Sector V found Numbuh 111 again as they were trying to climb back onto the coffee rig.
Soon, all five of them were aboard the S.C.A.M.P.E.R. and heading back to the treehouse.
The teen silently stared into space for a moment, trying their best to ignore the three pairs of eyes (Hoagie had to keep his on where the ship was going) watching them. Finally, they turned around in their seat to look at the kids.
"You hid the mines and stuff all over the tunnels like we said, right? We don't want anyone to go in there and rebuild the thing…"
The members of Sector V nodded.
"So… I think I should come clean with you guys" Numbuh 111 stated.
"No kiddin'", Numbuh 5 said.
"I… Iliedtoyousoyoudaccepttohelpme" the time traveller explained really fast.
This statement was met by a loud "you what?!" from Numbuh 4 before Numbuh 111 explained further :
"It's all a stable time loop. The adult never took over the world because the Kids Next Door sent me to the past to work with you."
"So the adults don't control everything or keep all the Rainbow Monkeys to themselves in your time?" Kuki asked.
"As if you would let that happen!" the teen operative laughed. "But yeah… I… I just wanted to apologise to you before going back home."
"Home?" Abby repeated. "Does that mean that 'fled from my home' thing was a lie too?"
"…Yeah. But we did prevent a dystopian world from happening, so… we're good?"
"Dysto-what?" Numbuh 4 asked.
"It's, hum… something really bad" Numbuh 2 answered briefly.
"I just wish I could have met my future dad here", the time traveller said. "That would have been interesting."
Numbuh 5 couldn't hold back a "wait, what?" of surprise.
"My future dad. Numbuh 1. I picked the number 111 for a reason."
"Oh. Numbuh 5 thought… Nevermind. But then why did you give Father your lifeboat?"
Even Numbuh 2 was staring at the teenager now.
"Wait, you saw- I didn't give it to him, ok? I had to think fast, I threw the lifeboat, we happened to both land on it. What was I supposed to do, let us both drown?"
Abby decided it was fair enough.
The teen started tinkering with some dials on their arm, then stopped for a second to look the leader of Sector V in the eye.
"Before I go, a little tip for the future : if you get the opportunity to become Supreme Leader, take it."
Numbuh 111 stood up, said goodbye to the members of Sector V, pressed a few buttons on their arm, and went back to their own time knowing their mission was now complete.
Many years later…
What had once been an adult coffee rig under construction had long since been turned into the foundations of one of the KND's giant treehouse. Its isolated location made it the favourite refuge of secret teen operatives who wished to keep enjoying the treehouse experience without blowing their cover.
On one of the many balconies stood a blond girl wearing a colander helmet with the number 625 painted on it. She looked at the watch on her wrist expectantly then smiled as a flash of light appeared next to her, indicating Numbuh 111 was back from the past.
"Good to see you again, Numbuh 625", they said once the flash of light surrounding them had disappeared.
"Welcome back!" she replied, facing them. "How did it go? Did you get to see your dad?"
"'Guess it went well, or this place would look very different. And no, he had already left for space when I arrived."
Numbuh 625 nodded.
"And what happened to your goggles?" she asked, pointing at what was left of said object.
"Family reunion."
"Seriously, do you Unos ever have a family reunion that goes well?"
"Not really."
The two operatives went inside to meet the other Teens Next Door. Everyone was throwing a party to celebrate the victory against adult tyranny that took place in that very same spot in the middle of the ocean all these years ago. This anniversary party took place every year, but this time it felt special for Numbuh 111. It was no longer a distant event they had heard about, but something they actually took part in.
And they couldn't possibly be more proud to fight by the Kids Next Door's sides.