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Kids Next Door Mission...

Operation: F.O.R.G.E.T.

Fragments

Of

Recovery

Gradually

Enable

Team

Chapter 36 – Here we go Again

'Jump harder!' Gabbie yelled to Wally, who was standing on top of his suitcase.

'Ah can't! Ah'm already jumpin' as hard as Ah can!'

Wally's case was crammed full of about a billion things. And the zipper just would not close.

'C'mon, just jump up and then sit on it as ya come down. Weren't ya supposed ta be tha "Butt-busting world Championship winner ten times in a row"?'

Wally just scowled at her.

It was the day after boxing day, and the day before Wally, Joey and their parents were due to leave Australia. Joey had spilled the beans to Gabbie about everything that had happened, and it turns out that the problem had reached the shores of Oz as well.

Looks like Colter had correspondents all over the world.

Actually, one of Gabbie's own team had turned, about a fortnight back.

They had spent hours talking and talking about serious stuff as well as stupid stuff, including Wally's history of pavement-breaking.

'So, do you know whether Numbuh 2's made any progress with the antidote?' Numbuh 61, Gabbie, asked, heaving with all her might against the zipper.

Wally shrugged. 'Dunno. Ah'll talk to 'im this afternoon if we 'ave time, Ah guess.'

They tried closing the suitcase one last time, and when that didn't work...

They gave up and went to get lunch.

Moonbase

When Nigel, Abby, Hoagie, Kuki and Rachel made their way up to the Moonbase that evening, things were just getting packed up. If you could call it that. There were still kids sleeping up there, even though word had gotten out about Colter's capture. Maybe it was because they just felt safer up there now. Maybe it was because they wouldn't have to face the possibility of running into a turned operative up there. Maybe it was just a habit. But still, they were up there, and moral seemed to be a little higher now that they knew that no-one else was going to be turned.

Heads turned as the teenagers walked in, a few kids waved, called out things like 'way to go,' and 'you've done it again.'

Rachel also got some reognition, only from the older ones, though.

But overall, Sector V were smiling as they thought that Moonbase was now a happier place than it had been when they first arrived a few weeks ago.

Their first stop was, of course, Robert's office. They knocked on the door and he answered within ten seconds, meaning he was obviously eager to get this thing started.

'Sector V! Hi!' He said, ushering them into his office enthusiastically.

'And Numbuh 362, of course! Welcome back.'

'Thanks, Numbuh 263. It's great to be back.'

Everyone took a position around the room, since there wasn't enough chairs for everyone, leaning on the walls or sitting on the desk or such.

'So, are we getting this meeting started straight away?' Robert asked, taking his seat in is own chair.

'Yeah. We'd love to begin as soon as you can get everyone together,' Numbuh 1 answered.

'In that case, I'll put out the announcement straight away,' Robert said. But before he did it, Hoagie interjected.

'Wait! Before you do, has Numbuh 8,860 had any side effects or anything? Is she doing alright?' Being the creator of the serum that cured Jamie, he felt it was his responsibility to ask whether or not he had ultimately failed.

Robert thought about this for a minute.

'No, she hasn't,' he said finally. 'She's been fine. Really good, actually. She's up on the bridge right now.'

'Okay, then. Good. Continue.'

The PA system started up, and an announcement was projected all through the Moonbase speakers, as well as any KND alert systems around the globe, which made doubly sure that all operatives received the message;

Calling all KND operatives,

There is to be an urgent meeting on Moonbase in fifteen minutes. I repeat, an urgent meeting on Moonbase in fifteen minutes. All agents must attend. No excuses. That means you, Jimmy.

Over.

There was a short fizz of static as the PA finished, and Robert put down the microphone. Upon a few puzzled looks in response to the last segment, he explained;

'Jimmy has a reputation for being late to approximately every meeting we hold here.'

'Uh-hu...'

'Well, that settles that, then,' Abby said. 'We've got fifteen minutes.'

'So what do we do?' Kuki asked.

Robert shrugged.

'Dunno.'

'Maybe we should call the other Sector V? Just to let them know what's going on?' Hoagie suggested. It just didn't seem right to him to leave them out of it. Of course, they would have gotten the meeting alert as well, but still, an explanation seemed right.

So Robert got out an old transmission device with a speaker and a large screen, keyed in a code and pressed a button.

There was a dial tone, then the sound of ringing.

'Hello?'

The picture popped up on the screen; the inside of the young Sector V's COOLBUS.

The four kids who were inside gave a salute.

'Numbuh 263, sir!' Numbuh 121 greeted from her captain's chair.

'At ease guys,' Robert said, as he'd said it a million times before.

'So, what's this whole meeting about?' Numbuh 202 called from off-screen, where he had moved back into his pilot's seat. 'I mean, other than the antidote.'

'Well, we have some pretty exciting news guys,' Robert began, taking hold of both sides of the screen. And turning it around to face Rachel he simply said;

'Say hello to Numbuh Three-sixty-two!'

Three quarters of the team on the screen went silent.

Numbuh 303, on the other hand, remained solely oblivious... at least for a few seconds.

'Hi Numbuh 362!' She bubbled, waving happily.

'Hang on- what?'

Rachel seemed caught off guard, obviously not expecting to be introduced right at that moment.

'Uhm, hi, everyone!' she said, giving a small wave.

'You recommissioned her? You brought her back?' Numbuh 505 said in disbelief. Rachel felt strange being referred to like that. Not sure if she minded it or not, being talked about as if she was something that could be fished out or thrown back.

'Yep. Numbuh 1 did it yesterday morning.'

'Wow... well, hi, Numbuh 362! It's an honour to finally meet you.'

Rachel felt herself blush.

'Uh, thanks,' she replied, smiling widely, albeit sheepishly.

'So how are you guys hanging?' Robert asked, continuing the conversation.

'We're alright. We're moving back into the treehouse tonight. How about you and Jamie?' Numbuh 121 reported.

'We're doing well. Things are picking up around here. I think we'll be back to normal in less than a month, if that's the time it takes to cure everyone.'

'Good! That's great. So we'll see you at Moonbase then?'

'Yeah.'

Numbuh 121 waved.

'Bye then!'

'Okay, bye. End Transmission.'

The screen went blank.

Robert stretched out, got up from his desk, and gestured for the others to go with him.

'C'mon,' he said, yawning slightly.

'Let's get to the arena.'

~(*)~

'Wally! Are you still not packed?' Wally's mother called to him from inside.

After they had put aside trying to close Wally's bursting suitcase, they had pretty much forgotten about it altogether. Now, they were out in the backyard, throwing around a volleyball over a makeshift rope net.

'Oh, Mu-uum!' Wally dragged, catching the ball and momentarily pausing their game. 'My bag won't close! It's not my fault!'

His mother just rolled her eyes, and went back to talking with all the other adults.

Wally threw the ball up, and powered it across the net with a spike.

'So, ya wanna go ta tha beach one more time this aftanoon?' Gabbie asked, setting the ball over again.

'Yeah, sure.'

'Joey, this one's coming to you!'

Joey perked up, caught sight of the ball as it sailed over the rope.

'Ah got it! Ah got it!' He called, moving backwards to position himself perfectly.

'Ah got it!'

He was still moving back, when he stepped back into an outgrowing tree root, and ended up flat on his back on the grass.

'...Ah didn't get it,' he said meekly.

The others were staring at the fence as Joey pulled himself to his feet.

'What ah we lookin' at?' He asked, puzzled.

'Tha ball went ova tha fence,' Wally explained.

But nobody moved, and that kind of made Joey feel uncomfortable. He furrowed his brow.

In fact, Gabbie, Jack and Sammy were looking horrified, while Wally and Joey just looked on in confusion.

Then, suddenly, simultaneously snapping out of it, the three of them started back off towards the house.

'Well, that's tha end of that, then!'

'Too bad. Game's ova now,' they were saying.

'Wait, wait, wait,' Wally cried, running to catch up to them.

'Why does tha game have ta end? We can just go ova tha fence and get tha ball!'

The others span around to face him.

'That's Mr. Kerry's garden,' Gabbie said simply, as if that was all the explaination they would need. As if it was obvious.

'So?'

Jack's turn to speak.

'So people don't go inta Mr. Kerry's yard,' he explained.

'He's not exactly the nicest person alive,' Sammy summed up.

'He's got this huge dog, and, and...' Gabbie drifted off, looking in annoyance in the direction of the fence.

'And when kids' things go ova that fence, they never come back,' Jack finished.

Wally stared. 'So, ya just gonna let it happen? Ya not gonna even try ta get it back?'

'Welll... no.'

'Come on! We can do this! We're Beatles kids! We can do anythin'!'

Soon, a rally was made, and Wally had everyone fired up and ready to take a stand against the evil adult presence that loomed beyond the wooden fence.

Exactly 37 minutes, 27.95 seconds later

Wally, Joey, Gabbie, Jack and Sammy scrabbled over the fence, desperately trying to get a good enough grip to haul themselves over the fence, which suddenly seemed a lot higher. Behind them, 'Killer' the dog was barking and snarling fiercely.

The five of them, one at a time, each dropped to the ground with a heavy thud.

Joey was last, clutching the volleyball tightly in one hand.

Sammy, who had landed hard on his side, rolled over to face Wally.

'That... is the last time... we try that,' he said between breaths.

Moonbase

'Kids Next Door... Attention!' Numbuh 8,860 shouted to the kids in the meeting arena. Usually, she had to use a megaphone to get everyone's attention (unlike the previous head of decommissioning, who could silence the whole convention centre with her voice), but since there were still not many agents left, she could do it alone.

Robert took the stand.

'Kids Next Door Rules!'

The others copied;

'Kids Next Door Rules!'

'Hi everyone. First of all, I just want to say that things are looking great around here. Now that Colter has been aprehended, everyone is looking a lot better.'

He then sobered, just a little.

'Now, first things first, before I get down to buisiness, I would like you all to meet a new edition to the teenage team here.'

He stepped aside to let Rachel up to the stand.

Nostalgia and routine flooded her as she felt the shape, the feel of the lectern and the crowd, however small it may have been.

'Hi, everyone,' she began, a little shakily.

'I'm Rachel, I'm Numbuh 362, and... well, I'm back!'

There was sudden silence, then cheering. That made Numbuh 362 feel proud. Very proud.

'Thank-you all! I mean, I know that this whole thing is pretty much over, but I would be honoured to be a part of helping you all get things back up and running around here. If I an offer some help, or do anything that might make any of this easier for any of you, I would be overjoyed. It's great to be back guys. Thank you all!'

With more cheering, Rachel took her seat on the couches behind the stand, next to Sector V, leaving Robert to deliver the good news about the antidote to the crowd.

'Now, guys, I bet you've all heard rumours about people being brought back after they have turned, and I know that Numbuh 8,860's reappearance has confused you all, so I think that needs to be cleared up. I am extremely excited to tell you, that after months of research and trail and error from Numbuh 2 and the KND scientists, we have finally come up with a cu-'

Robert was abruptly cut off when Numbuh 556 burst into the arena door, yelling something at the top of her lungs. It was only when she made it the full way in that anybody could comprehend what she was saying.

'Numbuh 263! Numbuh 263!' She cried, her breathing heavy, upset, and her hair untidy and disrupted.

'Numbuh 263! Arctic Prison called.

'Dr. Colter's escaped.'