Disclaimer: I do not own Codename: Kids Next Door and I never will.

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Chapter 6: Work Things Out

The next day was horrible for the members of Sector V. Celeste and Harry still weren't talking to each other, making the others feel uneasy. When the two had gone their separate ways after breakfast, they started to discuss it and figure out what to do.

"I still reckon we should hurt one of them," Thomas enforced for the hundredth time.

"No, I already told you that won't work. It's too obvious," Melissa replied, also for the hundredth time.

A sound came from the side of the table and everyone stared at Kellie. She had her right hand propping up her head and was staring at the ceiling. Her legs were swinging back and forth, often hitting Thomas, who would grimace in pain. He didn't say anything because he knew she wouldn't listen. She was too engrossed in La-la Land to notice anything.

"I wish I had a boyfriend..." she sighed dreamily. All of them were expecting that too. The rest of their Friday afternoon and evening had been spent watching romantic comedies to satisfy her. Apparently, the talk of boyfriends and girlfriends had been lodged in her brain.

"Mission, mission, incoming mission! Mission, mission, incoming mission!"

Truman groaned and Thomas thumped his fist on the table. Melissa rolled her eyes at them and ran to the giant computer screen in what they called "The Mission Room." The room was only to be entered for training and mission preparations. Or, at least, those were Harry's rules.

"So, what's the mission this time?" Harry asked, barging into the room. He grabbed the mission specs that had just been faxed and looked at them. "Okay, we have to go to some fast food restaurant in town. Potty's going on about constipation again."

"I swear, he's worse than his father," Truman stated. Potty was the Toiletnator's son who had taken over his unsuccessful crimes.

"Sure is," agreed a voice coming from the monitor. They looked up and saw Numbuh 749, the mission giver and reporter, gazing down at them as Celeste joined them. She sent a reproachful look in at Harry, who ignored it.

"Our sources indicate that the new restaurant in town, Italia, has been taken over by Potty. He thinks that the food will give them a bad case of constipation. Here's our footage now."

Numbuh 749 disappeared from the screen and in his place stood an Italian restaurant where people were running all over. The screen flickered inside and they were shown people ducking behind tables and chairs. All Potty had accomplished was throwing spaghetti bolognaise at customers. Among the victims was a familiar girl with golden hair.

Celeste was the only one openly laughing at Anne-Marie, not bothering to contain herself. The others, except Harry, were being more considerate and stifling their laughter. Harry was angry, first at Potty, then at Celeste, who had tears in her eyes from laughing so hard.

"Stop laughing!" Harry shouted. Celeste only laughed louder at the sight of Anne-Marie trying to untangle spaghetti from her hair. The others couldn't help it either and laughed along with her.

"Come on, let's get in the S.C.A.M.P.E.R.," Harry sighed, not bothering to calm his team down.

Everyone climbed into the S.C.A.M.P.E.R. and Melissa pushed Thomas towards the wheel. He gave her a questioning look that was answered with her walking away. He shrugged and started the engine. Kellie and Celeste were sitting on one side at the back while Melissa, Truman and Harry sat on the other.

When the vehicle started moving, Melissa stood up and placed her hands on her hips. She gestured for Kellie and Truman to stand up and they positioned themselves either side of her. Harry watched them with unusual attentiveness while Celeste paid no mind.

"You two need to talk things out. Do it now," Melissa ordered.

"You can't order me around!" Harry disputed, standing from his seat. "I'm the leader!"

"Guys, you need to stay at your monitors. I can't control the whole system myself, you know," Thomas called from the front.

The others reluctantly returned to their seats. No one spoke for the rest of the journey, much to Melissa, Kellie and Truman's displeasure. Their plan was going nowhere and it didn't look like that was going to change anytime soon.

Thomas landed a little further away from the restaurant so they could turn up undetected. He jumped out first and Harry made sure he was the second out. Celeste let the other three go ahead of her, giving one of her glares to Harry as they went. Once they were all assembled, they took out their weapons and crept around and behind buildings, checking that the coast was clear at every corner. It used up more time than it should have, but Harry seemed like he wanted to drag on the mission for as long as he could.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, they found it completely deserted. It definitely indicated signs of a struggle: there was sauce splattered on the walls, discarded pizza and noodles on the floor. Shards of broken plates and bowls were scattered on the ground and cutlery sticking into every place possible. Potty had been very desperate, they concluded.

"Where'd he go?" Truman asked, breaking the silence.

"Who knows, who cares. He's probably back in his leaky den, wondering what went wrong." Thomas stuck his nose in the air at the thought of the enemy's hideout.

"Well, wherever it is, we should go back. He isn't a threat to anyone anyway," Celeste muttered darkly so it was only audible to her team. Not that she needed to, no one could hear her if she spoke normally anyway.

Harry's head whipped around to face Celeste. "Shut up, Numbuh 58. We were sent after him, so we need to catch him."

Celeste rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. The only reason you want to suddenly run after him is because I said we should go back." Her accusing expression hardened. "Besides, you want to go and get revenge for you little girlfriend!"

"Anyway," Harry growled, "We should go after him. It's our duty as Kids Next Door operatives."

Not caring to be cautious on the way, they headed back to the S.C.A.M.P.E.R. in silence. Even though there was a villain on the loose, none of them quickened in pace. The fastest person was Harry, who was merely power-walking in front. Kellie, Truman, Melissa and Thomas were walking normally behind, the four of them too distressed by their friends to speak. Celeste was dawdling and fuming at the same time. By the time Harry reached the S.C.A.M.P.E.R., the rest were still walking.

"Hurry up," Harry urged, though his words lacked motivation. "We haven't got all day."

"Yes we do," Celeste argued as she leant beside the S.C.A.M.P.E.R., "It's only ten o'clock in the morning."

Ignoring her, Harry pushed Thomas up the steps. "Go and start the motor."

After they all took their seats again, they checked everything was working. Thomas slotted the key in the ignition and twisted it. A loud gurgling noise that resembled a choking animal was the only response. The noise sounded again after the second attempt, and the third, and the fourth.

"What's wrong with this thing?" Thomas yelled, slamming the key down on a large, blue button. The S.C.A.M.P.E.R. changed angles so they were all standing on a slope. Thomas almost fell down, but clutched the steering wheel for support.

"What's happening, Numbuh 80?" Harry inquired, authority in his voice.

"Did you not hear the farting sound? The cruddy thing won't start up!" Thomas folded his arms, angry at the vehicle.

Harry pulled at his sleeve, irritated. "Do you think someone did something? It was working before, why wouldn't it work now?"

"Because I cut all the wires I could find."

Teehee, cliff-hanger! Review!