Post by prncssgrl1881 on Sept 18, 2005 19:17:22 GMT
a/n: this is numbuh 575's side of how she spent her time in the knd.
If you were a cadet, then you'd probably look up to me right now. I don't blame you. That must've sounded pretty self centered. Believe me, it wasn't. I've done some things in the past three years. Some are good, some are bad. Some you might remember for years to come, others you just want to forget. But this is my story, and I'm going to tell it like it is.
Three years ago, I was like any other cadet. I was nervous, over confident, and stupid. If Numbuh 507 wasn't decommissioned, he'd probably remember me for the rest of his life.
So, there I was. Standing with the other cadets in Arctic Base with my hair held in a pony tail, ear muffs over my ears, and in a heavy jacket. I was nervous when Numbuh 507 was telling us what being in the Kids Next Door was really about. Fighting adult tyranny, bringing justice to kids everywhere, and eating candy until we can't eat anymore. At first, I thought, That's the life for me, no adults to tell me what to do. How mistaken was I?
I was going through level after level of training. The toughest in my opinion was level 29. That was where we had to use team work under intense pressure. I was paired up with my future teammates, Valerie Chase, Daniel Peters, Eric Johnson (my cousin), and the very cute looking Jon Collins. We worked great together. Jon was being the leader that he was and lead our pre-team into kicking adult butt. It was great. Even Numbuh 507 was impressed with us, even though we were only seven.
It was graduation time. Which means that we become honorary Kids Next Door operatives and get assigned to a sector. I walked up to Numbuh 100 and gave him my oath to stay true to the KND and never turn over to the dark side and be force out of the Kids Next Door forever. As I placed my booger in the Code Module, I chose the number 575. I don't know why, I just liked the number. So it was then that I became Kids Next Door Operative Numbuh 575. And I was assigned to Sector M. Luckily, Val (Numbuh 574), Dan (Numbuh 573), Eric (Numbuh 572), and Jon (Numbuh 571) were assigned there too.
The tree house was gihugic! It had a ship through it, a castle tower with a satellite was on top, a school gymnasium, and beside the tower, was the hanger for all the 2x4 technology planes that's going to be there. And that wasn't the only thing, it was coming out of a bus in the junk yard! And it already had our numbuhs painted on it! It was the most fantastical sight ever! We went in to our new summer home and chose our rooms. I got the bow of the ship while Numbuh 571 got the stern. Numbuh 573 got the gymnasium which totally fits because he has a fiery attitude, Numbuh 572 got a room close to the top so that he can be close to the action and be ready with a whole new 2x4 technology weapon, and Numbuh 574 got the room with a sky light. She really loves that room.
Oh I almost forgot to tell you our positions. Numbuh 571 is the leader because he showed great leadership skills, 572 is the mechanic because he can fix things up in a heart beat as well as coming up with new weapons (although he tends to sleep a lot), 573 is the fighter as well as being second in command because he has a good head on his shoulders and he's the most temperamental in the whole sector, 574 is the distraction because her energy is up the wall and our enemies have to constantly keep up with her, and I'm the spy because I showed great skills during training and I manage to get everyone out of the area at a fast pace.
Then, it finally happened. Our first mission. And it was against the Gaming Ninja. He can go to kids homes and steals Game Blocks, Y Squares, Funstation 2s, and Game Held High Levels and he takes them back to his layer and plays video games for hours and hours until he breaks them and steals some more. He had to be stopped. So we laid out a trap at my house. I was playing video games with Numbuh 572, just because we were family, in the living room until we heard a crash coming from the window and there stood the Gaming Ninja right in front of us, preparing to fight for the Y Square that I had. We gave the signal and the others came out of their hiding places and cornered him.
“KIDS NEXT DOOR! BATTLE STATIONS!” Numbuh 571 screamed out and the attack begun. “Numbuh 574! Lead him over to the wall!”
“Done!” 574 screamed out as 573 was firing his mustard gun at the ninja. “Hey Mr. Pajamas! Try to catch me!” She ran off and as we thought, he ran after but jumped over her and landed in front of her with his sword swung out.
“Numbuh 575! Give him the slide!” 571 ordered me and I ran and slid on my side and tripped the ninja and he landed on his back. We all surrounded him with our weapons out and by the look on his eyes, he looked pretty scared.
“Who are you?” we heard him ask.
“We are Sector M of the Kids Next Door,” 571 replied. “Numbuh 572, call Moon Base and tell them that we got our guy.”
“You got it,” 572 said. He got out the communicator and did as he was told.
Moon Base guards came and took him to Arctic Base Prison Hold. That's the last time we ever saw him. So then we went back to the tree house and celebrated.
“PIZZA!” we heard 574 scream out. We ate and drank until 571 decided to speak.
“Great job you guys. But don't get use to it though, we're not always going to have missions like these. On some missions we are going to fail, and others we're going to succeed. But lets just hope that we can't fail or end up being in the Arctic Base Medical Wing,” he finished his speech while sipping on his soda. “Go to bed, team. I don't want you to be exhausted on our second mission.” So, we went off in different directions. He isn't he cute when he's being serious?
Well, anyways, like he said, we had a few mored missions and like always, we managed to defeat our enemies and sometimes, they over came us. Once we were facing off an enemy and they over powered us and Numbuh 572 got injured and broke his wrist. When my uncle and aunt asked what happened, I just told them that he fell of his bike. But that was only the beginning of our adventure.
Soon summer was over and we had to go back to our homes. But we would go back to the tree house everyday after school and sleep over on the weekends. That was the best part.
Anyways, it was just about a year later that something truly tremendous happened. I had to leave school early because I had a doctors appointment. So afterwards, I went in to the tree house and saw that nobody was there. They were probably still at school. As soon as I put my stuff down, the mission alert went off so I went off to the mission brief room and answered the call. It was Numbuh 856 and she said that there was an island off the coast of Maine that needs to be investigated. I told her that I was the only one there but she said that she needed somebody to be there. So, I had to make the hardest decision that I have ever faced. I decided to do it alone.
So then I went to the hanger and took one of Numbuh 572's ships. Surprisingly though, the controls worked like a Y Square controller. So, it wasn't that hard to figure out.
I arrived to the island and landed in a really secluded area. I took some of the fallen branches and placed them over the ship so no one would tell that there was a ship there. Then I started looking around the premises and found that nothing was wrong. I was just about to go back to the ship when I heard some kid screaming. I followed the sound and saw the most awful thing that I have ever seen.
It was a kid slave plantation. That's where the adults kidnap kids and take them here to serve them and do as they please. I had to do something. So I devised a plan. I would sneak in to the facility that night, plant a bomb in the main control room, go to the kids camp ground, and get them out as fast as I could.
Night fell. Guards were out and about. Thanks to my spy skills, I was able to sneak past them outside and inside. I eventually found the main control room. Luckily for me, no one was in there. But that didn't mean that there wasn't security cameras. And there were. So then I got out my S.C.A.M.P.P. And shot it. It would take them a couple of minutes until they would figure out what happened. So, I planted the bomb by one of their computers and snuck out through one of the nearest window and headed straight towards the camp. I went to the nearest tent and told the kids in there who I was and that I was rescuing them. They weren't reluctant at first, but when I said Kids Next Door, they got out and told the kids in the other tents what was going on and that I would help them escape. I told them to keep quiet and to follow me. We eventually reached the ship and took off the branches that covered them. I told them to get inside. There weren't that many. There were like twenty kids, so I was able to get them inside at once. As soon as I got the ship off the ground, I heard yelling going on outside and realized I had to get out of here fast.
As soon as I hit the sky, the adults came into the area and started yelling up at me and shaking their fists furiously. But I didn't care. I just wanted to get the kids out of there safely. I called Moon Base and told them that I got the kids out safely and they told me to land in Hamilton Park and that they'll meet me there. So, I did. They eventually came and took care of the kids. Then Numbuh 274 himself (before he turned evil) came up to me and asked me what happened. So, I told him. When I finished the story, he said that I did an excellent job and that I would be known for this. I told him that I was only doing my job but he kept on saying that I was brave that I did this alone. Others would've needed their team to complete this kind of mission. But I still felt that I was just doing my job.
Since it was a Friday night, I went back to the tree house, but I did not expect what was going to happen next. The others were there, waiting for me.
“Where were you?!” 571 asked angrily.
“I just came back from a mission,” I replied. They all looked at as if I said something bad.
“All by yourself?” 574 asked.
“Yeah, I did. What's the big deal?”
“The big deal is that you went on a mission WITHOUT your teammates!” 571 continued to yell.
“Well... You guys weren't here, so I had to do something, and besides, Global Command asked me to investigate, I had no idea what was going to happen.”
“So then you commandeered one of Numbuh 572's ships and went on a mission all by yourself?”
“Well... yes?” I replied quietly. “And Numbuh 572? You shouldn't use a Y Square controller to operate a ship.”
“I shouldn't?” 572 asked curiously.
“Yeah, if I was able to figure it out, then anybody could.”
“All right. Thanks for the tip.”
“Any ways, why didn't you call us? We could've gone with you,” 571 continued.
“Because you guys were still at school and they needed somebody there immediately. So I pretty much had no choice.” 571 just gave me a cold stare and went off in the direction of his room. Silence has over came our surroundings.
“So... how was it?” 573 asked. So, I retold my story to them and they were hanging onto my every word. After I was finished with my tale, they said the same things as Numbuh 274. That I was brave to save all those kids and that I knew what to do. But I basically told them what I told Numbuh 274. I was just doing my job.
Afterwards, I thought I'd never hear the end of it from Numbuh 571. He kept on nagging at me and bringing up the subject every now and then. At one point, I thought I was going to lose my mind! So then I went to Numbuh 574's room and told her about 571.
“He's just jealous,” she said as we sat on her bed.
“Jealous? Jealous of what?”
“Of you. Just because, you did something that you are going to be known for. And if you do something like that again, you'll be considered as one of the greats.”
“But I already told you, I was just doing my job.”
“Well, yeah, but it sounded like your head was in the game and managed to do without anybody there to help you. If you ask me, that was very impressive.”
“So Numbuh 571 is jealous because it wasn't him who answered the call?”
“Exactly. He just wants to be considered as one of the greats like Numbuh 100, Numbuh 274, Numbuh 11, and Numbuh 9. And since you answered the call, you're almost considered as one of them.” She had a point. One more stunt like that, and I'll be one the greatest Kids Next Door operatives ever. But the question was, did I want to be one of them? I didn't know and I still don't.
But there is something else I want to tell you about, it's nothing serious. At least I don't think. It was around Halloween and my mom was driving me to Numbuh 574's house and get ready to go Trick-or-Treating. I was a vampire while she was a witch. I got there and we started walking off to the direction of where we were going to meet the others. We eventually met up with them. I laughed when I saw Numbuh 572's costume. He was a car repairman. He doesn't surprise me one bit. But Numbuh 573 was a boxer while Numbuh 571 was a Storm Trooper (he's a Star Wars fanatic). So then we went to the first house and we got our candy as we did to the other houses on the block. We've must've been out for at least twenty minutes because our bags was about to explode! It was fun overall. But, when we turned a corner, we saw ambulances, EMT's running around, and a huge crowd. We wondered what had happened so we decided to go and look for ourselves. When we arrived, the nearest ambulance opened it doors and let in someone on the stretcher and I couldn't believe who it was. I raced forward to get a better look. My heart was pounding against my ears so I couldn't hear a single thing. Not my friends, not the EMT's, not anyone. My eyes started to well up when I saw the person that just entered the ambulance was my very own mother. I asked them what happened when tears threatened to get out.
“We don't know, she just started swerving out of control until she hit a street light. It broke in half and fell right on top of her head,” the EMT told me. I couldn't believe it. Not once had my mom ever been in an accident. And why did she swerve out of control? That's not like her.
“Her blood alcohol level is normal,” I heard one them say to the other.
“Maybe some teenager came back from one of their Halloween parties.”
“It's 8:30. I don't think they would be out yet.”
“Then there must've been a cat or something on the road.”
“Witnesses didn't see a cat.”
“So then what else did the witness say?”
“They said that something came out of nowhere and after it happened, it just disappeared out of nowhere.”
“Are you OK, little girl?” I looked up at them. Obviously, my face had paled. I was unable to speak.
“Is she going to be OK?” I heard Numbuh 571 asked the men.
“It's pretty severe. We're talking about head traumas and a possible concussion. Let's not forget that her skull is crushed.”
“Can I see her?” I asked. Finally able to speak.
“Why would you want to do that?”
“That's my mom.” They both looked at me and then to each other and then back to me.
“I'm sorry kid, but we're not aloud to let anyone in.”
“Please? I have to see her.”
“Is there a problem here?” asked one of the police men who came over here.
“I just want to see my mom,” I began to cry.
“Well, where is she?” I pointed inside the ambulance. “I'm sorry little girl, you can't go in there.”
“We're starting to lose her!” I rapidly turned to the men inside the ambulance and saw them working at a fast pace. They've been trying everything to save her. I even heard my myself screaming 'mom' several times. Then, that was it. It was over. She was gone. I cried the whole night. My friends were great enough to hold me close and comfort me. They even took me to Numbuh 574's house and call my dad to pick me up. Numbuh 571 told him what had happened and was able to drive me home.
The funeral was quick. My ears were numb so I wasn't able to hear what the priest said or what anybody else said. I stood in front of her grave. I read over a thousand times of what was engraved on her tombstone.
Martha Johnson
A Daughter, A Wife, A Mother, A Friend
Tears let out and they dropped onto the ground. I would never forget her. But there was something that's been nagging in the back of my head. What was that thing that caused her to crash? And why was it even there in the first place? But one thing was for sure, it was no accident.
The next few months, I have been trying to find what had happened. I wasn't even entirely focused on the missions. My teammates all understood and Numbuh 571 even offered me to stay in the tree house or go back to my dad's. So I took up on the offer to stay in the tree house. So I went to my room and went to my desk and took out a jewelry box that I inherited and opened and went through her rings, bracelets, and necklaces. But one that really stood out was a silver necklace that was spiraled into a cross with a blue glass orb hanging from the top loop that had no chain. My mom had that ever since she was a little girl. My fingers brushed against the silvery surface. I went through another drawer and found a thin black leather rope. I cut it a little shorter and put it through the loop and tied it around my neck. I'm never going to take it off.
A few months later, I was able to focus my anger into the missions. While figuring out what had happened that night. There were no clues and the witnesses hardly knew what happened either. I just had to figure it out. Not just for me, but for my mom. That was when I had to make the hardest decision that I had ever faced during my time in the Kids Next Door.
I went into the rec room where my teammates were playing video games. I approached them.
“I have an announcement to make.” They turned towards me curiously. “I have decided to leave this sector and go solo.” They all had shock across their faces.
“What?! You can't just leave!” Numbuh 571 exclaimed.
“Yeah. Who will I talk to about girl stuff?” Numbuh 574 asked.
“And who will spar with me?” 573 asked as well.
“And who will help me test out my latest weapons?” 572 asked.
“And who will beat me at video games?” 571 asked.
“I already contacted Moon Base and they'll send a new operative down.”
“But why, Sara?” I looked over at 571. He never called me by my first name. Not even during cadet training.
“Something happened the night my mom died. And I wanna find out what it is.”
“Then we'll help you.”
“I'm sorry, Jon, but this is something that I gotta do on my own.”
“Oh like you did on that island?” He sneered.
“That was different.”
“Oh sure it was.”
“That was over a year ago! And it was something I had no choice on what to do! And if you can't support on this, then who needs you!”
“Oh yeah?!”
“Yeah!”
“I bet we don't even need you!”
“If you don't need me, then fine!”
“Fine!”
“I'm outta here!”
“Great!”
“Great!”
“You better not come back!”
“Who says I will!” I stormed out through the door. I went through the bus doors. I was still fuming from what had just happened. But just a little bit after I cooled off, I felt guilty. I didn't want to leave like that. But with Numbuh 571's stubborn self, it was hard not to argue with him. And how dare he bring up what happened on that island. It wasn't my fault that Moon Base wanted someone there to investigate. I was the one that picked up the call, not him. And they were still in school and they needed someone immediately. What was I suppose to do? Call them and say that a deserted island needs to be investigated? I mean, come on!
Anyways, I was walking down the sidewalk. Thinking about what I should do. It was going to be one long road until the mystery is finally solved.
If you were a cadet, then you'd probably look up to me right now. I don't blame you. That must've sounded pretty self centered. Believe me, it wasn't. I've done some things in the past three years. Some are good, some are bad. Some you might remember for years to come, others you just want to forget. But this is my story, and I'm going to tell it like it is.
Three years ago, I was like any other cadet. I was nervous, over confident, and stupid. If Numbuh 507 wasn't decommissioned, he'd probably remember me for the rest of his life.
So, there I was. Standing with the other cadets in Arctic Base with my hair held in a pony tail, ear muffs over my ears, and in a heavy jacket. I was nervous when Numbuh 507 was telling us what being in the Kids Next Door was really about. Fighting adult tyranny, bringing justice to kids everywhere, and eating candy until we can't eat anymore. At first, I thought, That's the life for me, no adults to tell me what to do. How mistaken was I?
I was going through level after level of training. The toughest in my opinion was level 29. That was where we had to use team work under intense pressure. I was paired up with my future teammates, Valerie Chase, Daniel Peters, Eric Johnson (my cousin), and the very cute looking Jon Collins. We worked great together. Jon was being the leader that he was and lead our pre-team into kicking adult butt. It was great. Even Numbuh 507 was impressed with us, even though we were only seven.
It was graduation time. Which means that we become honorary Kids Next Door operatives and get assigned to a sector. I walked up to Numbuh 100 and gave him my oath to stay true to the KND and never turn over to the dark side and be force out of the Kids Next Door forever. As I placed my booger in the Code Module, I chose the number 575. I don't know why, I just liked the number. So it was then that I became Kids Next Door Operative Numbuh 575. And I was assigned to Sector M. Luckily, Val (Numbuh 574), Dan (Numbuh 573), Eric (Numbuh 572), and Jon (Numbuh 571) were assigned there too.
The tree house was gihugic! It had a ship through it, a castle tower with a satellite was on top, a school gymnasium, and beside the tower, was the hanger for all the 2x4 technology planes that's going to be there. And that wasn't the only thing, it was coming out of a bus in the junk yard! And it already had our numbuhs painted on it! It was the most fantastical sight ever! We went in to our new summer home and chose our rooms. I got the bow of the ship while Numbuh 571 got the stern. Numbuh 573 got the gymnasium which totally fits because he has a fiery attitude, Numbuh 572 got a room close to the top so that he can be close to the action and be ready with a whole new 2x4 technology weapon, and Numbuh 574 got the room with a sky light. She really loves that room.
Oh I almost forgot to tell you our positions. Numbuh 571 is the leader because he showed great leadership skills, 572 is the mechanic because he can fix things up in a heart beat as well as coming up with new weapons (although he tends to sleep a lot), 573 is the fighter as well as being second in command because he has a good head on his shoulders and he's the most temperamental in the whole sector, 574 is the distraction because her energy is up the wall and our enemies have to constantly keep up with her, and I'm the spy because I showed great skills during training and I manage to get everyone out of the area at a fast pace.
Then, it finally happened. Our first mission. And it was against the Gaming Ninja. He can go to kids homes and steals Game Blocks, Y Squares, Funstation 2s, and Game Held High Levels and he takes them back to his layer and plays video games for hours and hours until he breaks them and steals some more. He had to be stopped. So we laid out a trap at my house. I was playing video games with Numbuh 572, just because we were family, in the living room until we heard a crash coming from the window and there stood the Gaming Ninja right in front of us, preparing to fight for the Y Square that I had. We gave the signal and the others came out of their hiding places and cornered him.
“KIDS NEXT DOOR! BATTLE STATIONS!” Numbuh 571 screamed out and the attack begun. “Numbuh 574! Lead him over to the wall!”
“Done!” 574 screamed out as 573 was firing his mustard gun at the ninja. “Hey Mr. Pajamas! Try to catch me!” She ran off and as we thought, he ran after but jumped over her and landed in front of her with his sword swung out.
“Numbuh 575! Give him the slide!” 571 ordered me and I ran and slid on my side and tripped the ninja and he landed on his back. We all surrounded him with our weapons out and by the look on his eyes, he looked pretty scared.
“Who are you?” we heard him ask.
“We are Sector M of the Kids Next Door,” 571 replied. “Numbuh 572, call Moon Base and tell them that we got our guy.”
“You got it,” 572 said. He got out the communicator and did as he was told.
Moon Base guards came and took him to Arctic Base Prison Hold. That's the last time we ever saw him. So then we went back to the tree house and celebrated.
“PIZZA!” we heard 574 scream out. We ate and drank until 571 decided to speak.
“Great job you guys. But don't get use to it though, we're not always going to have missions like these. On some missions we are going to fail, and others we're going to succeed. But lets just hope that we can't fail or end up being in the Arctic Base Medical Wing,” he finished his speech while sipping on his soda. “Go to bed, team. I don't want you to be exhausted on our second mission.” So, we went off in different directions. He isn't he cute when he's being serious?
Well, anyways, like he said, we had a few mored missions and like always, we managed to defeat our enemies and sometimes, they over came us. Once we were facing off an enemy and they over powered us and Numbuh 572 got injured and broke his wrist. When my uncle and aunt asked what happened, I just told them that he fell of his bike. But that was only the beginning of our adventure.
Soon summer was over and we had to go back to our homes. But we would go back to the tree house everyday after school and sleep over on the weekends. That was the best part.
Anyways, it was just about a year later that something truly tremendous happened. I had to leave school early because I had a doctors appointment. So afterwards, I went in to the tree house and saw that nobody was there. They were probably still at school. As soon as I put my stuff down, the mission alert went off so I went off to the mission brief room and answered the call. It was Numbuh 856 and she said that there was an island off the coast of Maine that needs to be investigated. I told her that I was the only one there but she said that she needed somebody to be there. So, I had to make the hardest decision that I have ever faced. I decided to do it alone.
So then I went to the hanger and took one of Numbuh 572's ships. Surprisingly though, the controls worked like a Y Square controller. So, it wasn't that hard to figure out.
I arrived to the island and landed in a really secluded area. I took some of the fallen branches and placed them over the ship so no one would tell that there was a ship there. Then I started looking around the premises and found that nothing was wrong. I was just about to go back to the ship when I heard some kid screaming. I followed the sound and saw the most awful thing that I have ever seen.
It was a kid slave plantation. That's where the adults kidnap kids and take them here to serve them and do as they please. I had to do something. So I devised a plan. I would sneak in to the facility that night, plant a bomb in the main control room, go to the kids camp ground, and get them out as fast as I could.
Night fell. Guards were out and about. Thanks to my spy skills, I was able to sneak past them outside and inside. I eventually found the main control room. Luckily for me, no one was in there. But that didn't mean that there wasn't security cameras. And there were. So then I got out my S.C.A.M.P.P. And shot it. It would take them a couple of minutes until they would figure out what happened. So, I planted the bomb by one of their computers and snuck out through one of the nearest window and headed straight towards the camp. I went to the nearest tent and told the kids in there who I was and that I was rescuing them. They weren't reluctant at first, but when I said Kids Next Door, they got out and told the kids in the other tents what was going on and that I would help them escape. I told them to keep quiet and to follow me. We eventually reached the ship and took off the branches that covered them. I told them to get inside. There weren't that many. There were like twenty kids, so I was able to get them inside at once. As soon as I got the ship off the ground, I heard yelling going on outside and realized I had to get out of here fast.
As soon as I hit the sky, the adults came into the area and started yelling up at me and shaking their fists furiously. But I didn't care. I just wanted to get the kids out of there safely. I called Moon Base and told them that I got the kids out safely and they told me to land in Hamilton Park and that they'll meet me there. So, I did. They eventually came and took care of the kids. Then Numbuh 274 himself (before he turned evil) came up to me and asked me what happened. So, I told him. When I finished the story, he said that I did an excellent job and that I would be known for this. I told him that I was only doing my job but he kept on saying that I was brave that I did this alone. Others would've needed their team to complete this kind of mission. But I still felt that I was just doing my job.
Since it was a Friday night, I went back to the tree house, but I did not expect what was going to happen next. The others were there, waiting for me.
“Where were you?!” 571 asked angrily.
“I just came back from a mission,” I replied. They all looked at as if I said something bad.
“All by yourself?” 574 asked.
“Yeah, I did. What's the big deal?”
“The big deal is that you went on a mission WITHOUT your teammates!” 571 continued to yell.
“Well... You guys weren't here, so I had to do something, and besides, Global Command asked me to investigate, I had no idea what was going to happen.”
“So then you commandeered one of Numbuh 572's ships and went on a mission all by yourself?”
“Well... yes?” I replied quietly. “And Numbuh 572? You shouldn't use a Y Square controller to operate a ship.”
“I shouldn't?” 572 asked curiously.
“Yeah, if I was able to figure it out, then anybody could.”
“All right. Thanks for the tip.”
“Any ways, why didn't you call us? We could've gone with you,” 571 continued.
“Because you guys were still at school and they needed somebody there immediately. So I pretty much had no choice.” 571 just gave me a cold stare and went off in the direction of his room. Silence has over came our surroundings.
“So... how was it?” 573 asked. So, I retold my story to them and they were hanging onto my every word. After I was finished with my tale, they said the same things as Numbuh 274. That I was brave to save all those kids and that I knew what to do. But I basically told them what I told Numbuh 274. I was just doing my job.
Afterwards, I thought I'd never hear the end of it from Numbuh 571. He kept on nagging at me and bringing up the subject every now and then. At one point, I thought I was going to lose my mind! So then I went to Numbuh 574's room and told her about 571.
“He's just jealous,” she said as we sat on her bed.
“Jealous? Jealous of what?”
“Of you. Just because, you did something that you are going to be known for. And if you do something like that again, you'll be considered as one of the greats.”
“But I already told you, I was just doing my job.”
“Well, yeah, but it sounded like your head was in the game and managed to do without anybody there to help you. If you ask me, that was very impressive.”
“So Numbuh 571 is jealous because it wasn't him who answered the call?”
“Exactly. He just wants to be considered as one of the greats like Numbuh 100, Numbuh 274, Numbuh 11, and Numbuh 9. And since you answered the call, you're almost considered as one of them.” She had a point. One more stunt like that, and I'll be one the greatest Kids Next Door operatives ever. But the question was, did I want to be one of them? I didn't know and I still don't.
But there is something else I want to tell you about, it's nothing serious. At least I don't think. It was around Halloween and my mom was driving me to Numbuh 574's house and get ready to go Trick-or-Treating. I was a vampire while she was a witch. I got there and we started walking off to the direction of where we were going to meet the others. We eventually met up with them. I laughed when I saw Numbuh 572's costume. He was a car repairman. He doesn't surprise me one bit. But Numbuh 573 was a boxer while Numbuh 571 was a Storm Trooper (he's a Star Wars fanatic). So then we went to the first house and we got our candy as we did to the other houses on the block. We've must've been out for at least twenty minutes because our bags was about to explode! It was fun overall. But, when we turned a corner, we saw ambulances, EMT's running around, and a huge crowd. We wondered what had happened so we decided to go and look for ourselves. When we arrived, the nearest ambulance opened it doors and let in someone on the stretcher and I couldn't believe who it was. I raced forward to get a better look. My heart was pounding against my ears so I couldn't hear a single thing. Not my friends, not the EMT's, not anyone. My eyes started to well up when I saw the person that just entered the ambulance was my very own mother. I asked them what happened when tears threatened to get out.
“We don't know, she just started swerving out of control until she hit a street light. It broke in half and fell right on top of her head,” the EMT told me. I couldn't believe it. Not once had my mom ever been in an accident. And why did she swerve out of control? That's not like her.
“Her blood alcohol level is normal,” I heard one them say to the other.
“Maybe some teenager came back from one of their Halloween parties.”
“It's 8:30. I don't think they would be out yet.”
“Then there must've been a cat or something on the road.”
“Witnesses didn't see a cat.”
“So then what else did the witness say?”
“They said that something came out of nowhere and after it happened, it just disappeared out of nowhere.”
“Are you OK, little girl?” I looked up at them. Obviously, my face had paled. I was unable to speak.
“Is she going to be OK?” I heard Numbuh 571 asked the men.
“It's pretty severe. We're talking about head traumas and a possible concussion. Let's not forget that her skull is crushed.”
“Can I see her?” I asked. Finally able to speak.
“Why would you want to do that?”
“That's my mom.” They both looked at me and then to each other and then back to me.
“I'm sorry kid, but we're not aloud to let anyone in.”
“Please? I have to see her.”
“Is there a problem here?” asked one of the police men who came over here.
“I just want to see my mom,” I began to cry.
“Well, where is she?” I pointed inside the ambulance. “I'm sorry little girl, you can't go in there.”
“We're starting to lose her!” I rapidly turned to the men inside the ambulance and saw them working at a fast pace. They've been trying everything to save her. I even heard my myself screaming 'mom' several times. Then, that was it. It was over. She was gone. I cried the whole night. My friends were great enough to hold me close and comfort me. They even took me to Numbuh 574's house and call my dad to pick me up. Numbuh 571 told him what had happened and was able to drive me home.
The funeral was quick. My ears were numb so I wasn't able to hear what the priest said or what anybody else said. I stood in front of her grave. I read over a thousand times of what was engraved on her tombstone.
Martha Johnson
A Daughter, A Wife, A Mother, A Friend
Tears let out and they dropped onto the ground. I would never forget her. But there was something that's been nagging in the back of my head. What was that thing that caused her to crash? And why was it even there in the first place? But one thing was for sure, it was no accident.
The next few months, I have been trying to find what had happened. I wasn't even entirely focused on the missions. My teammates all understood and Numbuh 571 even offered me to stay in the tree house or go back to my dad's. So I took up on the offer to stay in the tree house. So I went to my room and went to my desk and took out a jewelry box that I inherited and opened and went through her rings, bracelets, and necklaces. But one that really stood out was a silver necklace that was spiraled into a cross with a blue glass orb hanging from the top loop that had no chain. My mom had that ever since she was a little girl. My fingers brushed against the silvery surface. I went through another drawer and found a thin black leather rope. I cut it a little shorter and put it through the loop and tied it around my neck. I'm never going to take it off.
A few months later, I was able to focus my anger into the missions. While figuring out what had happened that night. There were no clues and the witnesses hardly knew what happened either. I just had to figure it out. Not just for me, but for my mom. That was when I had to make the hardest decision that I had ever faced during my time in the Kids Next Door.
I went into the rec room where my teammates were playing video games. I approached them.
“I have an announcement to make.” They turned towards me curiously. “I have decided to leave this sector and go solo.” They all had shock across their faces.
“What?! You can't just leave!” Numbuh 571 exclaimed.
“Yeah. Who will I talk to about girl stuff?” Numbuh 574 asked.
“And who will spar with me?” 573 asked as well.
“And who will help me test out my latest weapons?” 572 asked.
“And who will beat me at video games?” 571 asked.
“I already contacted Moon Base and they'll send a new operative down.”
“But why, Sara?” I looked over at 571. He never called me by my first name. Not even during cadet training.
“Something happened the night my mom died. And I wanna find out what it is.”
“Then we'll help you.”
“I'm sorry, Jon, but this is something that I gotta do on my own.”
“Oh like you did on that island?” He sneered.
“That was different.”
“Oh sure it was.”
“That was over a year ago! And it was something I had no choice on what to do! And if you can't support on this, then who needs you!”
“Oh yeah?!”
“Yeah!”
“I bet we don't even need you!”
“If you don't need me, then fine!”
“Fine!”
“I'm outta here!”
“Great!”
“Great!”
“You better not come back!”
“Who says I will!” I stormed out through the door. I went through the bus doors. I was still fuming from what had just happened. But just a little bit after I cooled off, I felt guilty. I didn't want to leave like that. But with Numbuh 571's stubborn self, it was hard not to argue with him. And how dare he bring up what happened on that island. It wasn't my fault that Moon Base wanted someone there to investigate. I was the one that picked up the call, not him. And they were still in school and they needed someone immediately. What was I suppose to do? Call them and say that a deserted island needs to be investigated? I mean, come on!
Anyways, I was walking down the sidewalk. Thinking about what I should do. It was going to be one long road until the mystery is finally solved.