Operation: F.A.T.E.

F – Fate

A – Already

T – Told

E – Eternally

Recap: Through discussions about their changing futures Hoagie finds out that it was his future self who had caused their present to be like it currently was. But he also found out the possible reason, which was to most likely save Tommy from dying. Lizzie's nearly bored to death by her mother's gossip at the dinner table but readers are informed that Wally has been disowned by his family. Fortunately in the same breath Hoagie's family is still there for him. Lizzie is also having problems adjusting to her old life without her memory. Nigel had decided to betray the KND just to find out that his actions were actually unnecessary. Fortunately that was found out before he could complete the betrayal. Now the young boy's racked with guilt. Lenny tells Laura and Big Badolescent good night and it's made even more obvious that Laura's lost her mind. Lenny then goes to see Abigail who he's forming a delicate but romantic relationship with. They talk about different things including Father's anxiety for an heir. This topic upsets Lenny so Abigail decides to drop it and they end up going for a walk in the garden.

Detour

Jerry, Jason and Wally ate the leftovers merrily. They had gotten permission to use the gym for the night and even had cots nearby to sleep on.

"Good thing the centre's intolerant to bad behaviour," Jason said as he fed himself and Jerry simultaneously, "those boys will be seeing punishments for weeks to come," he said satisfied.

"It's nearly nine," Jerry said noticing the clock.

"Want to go to bed sleepyhead?" Wally teased.

"No," Jerry said angrily, "I just noticed the time."

"Don't tease the birthday boy Wally," Jason told him.

"Yeah, it's my birthday," Jerry chimed in.

"Whatever," Wally said but he smiled.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door.

"Wait here," Jason said seriously and answered it.

"You gotta get out," the other two boys heard the voice of a small girl say panicked.

This is an all boys centre, Wally recalled, the females around are all employees, adult employees.

Everything else was vague whispering.

Jason then walked towards them with a serious face.

"Get up," Jason ordered.

"Is that a joke?" Jerry asked him.

"Oh sorry," Jason said and picked Jerry up in his arms, "come on Wally."

"What's wrong?" Jerry asked fearfully as Wally looked at Jason darkly.

"It's my fault," the girl from outside said and they turned to see…

"West?" Wally asked incredulously.

"It's Wintry," Wintry confessed, "I only pretended to be a boy to not get separated from my brother," she told them, "and now we have to evacuate because the mob has found out where I am," she said sadly.

"The mob?" Jerry cried.

"I witnessed a crime and testified against them," Wintry revealed, "this is the sixth identity I've taken on."

"Sixth!" Jerry shouted.

"Jerry calm down," Wally said suddenly.

"B…" Jerry started.

"Let's go," Wally interrupted, "Jason give me your cell phone," he ordered as they headed out the door.

"My cell phone?" Jason asked, "oh, it's in my right pocket," he told Wally.

Wally fished it out as they ran and made a phone call.

"Nigel," Wally said, "I need a favour," he said, "can you override the security over bully island?" he asked.

"No," Nigel responded, "but I know another way," he revealed.

"What?" Wally asked urgently.

"You can get on the island without being shot down by getting in from underwater," Nigel told Wally.

"How can someone get on it that way?" Wally asked.

"I don't know," Nigel confessed.

"Damn it!" Wally shouted, "find a way and call me back," he said and hung up.

Just then they entered the basement to see everyone else there.

"What's going on?"

"Why we have to run like that?"

"I was dragged out the shower!"

"There better be a good excuse…."

"Shut up!" Wally exploded.

The basement went silent.

"Okay," Wally said, "security's been called and we should be alright for now," he said, "but I need to relocate two of you," he said shocking everyone, "I can't say where because it needs to be secret."

"Wait," Jerry said, "you were talking about…"

"Yes, Jerry," Wally interrupted, "when my friend…" he said but suddenly stopped.

God what am I doing? Wally thought, I'm no leader, I was always the dumbest…

"Hey," Harry said suddenly catching Wally's attention, "you're doing great pal," he said encouragingly.

"I know how to get there underwater!" Jerry shouted, "me, I know it inside out cause…"

Wally realized and felt stupid.

"I'll call back Nigel and you tell him after we get out the basement," Wally said.

"Who needs to run?" Trent asked.

"None of your beeswax," Wally snapped.

"Is it you?" Trent pressed.

"No," Wally responded.

"Jerry?" Trent asked him.

"Why don't you just…" Wally started to explode.

"Okay, calm down," Jason said to the two of them.

"He's going to get us killed," Trent said.

Other boys glared at Wally and Jerry.

"It's not them," West spoke up taking back up the male persona.

"West," Harry warned.

"It's me, okay," West revealed, "I testified against the mob."

"WHAT!" most of the boys and staff shouted.

"We're gonna die!"

"How could you be so stupid?"

"Throw him to them, they don't want us."

"Stop it," Jerry said darkly and his voice silenced the crowd, "we're not abandoning anybody," he said seriously.

"Why do you care?" Freddie a freckled blonde boy asked, "they weren't nice to you."

"I know what it's like to be in a situation that seems to have no way out," Jerry told them, "I've even seen others die and eventually thought that it was the only escape for me," he said, "I know what it's like to go to sleep scared and wake up terrified," he spoke, "I know what it's like to have one person control whether you live or die and hate that person but also systematically worship them for the sake of your puric salvation," he stated, "I know what it's like to have no where to run, to be scared, to have everything controlled by a certain group of people," he summed up, "and it sucks," he concluded.

Everyone was humbled by Jerry's speech. No one more so than Wally.

"Was it…" Wally started to ask.

"Don't ask me that Wally," Jerry said honestly, "please don't ask me that," he begged.

Wally felt a lump in his throat but kept quiet.

Meanwhile at the Moon Base everything was in chaos. No one wanted to be leader. Since Numbuh 49.5's months of leadership the position was viewed either with hatred or fear.

Suddenly someone came on screen. It was Hoagie.

"I got a message on my private frequency," Hoagie said seriously, "you said it was an emergency."

The operatives watching on screen picked up on Hoagie's coldness.

"Numbuh 49.5's dead," an operative spoke up, "there's no reason for you to fear or hate us now."

"I'm sorry," Hoagie apologized, "I have private issues being dealt with Numbuh 11.4," he explained.

"Same here," Numbuh 11.4 responded brushing back his mullet blonde hair, "Hoagie, how'd you like to be the new leader of…" he started to offer.

"Um," Hoagie interrupted, "I kind of remember that everyone from sector v was kicked out," he pointed out.

"You can come back," Numbuh 11.4 said with a sigh, "you, and Wally still have your DNA in the KND module as operatives," he revealed.

"What!" Hoagie cried, "I'm still an operative!"

"Isn't that great," Numbuh 11.4 said happily, "you're one of the best minds in the technological department in your age range," he gushed, "so, will you do it?"

Hoagie saw the desperate look in Numbuh 11.4's eyes.

"No," Hoagie refused.

There was a crash and dead silence on the Moon Base.

"What?" Numbuh 11.4 asked in a small voice.

"I'm sorry," Hoagie said, "I'm not a part of the KND anymore," he declared.

"But Nu…" Numbuh 11.4 started.

"It's more than that," Hoagie interrupted, "too much has happened, too much has changed," he said then shook his head, "the KND needs to have one of you as leader," he stated, "I'm just not…" he said but stopped.

"Dedicated?" Sonya demanded angrily surprising everyone.

"Ma…" Hoagie started.

"We didn't cause this downfall you know," Sonya snapped, "your squad did," she accused.

"Sonya!" Numbuh 11.4 shouted angrily.

"It's okay, Numbuh 11.4," Hoagie told him, "yes I admit my squad's not innocent," he said honestly, "but we didn't make Numbuh 49.5 leader," he said, "horrid luck did that," he concluded.

There was a murmur of agreement with that.

"I'll lead," Lee said as he stepped into the room.

After a moment of silence the room broke out in laughter.

Lee's lip became a thin line.

"Sonya," Lee said seriously, "do you think I could lead?" he asked.

"Um, honestly…" Sonya said as she dragged her foot along the floor, "uh, no."

"No one else is volunteering," Lee pointed out.

"Kid we need a strong leader," Numbuh 35 spoke up, "someone smart and unwavering," he added.

"You along with others like Numbuh 86 were valued enough to be trusted with the password of the maximum-security vault," Lee spoke, "why don't you become the new leader?" he asked.

Numbuh 35 blanched.

"Um," Numbuh 35 said shaking, "I uh…" he said noticing all eye on him, "I have to go to the bathroom," he said and dashed off.

"I guess we'll have to discuss it some more," Numbuh 11.4 said with a sigh, "thanks for talking with us Hoagie," he said and shut off the monitor after Hoagie replied in kind.

Lee turned and walked away solemnly.

"Lee?" Sonya asked.

"Kid," Numbuh 11.4 started.

"You know when my father first hit me?" Lee asked suddenly, "I don't know, he always did it for as long as I remember," he told them, "you know when he stopped?" he asked, "a month ago," he answered for them, "you know who did it?" he asked and looked at them, "Hoagie," he revealed, "one person stopped years of abuse, YEARS."

Everyone in the room was struck silent.

"Just remember that next time when you make fun of someone just because they're just one person, a very young person," Lee said then left.

"Lee," Sonya said tearfully, "I'm so sorry," she said and broke down in tears.

All the other operatives stood in silence. Lee's Dad had been on their red alert list for nearly three years. None could stop him from abusing his children. Yet Hoagie did it. He won where an entire organization failed.

"We have to get Hoagie to be our leader," Numbuh 11.4 said then sighed.

Most of the operatives including Sonya, glared at him.

Nineteen Bullets Fired Into Your Head

Please note that Numbuh 11.4 and Numbuh 49.5 are the only OC operatives in this chapter. All others are from the show. Thank you for reading and please review.