Chapter 5: What Happens Next

Patton's POV

I made my way through the wintry door of my office, cracking the door behind my tracks.

I took a deep breath and released ever so slowly, closing my eyes for a second of peace…

"NUMBUH 60, SIR!"

When I said a second, I didn't mean literally!

I whipped my head back to witness a young operative leaping out of my desk chair.

I gave a malicious glare but he didn't seem to take notice.

"What is it Numbuh 60.1?"

He shot a toothy grin.

Numbuh 60.1 was one of the most annoying operatives I had ever trained in all my life! He never took anything seriously, liked to goof off (when I say goof off, I mean being a real goof off), babble continuously, always followed me everywhere in the Arctic Base, and never seemed to follow orders. Yet, somehow, he passed the training and I was stuck with him at the Arctic Base. However, he got placed with an easy job so he spends his free time…bugging the crud out of me and hanging out in my office.

"I didn't interrupt anything did I?"

Yes! Yes, you did!

"…No, what seems to be the problem?"

I paced nearer to my desk and took a seat in my chair as Numbuh 60.1 made his way around my desk to face me.

"Hi!" he waved.

I rolled my eyes.

"Hi…now what do you want Num-"

"Coool!" Numbuh 60.1 said in awe, flicking one of my bobble heads and moving his eyes with it as it went up and down.

I tapped my fingers impatiently against my desk.

Ugh…I'm going TO LOSE MY MIND!

"WOULD YOU STOP MESSING WITH THAT!" I screamed.

"Ooh, what does this do?" he questioned, about to press a big red button on a remote.

"Don't touch that!" I cried, snatching the remote away.

"Why?"

"…Because it is for emergencies only!"

"Why?"

I clenched my teeth ever so tightly.

"…JUST BECAUSE!"

"Okay, gees…you don't have to yell…"

"Oi!" I cried, slapping my palm over my face, "What do you want, Numbuh 60.1?"

"Hey, Numbuh 60, do you know why I chose the codename Numbuh 60.1?"

"Yes!" I groaned.

"Well…It was because I admired you so much and you are like the best operative ever and my favorite and I like love you, just not in the creepy way but in the 'you are totally awesome' way and since the next Numbuh after 60 is 60.1, I thought it would be wicked cool to-"

"Numbuh 60.1! WHAT DID YOU WANT?" I sneered.

"Oh yeah, umm…what did I want again?" he started to think, with his tongue on the outside of his mouth.

I wanted to bang my head against my desk so much.

"Oh yeah, is it true?"

I have so many different answers for that question.

"Is what true?"

"Are you really going on a mission with Numbuh 86…alone?"

That's all he wanted! Ugh, you would think this kid would learn by now that if you hear something like that from Numbuh 362 herself-who re-assured everyone that I was leaving-that it would be true!

"Of course I am! Now what have I told you about being in my office without it being a serious emergency!"

My eyes lit with rage.

He really shouldn't be in my office…period.

"I just wanted to know! Wow!" He cried knocking all my papers onto the floor.

Ugh!

I bent down to pick up all the papers from the floor, mumbling words under my breath.

"You're going on a mission with the red haired dragon! The girl who always acts as if she has a bee in her undies? The girl who everyone hates?" Numbuh 60.1 asked in disbelief, "Gee, I feel so sorry for you dude. I'm sorry you have to suffer like that!"

As I was about to make a reply, I thought I noticed a shrub of red from outside my office.

Hmm…must have been my imagination…anyways…what did he just say?

I lifted myself from the floor and gave him the deadliest glare I could make.

Numbuh 60.1 saw my expression and gulped.

"Listen here, Numbuh 60.1, I don't appreciate you saying stuff like that! It is just a cruddy mission with Fa-Numbuh 86, nothing more!"

I walked right up to where we were face to face.

I snarled at him.

"…And another thing, she is your higher officer and you should treat her with respect! Not everyone hates her either. Now you need to quit this goofing and lollygagging and get back to work! Understood?"

He stared at me, silenced and baffled.

"Y-yes, Numbuh 60, S-sir," Numbuh 60.1 stuttered in fright.

"Go!" I pointed out the door.

Before he could even answer, he hastened through the door like a lightning bolt.

That'll teach him! Wait-

My eyes enlarged.

What did I just say? Don't appreciate, Fa-Numbuh 86, nothing more, treat her with respect, not everyone, quit goofing, get back to work?

I replayed the words over again in my mind to process.

Why would I not appreciate it? Fanny? Where did that come from? IT IS nothing more. Higher officer and treat her with respect? Bingo!

I don't treat her with respect at all, but why should I? She doesn't with me! As for positions go, I'm pretty high and important…but so is she.

I knew not everyone hated Numbuh 86…surely not! Not everyone can hate one single person…can they? How can anyone hate a girl so…umm…Fanny-like that much?

Ugh, this is just to-Wait a second! I forgot about the mission…and Numbuh 86! We have to go or we'll be off schedule!

Fanny's POV

I sighed.

Is this really what everyone thinks of me? Everyone? Is this what my family thinks too…my cruddy brothers, my mum, my dad, my old friends, and villains?

I bowed my head in the direction of my knees and let my red, frizzy hair cover my face.

What are ya doin' Numbuh 86? You're way tougher than this! What is your problem? You actually starting to give up just because people don't like ya? That never stopped ya before! Get up! Prove to everyone that you are still the toughest! Prove to them that you don't care what they think!

"I don't know…"

GET UP AND SHOW THOSE STOOPID BOYS WHO IS THE REAL BOSS!

I pushed myself upward and lifted myself off from the ground. I scraped the ice off my clothes and proceeded down the hall.

Who needs them anyways?

I groaned from anger, pushing kids who were in my way.

"Move it or lose it! Out of my way!" I screamed as I pushed a couple operatives aside, who glared at first but, once I gave them an even nastier one, they ran in fright.

I chuckled in an evil smirk.

I'm back! I'm still the toughest of the tough!

"Ahhh!"

I shot my head back to see a boy running for his life.

What's with him?

I snatched hold of his collar as he tried to race past me.

"WHAT THE CRUD IS WRONG WITH YA BOY!"

He didn't make any sudden move but was taken aback by my outburst.

"WELL…?"

HE'S AS STUPID AS A…NUMBUH 4!

"I-I..."

Well at least he has said a little. Unlike Numbuh 2, who would just bite his nails…yuck!

"Umm…n-nothing N-numbuh 86, sir! I was just umm…s-seeing how you were doing. H-how have you been?"

Then it dawned on me.

That was the stupid boy that was talking to Numbuh 60! ...But why is he…?

He gave a cheesy grin, showing all his teeth.

This is…

"Uh…good," I cocked a brow, "You?"

He was just as surprised as I was that I would even ask him that question and in that way. Normally, I would burst out in anger that he had even dared ask me that question.

"Uh…" he gulped, "F-fine…just fine…w-well…I got to go-"

"HOLD IT!" I screamed.

"Yes?"

"Where were ya running off to?"

I could tell he was starting to sweat abit.

"Umm…I had to go talk to a friend about something but I'm good now so…yeah."

"O…K...but who was…?"

Before I could answer, he bolted down to the next hall.

Strange boy, very strange…and stupid. What was with him anyway? He actually said 'hi' to me? Very odd…But what do you expect from a cruddy boy?

"Numbuh 86!" I swerved my head to see Numbuh 60.

What did he want?

I halted as he came nearer to me and was breathing heavily from exhaustion.

You know you didn't have to run, I'm right here.

I had a stern look on my face, arms crossed upon one another, feeling very impatient.

"What is it?"

"I TOLD YOU TO STAY OUTSIDE MY OFFICE!"

"I can do whatever I want, ya stupid boy, don't ya be talking that way to me!"

"Look, as much as I want to get to our usually scheduled fight…we need to get to this mission," he sighed in frustration, "So…would you please," he said threw his teeth, " follow me to the ship so we can leave?"

Who does he think he's fooling? He didn't want to say 'please' to me or even be nice to me, but of course…missions come first.

I growled and headed toward the ship.

We climbed inside and I sat down irately.

He gave me a puzzled look as he set for take off.

"Uh…Numbuh 86, are you okay?"

I ignored him, transferring my sight to the widow.

He was surprised by my action so he put the S.C.A.M.P.E.R. on autopilot.

I glanced over at him slowl, as he gave a blank stare.

"WHAT?"

He just stared at me, unsure as what to say next.

"I think it is time."

A quizzical stare plastered on my face.

It is time for what?

"Time for what?" I flat out asked.

"Ugh, as much as I hate to do this…I'm letting you know what is in the file."

Is he for real? Is he serious? He would never do that, most likely he would keep it to himself and torture me now…he's showing me?

"Really?" I questioned.

He nodded, "I can't just not tell you, you need to know sometime."

A very light smile appeared on my face.

"…Plus, I'm not going to tell you everything, just the things you have to know."

He smirked as I gave a huff.

"Do you want to know or not?"

"Yes…" I mumbled.

"What did you say?"

He heard me! I could see it all over his face!

"UGH, YES YOU STUPID BOY!"

"Don't have to yell," he smirked.

I rolled my eyes.

"JUST TELL ME!"

"Okay, well…an unknown evil villain is up to something super horrible."

"O…K…so where is this villain?"

"I don't know."

"What's he planning?"

"I don't know."

"WHO IS THIS CRUDDY GUY?"

"Not a clue."

"Are ye telling me that Numbuh 362 sent us on a SUPER IMPORTANT mission and she has NO idea who, what, where, and why?"

"Yup, that's right."

That doesn't sound like Numbuh 362 at all!

"WHAT THE CRUD IS GOING ON HERE?"

"My thoughts exactly."

He and I are having the same thoughts? I think I may gag or die!

"Well…WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO NOW? I mean, Numbuh 362 would NEVER send us on a mission without knowing every little detail!"

"I know."

"Then…this must be…"

"Serious? I think it could be worse than that."

"I know, Numbuh 362 was acting awfully weird in her office almost…scared?"

"Exactly, so that's why we need to find out this information and STAT!"

"BUT HOW?" I screamed.

He smirked.

I hate his smirk.

"I've got a plan."