"And, uh, I love, uh, rainbow chimpies. No, no wait, rainbow... rainbow.."
"Um okay thank you. We'll be in touch. Thanks," Wally said, then turned to Hoagie, who rolled his eyes. "Next." Some trampy looking girl came up next.
"Number One, it's me, Number Three," she said shaking her hips. (A/N: That's my favorite scene in the whole movie. Always makes me laugh.) Hoagie's head banged the table. "Oh you got to be kidding" Wally sighed.
Later that evening, Hoagie and Wally walked down the street looking over the list of girls. "Well that's it Walls. Game over," Hoagie said, a hint of relief in his tone. "We interviewed every girl in this city and still can't find anyone to pretend to be Numbuh Three."
"Aw don't worry Hoagie, she's out here somewhere. We just need to look harder," Wally said. He pulled out a red rainbow monkey. "Just one look at the Best-Friends-Forever-and-Always Rainbow Monkey and Numbuh One will immediately think we brought the real Numbuh Three. And before he starts to catch on, we'll be long gone spending the eleventy thousand bucks."
Hoagie stopped suddenly. "Wally, are you really okay with this?" he asked seriously.
Wally turned around. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"I mean tricking Numbuh One like this. Don't you feel even a little guilty?"
Wally let out an irritated sigh. "Look mate, we're living in our beat up, almost-burned-down treehouse. We have to steal food to keep from starving since we don't have jobs or money."
"We'd still have our jobs at the hardware store if you hadn't punched that guy in the face. And we wouldn't have a restraining order."
"That cruddy worm was asking for it. Look we really need money okay. And now we have a chance."
"But Wally, we're practically stealing from our leader."
For the first time in a long time, Wally's eyes were filled with emotion: anger and pain. Pain. Not again, Hoagie thought.
"He ain't my leader. And maybe it's what that cruddy coward deserves!" Then turned sharply and walked off.
Hoagie sighed. He hated to see his friend filled with pain. He spent years trying to prevent it, even if it meant scamming and stealing. But he definitely wasn't comfortable with this scheme. He still had the utmost respect for Numbuh One.
However, Numbuh One had told him to make sure Wally was okay. And Wally wasn't okay. Even now. He may have looked normal on the outside, but he never felt anything. Even when he smiled, Wally's eyes were dull and lifeless. Hoagie didn't believe this scheme would help his friend. But if it kept him from hurting, then he had no choice but to go along with it.
Hoagie ran to catch up with Wally. Somehow, he managed to find six dollars in his pocket. At least they wouldn't have to steal dinner tonight. He tapped Wally's shoulder and pointed to a pizza shop. "Pepperoni?" he asked.
Wally gave him a small, lifeless smile.
"How can a guy living in an old treehouse help me get to Paris?" Kuki thought as she wandered through the woods. "What if this guy's a psychopath? Oh man, maybe this wasn't such a good i...dea." Then she saw it. Only to her, it wasn't a treehouse. It was a palace resting on branches. Sure it looked like it suffered some damage. One side looked like it suffered an explosion. But still, the place was huge.
"Well, maybe it won't hurt to check it out," she said to herself. She picked up Bradley, the skunk looked like a Bradley to her, and walked up to the tree.
"Let's see. Maybe I can use this branch here as a starting point and-hey. Bradley what are you..." The skunk scampered up the tree.
"Bradley, wait up," Kuki called to him. She followed after him, using branches and occasional holes as a ladder. Just as she reached the top, a branch snapped under her foot and she slipped.
"Whoa," she cried, but she managed to catch herself before she fell.
Wally sat up. "Did you hear something, Hoags?"
Hoagie shrugged, not really paying attention. "No. Did you?" He took another bite of his pizza.
"Maybe we should scope the place," Wally said getting up.
Kuki walked into the treehouse. "Hello? Anybody home?" she called. Bradley crawled around, curiously.
The place definitely suffered a fire. But it still looked sturdy enough to be in. And something about the treehouse struck a chord in Kuki's mind.
"This place. It's like I've seen it in a dream. Or a dream of a dream."
Dancing bears.
Painted wings.
Things I almost remember.
And a song someone sings.
Once upon a December.
Kuki looked at the dusty old couch. Five kids appeared on it. They seemed to be fighting in a friendly way, for the remote or something. Half a second later, they disappeared. Kuki blinked. Did she really just see that?
Someone holds me safe and warm.
Horses prance through a silver storm.
Figures dancing gracefully
Across my memory.
Suddenly the room was filled with kids. (A/N: The other kids who were in the crashed shuttle.) They were running around carrying funny looking weapon type things. And for some reason, they saluted Kuki.
Someone holds me safe and warm.
Horses prance through a silver storm.
Figures dancing gracefully.
Across my memory.
Her rags suddenly became a green sweater, much too long for her. She was also wearing black tights and black sneakers.
Far away.
Long ago.
Glowing dim as an ember.
Things my heart used to know.
Things it yearns to remember.
Three little girls walked up to Kuki. One had sand-colored, curly hair and pink overalls. The other had short brown hair in two ponytails. She was wearing a black T-shirt and kakis. The girl in the middle wore a green sweater and orange skirt. Her face was dappled with freckles, and she had a helmet over her frizzy red hair. All three of them saluted Kuki. She saluted back.
And a song someone sings.
Once upon a December.
"HEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?"
All the kids disappeared. Kuki, back in her rags, turned to see a blonde guy in an orange sweater coming towards her. She ran the other way.
"Hey stop, " he yelled. "Stop, stop, hold on minute."
Kuki did stop. It was too late. She was caught. She turned around, waiting for a scolding.
"Now how did you get in he-here," he stopped and stared. Kuki was standing right next to an old picture of Numbuh Three. The resemblance was incredible.
His friend, slightly chunkier but not by much (A/N: Think of Drake and Josh and how Josh is compared to Drake by the end of the series. Thats Hoagie.), came running up as well. He had yellow goggles and some aviator hat with tuffs of brown hair sticking out. "Excuse me girl, but-"
"Hoagie, do you see what I see?" the blonde man asked. He wasn't much of a man, he was more of a boy really, probably not much older than Kuki. Eighteen at the oldest.
"Uh, no," Hoagie said. He motioned his head toward the picture of Numbuh Three. Hoagie gasped. "Yeah, yeah!"
Kuki had enough of this. "Are you Wallabee Beetles?" she asked.
"A skunk. Cute," Wally said, picking up Bradley and handing him to Hoagie. Then he looked at Kuki. "Perhaps, that depends on who's looking for him." he answered.
"My name's Kuki. I need travel papers." She leaned in closer. "They say you're the man to see, even though I can't tell you who said- what, hey!"
Wally had started to examine her. "Why are you circling me? What were you, a vulture in another life?" Kuki snapped.
Wally stopped. "Sorry Kelli it's-"
"Kuki," she corrected.
"Kuki, right it's just that you look a lot like...nevermind. So, you said something about travel papers?" he asked, a sly smile spreading across his face.
"Yes," Kuki said. "I'd like to go to Paris."
"You'd like to go to Paris?" he repeated. Wally turned to Hoagie. This was just perfect. But Hoagie was playing with the skunk.
"Aw, who is this little guy, oh look he likes me!"
"Nice skunk. So let me ask you," he continued, "Kuki, was it? Do you have a last name with that?"
"Well, um, I'm not sure." she said. " I don't know my last name. I was found when I was ten years old and..,"
"Ten, huh? And how old are you now?" Wally asked.
"Seventeen," she answered.
"Really. And before you were ten?" he asked.
"Look, I know it's weird, but I don't remember. I have no memories of my past."
Wally smiled again. "Well that's just," he turned to Hoagie. "That's perfect."
"I do have one clue however and that is Paris. So, can you two help me or not?" Kuki asked.
"Well, oddly enough, we're going to Paris too. We're taking a train to Boston and from there we'll take a boat." Wally tapped Hoagie. "Hoagie, tickets," he whispered. "We have three tickets here." Hoagie handed him three ski ball tickets. "Unfortunately, the third ticket is for her, Numbuh Three."
"Huh?" They took her arms then, and led her down the hallway toward Numbuh Three's old room.
"Wally and I are planning to reunite the Grand Operative with her leader, Numbuh One." Hoagie explained. "She was part of an organization called the Kids Next Door before she disappeared."
"You look just like her, ya know." Wally said. Hoagie nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, the same violet eyes."
"That's true," Wally said.
"Her raven black hair." Hoagie continued.
"Totally."
"Check it out Wally, she even has way-too long sleeves."
"Well that's because it was a hand-me-down," Kuki said.
Wally went on, ignoring her. "She's the same age, the same physical type.."
"Are you trying to tell me that you think that I'm this Numbuh Three?" Kuki asked with disbelief.
"All I trying to say is that I've seen buhmillions of girls all over the country and not one of them looks as much like her as you. I mean, look at the picture," Wally said, handing her the picture frame.
"Wow. I knew you were crazy from the beginning, but now I think you're both mad," she said.
"But why?" Wally asked. "You don't remember what happened to you."
"No one knows what happened to her," Hoagie added.
"You're looking for family in Paris."
"And the closest thing she has to a family is in Paris."
"Have you ever thought about the possibilities," Wally asked.
"That I could be an operative?"
Hoagie and Wally nodded. "Mmhmm!"
"Well I don't know, it's kind of hard to picture yourself as an operative when you're sleeping on a damp floor. But sure. I guess every lonely kid would hope they were an organization like this," Kuki said.
"And somewhere," Hoagie said, "one kid is. After all, Numbuh Three had a tendency to rise from expectations."
"Yeah," Wally cut in. "Really wish we could help, but the third ticket is for the Grand Operative." He put his arm around Hoagie, and they walked away, leaving Kuki alone with the picture.
"Good luck," he called back.
Kuki looked at the picture in her hands. One thing was true, she sure did look a lot like Numbuh Three. Maybe, just maybe, those buffoons might be on to something, she thought. But what if they were wrong? There was only one way to find out. Perhaps if she went to see this Numbuh One, old memories might just spark..."
"What are you doing? Why didn't you tell her about our brilliant plan?" Hoagie asked him.
"All she wants to do is go to Paris. Why give away a third of the reward money?" Wally answered. "Besides, I got it all under control. Wait for it..and..."
"WALLY!" Kuki cried.
Hoagie grinned. "Right in the palm of our hands."
"Wally, wait!"
Wally turned around. "Didja call me?"
"Okay, if I don't remember who I am, then who's to say I'm not an agent or an operative or whatever she is right?" she asked.
"Yeah," he said.
"Uh huh, and if I'm not Numbuh Three, then her leader will know right away and it will all just be an honest mistake."
"Sounds reasonable," Wally said.
"But if you are the Grand Operative, then you'll finally know who you are and have your friends back," Hoagie told her.
"Ya know, he's right. Either way it gets you to Paris." Wally held out his hand.
"Right," Kuki said, shaking it.
"Ow!" he cried, pulling his hand back. Strange, Numbuh Three had a grip just like that. What if...Don't be stupid. Shut up, Wally thought.
He cleared his throat. "Well Numbuh Three, shall we be off?" he asked.
"Bradley, we are going to Paris!" Kuki said happily.
"Uh, the skunk stays," Wally told her.
"What are you talking about? The skunk goes," she contradicted.
"No, he stays."
"I say he's going."