Counting Stars

48 Hours Ago

She didn't necessarily believed the intel going around, but the fleeting picture of Chad, nearly dodging an operative's camera phone with a dark baseball cap, was undoubtedly him.

It was that curl of blond hair sticking out. That was a unique feature of his that she had yet to see from anyone else their age. Her two most loyal operatives turned to her for a response and yet she had nothing concrete to say.

Chad Dickson was supposed to have disappeared forever with Nigel Uno.

Her gaze continued on the flickering picture, taking in his strong physique and confident form. A sigh left her lips that probably was mistaken for a loving one. In fact, it was a sense of admiration, a relic of how people used to hold themselves up honestly without the guise of coolness or style.

Fanny whistled to her left. "Numbuh 274's a big boy now, isn't he?"

"Those are your words, not mine," she replied back with a tiny grin.

Patton was scoffing to her right, probably feeling the few cons of having two female companions to answer to. "They probably sent him for the satellite we took down. He's probably worth a good bargaining chip if we get the drop on him."

The idea seemed almost repugnant giving the history they had with Chad. Rachel faintly frowned. "Too inappropriate. He was our superior once upon a time."

"Poison him then?" Fanny grinned. "Nothing says 'we missed you' like good ol' spiked cola."

"Enough with the poisoning," Patton snapped back. "I've got a mountain of complaints from the new recruits that have everything to do with you."

Rachel sighed. "I was thinking something a little more intuitive. We're not terrorists, Fanny, we're freedom fighters."

"The difference between a terrorist and a freedom fighter is a matter of perspective: it all depends on the observer and the verdict of history," Patton quoted.

Fanny frowned incredulously at him. "Ye actually have the time out of yer jarhead trainin' ter quote books?"

"You'd know if you actually picked one up."

There was a beat of silence.

"Do you require ice, Fanny," Rachel raised an eyebrow. "for that burn?"

Patton ordered the lights back on in the only bare meeting room on base. There was a row of chairs over a long table where Rachel perched herself at the end of and looked at the overhead image of 274 still flickering on the opposite wall. She sat back in her seat and folded her hands over her stomach thoughtfully.

"I'll handle him." the words came out of her mouth faster than what her brain could process.

Both of her companions had a mixture of expressions from downright amused to mortified. Guess which one.

Handling someone meant infiltrating. Handling someone of the opposite gender meant pulling a Number 9, a euphemism named after an old friend who dated an enemy for information.

"And, pray tell, how are ye going to handle 274?" Fanny slunk towards the table and sat on the end. "I have a mighty feelin' he's not takin' an interest in ye just for nostalgia's sake."

"Gee, thanks 86," Rachel said sourly. "I suppose the only guys interested me are the ones looking to decommissioning and/or take me down, is that it?"

Fanny traded blatant looks with Patton before they both said, "Yes."

"Twenty-five decommissioning attempts, almost half of them from suspected undercover teens," Patton started to count it all on his fingers. "And you've had a dozen attempts being recruited from the Teen Ninjas."

Rachel scratched the side of her head. "I don't remember it being that much."

"That ye know of." With a dramatic sigh, Fanny fell back onto the table and looked up at the light fixtures. "If our not-so-traitorous ex-Supreme Leadah is looking ter get intel from us, the least we can do is gain intel right back."

"That's the idea I had," Rachel admitted. "We've got history though. A good history… at least before he left the KND." Relationships were never her forte. Coordinating a carpet bombing of melted cheese over a broccoli farm was an easier venture than this.

But the thing she had with him back then, it seemed so natural at the time. Like a well-oiled machine. A spark of interest had hit her at the sight of him again and, truth be told, she wanted to see where she could go with this. Maybe she could take back what seemed to be a missed opportunity for a re-connection.

Or the next step in cementing her group as a viable threat. Either way, she had the advantage.

Fanny's grin said it all. "Right… well maybe you can use that to your advantage. Guys love naive girls."

"I'm not naive!"

Patton cocked an eyebrow. "She's kinda got a point. You don't exactly have… well…"

"Sex appeal." Both Rachel and Patton flinched at Fanny's response. "Oh please, we're all walkin' talkin' hormonal teens here. We've all had the talk. Unless yer were both sick on purpose for that lesson in health class." She sat up abruptly when the two of them remained suspiciously silent. "Dunna tell me ye did!"

"They were going to show us the miracle of childbirth. To the guys," Patton protested weakly. "I've heard enough stories to know when to cash my chips and get the heck out of dodge."

Rachel winced in sympathy. "Does it count if I already had the talk from my parents?" It was a horrible affair rife with awkward silences and diagrams. She didn't need to go through it again.

With another dramatic sigh, Fanny slid off the table. "You know what? Leave Chad to me instead. I did have a little crush on him back when I was a medic," her smile was anything but innocent. "I'll get him spilling all sorts of secrets by the end of the week."

Ten Years Ago

They had been waiting alongside the other sectors on the docking station on the Gihugeacarrier when Numbuh 86 eagerly pulled on the fabric of Rachel's purple sweater.

"There he is! That's the boy!" she squealed into 362's ear. Her medic's hat was askew, so whoever was the next unfortunate boy that Fanny 'fell in love' with must be a doozy if she was too preoccupied to fix it.

"Fanny, don't point!" Rachel pulled down Fanny's arm when she blatantly pointed over the crowd. People were starting to curiously wonder what was going on. "I see him, alright, I see him!"

He looked like a boy scout. With the bandanna tied around his neck and the gold pegs on his shoulders denoting a Global Command rank, he was still as a statue and standing at attention by Numbuh 100's side. She recognized him easily from the KND Nightly News bulletin last week.

"That's Numbuh 274," Rachel said under her breath. "He's the youngest Global Tactical Officer in the history of the KND."

"I know," Fanny said dreamily. "Isn't he gorgeous?"

More like intimidating. "I suppose." Rachel wasn't exactly in the know about who was cute and who was not. So long as they knew how to man a S.P.L.A.N.K.E.R., they were of worth to her equally.

While Numbuh 100 spoke of Numbuh 9's plan to ambush a Teen Ninja sting regarding the chicken pox epidemic, 274's gaze focused on their sector when 100 explained their mission specs.

86 squeaked and hid behind Rachel. Standing up straight and proud, Numbuh 362 locked eyes with 274 and nodded respectfully.

Much to her confusion, he smirked at her before nodding back and refocusing on Numbuh 100.

"Eeeeee! He smiled at me!" Fanny popped her head out from over Rachel's shoulder and bounced on her heels.

"Yes. Yes he did." It didn't hurt anyone to tell her that. Maybe he did bypass her to smile at Fanny.

At any rate, an infatuated Fanny was an eager Numbuh 86. That made missions with her much more easier to deal with.

Numbuh 100's words raised up in volume. "Now, Numbuh 274 will be expediting this mission. Listen to your new Global Tactical Officer and I can assure you we will nip this chicken pox epidemic in the bag or you can slap a saddle pack on me and call me Sally! Kids Next Door RULES!"

"KIDS NEXT DOOR RULES!" The twenty kid operatives yelled back proudly as their Supreme Leader dismissed himself with his guards.

One by one Numbuh 274 sent off each sector. Rachel and the others waited as patiently as a bunch of seven year olds were capable of before he marched over to them.

Fanny giggled and hid herself again behind Rachel.

"Right… you remember your mission right?" He addressed them all sternly and definitely expected a few murmurs of confusion. To be honest, it was a very long-winded dossier they were given.

While her squad leader mumbled nonsense to appease him, Numbuh 274 took a moment to close his eyes and exhale before turning to Rachel. "Numbuh 362?"

He remembered her codename. "Yes sir?" she inquired loudly.

"Do you remember the mission dossier at least?" All eyes on her, Rachel took a nervous inhale as a result.

"Sector W is in charge of providing cover fire should Sector V fail in apprehending the Teen Ninjas," she clasped her hands behind her back and sounded off loudly. "I will be providing communications support while Numbuh 86 provides the temporary chicken pox vaccine should the mission go wrong. The rest of Sector W will fall in with Sectors H and F at the Global Tactical Officer's appointed time."

That smirk of his returned. "Well, at least someone was paying attention. Are you familiar with rear guard support for Global Tactical Officers?"

What a strange question. "Yes?"

"Good, I'm putting Numbuh 367 in charge of communications support. You're coming with me." Nodding at the gaping expression on her face, he turned away and addressed the next set of operatives.

Once he was out of earshot, Fanny pouted at her. "Why did he single you out? That's not fair!"

"I'm sorry," And really, she didn't know either. "Think of it this way: rear guard support isn't very glamorous for a mission. You guys get all the action." It was basically bodyguard duty for the powers that be. Did he simply find her incompetent or something?

She jumped in alarm when Fanny grabbed her hands. "Do something for me while you're with him, okay?" She was pouting. Rachel hated that pathetic pout. "Ask if he's got a girlfriend! Maybe put in a good word for me, yeh? We're friends aren't we?!"

"T… that's not a very professional bit of conversation to pull during a mission, Numbuh 86," Rachel protested weakly. Things like boys and crushes and all that relationship stuff was way over her head. She wouldn't know where to start. "we're supposed to focus on this ambush…"

"Pleasepleasepleasepleasepleaaaaaaaasssseeee?!" Now she was on her knees and threatening to be dragged.

"OKAY OKAY!"

She wished she hadn't agreed.

Ear pressed against the wall connected to Numbuh 9's room, all seemed to be well and quiet. Numbuh 274 was leaning next to her in the same perched stance, his expression serious and staring at nothing in particular as they both listened in on any further sounds coming from the adjacent room.

He was really devoted to the job. She admired that. "Um…" What was she going to say that didn't make it sound inappropriate? Her hesitance seemed to catch his undivided attention because confused blue eyes instantly caught her's.

"What's up, Numbuh 362? Bathroom break?" Expecting a very stern and unapproachable second-in-command like when he expedited, Rachel had been pleasantly surprised to find 274 very accommodating the last two hours and… well, nice.

Out of all the boys Fanny had a crush on, her tastes must be starting to have better quality these days. "No. I was just wondering…" she was never good at small talk. "…do you have a girlfriend?"

His eyebrows shot up so high it disappeared into that perfectly styled hair. Rachel instantly flushed and tried to backtrack. "I-I-I mean… not… well, that's really highly personal and not very… it's not appropriate, b-but…"

"Ah…" he nervously smiled. "No… no girlfriend. It's work, you see. Lot of…"

"Yeah, yeah, I figured. Obviously. We're just kids and…" She really really wished the floral carpet beneath her could just turn into quicksand and swallow her up. "It's just…"

"Well…" Much to her confusion, he looked her up and down. "You're kind of young. I mean, I suppose you're cute and very good at your job. That's a plus. I just didn't expect someone your age to…"

What. Her eyes widened. "N-no… you mean me…? Oh nonononononononono!" Waiting for that carpet to sink her through the floor right about now, please. "My friend," she tried to explain weakly. "she has a bit of a crush on you."

His eyes widened in understanding. "Ah… I see. You're playing wingman to that red head I bet. Numbuh 86?" When she nodded, his thoughtful interest in the subject seemed to dwindle until it was that cool professionalism again. "I'm not really interested in dating. If you can discourage her nicely, I'd really appreciate it."

"Yes sir." And just like that, he was closed off from her again. They paid extra attention to the wall after an awkward moment of silence.

It felt like an hour that she stared at a tacky cherub lamp when Numbuh 274 spoke up with that warm tone of curiosity again. "They say girls mature faster than boys. Must be hard for someone like 86 then."

"I…" she didn't know what to say to that. Was he trying to apologize for the curt response earlier? She decided on a more personal route. "Does it make me less mature if I'm not like that? I mean, I can see the appeal. I suppose."

Boys had always been just a gender that she worked with. To hold them in a high regard like Fanny and the other girls were trying to? She wasn't sure what to make of that yet. She had a harder time acquiring friends, let alone a significant other.

"You're very mature from what I've seen," he grinned at her. "So you're not boy crazy like the other girls. Big deal. Makes things less awkward. I don't have to worry about whether you'll follow my orders or kiss me instead." She flushed at the idea and it only sought to deepen that grin.

There was a strange thump from Numbuh 9's room. Out of instinct for the mission and the protection of their Global Tactical Officer, Rachel unhooked her mustard gun from her belt and made sure the hallway was empty and ready to go before letting Numbuh 274 sound the alert.

Apparently after the debriefing, Numbuh 367 not only botched the communications but blamed 86 for his ineptitude which earned her a demotion and a transfer to the Decommissioning Squad the next week.

"Numbuh 274 said what? I DUNNA CARE ANYMORE!" Fanny snarled which made Rachel take a step back. "Boys are nothing but stupid incompetent morons who couldn't operate a communications console if it bit them right on the-!"

Present day

Suffice to say, Fanny hadn't been exactly interested in boys much since that day.

Now? It was like Fanny somehow woke up this morning and decided to become a weapon of mass seduction. Probably because she discovered that boys were just as much a slave to their hormones as girls, if not more so. She's definitely been using them to her advantage for anything she needed, much to Numbuh 60's extreme displeasure.

Rachel was almost worried that the scowl on Patton's face was going to become permanent.

"Over-fracking-ruled," Patton snarled and then glared at Rachel. "and if you give her the go-ahead to seduce 274, I'm going to personally jam every single weapon on base. Including the Nobunaga Gun."

"Ooooh, the Nobunaga Gun. He means business," Fanny crooned. "jealous, Numbuh 60?"

He snorted. "No. I just think he'd see right through you. The last time he saw you, you hated boys so much it was an art form. He's going to suspect something if you go all native on him."

"So you are jealous." That earned Rachel a well-placed growl in her direction. "I'll see to it that Fanny doesn't imploy Love Potion Numbuh 9, okay?"

Fanny gaped at her and then started to roll on her side and laugh. "Oh my god! That's a good one!" She slapped the table. "Why haven't I thought of that, dammit?!"

"I think this is the reason why they decommission us at thirteen," Patton noted dryly. "we can't deal with one serious conversation before it devolves into nonsense."

"Must be the hormones," With a small grin, Rachel picked up her folded red umbrella and placed it over her shoulder. "your eye is twitching, Drilovsky. You like nonsense."

"I most certainly do not! Ma'am."

"You do," Fanny singsonged. "you're the King of Nonsense!"

Patton scoffed. "Ha. If I'm the King, you must be the Queen."

"Wrong. I'm the Galactic Overlord. Bow before my greatness you lowly male."

Allowing them to burn whatever unresolved tension they usually had in their arsenal, Rachel wordlessly retreated out of the room and replaced the warm quirk of a smile on her face for a cold frown. The operatives waiting for her from both sides of the door turned in her presence and saluted her. "Ma'am!"

"You're here," she drawled softly. "so I suppose the mission has been successful?"

They traded looks with each other which was the wrong thing to do. The air suddenly got colder when their leader's eyes narrowed in warning. "Was it successful?"

The female did not meet her gaze. Another wrong move. "The Kids Next Door have been taking… precautions against us the past few weeks. We were unsuccessful in capturing their current XO, but we do have an Archive operative in custody."

"Very well," she proceeded to walk away, but then said over her shoulder coldly, "you're dismissed. Permanently."

The male operative frowned under his mask. "What do you…" Something cold pressed against the back of his neck along with former Numbuh 86's snort from behind. His companion had turned around completely and found herself staring up at the barrel of 60's own weapon.

Patton clicked off the safety. "Really, we expected better from the Teens Next Door."

"And an Archive operative?" Fanny laughed and shoved the barrel further into the male's neck, forcing him to turn around. "You think we're stupid, don't you? Gettin' on in our old age, yeh? We know for a fact that operative's part of the candy division."

Rachel folded her arms behind her back and regarded them carefully. "A good ploy for the Teen Ninjas seeing as their databases aren't near as up-to-date on the KND registry. Except you are forgetting one thing: every week more operatives join Purnima's ranks. From a lowly 2x4 tinkerer to a decorative operative from Global Command. When your information conflicts the intel from ten other operatives, we're bound to believe sabotage on your part."

"It's called cross-referencing," snorted Patton. "maybe you should look into that in the future, infiltrators."

"If you've got a future," Fanny sneered. "we're still debating on it."

Cover blown, the female teen was the first to crack. "You're a threat to both the KND and the Teen Ninjas! What's your aim? Why are you doing this?!"

"Numbuh 986! Shut up!" the male hissed.

"986?" Fanny grinned and switched targets with Patton, aiming her weapon at the female instead. "I bet ye were part of the Decommissioning Squad, weren't ya?" The girl didn't respond, but it was answer enough to her. "It's been awhile since I've cranked open a decommissioning module, especially the new 1086x model. Tell me, do ye still add gum to conduct the cranial wires or did ye brats actually take my advice and use glue for once?"

Perhaps a compromise could come of this, Rachel thought, taking Fanny's jibe into actual consideration. "They say you no longer need to use the decommissioning chamber to ensnare operatives. Perhaps we'll treat your stay here with lenience if you trade us information. Authentic information."

The male glowered at her. "You think you can bribe us out of our loyalty to the KND?!"

"Everything has a price," Rachel said calmly and the male teen took a step back towards the path of Patton's weapon. Her stare was cold enough to render him speechless. "even loyalty."

That was when 986 drew her own weapon and pointed it at her comrade's direction. His eyes widened. "Numbuh 986?! What the heck do you think you're doing?!"

986 was visibly shaking. "Sorry, but my baby sister wasn't picked for the TND. They have her locked up with the other twelve year old operatives on Moonbase, Jim. If I revealed the TND moles here, Purnima promised to break her out."

"You see," Rachel continued softly. "we're something akin to information brokering. An organization like this thrives on secrecy for that very reason. We don't ask for much. Just a little step ahead from the KND, any bit of information would do. In return, we give operatives a third option, one that they deserve to have."

"Traitors, the whole lot of you!" Jim spat out. "That's what you really are! You can't convince me! Not in a hundred-bajillion years!"

Rachel shrugged as 986 knocked him out with the butt of her weapon in proof of her loyalty. "Bajillion isn't a word. Throw him off base."

986 surrendered her weapon to Patton and let out a shuddering sigh. "You… you're letting him go? What if he goes back for a debriefing about the base's location?"

"He'll never find it again," Rachel said over her shoulder before retreating down the empty hall. She had a personal trip to Glasgow catching up with an old pupil. "Purnima reveals itself to those who genuinely need it."

Much to 986's surprise, Fanny sheepishly poked her on the arm. "Aye, ye've got a waitress uniform I can use?"

"What?"

48 Hours Later

Traitor. Deserter. Monster.

Chad certainly knew how to woo a girl. Hardly amused by the whole thing, Rachel busied herself by messing with the presets on Chad's car stereo while he drove her through the deserted streets. His jaw was tight, which was Rachel's intention all along. You never mess with a man's stereo, but sufficiently enough, he deserved it for that mouth of his.

Finger pressed hard against the preset button on a pop station until it beeped the number to memory, Rachel started on preset number four when Chad finally spoke. "If I said I was sorry for opening my big mouth, would it save my fifth preset at least?"

"Depends on how sincere the apology is," she murmured coldly, but the fifth preset remained untouched. For now. "you know nothing about me except a memory. The world continues to spin and everyone's story continues to change."

The rain began to beat hard against the windshield so he clicked the wipers to move faster. "Then what's your story? What the hell happened?"

She said nothing for a good minute or so, too suspicious to trust someone who was obviously here to destabilize everything she was working for. Even if he was someone who was special to her in the past. "I trade information, to start. If you want something from me, I expect something back in return."

It was his turn to fall silent, but she already knew the answer. They were much too loyal, too lonesome to share any kind of personal secrets. That was why they were going to do things the hard way by manipulating each other.

The real question was: who was going to break first?