The Story of Number Five and Number Eight

Chapter Twelve: The New Job At The Commission

Wednesday 8:15am, 1955

Eight's POV:

"I must admit, Number Five, Number Eight, in all the time that I've been here, I've never met anyone quite like you two," The Handler admitted.

"Hazel and Cha-Cha, for example, are talented, certainly, but... they can't see the big picture. Your spunks, your enterprising spirits, well, it reminds me a great deal of myself, if... I may be so vainglorious."

When I saw Handler put a arm around Five, it made me more jealous than angry. I bit my lip to try and control it.

"Of things work out for you here, you could potentially make fine successors, Five and Eight," She explains.

"We'd like to discuss the logistics of our family's safety at your earliest convenience," Five reminded as we start to walk up the stairs.

"As well as these body replacements," I say.

"Such chutzpah. It's refreshing, I'll admit. Slow down, Five, Eight. All in good time. In fact, now that you've finally agreed to work with us, we've got all the time in the world," Handler explains.

"The Commission works in support of a delicate balance between the time line of events and mankind's free will."

We walk to the Briefcase Room.

"The briefcase is no longer part of your kits, you two. Free you mind. You're managements now. One of us," She explained as we go to another floor.

"All the people on this floor are case managers, each one responsible for one major event at a time."

We stop next to a room with a whole lot of people.

"So many of them," Five said.

"Impressive, isn't it? Being part of something... so grand. Come along," The Handler says as she walks. We both follow.

"Whenever someone chooses the wrong path and the time line is changed, the Commission gets a report from field agents on the ground. These field reports are sorted and assigned to a case manager. They determine if anyone needs to be... removed from the equation to assure that their events happens as it should."

We stop to a room with pipe lines and a woman.

"Based on that determination, the case manger sends instructions via pneumatic tube to... temporal assassin's like you formerly were, Number Five, Number Eight. Any queries so far?" She asked.

"Yeah. Who was the case manager handling us?" Five asked.

"Ah. You mean the apocalypse," She said as she rubbed her hand against Five's cheek.

I swear I think this bitch is doing this on purpose to make me jealous.

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Eight's POV:

We walk to another room with less people in it.

"Five, Eight, meet Dot," The Handler said as we stood next to Dot's desk.

"Oh, hi," She did a smile.

"Dot is responsible for all apocalypse matters. In fact, it was Dot here who first flagged your appearances in 2019," She explained.

"No hard feelings," Dot said with a big smile.

"Well, you certainly put us through the ringer. Outsmarting two of our so-called best temporal assassins. If that doesn't spell leadership material..." The Handler's voice got higher causing everyone to look at her.