his sunglasses was serious. "She needs our help."
"With what?"
In response, Nigel gestured his hand to Siri. "Go on Numbuh 10."
Siri waited until Wallabee came into the room (laden with food) before she told them about her teammates in Florida. When she got to Matt's name though, Nigel interrupted her. "Excuse me, but did you say Matt? Matthew Pluto?"
She nodded, confused. "I knew Matt," said Nigel thoughtfully. "He and I were friends quite a while back. He moved to Florida when I was seven."
"Funny dat someone ya once knew comes up again," Abby said with a chuckle. She leaned over and accepted the sandwich Wallabee handed to her.
Siri went on to describe the rest of her teammates before mentioning what had happened that day to them. "These five freaky kids kidnapped the others with an Anti-Gravity Beam. They said that only one group of kids was able to defeat them time and again." She frowned. "I just don't get them. They all have pale blue eyes 'cept for one, pasty skin, and they talk in unison in zombies. Do you know them because we never fight them—even though they're on the top priority villains list."
Zombies? The five operatives wondered to themselves. Then it clicked.
"The Delightful Children from Down the Lane," Wallabee declared, slamming his fist into his palm. "Ah shoulda known they'd pull somethin' like this off."
Siri nodded. "I don't understand them. Why are they like that? They're kids like us aren't they?"
"They may be kids but they listen to adults," Nigel answered her. "Unlike us."
"So tell us about the kids that defeated 'em," Hoagie butted in, chewing his sandwich. "Do we know 'em?"
The blonde girl shrugged. "How the heck should I know? The Delightfuls only said that the kids in their sector are the only ones they can't capture."
Kuki's eyes widened. "But the only people in their area is us!" Siri stared at her. "I'm serious. Their mansion's in a deserted part of town not that far from here."
Then the best KND operatives in the world are…no way! "That can only mean one thing then," Siri declared. "Your team is the only one that can stand up to them. You're the best of the best."
"Duh best of duh best? Whoa, stop wid duh praise girlfriend," said Abby, holding up her hands. "You and I know duh best agent is 274."
"I'm not saying he's not the best agent," said Siri impatiently. "I'm saying that your team is by far the most successful team of KND operatives in the world. You are the only ones who can stop the Delightfuls."
Wallabee shrugged. "We've stopped 'em hundreds of times. They're not that hard ta beat."
"But they've never captured fellow operatives before," said Nigel, pacing around and around the floor. "For all we know, they're using Numbuh 10's team for something that they've never been able to do before." He stopped pacing and adjusted his sunglasses. "Okay, here's what we're gonna do. We'll use the M.O.S.Q.U.I.T.O.H. to fly over to their mansion first thing tomorrow. A few of us will slip inside and search for the missing operatives. With any luck, we'll find them." Nigel's dark brown eyes appeared over the tops of his sunglasses. "Numbuh 2, you'll wait in the M.O.S.Q.U.I.T.O.H. until we call you."
Hoagie nodded firmly. Nigel then glanced at Siri. "Numbuh 10, I think it'd be best of you—"
Siri held up her hand to silence him. "Oh no. I know what you're going to say and I'm not going to hear it. I'm going with you."
"Numbuh 10, you don't even know the area like we do."
"I can learn!"
"Don't be difficult Numbuh 10," said Nigel in a surprisingly calm voice. "I know you're not stupid and I'm sure you're very worried about your teammates but…you'll…" He hesitated and then blurted it out. "You'll be in the way."
Siri blinked in shock. In the way? "I will NOT be in the way!" she shouted, which caused the others to raise their eyebrows. "I don't care what you think! I'm going to rescue my teammates and that's that!"
"I didn't mean to make you angry, but really you don't know the Delightful Children like we do. You could get seriously hurt."
"Does it matter? I just want my friends to be safe!"
"You think I don't?!" Nigel demanded. He rarely raised his voice to such a level and his eyes were burning behind his sunglasses.
The others' heads were now moving back and forth as if they were watching a tennis match. This is…new. Actually, it was not all that new. They had seen a similar episode between Numbuh 1 and Numbuh 5 not too long ago.
"I can take care of myself!" Siri snapped angrily. "I'm not a member of your team. You can't tell me what to do!"
"I'd rather you listen to me then listen to your instincts when you get lost inside that mansion! And just because I'm not your leader doesn't mean you should run around by yourself."
"Oh don't give that—"
"ALL RIGHT! JUST SHUT IT!" Abby stepped between the two kids. "Look, you two are startin' ta sound exactly like a married couple." They both gave her the "say what?!" look. "And I unduhstand dat it's none of mah business on how you two should work things out. Still…" She looked over at Nigel. "Numbuh 1, I don' think it'll hurt ta have Numbuh 10 come along wid us. She could jus' be there as an extra backup. Somethin' could happen, ya never know."
Nigel still looked troubled. Abby prodded him. "Well? What do ya say leaduh?"
He shook his head hard and crossed his arms. "All right, fine. Numbuh 5, can you show Numbuh 10 a place to sleep?"
Abby shrugged. "Dat depends whose room she's sleepin' in."
"Can't she sleep in yours?"
"I'd let her but mah room's real messy. Once I clean it up, she can."
Nigel shook his head again. "Fine. She'll stay in my room." And before the others could question this move, he grabbed Siri's hand and walked her out of the room. As soon as they were gone, the whispers broke out.
"D'ya think Numbuh 1 likes Numbuh 10?" Kuki asked innocently. "I mean, he's only just met her and already, he's worried about her and everything."
"I dunno, but if he does, I don't blame him." Hoagie had that goofy look on his face again. "She's cute."
Wallabee rolled his eyes. "She's okay—for a girl."
"I don' think he likes her," said Abby suddenly. "He jus' met her like Numbuh 3 said an' besides, don' he like Lizzie?" Her insides recoiled a little.
The others nodded and Abby sighed to herself. One thing's fo' sho. If he does like Numbuh 10, she's gonna provide a lotta competition. Her head snapped up. Competition for Lizzie dat is. As fo' me… She shook her head hard. He is your best friend. You do NOT like him!
"Say," said Wallabee all of a sudden. "'E nevah told us 'ow 'e met 'er."
Hoagie frowned. "You're right. How did they come by each other? Florida isn't walking distance from here."
"Maybe she just popped out of the sky and landed in between him and Lizzie!" Kuki suggested.
"Get real Numbuh 3. That's not likely," snapped Wallabee.
"Well it was just a suggestion," said Kuki with a small pout. She turned around and hopped over the sofa again. "Anyone wanna watch with me?"
Hoagie shrugged. "Sure Numbuh 3, I'll watch. I've finished my sandwich anyways."
Wallabee shook his head in disgust and walked away. Count me out!
"Numbuh 5?" Kuki asked the dark girl. "How 'bout you?"
Abby, who had been silent for the longest time, shook her head. "No thanks Numbuh 3. Numbuh 5's prob'ly just gonna crash in her room fo' tonight. See ya in da mornin'."
She turned around and sautered off to her room but once she got in front of the door with the number 5 on it, she stopped and sighed. The arrival of Numbuh 10 was both unexpected and disturbing. If she's heah 'cause her teammates were captured den dat means duh rest of us could be in danger too. I better tell Numbuh 1 'bout dat.
"This is where you'll stay for the time being until Numbuh 5 gets her room clean." Nigel showed Siri into his room. She'd already seen some of the other rooms on the way and her reactions were worth the tour. She'd been fascinated by Hoagie's machines, mystified by Wallabee's wrestling ring, and rendered slightly ill by Kuki's "museum" of stuffed animals. They had not peeked into Abby's room.
Siri looked around at the desk, the buttons on the walls, the trampoline bed, and the bookshelves. She smiled. "Thanks Numbuh 1."
"You'll sleep over there if you want," he said, waving his hand toward the trampoline bed. "I'll find somewhere else to sleep. The bathroom's outside in case you need to use it."
She nodded. "Umm…Numbuh 1? I'm sorry for blowing up at you back there. I just…well…"
He waved it off. "You were just worried about your teammates. Believe me; I know exactly how you feel. I'd do the same if someone wanted to keep me behind."
"I just wanna get to sleep," said Siri. Her face turned slightly pink. "Umm…Numbuh 1?"
"Yes?"
Her face turned even redder. "Uuuh, I need to change into my…uh… nightgown…the one I brought in my bag that is. And well…um…I can't…if…if you…"
"Oh!" Nigel's face went red too. "I understand Numbuh 10." He walked toward the door. "Remember…if you need anything…just call."
Siri followed him to the door, biting her lip as if she was thinking very hard. She then mustered up some courage and walked up close to him. She lifted her head and kissed him on the cheek. "Good night Nigel." Before he could do anything, she pressed the button and the door slid shut.
Nigel was so surprised; he just stood there with a dummy's expression on his face. Slowly he brought his hand up to where she had kissed him and touched the spot. His face felt warm and he wasn't surprised if he was blushing. He shook his head and walked back to the living room and his teammates, minus the new complicated friend he'd just received.
Time: 8:30 PM
Location: Delightful Children's Mansion
Matt paced around and around the cell. Across from him, Zen had buried his face in his book (No surprise there). Kayla was blowing a bubble from the pack of gun she'd found in the pocket of her jean skirt. Eric was staring off into space.
The only member that wasn't bored at all was Naomi. The little girl was rocking back and forth on the floor, clutching her wrecked Rainbow Monkey to her chest. Her eyes were shut tight and her whimpering voice suggested that was going to bawl any minute.
"I wanna go home," she whimpered. "I don't like this place."
Matt stopped pacing and looked at her sympathetically. "Try not to worry Numbuh 14."
"Oh yeah, go ahead and lie to the girl," Eric muttered absently.
Matt rounded on him. "At least I'm making an effort to cheer her up," he snapped tightly. "Besides, don't you think the I.H.Q. will be informed of this?"
"How do ya know those Delightful Dorks didn't jam your signal man?" Eric asked him.
Across the cell, Numbuh 142 looked sheepish. "They jammed ours."
Matt groaned and slumped to the ground. In other words, we're screwed.
"Glad to see you're up Numbuh 9," chorused five evil voices. They sent a chill down Matt's spine.
The Delightful Children were standing outside the cell, smirking. Naomi squeezed her doll tighter.
"What do ya boneheads want now?" Kayla demanded. She seemed to have abandoned her bubble gum.
The five children smiled maliciously. "We merely wanted to see how you were doing. We can't let you become too comfortable can we?" Their expressions turned serious. "Besides, we still need Matthew's DNA."
What? Matt blinked. "You need my what?"
"DNA," said the Delightfuls. "But we'll wait until the machine is ready." They turned to go and then paused. "Just for you to know…your friend Syria is still alive. And she's with the one team we hate above any other."
Matt felt relief swell in his stomach. Siri's alive. Alive. But how did they know? "How'd you find out?"
The five children smirked. "Oh we have our sources." Then they left.
Eric whirled on Zen. "Well Genius, did you find out where Numbuh 10 is or didn't you?"
Zen pushed up his glasses and nodded. "Of course I did. She's with a KND team like they said. The ones around here," he sat up. "Are the most successful team in the entire network."
"That's amazing," Kayla whispered. "Who are they?"
Numbuh 142 spoke up. "Numbuhs 1 through 5."
1-5? Matt wondered. He turned to look at Numbuh 42. "They're the first numbuhs?"
"Just about," said Numbuh 142. "They saved us from certain moustache takeover one time."
Kayla and Eric glanced at him strangely. Moustaches? Oooookaaaay.
"And they also helped Numbuh 274 battle against his parents and save us all," added Numbuh 17 brightly.
The light dawned on Matt. "Oh that was them? I didn't know!" He turned to Zen. "Numbuh 11, see if you got any info on the KND team of this sector."
The Chinese boy nodded and clicked away for a few minutes inside his book. Shuffling through pages, he nodded. "Excellent." He opened the book and settled it flat on its jacket on the floor. A hologram zoomed out. "This allows me to view any KND member within the entire sector." He pressed a button.
Now accessing information on Kids Next Door…transmission confirmed…state password…
"F.T.P.," Zen muttered carelessly. "File Transfer Protocol."
A hologram of a bald boy with dark sunglasses over his eyes appeared. He wore a simple red turtleneck and gray shorts.
Name: Nigel Uno
Codename: Numbuh 1
Position: Leader
Matt gasped and stared at the image. It…can't…be… "No way…"
"Uh, what's the matter Numbuh 9?" Eric asked him.
The leader walked up to the image and gazed at it in shock. "Nigel? Is it…really you?"
Naomi looked up. "You know him?"
Matt nodded. "He was my old friend…before I moved to Florida. I never thought I'd see him again." And he's a leader too.
Eric chuckled. "He's the leader of the team? I don't believe it."
Kayla eyed the picture of the boy with vague interest. "He's kinda cute though."
"What?" Eric whirled on her. "Him? Cute?"
Kayla smirked. "Cuter than you are, that's fer sure."
Matt, noticing the flaring signals in Eric's eyes, motioned for Zen to change the hologram before a mutiny broke out. The hologram vanished, replaced by a round boy with aviator goggles, wearing a blue shirt and brown khaki pants.
Name: Hoagie P. Gilligan Jr.
Codename: Numbuh 2
Position: Mechanic
"Hoagie?" A smile appeared on Naomi's face and she started to giggle. "Funny name. Hee hee hee."
The others rolled their eyes. "Looks more lak a fighter pilot ta me," said Kayla, eyeing his aviator goggles.
Numbuh 142 nodded. "I've actually seen one of his inventions one time. He's really really good at making machines and vehicles."
"That great," said Matt vaguely as the next image appeared. This time it was a pretty girl with long black hair and wearing an oversized green sweatshirt that covered her hands.
Name: Kuki Sanban
Codename: Numbuh 3
Position: Distraction
Numbuh 142 shuddered when he saw the image. "Oh I don't even want to look at this girl. She's really nice but man, she can be scary."
Eric looked at the girl's smiling face. "I don't really see how she can be much of a distraction. She's not that pretty."
"Jus' 'cause ya have eyes only fer Numbuh 10, ya can't see that other gals are pretty," muttered Kayla. She pointed at the Rainbow Monkey at Numbuh 3's feet. "Besides, that's distractin' 'nuff fer me."
Naomi squealed with delight at the sight of it. Eric shuddered. Not another one.
The girl hologram disappeared and a short blond boy with his hands curled into fists took her place. He was wearing an orange hoodie and blue jeans, and his hair covered his eyes.
Name: Wallabee Beatles
Codename: Numbuh 4
Position: Hand-to-hand Combat
Eric and Kayla stared at the boy. "Eeeh, kinda shrimpy ain't 'e?" Kayla muttered in confusion.
"You said it," Eric agreed, bewildered. "He looks pretty tough though."
Kayla shrugged. "If you say so. Ta me he jus' looks lak a little boy." She placed her cowboy hat lopsided on her head. "An' who's the last member of this team."
The hologram changed into a black girl with a red hat covering her braided head. She had her arms crossed over the front of her blue shirt and little gold hoops hung from her ears.
Name: Abigail Lincoln
Codename: Numbuh 5
Position: Spy
Kayla gazed at her admiringly. "Now she looks cool."
"You're right about that," Matt agreed. "She looks like the typical spy—except for that hat." He stared at it. "It's a little…new."
Zen nodded and pressed the button again. The hologram fizzled out. "According to my research, their treehouse is up the lane from this mansion. And if Numbuh 10 is the agent I know she is, she'll tell them what happened to us."
"But they don't even know where we are!" Naomi protested, clutching her Rainbow Monkey. "We don't even know where we are!"
Matt resumed his pacing around the room. I'm starting to act just like Nigel used to act when we were kids. Even then, he was the mature one. "We can't let that get to us Numbuh 14. We just have to believe everything will be all right."
Naomi closed her eyes and gave a small sob.
"You shouldn't lie to her Matthew," chorused the Delightful Children from behind him. "Your teammate should be worried because your lives are about to change."
Matt blinked. "Wh-what are you talking about?"
"Oh mark my words Kids Next Door," they chuckled. "You'll discover that not everything is as it seems and that nothing will ever be the same again."
Me: Well how about that for a cliffhanger huh?
Numbuh 9: I hate you.
Me: Why's that?
Numbuh 9: You leave us in a lousy position.
Me: Oh.
Numbuh 5: I hate you too.
Me: Why's that?
Numbuh 5: Because!
Me: Hmmm? (thinks for a minute) Oh that! (turns to Numbuhs 1 and 10) Do you guys hate me too?
Numbuh 1: Why?
Numbuh 10: No.
Me: (sigh) Well, this was supposed to come out a lot earlier than this but finals, you know. Anyway, enjoy and review!