Alright, the final chapter in the Numbuh C4 origin story.

KND Arctic Base

Cadet Training: Day 29

Barracks

Do you deserve it?

Carol sat on her bunk, eyes staring at her blanket as Rachel's words rang through her head once more.

"She's been like that since the Sim room." Josh muttered as he and the other members of Team Three looked onto their teammate as she sulked on her bed. "It's a wonder how she's keeping it together in the other simulations."

"Wow…who knew Rachel could do that to her. Who knew anyone could just do that…just break someone's spirit in a matter of seconds and just…holy mother-" Thomas stopped short as he noticed John giving him a dirty look.

"Don't you even think about finishing that sentence." John muttered.

"Fine, yeah, sure." Thomas waved John off. "But the point is Carol has lost what made her, well, her."

"Well the final test is tomorrow. The Rock Wall, and we can't do it without having the entire team working together and giving it their all." Josh bit his lip.

"Have you guys seen that thing, if I didn't know better I'd say it was the size of a mountain." Nolan said as he scratched something into the back of his helmet.

"Well, we'll have to snap her out of this funk she's in." Thomas rubbed his chin. "Not it!"

"Not it!" Josh smirked.

"Not it!" John smiled as he looked through his bible.

"Not i-…crud…" Nolan sighed. "Dang it."

"Well, good luck Nolan, see you later buddy." Thomas chuckled as he, Josh and John walked to the door.

"Wait, where are you guys going?" Nolan asked as he watched his friends leave.

"We're gonna go and get food, or at least hot chocolate." Josh aid as he walked out the door. "We won't be bringing anything back by the way!"

"Yep…" Nolan sighed as John closed the door behind them. Nolan turned and began to approach Carol. "Hey, Carol." The eight year old said, taking a seat on Carol's bed beside her. Carol remained silent, her eyes looking away. "Yeah, I know you were able to hear us, were in an enclosed space and no one ever bothers to whisper." Nolan said leaning forward, arms resting on his lap.

"You already know what I'm going to ask you, that we need you at your best if we're going to beat the Rock Wall. How I'm supposed to persuade you into get out of your funk and just getting back into your groove." Nolan scratched the back of his head. "But we both know that's not how this is going to go down."

"Carol, since I met you, you were this girl who was in it to win it. Second wasn't good enough for you, you had to be number one. But after the Sim room…you aren't that girl anymore." Nolan shook his head. "You haven't been trying. You've just given into defeat. Your letting everything Rachel said about you become reality."

"I just got to ask you Carol," Nolan turned to Carol, taking notice that she was now looking at him. "Do you deserve it? I mean, do you really deserve to be the best if all you've done is mope around over a couple of losses?"

Nolan stood up from where he was seated. "Well, Carol, I hope you come to a decision or something. We really do need you." Nolan walked to the door, opening it and leaving, making sure to close the door behind him.

Carol sat up, now alone within the room. Carol sighed, her eyes narrowed. "Do I deserve it?"

Arctic Base

Cadet Training: Day 30

The Rock Wall

"Alright Cadets." Numbuh 68.06's voice boomed as he over looked the cadets. "Today is your final test. Today you face The Rock Wall. You will ascend the Rock Wall and reach the top as a team, relying on the rope that binds you all together and your fellow teammates to get to the top of the Rock Wall."

Numbuh 68.06 turned and pointed to several numbered tables. "On those tables are climbing equipment, harnesses, rope, the works. If you don't reach the top or if you give up on the way up, you are discharged from this class, never to be a full-fledged Kids Next Door operative. So go put on the gear and get ready."

The cadets in a collective group moved to the tables, each stopping at their own assigned table. "Heh." Molly chuckled, walking past Team Three's table. She quickly pulled out a pocket knife applied several cuts into the team's rope.

"What are you doing at our table?" John asked as he and Thomas arrived at their teams table.

"Oh." Molly turned to face the members of Team Three, keeping her pocket knife out of view. "Just wanting to wish Carol all the luck in the world." Molly smiled wickedly before quickly leaving to join her team.

"That girl is most odd." John said as he began to put his gear on.

"Yep." Thomas agreed as he and John were joined by Nolan and Josh. "So, were going to have to tie ourselves together with the rope and make a chain. Who wants to lead the way?"

"I will." Team Three turned to see Carol approaching them.

"Last time I saw you, you were sulking in bed." Josh laughed as he began to put his harness on. "Doesn't really matter, just glad to have you back Carol."

"It's good to be back." Carol smiled. Her eyes slowly drifted to Nolan. Nolan was currently handing out the team their hard hats, his nickname now carved under the list of terms. "What's up 'Locksmith'?"

"What can I say" Nolan shrugged, handing Carol her helmet. "I made it work for me."

"Okay." Carol said, turning to look at her team as a whole. "The line will be me at the front, then John, Josh in the middle, followed by Thomas, and then Nolan at the end. That alright with everyone?"

"Sounds like a plan." Thomas crossed his arms approvingly.

"Today is the day." Carol said as she put her harness on and tied herself to her team's rope. "Today is the day we become Kids Next Door."

"And first ones to the top?" Josh asked with a smirk.

"You know it." Carol cracked a smile.

"Will all Cadet Teams head to their starting points?" Numbuh 68.06's voice called out to the cadets. All cadet teams stood in front of The Rock Wall, most taking in the immense size of the wall. "Alright, this is it. I'll see you all at the top. Go!" Numbuh 68.06 pressed a button on his shoes, producing rockets at the bottom of his shoes. Numbuh 68.06 shot up to the top of the Rock Wall as the cadets ran to start climbing.

"Hey Carol!" Molly called out to Team Three as her team began to climb. "Do you deserve it?!" She laughed.

Carol huffed, forcing herself to climb faster. Team Three kept up with Carol's pace, none losing their footing as they pushed themselves to climb the jagged wall.

"Don't disappoint us now, Carol." Carol's father's voice echoed through her mind. Carol kept climbing, pushing past those thoughts.

"You won't make it in life being second best, honey, you need to try harder." Carol turned her head slightly to find Rachel and her team two feet ahead of them and climbing. Carol's face became twisted as she forced herself to climb faster.

"Wait a second…" Thomas spoke up as he and his team along with Rachel's team had out climbed the other teams. "Does anyone else hear that noise?" Thomas said as his ear picked up a faint snapping sound.

"Keep…keep going." Nolan wheezed as he and the others kept pushing themselves. "We have to keep up with the others."

"I have to be the best." Carol's words rang through her skull, becoming oblivious to Thomas and Nolan. Her mind was now focused on one single objective. Carol turned her head slightly, only to find that she was now passing Rachel.

Do you deserve it?

Her one objective, all that she now wanted to do, was beat Rachel T. McKenzie.

"Guys, I can see the top!" John exclaimed.

"We're almost there guys!" Josh shouted, his nearly bald head covered in sweat.

"Alright!" Thomas exclaimed over a louder snap. Thomas reached out for something to grab, only for his sweaty palm to lose its grip. Thomas prepared to grab onto the team rope in order to reposition himself, only to find that the rope had snapped in two. "Crud…" Thomas' eyes widened before falling backwards.

Thomas fell passed Nolan, causing the 'Locksmith' to yelp in terror. The rope connected to Thomas and Nolan pulled Nolan backwards along with Thomas. Nolan lost his grip, causing him to fall.

"Crap! Crap! Crap! Crap!" Nolan shouted as he and Thomas fell. Nolan quickly reached out for something to grab onto. Nolan grabbed a ledge, causing him to smack into the Rock Wall, as di Thomas who merely hanged upside down.

"Guys!" Nolan shouted as he was being pulled down by Thomas' weight. "A little help! Guys! Help! Josh! John! Carol!"

"Carol!" Carol snapped out of the trance she found herself in, looking down to find Nolan and Thomas hanging below.

"Help!" Thomas and Nolan shouted.

Carol looked up, seeing the top of the Rock Wall only a mere few inches away. "We have to help them!" Josh shouted.

Carol looked to see Rachel's team quickly catching up on hers. "Carol, our team is in need of assistance." John said as he looked down to his two flailing team mates with concern.

Carol remained still in thought. 'If I keep going, I can make it to the top. I will be the first to the top. I will beat Rachel, I will be a Kids Next Door operative.' Carol smiled before quickly frowning. 'But then…' She looked back down to see the concerned looks on Josh and John's faces, the terror on Nolan and Thomas'. 'My team-my friends-won't.'

"I think the bloods all in my head now…" Thomas muttered groggily.

"Hold on!" Josh shouted as he and the others slowly climbed down.

"We're on our way." John said calmly.

"Josh, get Thomas re-oriented. John, help Nolan get his footing." Carol ordered. Josh got Thomas turned upright as John helped Nolan regain his footing. "Alright." Team Three looked up to Carol. "Let's finish this."

Team Three nodded in agreement as they pushed themselves once more, climbing up the Rock Wall to the top.

"Congratulations." Numbuh 68.06 said, greeting Teem Tree. "On being the second team to reach the top of the Rock Wall." The Arctic Training Sargent said as he motioned to Rachel's team. "Got to say though, pretty admirable thing you guys did there. You know, with the whole going back for your team thing."

"Sorry, Carol." Thomas said as he fell over, drained from the climb. "Sorry, I-I shouldn't have lost my grip, even if the rope broke on me."

"Yeah, sorry Carol, we know how bad you wanted to beat Rachel." Nolan said sincerely as he held his bleeding hand to his clothing.

"No…" Carol said as she took in the sight of her Team mates. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for…well…"

"You don't have to say anything, Carol." John spoke up.

"Yeah, we wanted you to bring you're 'A' game today, and you brought it." Josh laughed.

"Faulty piece of rope." Thomas said as he threw the rope off the side of the Rock Wall.

"Well guys, we did it…" Carol smirked. "We made it to the top…we're Kids Next Door operatives."

"Oh yeah." Josh pumped his fist into the air. "Oh yeah!"

KND Moon Base

Days After Training: 01

Cadet Graduation

"Without further ado, I give you Carol Pariuhs" Numbuh 100 said the crowd of Kids Next Door operatives cheered. "Carol, do you swear to battle adult tyranny without pause, without fail, and without rest except for cookie breaks?"

"Of course I do." Carol said proudly, her friends standing behind her, all watching with pride.

"Very well, you may now insert your genetic material into the C.O.D.E.M.O.D.U.L.E. and register with the Super Incredibly Big Computermabob!" Numbuh 100 said, motioning to the C.O.D.E.M.O.D.U.L.E in the center of the stage.

Carol plucked a booger out of her nose and stuck it in the C.O.D.E.M.O.D.U.L.E.

"Now what Numbuh would you like to be?" Numbuh 100 asked.

'What Numbuh do I want to be?' Carol thought to herself. One would think that the number one would automatically come to her, but no. "Numbuh C4, sir!" Carol exclaimed.

"Then Numbuh C4 you are." The crowd of active operatives cheered and applauded.

Alright, now that this is finished I can just finish KND: Galactic Endgame. Alright then, later days.