(Untitled)

[numbuh_one]

Where'd all this Christmas stuff come from?

It's nice and all, but it's not the same. I want to see my dad again. He gives really stupid presents, like underpants and sousaphone accessories, but... [somehow he doesn't think Sideswipe's gonna do any better] I guess he has decent taste in underpants, and well, we always did Christmas together, for

Comments

[numbuhthree]

You won't really go away too, will you Numbuh 1?

[numbuh_one]

I'll do my best not to, Kuki. But we still don't know how they manage it, and if they got Numbuh 362, Numbuh 86, even Numbuh 5... it's possible, and there needs to be a plan for if it happens.

[numbuhthree]

What kind of plan?

[numbuh_one]

Things like deciding who should be the new leader, compiling all of our knowledge into something easily accessible by other kids, finding a hiding place for that... creating the sectors should also help. Everyone needs to be united.

[godisachild]

Christmas ain't all that great a holiday.

[Filtered]
You have any plans on how the thing is supposed to be built that you could show Kat or I?

[numbuh_one]

Whether it is or not, I'm just - [and he deeply regrets saying this] not in the mood for it.

[filter]

We've rebuilt the treehouse before. I think I can draw up some blueprints for you. [usually that was Numbuh 2's job, but how hard could it be? He's seen them before. Worked with them.]

[godisachild]

...Miss home that much, huh?

[Filter]

Awesome. We'll do what we can but with just a few people working on it...no clue how long it'll take to get built.

[numbuh_one]

Yes, I do. But also, a Christmas put on by them is just a mockery of everything important about Christmas. I can't stomach it.

[Filter]

Back home, my team and I were able to do it in no time. That was with the five of us. I'll see about getting more people to lend a hand.

[Filter]

[bluecapboy]

I'm sorry to hear that.

...I suppose tag would be nice, I haven't played in a while.

[Filter]

[numbuh_one]

Thank you, Luke. I was going to ask Four to help you with your combat training, too! Oh well, I'll just make some time for it.

[It comes off a little tired. Normally he'd love the feeling of more and more KND related work piling onto him, but as he loses friends, it all seems to lose its sparkle.]

Anyway, I think we should play before Christmas.

[Filter]

[bluecapboy]

Perhaps someone else in the KND can take over...

[A slight pause, he's lost a lot of friends to droning, and it was never an easy thing to deal with. Especially by yourself.]

If you ever need to talk about...you know, I could always listen. I mean, it's not like I would mind or anything.

And I think that sounds like a good idea.

[Filter]

[numbuh_one]

Thanks, Luke. I'm ... er... not sure how much it will help, though.

Someone else?

- I'll give you a call when we're doing it, then.

[Filter]

[strike_you_out]

Tag...?

[Filter]

[numbuh_one]

Yes - tag. Are you any good at tag, Slugger?

[Filter]

[strike_you_out]

I might be. [He also might be grinning.]

Why?

[Filter]

[numbuh_one]

Well, back home, it's how we pick who gets to be the Supreme Leader of the KND, since nobody ever really wants the job.

[Filter]

[noneed_2worry]

I know how you feel. A friend of mine just got droned, too.

[Filter]

[numbuh_one]

[he remembers her being sad when Ribbon was droned, too...]

I'm sorry. We've run through a lot of them, haven't we?

[Filter]

[noneed_2worry]

Yeah. I guess it's just part of living here.

[Filter]

[numbuh_one]

Are you okay?