Chapter 14: The Perfect Date
The evening was clear and light from the city below made it easy to see as he flew. Cool air whipped his clothes as he pressed his hands tight against his sides to keep his body streamline. His shoes contained limited fuel and it behooved him to conserve as much of it as he possibly could.
Nigel Uno's thoughts and emotions were a jumbled mess. The battle today had shaken him more than he wanted to admit even to himself, and to find out that it was Chad Dickson who had saved him . . . Old memories of friendship and camaraderie and . . . yes, love, dammit. He'd had a tremendous crush on Chad back when he was eight . . . then nine . . . eleven . . . Fine, yes, he'd never outgrown the feeling. It had settled down to something more refined and enduring over time as his respect and admiration for the older boy had grown. In his young fantasies, Chad had returned the affection. In reality, 274 had offered him friendship and guidance when he had needed it most, stepping into the role of brother and mentor and setting a sterling example not just of a KND operative, but as a human being.
274's betrayal and his defection to the Teen Ninjas had been one of the worst, most painful moments in Nigel's life, and after more than eight years of fighting adult tyranny and now the invasion from Planet Fusion, Nigel Uno had experienced more pain and loss than people two or three or even four times his age. The depth of anguish was a measure of his love, and if Chad had died, Nigel's sense of loss could not have been greater.
Why had Dickson risked his life to save him today? And why was Ben Tennyson, one of his closest friends, defending a traitor? This traitor? Ben had chosen Chad to be his date for the night. Had the Omnitrix finally addled Tennyson's brain? What was he thinking? Was he thinking?
What had Chad told him? How had he answered the questions on the application? Suddenly Nigel was consumed with curiosity to know as he recalled the application. At first it had seemed silly, but right now he would have gladly paid any price to see what 274 had written to convince his friend. Though occasionally foolish, Ben was no fool. For him to be won over, the argument must have been compelling. He was so confident in his choice, to a point that Nigel felt his resolve weaken in the face of such assurance.
Equally unsettling to his state of mind was the fact that Dexter was helping facilitate the whole situation. He had made the whole application process possible and had helped Ben throughout. Nigel knew how closely Dexter guarded his privacy and his inventions. The only way Chad could have gotten his hands on that hover board was if Dexter or one of the top scientists at DexLabs had given it to him, and even then his employees would never give it out without Dexter's blessing. Dexter trusted Ben completely and if Ben trusted Chad, it stood to reason that Dexter did as well.
Why? He had betrayed . . . everything. The KND . . . his friends . . . Nigel . . .
It was all very confusing. He was sorely regretting not locking himself in a bathroom stall or a closet and watching that recording. It was a mistake on his part. As he angled toward Downtown's skate park, he accepted the fact that he was thinking with his heart and not his head. He needed to focus on what the situation was, not what he wanted or expected it to be. Nigel prided himself on his common sense and keeping a cool head. Both had been sorely lacking in that brief scene at DexLabs. It was time to apply logic, not emotion, regardless of how illogical and emotional the situation might be.
Time, however, was not his friend as he was fast approaching his target. He slowed his forward motion and hovered in midair for a brief moment, surveying the skate park. The area was deserted since all the kids that would normally be using it were at DexLabs enjoying the pizza party, and he spotted Chad almost instantly where he had landed atop one of the ramps. Unfortunately, his rockets shoes were noisy brutes and it was impossible to hide his approach from his quarry. Chad spotted him, and after one quick glance where he looked like a deer in the headlights, he bolted.
The chase was on for real. Nigel flew after him, too caught up in the moment and the chase to question if this was really the sensible thing to do. He needed answers and he needed them now. They wove through Downtown, past gleaming white buildings with their neon lights and the many parks and gardens throughout the city. It has sprung up around DexLabs and the whole place was new, a young and vibrant city that showcased the best that technology and nature had to offer. They tore through the air, over and through traffic, darting between buildings, skimming over parked vehicles, and whipping past trees and bushes, startling whole flocks of pigeons and starlings as they passed.
His heels were growing hot as Number One pushed the rocket shoes to their limit, and his body ached as he angled this way and that to keep pace with the wild course, but the thrill of a high-speed chase went far towards easing his frustration. He followed Chad's wake with dogged determination, past town hall and the spaceport and through a botanical garden where the scent of flowers temporarily banished the smell of rocket fuel. He was gaining every passing moment, too intent on keeping that blond hair in sight to realize that Chad wasn't going anywhere near as fast as he could on the DexTech hover board. It wouldn't be until later that Nigel considered the sheer insanity of doing this alone and realized that 274 was letting himself be caught.
A faint sputter told him his shoes were running out of fuel. Nigel growled, forced to drop lower to the ground to reduce drag. Chad glanced back before angling sharply between two identical buildings. He stopped short when his alley proved not to be an alley at all, but a high wall cutting across his path where the buildings were connected. He leaned back, slowing hard and finally jumping off the board before he smacked into the wall. Just a few yards behind him, Number One came to an awkward, stumbling landing. His skinned knees complained loudly at the abrupt impact and motion, but he managed to keep his footing, effectively blocking 274's retreat.
"Stop right there!" panted Nigel. His throat was dry and he tried to swallow, fighting to speak normally. He drew the borrowed Null-Void and aimed it right at Chad. "Don't move, teenager!"
To Nigel's complete surprise, Chad actually smiled. He was panting and winded and leaning on his knees, but he nonetheless acted as if everything was right in the world and there wasn't a laser gun pointed at his head. He made no move to run, which was a good thing since Nigel knew there was no way he'd be able to pursue him.
"That was fun," Chad gasped, as hoarse as Nigel. He grinned, blue eyes bright, and his next statement threw the Supreme Leader for a loop. "I've missed you, Nigel."
"Oh, right," he snapped, at a loss as to what to say. "Step away from the hover board, Chad."
"I have," defended Chad, still smiling as he took a few steps back from the faintly glowing board. "I miss talking to you and even just sitting around and being with you."
"That may have been – until you turned traitor."
"I'm not a traitor. Listen -"
"What did you say to Ben to convince him?"
"I told him the truth," was the quiet reply.
His whole belief system was being not just challenged, but upended. Nigel tightened his grip on the Null-Void. He could feel his hands tremble and angrily told himself it was just fatigue. He had seen Chad occasionally since he had turned on the Kids Next Door. Normally their exchanges consisted of insults and taunts. To hear him speak so calmly – as a friend even – and to be close enough to see his piercing blue eyes was highly disconcerting. Chad Dickson had always been a handsome boy, and he was growing into a remarkably attractive young man. Up until the time he joined the Teen Ninjas, Nigel had always felt inadequate next to the older boy. Despite his status as Supreme Leader, he could not help but sense a tinge of that old inferiority complex that being short, bald, and awkward generated when standing next to an Adonis.
"Dexter and Ben hacked into the KND computer network to read my file -"
"What? No! That was the Kremlin!"
"No, that was Dexter." He gestured with both hands. "Would the Kremlin give us the latest Sumo Slammers game?"
That was a valid point, but Nigel was not yet ready to cede an inch. Rather than argue, he latched onto a single word. "Us?"
"Us," confirmed Chad fiercely, combing his fingers through his bangs in a gesture so familiar that Nigel felt a pang in his chest at the sight.
"Dexter wouldn't do that!"
"He would for someone he cares about!" He pointed at the hover board. "How do you think I got this?"
"Stolen."
"What, from DexLabs? Hardly. Dexter loaned it to me so I could reach Reunion Station today."
Nigel licked his lips, remembering the cold, oily feel of his Fusion's hand tightening around his throat like a vise. He was here only because of Chad's very timely intervention.
"And what exactly were you doing at Reunion Station today? What business would a Teen Ninja have there?"
"I was doing my job."
"Your job? Well I'm still here, so you're obviously not doing very well on that score."
A small smile answered this accusation, and Chad gazed at him, as sad as he was fond. "Actually, you're still here, so I'm doing a really good job, Nigel."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
His prisoner tried a new tack. "Ben gave you a holo projector today after the battle. He told me he did."
"What of it?"
"You need to watch it. All of it. Please."
"What – here? Now?"
"Yes. Look, take the board. I can't get anywhere without it." He nudged the hover board with his foot and it drifted an inch off the ground until it bumped into Nigel's boot. "See that button on the end? That'll power it down. I'll sit here and I won't move. I swear. I'll even lie on the ground if you want. Just please, watch it."
He wanted answers. It seemed he had them all already, waiting for him. Slowly Nigel transferred the Null-Void to his left hand, wondering at the feeling building inside his chest. It wasn't fear. It wasn't anxiety. Was it hope?
"Sit," he ordered, and to his own ears his voice sounded hollow. "Keep your hands on the ground."
The former 274 obeyed without hesitation, watching him intently. Number One stole a glance at the hover board and saw the button Chad had pointed out. He tapped it with his foot and instantly the board dropped, loosening the segments to allow for storage. Satisfied it was secure for the moment, Nigel reached into the pocket of his cargo shorts and pulled out the device Ben had given him earlier that day. Before he could consider the consequences, he activated it.
He'd seen the first video file that played – it was the old bio film that had been put together by KND's internal investigation after 274 had tried to decommission Sector V and destroy the moon base.
"I've seen this," he snapped.
"Nigel, just stop talking and watch," Chad demanded irritably, sounding exactly like the Supreme Leader he had once been.
He harrumphed and shifted his attention back to the video log, holding it so he could watch the files and Mr. Dickson at the same time.
Not even a minute into the next file he felt his whole body quaver as he watched twelve-year-old Chad Dickson speak to someone off camera.
" . . . have any idea of how many people are going to get hurt by my actions if I do this? These are my friends!"
"We know. We're prepared to deal with that. But we need someone on the inside working for us. If we give the Teen Ninjas a victory, we can get them to recruit you before you're decommissioned. They'll want someone they think is disillusioned with us. You're a hero, you were Supreme Leader, you know all our secrets – they'll think they've won."
For a long while the blond thought, emotions playing across his face as he weighed the consequences of his decision. Finally he looked up.
"I won't be able to tell anyone?"
"No one. You'll be branded a traitor. You'll be hated. But you'll still be a Kids Next Door operative even through your teens."
Chad sighed, pursing his lips, and finally he nodded. "I'll do it. Just . . . I'll really have to convince everyone."
"Don't worry. We have a plan."
God, had they ever been so young?
The footage continued, a brief snippet of a video call that was so very, very telling.
Chad yanked his helmet off, shoving his hair out of his eyes as he leaned close to the communicator and spoke softly. "Number One figured it out a bit sooner than we expected, so I'll be going with Plan A and try to take out the moon base. Be ready for it. If I can't get the Teens' attention I'll be in touch, but buzzing the Lincoln house with the rocket ought to alert Cree that something's out of sorts. Keep Number 86 on a long leash – even the Teens will get word if she decommissions Sector V. Just . . . just make sure -" There was a loud noise like a door slamming open. Eyes wide, he looked over his shoulder before he pulled his helmet back on. "Gotta go. Wish me luck."
Another day, reporting in for another mission.
"Wait – what? You want me to dress up as whose mom?"
More scenes flashed past Nigel's eyes, more missions as Chad reported in to the KND. Nigel recognized some of the events and villains he mentioned. Sometimes Chad was being deployed to assist Kids on their missions, other times he offered details of whatever plans the Teen Ninjas had brewing, and occasionally he got caught in the cross fire.
"Did you know they have a SKUNK?" he demanded savagely, looking as if he'd crawled through an acre of poison ivy. He was coughing and gagging and positively green and his eyes were watering. "I . . . I can't talk. Oh, crud, I can taste it. I have to get some tomato juice. I can't believe they have a skunk . . ."
Nigel fought to keep from smiling. Bradley had made a fine Number Six once you got past the smell.
"Cree is working for Father. I don't know what his intent is, but she reports directly to him and he's sent her on a few missions. I'll try to find out what she's up to, but you guys are going to have to let us screw up a couple of missions for Sector V or everyone's going to be on to me."
If only he had known. But then, he never would have been able to keep up a façade. How had Chad managed it?
"You'll be happy to know the Gangreen Gang will not be joining the Teen Ninjas."
"How'd you manage that?"
Despite having a cast on his leg and reporting from a hospital bed, Chad was smiling triumphantly. "I just got them to show their true colors."
Nigel stared, recognizing the girl's voice in the last clip. "Rachel?" He looked through the hologram to where 274 sat with his hands pressed to the ground. Chad nodded.
"She didn't recruit me, but when she became Supreme Leader I reported to her."
"So all this time – all these missions – she knew?"
Chad leveled a challenging look at his date. "Knew what?"
He couldn't answer. Not yet. Because when he did answer that question, even if it was just to himself, he knew that there would be no going back.