Operation: F.A.T.E.
F – FateA – Already
T – Told
E – Eternally
Making Choices
Suddenly every screen in the world turned off. They turned back on to show a pre-teen sitting on a black couch. The number 49.5 on his cap, t-shirt, gloves, and the tongues of his sneakers. A gold chain around his neck said 'I Rule the KND'.
"Hey I want to watch something else," a kid protested and tried to turn the station.
Nothing happened.
"I Numbuh 49.5 ruler for life of the KND during this troublesome time have one thing to say," Numbuh 49.5 spoke as millions watched from their television sets, "Jerry Rassic will be killed in six hours if Laura Limpin and Wallabee Beetles do not give themselves in to Global Command," he said and signed off.
The world was left in shock.
But not nearly as much as the kid sitting beside the one who had complained about what was coming on before this horrid announcement. Wallabee Beetles himself.
Meanwhile underground the group had come together for a meeting. Ten kids had been underground aside from Wally and Hoagie before Tommy brought more persons to hide with them. Now they all were meeting at 2:45 a.m. in the morning to decide what would be done about Numbuh 49.5's warning (or threat).
"You can't go Wally," Hoagie said firmly, "you go there and you're trapped," he told him, "I can't do anything to get you out."
"But what does he want with Laura?" Ted Jones a seven year old who was among the ten who went underground asked.
"I have a bad feeling," Freeland said seriously.
"Mr. Goodman should be here," Jade said.
"Sorry Jade, no adults," Hoagie refused.
"But we're not KND," Jade protested.
"And I still don't trust all grown ups," Hoagie said loudly, "Freeland's only here cause you all share the same body."
"Lay off Hoagie," Wally said suddenly, "I'm going," he announced.
"Have you lost it!" Hoagie exploded.
"He doesn't want Jerry to die Hoagie!" Laura shouted angrily, "and neither do I," she added softly.
"Are you going with me?" Wally asked her.
Laura sighed.
I don't want Jerry to die because of me, Laura thought her mind riddled with despair.
"I don't know," Laura said honestly.
"You'll make the right decision," Wally said kindly.
"I hope so Wally," Laura said with a weak smile.
"But why does Numbuh 49.5 only want you?" Hoagie questioned, "why not both you and me?"
"Just be glad yah get ta stay here," Wally snapped, "we don't the group to lose the both of us," he told Hoagie.
"But Wa…" Hoagie started.
"Would yah quit yah belly aching!" Wally exploded, "shit," he muttered.
Then he quickly covered his mouth.
Everyone else gasped at Wally's last word.
Except for Freeland who now rolled on the ground laughing.
Wally growled at him. He was still bitter at Jade's domineering defeat over him. He still sported a black eye and had heavy bandaging around his ribs.
"We still have over five hours," Hoagie said formally, "we'll figure what we're doing before the end," he said and walked out.
"Well he's not happy," Megan said as she rose off the floor.
"He's in charge," Laura said.
"He takes too much on his plate," Wally said simply.
"Maybe he has good reason to," a voice said suddenly from behind them.
There was a stunned silence.
"I was told that my entrance would be a shock," Lizzie said to them.
"L…L…Lizzie?" Hoagie asked as he re-entered the room, "you're awake?" he asked.
"Yes mister," Lizzie said to him.
"Mister?" Wally said incredulously, "Lizzie we're out of diapers but none of us are that old!" he shouted.
"But what else can I call him?" Lizzie asked curiously.
"What e…?" Laura started to ask her but stopped, "Lizzie, do you know us?" she asked.
"No," Lizzie said with a shrug, "should I?" she asked.
After a moment of silence Hoagie ran off bawling.
"Hoagie wait!" Wally cried and ran after him.
"Did I say something bad?" Lizzie asked worriedly.
Laura gulped.
How am I supposed to explain this? Laura wondered.
It was now 8 a.m. and Wally and Laura had finally reached where they were supposed to meet Numbuh 49.5. Wally hated leaving Hoagie in the state he was in. But he needed to save Jerry.
If that idiot Numbuh 49.5 has hurt him in any way…, Wally thought angrily as he clenched his fist.
Laura meanwhile was watching Wally who had a fierce look on his face along with clenched fists.
He must be really upset about this trade thing with Jerry, Laura thought, but why is he so angry? she wondered, it's not like he and Jerry were that close, she noticed, but then again, that pigheaded jerk threatened us with Jerry's life for us to come here.
Suddenly there was a rumbling and a spacecraft landed. Out that spacecraft stepped Numbuh 49.5, Numbuh 65.3 and six other operatives. The last two carried an unconscious Jerry.
"He better be alive," Wally snarled.
"I said he'd only die if you two refused to hand yourselves over," Numbuh 49.5 said formally, "I see no reason to break my promise," he said with a shrug.
"You're a horrible person," Laura declared.
"Yes I am," Numbuh 49.5 said to her, "now board the craft," he ordered.
Wally was following her when Numbuh 65.3 stopped him.
"I made a deal with Numbuh 49.5, you don't have to go," Numbuh 65.3 told him.
"What about Laura?" Wally asked.
Numbuh 65.3 shook his head.
Laura felt a chill run down her spine as she stood at the entrance of the craft.
I'm going to die, Laura realized.
"I'll be fine," Laura said loudly, "just take Jerry and go Wally," she told him.
"Laura," Wally said worriedly.
"What do you want with her?" Wally demanded.
"Just take Jerry and go," Numbuh 49.5 said darkly.
"Just do it Wally," Numbuh 65.3 said softly, "if you can't trust him at least trust me."
Wally looked Herb in the eye. He could see fear masked by indifference.
"Just go Wally," Numbuh 65.3 told him.
Wally looked into the eyes of the operative he had known by his number or as Herb.
"Herb?" Wally asked in a cracked voice.
"It will be okay," Numbuh 65.3 said as he gulped, "tell Hoagie I said hi and don't forget."
"Don't forget what?" Wally asked.
"He'll understand," Numbuh 65.3 said with a weak smile.
"Herb if…" Wally started.
"It wouldn't matter," Numbuh 65.3 said shaking his head, "there's only one voice in the KND now," he told Wally.
Wally looked at Numbuh 65.3. The agent who delivered top-secret messages and was sometimes snooty about his position now looked humbled and serious.
"I'm never seeing you again am I?" Wally asked.
Numbuh 65.3 shook his head.
"And Laura?" Wally pressed.
"She must know by now," Numbuh 49.5 spoke, "go inside Herb," he ordered.
Numbuh 65.3 lowered his head and obeyed.
"Herb!" Wally shouted and tried to go after him.
"Follow him and die!" Numbuh 49.5 shouted, "you two leave him Jerry," he ordered the two operatives who went to Wally and left Jerry in his arms, "bye," he said happily and boarded the spacecraft with the rest of the operatives.
The spacecraft quickly lifted off and flew away.
Wally held unto Jerry and cried.
What have I done, Wally thought completely overwhelmed.
It was Noon at the Moon Base and Numbuh 49.5 sat in a dungeon drinking soda. In his lap sat a shotgun. Not too far from him swung the dead body of Numbuh 65.3 with a hole in his chest. Not too fat away hung a crying Laura Limpin who like Numbuh 65.3 was hung in the dungeon by her wrist.
Numbuh 49.5 suddenly belched. Then he started laughing. Then he stopped and just stared at Laura.
"I would've just taken Wally and killed him if I wasn't given this bit of knowledge," Numbuh 49.5 said formally, "it seems that Wally's demise would only bring about more anger from your little clan," he said to Laura, "but that's not why you're here," he told her, "you're here because I was informed that two months from now you kill me," he said to Laura who looked up and gasped, "and for that," he said and laughed, "I'm going to torture you 'til you lose your mind," he whispered with a diabolical grin.
Laura hung from her chains shaking.
This guy's insane! Laura thought incredulously, Oh God, what is he going to do to me?
Wally was in an abandoned house by a muddy creak as nighttime approached. He had gotten supplies from Hoagie and others willing to help. Hoagie had given step-by-step books and cassettes to help him care for Jerry and that's the last he saw of his best friend. The last he saw of any of those he had gone underground with.
It was suspected that Jerry had something. Freeland had declared that the moment he came out of hiding near where Wally and Laura went to give themselves in to Global Command.
Freeland had carried a communicator and Hoagie was able to instruct him on how to check Jerry for certain things. And low and behold there were two tacking devices in him. One in his damaged spine and the next a special liquid tracking mechanism on the right half of his brain. The first would prove risky to remove. The last one was absolutely deadly.
Wally chose to stay with Jerry until he could find somewhere safe to leave him. Everyone protested but Wally stood by his decision.
Now he wondered if he made the right one.
What if I've sealed my fate? Wally wondered, I don't love Jerry, he thought firmly, but I just can't leave him.
"Wally," Jerry said hoarsely, "Wally?"
"I'm here," Wally said and walked over to the old ratty bed, "are you okay?" he asked as he stroked Jerry's hair.
"I just wondered where you were," Jerry said in a small voice, "I don't like being left alone," he said tearfully.
"I'm always close," Wally told him, "I'm even going to sleep with my sleeping bag right next to your bed," he reminded Jerry.
"I know you don't feel about me the same way I feel about you," Jerry said suddenly.
Wally sighed.
"Jerry," Wally started.
"It's okay," Jerry interrupted, "I just want you to tell me when you're ready to leave," he said.
"Excuse me?" Wally asked incredulously.
"No offence Wally," Jerry said, "but I need a lot of care," he said frankly, "and you well…" he started but stopped, "you won't be able to hack it."
"You think I can't care for a retard!" Wally exploded.
"I'm not retarded!" Jerry shouted angrily.
"You sure acting like it," Wally muttered bitterly.
"I can't believe I have feelings for you," Jerry said upset, "you're just a show off and a prejudice," he declared.
"A pre what!" Wally shouted.
"A prejudice!" Jerry shouted back enraged, "you're prejudiced against me because I'm paralysed!" he shouted.
"I don't have a problem with paralysed people!" Wally shouted angrily, "I just have a problem with you, you big baby!"
"I'm not a baby!" Jerry shouted offended.
"Then take care of yourself then!" Wally exploded, "go on," he challenged, "start by trying to give yourself a bath!" he shouted and flung a rag into Jerry's face.
The damp rag landed on Jerry's face and slowly slid off. It stopped on his chest and a long moment of silence ensued only interrupted by Wally's angry heavy breathing.
Fourteenth Kid Smacked