After their narrow escape from the facility, Sector V were called to the moon base for a meeting of the "utmost importance" with the supreme leader. They flew up to the base and met up with Rachael and Fanny.
"So... WHAT THEHECKHAPPENED DOWN THERE?" said Fanny
" Well, when we were visiting Wally's grave, we found a gilt samurai helmet with a note taped inside. It was The Dark Ronin, inviting us over to his facility. Once there, he had 'The dark shark clan' beat us up, then he challenged Kuki to a duel, but the building was collapsing, so we had to evacuate." said Nigel
"Did you say a Gilt samurai helmet?" said Fanny
"Yeah, why? Also why did you call us all up here?" said Abby
Fanny and Rachael looked at each other. Finally Rachael spoke.
"We manged to uncover some... information about the dark ronin" said Rachael
"What is it?" asked Hoagie
"We were looking through the old records and found out something... incredible shocking." said Rachael
"WHAT did you find out?!" said Kuki
For a while no one said anything until Fanny blurted out:
"The dark ronin used to be part of the KND!" said Fanny
Sector V gasped in shock.
"Really?!" asked Kuki
"Really." said Rachael
"So..., what exactly did you find out?" asked Nigel
"The dark ronin used to be known as Numbuh 1000 aka Stray." said Fanny
"Stray? What kind of a name is that?" asked Abby
"I'll get to that. Before joining the kids next door, stray was originally an orphan. After hearing about the kids next door, he decided to join because in his words 'It's better than living in this dump' (which is referring to the hideout he used to live in). He became the combat expert of sector Y. At first, he was only in it for the free room and board, but eventually he actually came to believe in what the KND stood for and earned the epithet 'The fiercest samurai' " said Rachael
"So why was he called stray?" asked Kuki
"It's because he was compared to a stray cat you might be tempted to take pity upon. The nickname stuck." said Fanny
"So what happened?" asked Hoagie
"We don't really know. Files on this guy are hard to find. From the ones we have though, we discovered that his sector leader, Numbuh 72 aka bucky was... " Rachael tapered off
"What..?" asked Abby
"He died in the line of duty." Fanny said.
Numbuh's 2 and 5 took off their hats in respect for Numbuh 72
"Stray was close with all his teammates, but he was especially fond of bucky. He was never the same after bucky died. After his funeral, Stray made a gilt samurai helmet and put it on Bucky's headstone" said Rachael
"Just like for Wally!" said Kuki
"But why did he do that? I mean, he was decommissioned right?" said Nigel
"Indeed. But you know as well as I that decommissioning is not a perfect process. Numbuh 19th century could still remember the Alamode afterhewas decommissioned, remember?" said Rachael
"We theorise that, although he didn't remember Bucky's death, he felt obligated to make a helmet for someone he respected." said Fanny
"Fascinating..." said Numbuh 2
"We're keeping close tabs on the dark ronin. If we manage to uncover anything, we'll let you know. Dismissed!" said Rachael
"Yes, sir!" said Sector V
Sector V then began the long trek back to their treehouse
TRANSMISSION INTERRUPTED
For a few weeks, there was no news about the dark ronin, or his organisation. Sector V still went to school and on missions, but nothing was the same without Wally. Then, they got a call from Global command.
"Sector V!" said Fanny
"Yes Numbuh 86!" said Sector V
"Our spies have infiltrated the dark ronin's organisation. They tell us that they're looking for a few extra hands to help with a delivery to the 'Big Boss'" said Fanny
"What is our mission?" asked Nigel
"Go down to the secret meeting place, get yourselves hired and find out what this 'cargo' is and why the dark ronin wants it." said Fanny.
"Yes, sir!" said Sector V
Fanny signed off. Sector V began disguising themselves so that they wouldn't be recognised and headed down to the secret meeting place. They were surprised to see ahugepirate ship, filled with ronin pirates.
"Halt! You do you be?" asked a pirate.
"We're heard that you were hiring hands for a job, and that you paid well." said Nigel
"Aye, that we do. So, do you think you have what it takes?" asked the pirate.
"You bet we do!" said Abby
"I'll let the captain be the job of that." said the pirate. "Oi! Captain! We have some potential crew here!" he continued
A old woman swung on some ropes and landed on the dock after doing a few flips.
"You called Marco?" said the old woman, throwing her braid over her shoulder
"Thesechildrenwant in on our latest job." said Marco
"Let's have a little test. If they pass, they can join us." said the old woman.
So they tested them and they passed with flying colours.
"That was some of the best skill I ever did see! You're in." said the old woman.
"Thanks! By the way, what's your name?" asked Kuki
"Romana Fiamma, at your service, but my friends call me roma. You can call me Captain or Captain Roma." said Roma
"Aye-Aye, Captain!" said Sector V
Sector V then gets on the ship, while Captain Roma calls a meeting.
"Right, ye scurvy dogs! The boss man wants us to pick up someveryimportant cargo for him from Stay away isle. We go there, pick up the cargo and meet him and the agreed upon rendezvous point. As usual, you will all get one share of the reward when the job is done. Now, let's set sail!" said Captain Roma
"Aye-Aye captain!" said the crew.
The ship set sail to Stay Away Isle, and sector V found themselves really fitting in and bonding with the crew. Numbuh 5 especially spent a lot of time bonding with Captain Roma. Sector V decided that she was cool, for an old lady anyway.
Finally, they reached Stay away isle. Once there, the ronin presented the pirate crew with the cargo, which was then loaded onto the ship. They then set sail for the rendezvous !, the cargo was locked inside a very huge secure box, which needed the right code to be typed onto the keypad to unlock. Unfortunately, there were not just numbers on the keypad, but shapes and symbols as well, and Numbuh 2 was unable to crack the code before they reached the rendezvous point.
"There's no one here." said Hoagie to Captain Roma
"Wait for it..." said Captain Roma.
All of a sudden, and airship descended from the cloudy skies and landed on the ground. Out of the airship came the same ronin lady that greeted sector V before they entered the facility, and the dark ronin.
"Captain Roma" said the lady
"Kimiko! How've you been?" asked Captain Roma
"Fine. I trust there were no problems?" asked Kimiko
"None whatsoever. Here's the cargo, just like you asked." said Captain roma.
The huge box was presented to Kimiko and the dark ronin. The dark ronin took off his gauntlets and put his fingers on specific keys on the pad. This activated the DNA lock, unlocking the box, inside of which, was another box.
"Who arethey?" asked the dark ronin, gesturing to the disguised Sector V.
"They're new recruits." said Captain Roma.
"Well, why don't they come here and open the box up, in the spirit of celebrating their first successful mission?" said the dark ronin
Nigel was suspicious, but realised that refusing would look evenmoresuspicious, so they walked up to the box, opened it and... Out came robotic tendrils that grabbed them and threw into a jailcell.
"What's the meaning of this?!" asked Captain roma.
"Icouldtell you... or I could show you." said the dark ronin. He pressed a button on a remote control and sector V's disguises were torn off, revealing their true selves.
"Behold, Sector V!" said the dark ronin to a shocked pirate crew.
"How'd you know it was us?" asked Kuki
"For a super secret organisation, you aren't very good at being convincing. I noticed your spies from a mile away and fed them false info. I knew you wouldn't be able to resist trying to foil my plan, so I set a trap for you! Oh, also you disguises were terrible." said the dark ronin.
"So you guysknewwe who we were this whole time?!" said Nigel addressing the pirate crew
"Don't blame Captain Roma and her crew, they were an innocent party in my scheme." said the dark ronin
"Why are you doing this boss?" asked Captain Roma
"Let's just say... me and these kidsunfinished business" said the dark ronin.
Then with a flourish, he and Kimiko left for the airship, taking the imprisoned sector v with them.
Once on the airship, the dark ronin brought sector V to an empty room.
"So, are you gonna torture us?" asked Nigel
"No, I'm not gonna hurtthe three of you..." said the dark ronin, gesturing to Abby, Hoagie and Nigel.
Suddenly, a door opened and the dark shark clan walked in.
"The dark shark clan wanted that privilegeall to themselves..." said the dark ronin
The dark shark clan grinned evilly. The dark ronin pressed a button and Hoagie, Nigel and Abby teleported away. The dark shark clan left, presumably to go fight them.
"What about me?" asked Kuki
"You and I have duel to finish." said the dark ronin, freeing Kuki and tossing her a katana. Their epic duel continued. It was truly a duel for the ages, unfortunately, Kuki ended up on the backfoot and got beat up pretty bad. the dark ronin forced her to an observation deck and Kuki took note of the fact that they were flying over the ocean. Unfortunately, right after that, she lost her blade.
"Seems like I win." said The dark ronin
"Why are you doing this?!" asked Kuki
"Let's just say I have a bone to pick with the worldandthe KND." said the dark ronin
"Is this what bucky would have wanted?" asked Kuki.
The dark ronin was temporarily taken aback, then he became enraged.
"HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT?!" he said
"I know he sacrificed himself for the good of the KND." said Kuki
The dark ronin charged her, causing her to fall over the railing. But, at the last second, he grabbed her hand. He then pulled her up and whispered in her ear,
"You knownothing, nothing aboutme, nothing about mylifeandnothingabout how bucky died. Goodbye Kuki. Happy landings." said the dark ronin, looking Kuki in the eyes as he dropped her into the ocean.
Kuki flailed her arms around as if trying to swim through the air back to the airship. But it was no use. The last thing she heard before she blacked out was her own body hitting the water.