Hope you enjoyed the 2 flashbacks.

Not another one for awhile

So here you go...

Nigel was both happy and sad from hearing their stories. He was happy his friends had enjoyed such an awesome early childhood but he was sad that he had to miss it. He thought it was almost silly that he expected everyone to be the same when he returned. It had been 6 years he was gone, and so much was different.

His parents had moved back to Britain two years ago. They were temporarily recommissioned to say goodbye to him when he left with the GKND, but right after they were decommissioned again, so their memories of Nigel were wiped away forever.

Whenever Nigel thought about his parents not even knowing they had a son, he became depressed. He fought for kids rights and the ability of them to have an innocent and peaceful childhood, and he had completely sacrificed his. A 10 year old boy growing up with no parents caring for you and at the same time being alone in the darkness of space had a way of changing someone.

General had always tried to be a father figure, but it wasn't the same. He basically trained Nigel most of his advanced moves but something was always weird. It seemed that General would always hold back his feelings for Nigel or end a situation that needed an element of compassion and candor. It was like General didn't want to be a true father figure, just a sympathetic trainer and commander. Of course Nigel had only just found out recently why General acted like this, but even still. That made Nigel's early childhood even harder.

His parents didn't deserve a future of not ever knowing their son, but then again maybe it was better. Would you rather have a missing son for six years or no son at all? It was a tough call.

Wally, Kuki, and Abby continued to update Nigel on everything that had changed.

Sonya, Lee, Fanny, Patton, and Rachel had also all been accepted into the TND.

Sonya and Lee started semi-dating by the time they were 10, and by thirteen they were solid boyfriend and girlfriend. Even Patton and Fanny had a thing going, but Patton was really into the TND. He was the official training officer and secret holder specialist, and he was great. His last students he taught were cadets Joey Beatles, Shaunie Fulbright, and Mike; and now they were the best operatives in the KND. He actually specially trained Shaunie even more than the others, which was why, according to Patton, that Shaunie was so good.

When Nigel asked about Rachel, no one had an answer. She was really active in the TND, but when she turned 14 her family moved away. No one ever heard from Rachel again.

That was unfortunate. Nigel did look forward to seeing Rachel again while he was on earth, but it looked like that wouldn't happen.

Nigel didn't know what to think. After they told him about all that had happened, he just felt left out. His friends, the friends he remembered, disappeared 6 years ago when he did. He would never see them again. Instead he had these new people, who looked like them, talked like them, were them, but were not. It was confusing, and after awhile Nigel attitude turned from interested to sad to just plain lonely. When Abby noticed this she changed the subject.

"So Nigel, what have you been up to these 6 years?" asked Abby.

Nigel just sighed, "I can't really tell you. It's all classified."

"O," a disappointed Abby replied.

"Well…...….I can tell you this….…...I've traveled the galaxy a lot, I've met all types of aliens – which surprisingly look a lot like us. There not too much different and only a few species are really weird. Most are just humanoids – anyways, I've fought countless battles with teams or just solo, and I've learned so much about advanced technology, weaponry, and tactics. I've met so many leaders of planets or diplomats and made really cool connections. Ha, by the time I want to retire I have over 20 planets to choose from, I just need to supervise protection for the planet's leader and I get a paid a bunch of money. My skills are fantastic and I am regarded as very good in the GKND, one of the best actually." Replied Nigel.

"Wow, that's cool mate…...…..so any girlfriends or anything?" asked Wally. He wanted the juicy details of being a celebrity in the galaxy as one of the best fighters out of everybody. There was only one super operative per planet in the galaxy so Nigel really was kind of a celebrity too.

"Wally," complained Kuki.

"What I'm just asking. Look Nigel if you don't want to say anything in front of the girls that's completely cool mate, just tell me later alright."

"Wally!" both yelled Kuki and Abby. Wally just laughed but he was seriously interested in Nigel's personal life outside the GKND. Actually, they all were.

"Well…...…I don't really have anything to say about that either," simply responded Nigel.

The three just looked at him and were actually surprised.

"Na man I mean tell me about your social life, your friends, whatcha do during your free time n stuff." Asked Wally.

"What social life, the GKND is full time Wally. I haven't had free time since I was 10."

"Wait…..…..what? Are you telling me you have no life to yourself, your always working?"

"Well, I mean the older operatives sometimes go to the clubs or parties on the close planets while at the bases and not on missions. They usually go on their leave designation times but I don't really join them. I mean if I'm not on a mission I am assigned to a base where I train or learn about the galaxy in the life training courses."

"Learn, like school?"

"Ya, you need to learn about the latest GKND technology, about social issues in the galaxy, about economic factors, everything any educated adult would know. We are really asked to be a lot. I mean as a sole representative of an entire planet I have to be able to interact properly with any head of state or high ranking commander, and I need to know all the customs and ideologies of most planetary cultures. They ask a lot out of ya. Imagine a fighting politician, that's me."

"Wow, I though you just fought really bad people and that's it"

"No it's much more than that, but when all is said and done that is my true job, which is why when I 'm not learning in the classroom I'm continually training to get better and better. I can't even count the hours and hours and days and weeks and months I've spend training and training to be the best."

"That's crazy Nigel…...….and you like doing this? I mean I know you're a workaholic but dang man that's too much for anyone to handle."

"Well…...someone has to do it, if not me who else?"

"Wait…...What?...are you telling me you do all of this, you put yourself through all of this just because you think you have to?"

"Well I wouldn't say that. I guess-"

"Then what would you say?" demanded Wally.

Wally didn't like what he was hearing. He had also noticed Nigel was getting bummed out when they were telling him about their lives growing up. Was Nigel saying that he missed all of that, that he missed growing up a with a life like theirs, a life a kid was supposed to have, all because he thought he had an obligation because he was simply picked. Has Nigel been feeling this for the past 6 years? What a terrible way to live.

Hoagie had heard Wally's voice pick up and had walked over to join the team.

"Listen Wally, Kuki, Abby, and now Hoagie. I dont' regret for one second the decision I made, but know this. Am I sad that I missed your guy's lives, yes. Am I sad that I will never have a chance at something like that, yes. But…...am I glad that I've had the opportunity to fight for all kids' rights, to defend the galaxy from tyrants, and to be a beacon of hope for the hopeless, the beaten, and the discouraged; absolutely yes. It's been hard, don't get me wrong, but because of what I'm doing, other kids around the galaxy will have the opportunity to enjoy life just as you guys have. It's my calling…...it's my past, present, future…...it is my life. "

"I just…...don't think your happy man…...is it worth it?"

"Yes…...it's what I do and it's what I will always do. I am sorry I have given you guys the wrong impression about what my life really is, and no I'm not happy in the general sense, but I am different now, and things like training, learning, and fighting is really what makes me happy now. They changed me you guys…...I mean I was once told I was the closest to a perfect soldier anyone could ever get…...a guy named General, one of the best fighters and leaders in the GKND told me that."

"I know you're good and all, I just…...…I'm sad for you is all. I thought I had some what of an idea what was going on up in space with you. I didn't know you were always busy like that, I thought you had like a personal life or something, like a alien girlfriend or a space monkey pet or…...I don't know anything but that." yelled Wally.

"Ya…...well…...that's my life, good or bad, right or wrong, fair or not that's what it is….…so Hoagie are we ready?"

"Uh..….Ya…...let's do it." Replied Hoagie as he was a little cut off from Nigel's immediate subject change.

With that all five of them approached the ship that had been warming up for awhile and now was ready for Hoagie's special prime-D sec. coating to go on. With that painted on, the ship would be invisible on radar.

The team did its best to not think about the touchy conversation they had just had and tried to get back to work, but it was hard. The realization of how good their youths had been and how bad Nigel's was took a blow to the spirit of the team, but they couldn't dwell on that now. All they had to do was apply the coating on, get to the moon base secretly, and have Nigel defeat this so called Uncle.

Of course after that things would go back to normal and Nigel would probably leave never to be seen again for another 6 years; or maybe even more. So what really was the point of feeling sad, of hoping, of wanting to change, of trying to help Nigel out. No matter what happened things would ultimately go back to the way they were and that would be it. That was the real downer for the old sector V, the fact that every story has an end, the fact that after this mission Nigel would have to leave again; but right now was not the time to think about that.

AT THE TREE HOUSE

"Sir, we have an update with the search of the last high priority teens," informed number 575 leader of sector V.

"Very well what is it?"

"Numbuh 536 and the two decommissioning squads have continued tracking the paths of Nigel, Hoagie, Abby, Kuki, and Wally and we have isolated their possible location to four buildings, assuming that the TND base isn't one of the houses or parks in the area."

"Ok…...give me a satellite picture of the four buildings please."

"Yes sir," replied the leader of sector V as he turned to the terminals, "command terminal operative please put location 45S28bat on screen."

"Yes sir."

Immediately the satellite picture of the four buildings appeared on the huge screens of the tree house command center.

"Hmmm…..." thought Shaunie, "Mike what do you think?"

"Well sir…...I don't think it could be that warehouse, look how the roof of it is curved like that, I wouldn't call it the best design for an opening roof. And-"

"What do you mean about the roof numbuh 212?" asked Shaunie.

"Well sir, Nigel wouldn't be there unless he was looking for a way to get into space, and so that would require a ship. The last base we tracked them from didn't have a ship, which is why I assume they moved to this other base. And a ship hidden in a secret teen base underground would need a way to get into the air…..right sir?"

Shaunie knew that the TND base would have a way for ships to get to the air but he continually liked to see if Mike was on his game. He always liked to test his friend. It was his job as a senior commander.

"Right you are Mike, so you don't think it is the warehouse – and neither do I – so what else do you think?"

"Well sir it could be in that apartment complex or that seven 11 or that gas station, I still don't think we can tell yet."

"Ya…..…I guess your right…..…numbuh 575 how much time before the decommissioning squads actually think they will completely track the teens to their base?"

"About 8 minutes sir," responded numbuh 575.

"Um…...sir," shallowly responded the command terminal operative.

"Yes what is it operative?"

"Well…...I live here and…..."

"Yes I know you live here, you are in fact a member of sector V, so how does that apply to this current situation?"

"Well….in my opinion…uh….."

"In your opinion what operative? Listen whatever you say can't hurt any, so just speak up."

"Ok," responded the command terminal operative with much more confidence. Shaunie was an intimidating leader, but he always had a way of removing his forceful personality when he needed to.

"I almost know for a fact that it is not that apartment complex, my friend lives there and I have been to the basement a lot with no signs of any secret teen base, I also don't think it is that gas station because I have seen some teens go into that 7 eleven a lot more and not come out for awhile at times…...that's what I think sir."

"Well, I see….Mike, thoughts?"

"Sir if it's not the apartment complex than it's the 7 eleven, the gas station is just too obvious and I just don't think that its roof is big enough to hide a big ship like the ones the teens have."

"Yes, I agree, operative zoom in on the 7 eleven with metal ionic scans please."

"Yes sir."

Immediately the screen zoomed on the 7 eleven and the metal ionic scans showed 4 big concentrations of metal, on one each corner of the roof of the building."

"Boys and girls…...do you know what those are – don't answer Mike…...anybody?"

"Uh…...statues?" yelled out a random operative.

"Ice cream makers!" yelled another operative.

"No…...they're big motors," replied numbuh 575.

"Motors…...as in motors that open the roof doors of the 7 eleven to let a teen ship out," informed Mike.

"Yes Director numbuh 212, you are correct. You were also correct numbuh 575. Give the exact location of the teen base to the decommissioning squads, mobilize and send that reserve KND platoon waiting at the hanger, and get some fighter jets in the air surrounding the target as well."

"Yes sir," responded the command terminal operative as he ordered the KND troops and fighter jets to mobilize.

"Number 575,"Shaunie immediately whispered into the sector V leader's ear, "Nigel is there I know it, but he will probably escape…...still though make sure numbuh 536 takes no chances. Cut power to the building and breach immediately. Maybe we'll be able to capture one or the rest of the TND or damage the ship he was planning to use. Most importantly though we still need to give them the illusion that we are only after Nigel and have been this whole time, which is why we have chased him so far anyway before we are actually supposed to look for him."

"You got it sir," replied numbuh 575.

The hunt is on.

I've got a busy week ahead of me, and probably will not up date till the late weekend, so look for another post then.

Date wise maybe the 1st of April.

If anyone is a little confused with that information about General, Nigel's commander, dont worry. Your supposed to be but all will be revealed eveuntally.