Alright, time for our heroes to begin making a dent in the Galactic Kids Next Door's operations. And maybe forcing a few confrontations along the way.
"So, I got an idea on where we can start," Numbuh 666 declared to the group. Almost as soon as the message had gone out, Numbuh 4.3 Light Years had led the group to the main war room of his planet's Kids Next Door. Several active operatives had joined them for the meeting.
"Where do you recommend?" Numbuh 8 Infinity asked. Numbuh 666 smirked as he projected an image of a large planet onto the table.
"An old contact of mine told me about a supposed Galactic Kids Next Door munitions factory on the moon of Axdranix," Numbuh 666 revealed, causing the image to zoom in on one of the moons orbiting the planet. "If we can destroy it, it should cripple most of the damage they can do, since they'll both be low on weapons as well as robot soldiers."
"Sounds like a plan to me!" Numbuh 417 eagerly declared. "I'm always up for some destruction!"
"Personally, ah believe it would be wiser to play this as a stealth mission," Numbuh 6 Shot spoke up.
"I agree with Numbuh 6 Shot," Numbuh 4.3 Light Years chimed in. "While Numbuh Aleph Zero no doubt knows we're ready to to begin our own attacks, not personally revealing ourselves until later in the war does hold advantages.
"Uh, no offense to both of you, but it feels like everytime we try to do a stealth mission dealing with blowing stuff up, it usually ends with us blasting our way out of things," Numbuh Hang 10 pointed out as he leaned back in his chair.
"Yes, but that was when we were kids," Numbuh 8 Infinity reminded him. "We're all much older now, so hopefully, we should be able to keep things under control provided no one gets too…excited."
"...Fine," Numbuh 417 grumbled, crossing her arms. "So we got any pictures of this place?"
"As a matter of fact, yes," Numbuh 666 tapped a few buttons on the panel in front of him, changing the image to ones of a smoke billowing factory. "From what my contact told me, the factory is almost completely automated, so we shouldn't have any issues with simply bombing it by placing explosive charges in the correct areas. Namely, the stuff they haven't shipped out yet, the reactor, the water wheels and anything else that could be powering the place."
"Er, if I can offer some advice?" Numbuh 60 spoke up, causing everyone to turn to him.
"Knock yourself out," Numbuh 8 Infinity said, admittedly curious to hear what the kid wanted to offer.
"Shouldn't we also try to knock out the supports to the place?" He questioned, pointing at one on one of the images. "After all, if they'd have to rebuild the place from the ground up, it would do a lot more damage than just knocking out the power source."
Numbuh 666 began to rub his chin with his pincher. "Hmm…" He then chuckled. "Not a bad idea! I didn't even consider the time it would take to simply get new power versus having to completely rebuild the place!"
"And we get to see more explosions!" Numbuh 417 chimed in.
"Always a good thing!" Numbuh 666 agreed with his friend, prompting several people to roll their eyes.
"Do you need us to join you, Numbuh 4.3 Light Years?" One of the Nevollan operatives piped up.
"A few of your best sectors could be helpful," The former Supreme Leader replied. "And we'll also need your strongest grade explosives!"
The ride to Axdranix's moon was, once again, a quiet one for the most part. Numbuh 417 had mentioned that the planet was pretty much a toxic wasteland and that the moons weren't much better. Speaking of her, she and Numbuh 666 had opted to ride in Numbuh 4.3 Light Year's command ship this time, and Numbuh 417 seemed to have a complete inability to actually sit still. She always seemed to be squirming in her seat, picking at her claws, spinning her tail's barrels, or stretching what looked like a high tech rubber band behind her claws. Numbuh 666, for his part, seemed to occupy himself by tinkering with one of his pieces of weaponry.
"This is really making me homesick," Numbuhs 362 and 60 both internally noted. Walking past one of the scientists, you could always see them tinkering with something. So seeing an alien doing it, one who looked decently human nonetheless, was very close to home. Yet, it also helped to see that things were still a constant this far out into space.
"How do you think Sector V would react to these guys?" Numbuh 60 had to ask his friend. "Or Fanny, for that matter?"
"Numbuh 4 would just want to challenge Numbuh 417 to a fight," Numbuh 362 almost instantly replied. "And honestly? I don't want to know what Numbuh 2 and Numbuh 666 would create together."
"Those friends of yours?" Numbuh Hang 10 piped up, causing everyone to turn towards the two humans.
"You could say that," Numbuh 60 admitted. "Sector V was the top sector back when Numbuh 1 was still on the planet. They were still pretty good before they all got promoted to the Moonbase."
"What were they all like?" Numbuh 6 Shot asked as he took a seat next to the two humans.
"Well, to start with, Numbuh 2 was the team's tech guy and he could build pretty much anything you need at the drop of a hat," Numbuh 362 began. "From what I heard, he's in charge of all the tech stuff nowadays. Some of the ships he's designed are insane,"
"Sounds like my type of guy," Numbuh 666 noted with a chuckle.
"Then we had Numbuh 3, who, well, she was really spacy and utterly obsessed with these stuffed animals called Rainbow Monkeys," Numbuh 362 continued. "She might seem useless, but when push came to shove, it seemed like you could always count on her. She's working with the medical team now."
"Dude, she sounds super sweet!" Numbuh Hang 10 said with a grin on his face.
"Then, you have Numbuh 4," Neither Numbuh 362 nor Numbuh 60 could help themselves from looking directly at Numbuh 417. "He was the combat expert and he was a total 'punch first, ask questions never' guy."
"Then he's totally someone I wouldn't mind going a couple rounds with someday," Numbuh 417 said as she flexed both her muscles as well as her wing span. "Where's he working? Training base or something?"
"He's actually working with Numbuh 2 as the test subject for most of his new weapons," Numbuh 60 chimed in.
"So…he's a living crash test dummy?" Numbuh 8 Infinity couldn't help but joke, causing everyone to laugh a bit.
"I guess that's one way to look at it," Numbuh 362 admitted. "And then, we have my replacement-Numbuh 5. Cool under…pretty much everything is the best way I can describe her. It's really hard to make her stressed. It's why I picked her to replace me when I stepped down as Supreme Leader to start looking into the Galactic Kids Next Door stuff."
"A leader that remains calm under pressure is always a strong one," Numbuh 4.3 Light Years noted with a smile. "But, you mentioned another operative you seemed fond of? A 'Fanny' or something like that?"
"Right, her," Numbuh 362 sighed. "She's…well."
"She can be a real handful," Numbuh 60 chimed in. "She's really bossy, a total sexist and she only has one volume-LOUD."
"Sounds like a real piece of work," Numbuh 8 Infinity snarkily noted, drawing chuckles from a few of her old sector mates.
"She can be," Numbuh 362 admitted. "But at the same time, she was also pretty dependable and once you get to know her, she's a big softie. It's how Patton here was able to get into a pretty stable relationship with her."
"Nice going, little dude!" Numbuh Hang 10 earnestly complimented as he gave Numbuh 60 a friendly slug to the shoulder.
"Hey, if you guys are done being gross, we're almost there," One of the Nevollan operatives spoke up. Looking out the windows, the older operatives took note of the fact they had exited hyperspace and that they were slowly approaching the moon.
"Numbuh 666, are you good to remain on the ship in order to activate the bombs as needed?" Numbuh 4.3 Light Years asked as he stood up.
"I can handle that," Numbuh 666 smugly replied. "Of course, I am a tad disappointed I'm not going to see the explosions myself, but I understand that this is a delicate mission which requires the best to pull it off."
"I'll get you some videos," Numbuh 417 promised her friend as she stood up as well. At that, everyone else began making their way to the loading docks. They had a factory to blow up.
"So how exactly are we getting in?" Numbuh 417 asked once they had arrived on the ground. Much to everyone's dismay, even if they had seen it coming, the factory was still heavily guarded.
"Hmmm…" Numbuh 6 Shot was currently scanning over the factory with what looked like hi-tech binoculars. "Ah'm not seein' any real way in. Might have to have someone create a distraction to lure some of the guards away."
"We can take care of that easy!" A Nevollan promised. Behind him, what they believed were his sector all nodded.
"Are you sure?" Numbuh 4.3 Light Years asked. "It would be extremely dangerous."
"We're the top guerilla operatives on the planet!" Another operative assured the older operative. And I'm seeing plenty of spots to hide and pick people off!"
"Very well," Numbuh 4.3 conceded as he held out a few explosives. "Set these off in one of the junkyard fields a bit further out. Try to draw out as many as possible and keep them gone."
"Roger that, Numbuh 4.3 Light Years!" The leader declared before turning back to his sector. "C'mon guys!" With that, the small group rushed off. Within minutes, the explosions were already going off, drawing several guards towards the junkyards.
"Alright, listen up!" Numbuh 8 Infinity began, causing everyone to turn to her. "Everyone, try to pick a different way in. If we all go in in a group, we're going to be caught and picked off." Everyone gave some form of understanding and headed off. Numbuh 362, for her part, opted for a vent in an unguarded area. Dodging a few spotlights, she swiftly made her way over to it, only to notice it was bolted to the wall tight. She couldn't shoot it either or else she risked drawing a guard straight to her.
"Need a hand?" Numbuh 417 offered as she came up behind the younger girl. With a grunt, she swiftly and easily ripped the vent open. "I was planning to head through one of the smokestacks over here. Noticed you needed help."
"Thanks for that," Numbuh 362 said as she climbed into it. "Hey, you mind finding where this leads to when we get inside? Something tells me it's bolted on just as tight and I don't need to risk anyone finding me."
"I should be able to handle that," The dragon-like alien replied as she took flight towards her own way in. Thankfully, it wasn't a long crawl, letting her get a good look at the factory. Much like Numbuh 666 had said, there were pretty much no living beings present. Almost all the workers were robots and the few aliens present seemed to be overseers of some kind. Looking around, she noticed Numbuh Hang 10 climbing out of a water tank, as well as Numbuh 8 Infinity making her way through an open window. Finally, she spotted Numbuh 417 looking around.
"Psst! Numbuh 417! Over here!" She whisper-yelled. Numbuh 417, for her part, started looking around in a daze until she finally managed to spot the vent she was looking for.
"Sorry it took me so long," Numbuh 417 said as she ripped the cover off, letting Numbuh 362 crawl out.
"You made pretty decent time. I only just saw Numbuh Hang 10 and Numbuh 8 Infinity coming in," Numbuh 362 assured her new partner.
"You wanna stick together at this point?" Numbuh 417 offered. "Might make it easier to reach some of the spots we need to bomb."
"Any chance I get to ride on you?" Numbuh 362 couldn't help herself from asking.
"Not in this lifetime or the next," Numbuh 417 bluntly replied, although her tone hinted she was fairly amused by the comment. She then turned on the communication device she'd been given. "So where has everyone dropped bombs so far?"
"Just got done putting them on the water wheels!" Numbuh Hang 10 reported.
"Leo and I are working in the rafters," Numbuh 8 Infinity chimed in.
"Me, Numbuh 6 Shot and some of the others are headed for the munitions depot!" Numbuh 60 piped up.
"Guess that leaves us with the generators," Numbuh 417 declared before turning her communicator off. "Alright, let's get moving. I think I've got a basic idea on where it could be." Numbuh 362 nodded and the two set off and almost instantly, Numbuh 362 found herself impressed by how agile Numbuh 417 was. In spite of her size, she was able to easily squeeze into places to keep herself out of view of the spotlights or robots patrolling the place. Soon, the girls had made it to the generator, which, much to their shock, was completely unguarded. "Did…did they really not put any guards here!?"
"Let's be just grateful they didn't," Numbuh 362 said, still trying to shake the feeling that something was wrong.
Numbuh 417 nodded at that before pulling out the bag of explosives. "Let's put these on everything. Blow this thing to complete and utter scrap."
"Sounds like a plan to me," Numbuh 362 replied as she grabbed a few explosives and began setting them on the generator. Numbuh 417, for her part, opted to plant them on the spots neither could have reached normally, using her wings to get to some rather vulnerable looking pieces of the machine.
"Hey, Numbuh 417, you still in there?" Numbuh 666 suddenly chimed in.
"What's up doc?" Numbuh 417 replied as she set another charge.
"Listen, there's an office not too far from where you and Numbuh 362 are. If you can get me in, I can try to hack into their mainframe so we can see what their next plans are!"
"I'll take care of it," Numbuh 417 replied before turning to Numbuh 362. "Listen, I'm gonna make a run for that office. You think you can plant the last of these?"
"I can handle it," Numbuh 362 assured her. With a thumbs up and a smile, Numbuh 417 rushed off, leaving Numbuh 362 by herself. Almost instantly, her hand went to the 2x4 laser pistol Numbuh 666 had given her before they had left. The fact she was stuck in an enemy factory on an alien was really beginning to set in. Sure, she'd met quite a few friendly faces, but she knew that there were plenty more hostile ones.
"C'mon Rachel! Get it together!" She mentally snapped at herself. "Just finish up. Numbuh 417 will be back soon and then you can go."
"Just got Numbuh 666 in," Numbuh 417 declared as she came back in, causing Numbuh 362 to jump at the sudden noise. "You almost done?"
"Just need to activate this last one," Numbuh 362 replied as she armed the explosive.
"Perfect. Now we just gotta get out of here and we can watch the fireworks!" Numbuh 417 declared. No sooner had those words left her mouth, however, did the door to the generator suddenly slam open. And standing in the doorway was someone Numbuh 362 knew very well.
"N-Numbuh 1?"
Don't mind me, just casually dropping a cliffhanger. But since it is the month of LGBTQ+, I thought I'd reveal the sexualities of Sector Alpha and Numbuh 4.3 Light Years! They are as follows:
Numbuh 4.3 Light Years: Pansexual
Numbuh 8 Infinity: Bisexual
Numbuh 6 Shot: Demisexual
Numbuh Hang 10: Gay
Numbuh 666: Bisexual
Numbuh 417: Unlabeled