Numbuh 14 thought a lot about the answer he would finally get, but that wasn't all. He knew there was something unusual about it, because every time he woke up at a Kids Next Door generation, he was there waiting...
- "Maybe he won't come this time. It could be that he died during the trip. But if he is dead, then I should be...".
Numbuh 14 was thinking about it, but soon put it aside.
- "We'd be under attack by now, if he'd survived... I don't see any reason to worry about it, but I'll stay alert."
Numbuh 14 turned his attention back to the present. Next to him was numbuh 362. It was only now that he realized that she was wearing her helmet.
- When did you get your helmet? – asked 14.
- Just as we left the command room. – replied 362.
14 just nodded. Since they were walking side by side, he took the opportunity to talk to the supreme leader.
- Well, since we're walking, I'd like to ask you a few questions.
Chad and infinite numbuh looked back, thinking it was up to them, but turned their attention to the front when they noticed that they weren't the target of the comment.
- For me? – asked numbuh 362 - What do you want to know?
- Well, tell me a bit about your story. About how you became the supreme leader of the Kids Next Door, and what your experiences have been like so far.
- All right. – Numbuh 362 agreed - It all started after numbuh 274 became a renegade and tried to launch the moon base into the sun.
14 was surprised and asked Chad about it.
- Cree was going to do the same thing, I just anticipated it. In fact, it wasn't as if I really wanted to launch the lunar base into the sun. Otherwise, we wouldn't even be there today. – replied Chad.
- Don't be so sure. – Rebutted numbuh 14. - This base is the oldest of all the others. It may not look like it, but it has its tricks. It would have used the roots to stick to the moon to such an extent that no one could get it off.
- How could that be possible? - Chad asked.
- How should I know? – replied numbuh 14. - For centuries I've tried to understand how the bases work and I've never come to a concrete conclusion. Most likely, they are also powered by the children's energy. So, she knows who has bad intentions and who doesn't.
Suddenly everyone stopped and became afraid of where they were.
- Don't worry, she doesn't feed on anyone's vital energy. – said 14 laughing. - I can guarantee that.
Everyone's expression was one of relief when they heard what numbuh 14 said.
- Well, what happened after 274 "left" the KND? – asked 14, turning his attention to numbuh 362 – I imagine there must have been a selection to see who would be the next supreme leader?
- Yes, and after winning the game of tag, I was elected supreme leader of the Kids Next Door.
- WAIT! DID YOU SAY TAG?! – asked numbuh 14 in disbelief.
- Yes, tag has always been the tradition of choosing the supreme leader.
Numbuh 14 stared into the void, still not believing what he had heard.
- Unbelievable... Numbuh 49° is an imbecile!
- Who? - asked numbuh 362.
- Numbuh 49° was the first agent who suggested that the choice of supreme leader should be changed to a simpler activity like tag... I never thought they'd go ahead with that crazy idea...
- And how was the election of the supreme leader carried out at the time?
- Well, it's a long story and...
Numbuh 14 realizes that they're heading in a familiar direction, but couldn't remember where it led until numbuh 362 commented...
- Wait a minute. Is this secret room on the way to the deactivation room? – asked numbuh 362.
- Deactivation room? - asked numbuh 14.
Numbuh 14 looked quickly at Chad and the infinite numbuh, and after analyzing the situation well, he ran towards one of them and quickly knocked him out. The others pointed their guns at Numbuh 14.
- Why did you do that? - asked numbuh 362.
- Because of that! - replied numbuh 14.
14 showed that there was some kind of mechanism behind the infinite numbuh's neck. It was small, round and in its center, you could see a faint red light.
- When you told me we were going to the deactivation room, I imagined the worst, so I quickly looked for a device like this behind the neck of the infinite numbuh and Chad.
- But what does that mean? - Chad asked.
- It means that my worst fears are happening. There's no doubt that if an agent of the infinite numbuh level has this device, all the others are with them.
- How can you be so sure of that? And if everyone does have this device behind their necks, how come Chad and I aren't...
Suddenly, an alarm starts ringing in the base. 362 knew the base's alarms, and this was an invasion alarm.
- But who could be attacking us?
- It's not an attack from outside, it's us! – exclaimed numbuh 14. - We need to get out of the moon base as soon as possible!
- You still haven't answered me...
Numbuh 362 was interrupted when behind them, at the very beginning of the corridor, a door closed. And then another. And it was continuing until the doors were closing in on them.
- We don't have time for this! – said numbuh 14, grabbing 362's hand - We have to run!
The three of them started running towards the end of the corridor as the doors came closer and closer.
- WHERE ARE WE GOING?! – ASKED CHAD!
- THERE'S A ROOM WITH ESCAPE PODS! IF WE CAN GET THERE, WE CAN ESCAPE TO EARTH! – SHOUTED NUMBUH 14.
When they reached the end of the corridor, they had three paths: forward to the deactivation room; to the left, where they could go back to the command room, which 14 thought would be the same as giving themselves up; or they could go to the right.
- FOLLOW ME! – SHOUTED NUMBUH 14.
As the group ran through the corridors behind the room where there would be an escape pod, numbuh 86's voice could be heard over the loudspeakers.
- ALL AGENTS, SEARCH THE BASE FOR TRAITORS. CHAD, NUMBUH 362 AND NUMBUH 14, SURRENDER IMMEDIATELY TO BE DEACTIVATED!
- How I hate being right... – commented numbuh 14.
In some corridors, they found agents armed and shooting before even arresting them.
- Tell me these weapons aren't deadly. - asked numbuh 14.
- Our weapons are only meant to knock out the enemy, not kill. – replied numbuh 362.
- Excellent. – replied numbuh 14.
They continued running through the corridors.
- Hold on. – said Chad. - Shouldn't we try to take them on when they're in smaller groups?
- I'd only do that if...
The group stopped on the spot. In front of them, 10 agents were aiming at them.
- If there was no other choice...
- GIVE YOURSELVES UP IMMEDIATELY! – shouted one of the agents.
- What are we going to do? – asked 362, distressed by the situation.
Numbuh 14 took a few steps forward; from the look on his face, he was determined to confront the agents.
- ACTIVATE BATTLE SUIT! – shouted Numbuh 14.
For a few seconds, nothing happened. The agents looked at each other and started laughing.
- What was that supposed to be? – Chad asked.
- Ah, now I get it. – commented numbuh 14. - It must have been damaged during my trip to the wormhole. Well, if the voice command doesn't work...
Numbuh 14 tapped his chest, where the plaque with his number was. In an instant, his battle suit appeared. He had shoulder pads, and his leg guards were longer than before. He was also fitted with a laser gun, which he kept in his right holster. The agents stopped laughing and were surprised by the situation.
- Well, let's get this party started!
Before numbuh 14 went on the attack, he detached his leg guards and handed them to Chad and numbuh 362 and, they ran towards the agents. The attack would have been crazy if 14 hadn't had his shoulder protectors, which he took off to use as a shield. The agents fired non-stop, but that wasn't enough, as the shots were stopped thanks to the improvised shields.
Numbuh 14 ran through the agents like a bull. When he arrived behind the squad, he began to attack the agents. Chad and numbuh 362 took advantage of the squad's focus on numbuh 14 and started attacking the agents on the front line.
Chad, being in his teens and still one of the best agents in the KND, had no problem confronting the agents. Two tried to grab him, but he simply turned his body and they flew away.
362 didn't have too many problems either. She landed a few blows on agents with the makeshift shield. Just as she was about to turn to attack those behind her back, those agents received the impact of the agents thrown by Chad.
It was numbuh 14 who was in trouble: he managed to dodge a few of the agents' blows, but otherwise received the rest. The truth was that the agents were focusing on him instead of the others. As good as he is in combat, it's difficult when you're outnumbered. He continued to fight the agents. One by one they fell, but each time he knocked out an agent, he became vulnerable to attacks and that was a problem. He had already fallen twice, but both times he managed to get up quickly. When he fell the third time, he thought it would be the end of him, but Chad and 362 came to his rescue and knocked out the last agents.
- Thank you... – said 14 tiredly.
- How can you be so tired? – Chad asked.
- He was fighting more agents than us, that's why he's so tired. – replied 362.
They lifted him up and continued down the corridor. 362 was helping 14 to run, as he looked very exhausted. On the way, 14 began to recover, so much so that he asked 362 to let him go. When she questioned him, she noticed that he was already looking better.
- How can you recover so quickly? – asked 362.
- We're children, we still recover more quickly than teenagers and adults. Besides, I've always recovered faster than the others, so it helps when I need it. – answered 14 laughing.
- "It's also because of the hibernation sickness, which I still haven't completely overcome...". – thought numbuh 14.
They didn't have much trouble getting to the escape pod room. On the way they encountered a few more surprises, such as agents, doors and walls that were closing, making the corridor too narrow to pass through. But none of them were enough to stop them. But the surprise was to come behind the door of the room. The room had another exit on the left, but the door was closed. To the right, there were entrances to the escape pods, but in the center, there were the agents waiting for them. There weren't many agents, but they seemed to be different from before, as their uniforms were unique, and they didn't have numbers. It took both numbuhs 362 and 14 a while to understand who they were.
- That must be... – commented numbuh 14.
- They're... - commented numbuh 362.
- Special operations agents. – replied 14 and 362.
There were a few seconds of silence. Everyone was analyzing each other. Coming up with a strategy. It would be idiotic if one of them just attacked without anything. Time passed, but they knew they had to make a move. So 14 just shouted to Chad.
- GO AHEAD!
Chad ran at the agents. They held him back, but they had no idea what was coming. 14 climbed up Chad's back and came down with a half-moon on his opponents. The first to be attacked was knocked unconscious. Two other agents tried to attack, but 14 was quicker and with a leap, kicked them away. He saw that one of the agents was going to shoot, but he was quicker again and threw his leg guard in an accurate throw at the target's head. One of the agents who had been kicked tried to get up, but 14's leg guard just hit a wall behind his back and knocked him out. Chad managed to break free from the agents. When he tried to hit one, 14 just slapped him across the neck, knocking him unconscious. When one of the agents he kicked away got up, he just grabbed the leg guard that was coming towards him and redirected it at the agent who soon blacked out from the impact. All the agents were unconscious and 14 put the leg guard back in place. He considered exiting battle mode but had the impression that it would be too risky to do so.
- Special ops? I've seen better agents before... – commented 14.
362 and Chad were stunned by the situation.
- You were just holding back the whole time?! – 362 asked.
- Of course not. – replied 14. - I only fight better when I have more space to do so.
Chad was about to comment, but just then they heard footsteps coming from the corridor behind.
- Let's get an escape pod and escape to Earth immediately! – announced 14.
Chad and 362 nodded. They just went in front of one of the escape pod entrances. They used a panel that was right next to it. They opened the door and entered the capsule. 14 looked at the inside of the capsule. It was worn and needed cleaning. Cups of soft drinks could be seen on the floor, as well as packets of potato chips. The seats were a bit torn, and the springs were loose and loose.
They just accepted the fact that this would be their capsule. 362 pressed a few buttons on the door panel inside the capsule. The capsule detached from its base and activated its thrusters, heading towards Earth.
- We're safe! – exclaimed Chad.
- Now you can tell me why we weren't affected by...
Numbuh 14 wasted no time in immobilizing 362. He turned her on her back and lifted her hair. What he had feared was true, there was a device there, but for some reason, it wasn't activated. He removed it and showed it to 362.
- Your device was behind your neck, but for some reason, it wasn't activated... perhaps it would be activated when we arrived on Earth, or while we were on our way there. I'm sorry for immobilizing you.
362 just nodded.
- But what about me? – Chad asked.
- I don't even need to look, they don't work on teenagers because of puberty. And no, they don't even work on adults...
Numbuh 14 paused.
- What? 362 asked.
14 looked at Chad and then fixed his eyes on 362.
- That's why I had "sacrificed" myself. I'd gone to a place so far away and inhospitable that even the GKND wouldn't go. I knew that if they rescued me, he would find me and chase me to the ends of the universe.
- Who? – Chad asked.
Numbuh 14 pauses briefly.
- We called him: The space adult.