"Sometimes the person who is experiencing a sad painful life is the person who act as the happiest person alive"

---

Five still had his foot pressing against Lila's throat causing her to let out loudly grunts while gasping.

"You've got a good nose" The Handler said "You know, planting her in psych ward" Five said as he glanced at her before looking back at Lila "Taking advantage of my simpleton brother, that was smart" he said.

"Well, the apples don't fall far from the tree" The Handler said and he turned to her, furrowing his brows as he tilted his head while Lila was choking softly.

"She's your---" "Daughter" The Handler said, cutting Five off as he pointed on Lila "Yes. And she's my only one, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't crush her windpipe" she said as Lila was gasping while grunting.

Five press his foot more against Lila's throat before removing it and Lila gasped for air before she started panting as she got to her feet.

When she had catch her breath again, she took a step closer to Five "I am going to enjoy killing you someday, you and your little girlfriend" she said but Five just stared calmly at her.

"Lila, darling, would you give us a minute, please?" The Handler asked "Yes, the grown-ups need to talk" Five said with a fake smile and Lila turned to The Handler who nodded.

Lila scoffed before rolling her eyes as she walked to the other end of the room. She pushed something off a table making it fell to the floor with a clatter before she walked over to a table.

"What is it you want?" Five asked as he turned to look at The Handler "Do you like jazz, Five?" The Handler asked "I'd rather lick a cheese grater" he answered "Aww" she said as she smiled at him before she started walking around him.

"Jazz is like a beautiful woman" she said as she started walking towards one of the tables behind Five causing him to turn around "Complex, emotional, hard to please. She doesn't just give it to you...she makes you work for it, just like your girlfriend Maddie" she said "Maddie is not like that and I'm really hoping that you're going somewhere with this" he said as he glanced at her. 

"Under my leadership, The Commission would sound more like..." she said as she put her arms out while she took a step towards him "Jazz" she finished, tapping her foot on the floor as she started mimicking a jazz rhythm.

"And what about the board of directors?" he asked "Well, that's where you come in" she said and poked on his nose before stepping back and he shook his head "Nope. No, it isn't" he said calm while he shook his head slightly with his head tilted a little bit.

"In exchange for the assassination of the board, I'm willing to get you and your family out of this timeline and back to 2019 where you belong" she said as she walked past him and he turned around to look at her.

"And what about World War III that's due to kick off in just a few days?" he asked "Once you and your siblings are gone, that goes away" she said "And the apocalypse when we get back in 2019?" he asked "That too" she said "I distinctly remember you telling me that that apocalypse had to happen, that was supposed to happen" he said "Back when I was toeing the company line" she said before walking to his side and she stopped behind him before leaning in "But once I'm in charge..." she said before tapping her shoe on the floor while she mimicked a jazz rhythm again as she put her body closer to him and she leaned her body up against him as she put her mouth right next to his left ear "We can riff..." she whispered.

"Jazz" he whispered, cutting her off "Exactly" she said and she walked around so she was in front of him again before putting her hands in her pockets.

Five took a step back before he turned around and took some steps forwards while putting his hands through his hair in distress.

"What about the board of directors, hmm?" he asked as he turned around to look at her "I mean, nobody knows who they are" he said as he put his left hand out before dropping it at his side.

"Correct. But once every fiscal quarter, they get together for a board meeting" she said "Where?" he asked "The question is when. They meet somewhere in the timeline but never in the same place twice. The exact location and date of these board meetings is the most closely-guarded secret in The Commission" she said and Five started pacing as he walked over to a table "But you know where it's gonna be, don't you?" he asked as he looked at her "Would I be any good at what I do if I didn't?" she asked as she took a couple of steps towards him as she put her arms out to the side.

He crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned his back against the a table while looking at her.

"I need some time to think about it" he said "Fine" she said as he started walking away "But remember, doomsday's right around the corner, and the way things are going, I'm your only option" she said and Five stopped before he let out a softly scoffs "Not yet you aren't" he said "Well, you better be quick to make a choice overwise you might not reach to save your little girlfriend this time" The Handler smiled "Don't you speak of her" Five hissed before he blinked away.

---

Maddie was looking at an envelope she have gotten from a man in a black car.

'To my Persures: I, Reginald Hargreeves, request the pleasure of your company for the light supper on the twentieth of November, nineteen sixty-three, at half past seven o'clock. Sixteen twenty-four Magnolia Street, Dallas, Texas' 

"Diego, this is a setup" Luther said with his mouth full with food "Maybe. But we should go anyway" Diego said "I'm not going" Maddie said "Neither do I" Freddy said "We are all going" Diego said "Says the guy who's already been stabbed once this week" Luther said "Oh, don't worry, me and him are gonna have a word" Diego said and Luther looked at Vanya "Would you tell him that he's nuts?" he asked "I think we should go" she said "See?" Diego said as he pointed at at her "Vanya, of all people, you should hate Dad the most" Luther said "Come on, can he really be that bad?" she said.

"Oh, yeah" Maddie and Freddy said.

"Okay, well, let's see. He isolated you from the rest of the family" Luther said "Kept you hopped up on pills" Diego said "And he brainwashed you into thinking you had no powers" Maddie said "Jesus, this guy..." Vanya said "Yeah" Luther said "I mean, come on, I have to meet him" Vanya said and Diego let out a small smile.

"You already know how this is gonna go" Luther said while pointing his finger at Diego "Dad is gonna play all his little mind games on us, get into our heads, and he's gonna turn us all against each other. You watch" Luther said "Luther, we're not 12 anymore. All right? We're grown-ass men. And women" Diego said before he looked back at Luther "Hey, hey. We can handle him. Wanna know what's different this time?" Diego asked "What's that?" Luther asked "You got me. We go in there as a united front. No more 'Number One' 'Number Two' bullshit. From now on, it's...Team Zero" Diego said.

"Team Zero?" Luther asked "Team Zero. All the way" Diego said and extending his fists out to Luther and Vanya.

"Team Zero" Maddie said and fist bump Diego "Hell yeah, Team Zero" Freddy said and fist bump Diego.

---

Five stopped in front of a tall building, he looked down at the paper in his hand to see if he got the address right and he has. It was here. He then walked towards the building before he entered. 

He put his hands in his pockets as he walked up the stairs before he walked towards the elevator.

He took a deep breath as he press the button on the elevator.

The elevator door opened and he entered before he glanced at the buttons, looking for the right one. He clicked on the right floor before he put his hands in his pocket. 

Just at the door was about to close, someone put their hand in between the doors, causing them to open and Five to look up while he furrowed his brows.

"Wait up" Diego said as the door opened and he entered with Maddie and Freddy behind him.

Five and Maddie smiled as soon as they saw each other while her, Freddy and Diego stepped into the elevator.

Then approaching footsteps was heard and they got louder as someone came around the corner.

"Hold it" Allison said as she entered the elevator before Klaus came around from an opposite corner and he stumbled slightly as he walked into the elevator "Hey, everyone" he said as Vanya walked in after him as Klaus stood in between Diego and Allison causing Five and Maddie to move closer to each other so their shoulders was touching each other causing them to looked at each other before smiling while they were both blushing a bit.

Luther then came in last, going in between Vanya and Five "Excuse me" he said as he stepped into the elevator.

"Good. We're all here" Five said and the elevator dings before the door closed.

Everyone was silence as they were waiting patience for the elevator to stop at the floor.

The elevator ding each time it passed a floor.

Luther was looking up when he let out a softly grunt.

Then everyone scrunched their faces slightly as they smell something disgusting.

It smelled so bad that you almost couldn't breathe.

Klaus tilted his head and Diego was looking down as Vanya looked off to the side.

"Oh" Allison said and everyone started to make a weird face as they could smell it while Diego was trying not to laugh.

"Oof" Five and Freddy said "Luther" Maddie said "Oh, my God" Vanya said as her, Maddie, Five and Freddy was trying to held their breath while holding their nose with their hands and Allison covered her nose with her shirt.

"Sorry, I'm nervous" Luther said "Oh..." Klaus said.

The elevator dings and as soon as the door opened, Maddie ran out of the elevator with Five and Freddy right behind her, still covering their nose "Nasty. I'm choking" Allison said as she and Vanya rushed out of the elevator "None of that" Klaus said as they left the elevator.

As they entered the room they could hear island music play softly over the speakers.

They noticed that the room they have entered was huge. The walls was decorated and there was four tables, one of them in the center of the room.

"All right, when Dad gets here, I'll do the talking, okay?" Five said as they all stopped by the table that was in the center of the room.

"I got a few questions for him myself" Diego said as Allison stopped next to table that was standing off to the side before she took off her cardigan.

"Hey, we don't wanna scare him off. He might be able to help us stop doomsday, get us home" Five said as Diego, Vanya and Luther walked around the table while Allison stayed back at the table she had stopped at as Klaus was getting a drink from the bar.

"No, we need to figure out why he's planning to kill the president" Diego said "This is a matter of life and death, you imbecile" Five said "Okay, yeah, maybe we should take turns talking. Yeah?" Vanya said before she picked up a shell from a table that was standing on the side. "Here, whoever has got this conch shell gets to talk" she said "Vanya, we don't have time for a debate, okay?" Five said "Maybe I should lead" Allison said as she grabbed the shell from Vanya "We all know I'm better public speaker than the rest of you" she said.

Maddie walked over to the table in the middle and Five pulled out a chair for her while he smiled to her, "Thank you" she said with a smile as she sat down and he pulled the chair Maddie was sitting on closer to the table.

"Okay, Daddy's girl" Diego said to Allison "Oh, jealous, Number two?" Allison asked "Hey, no more numbers. No more bullshit. We're Team Zero. We're all Team Zero" Diego said "Uh, Diego. We don't have a conch" Luther said and Diego put his finger up before he nodded while smiling fakely at Luther and he took the shell from Allison, turning around and threw it towards the wall "Classic" Allison said as the shell flew towards the wall, but with his speed and his quick and amazing reflexes, Freddy caught it perfectly with his right hand before it could hit the wall. "Nice caught as always" Maddie said "Don't break things that look expensive or are not yours" Freddy said as he lifted the shell up and down while looking at Diego.

Then suddenly the door behind Five, Diego, Freddy and Maddie opened causing everyone to look at the door to see Reginald walking towards to the table quickly with a notebook in his hand.

Reginald glanced at Maddie and Freddy as he walked past Five to the other side of the table.

Reginald then sat down and the others all took a seat at the table. Five sat down next to Maddie while Freddy put the shell down and sat down next to an empty chair before he put his leg on cross, put them up on top of the chair and leaned back, looking like he really didn't want to be here.

Reginald glanced at Maddie and Freddy again, like he saw and felt something in them, something very strong and incredibly powerful.

"Not only have you burglarized my lab" Reginald said as he fixed the end of his blazer and shirt sleeves "Set my chimp loose, conned your way into Mexican consulate, repeatedly stalked and attacked me, but you have, on numerous occasions, called me..." he said but got cut off when Klaus while holding a drink in his hand, moved his chair that was between Reginald and Diego, drawing everyone's attention.

Klaus sat down as he grunted softly before he looked at Reginald "Hey, Pop. How's it hanging?" he asked as he was holding a drink in his hand.

"....'Dad'" Reginald finished as he was glancing at Klaus while Five glanced between Klaus and Reginald "My reconnaissance tells me you're not CIA, not KGB, certainly not MI5, so...who are you?" Reginald asked.

Silence filled the siblings as they all looked at each other trying to figure out what to say.

"We're your children" Maddie started, but in a voice like she wasn't proud of it and Reginald looked at her "We're from the future" Freddy said "In 1989, you adopted us all and trained us to fight against the end of the world" Five said and Reginald looked at them "Called us the Umbrella Academy" Five said.

"Why on earth would I adopt eight..." "Nine" Allison said, cutting Reginald off "One of us isn't here" she said "Dead. One of us is dead" Diego said and Maddie looked down while trying to hold back her tears, she still couldn't handle hearing about Ben being dead, it was her fault.

She have kept the secret for what really happen to Ben for years, the only person who knew what really happen was Freddy and that was because he saw it, but only the ending. Maddie wanted to tell the others the truth about what really happened, but she was afraid what they would think of her, she was afraid that they would call her a monster or a murder and they would be mad at her.

Then a hand grabbed her hand and she looked to the right to see Five looking at her "You okay?" he whispered and she nodded while giving him a fake smile.

"And also your not my dad, you didn't adopted me, you just took me in, so you could have someone who weren't important and someone you didn't care about, losing to experiment on" Freddy said.

"Yeah, ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba" Klaus said as he was moving his fingers together while he put his hand up before he turned around in his chair "Enough of that now" Klaus said to the air behind him causing Reginald to look confused at him and Klaus looked at him before he waved for them to continue.

"Regardless, what would possess me to adopt eight ill-mannered malcontent?" Reginald asked "We all have special abilities" Five said as he leaned forward a bit "Special? In what sense?" Reginald asked "In the superpower sense" Luther said "Called me old-fashioned, but I'm stickler fro a pesky little things called evidence" Reginald said before he looked at the others "Show me" he said.

Allison picked up her glass in front of her before she twisting the straw "Everybody wants to see powers all of a sudden" she said with a scoff.

"Well, I am not showing my powers. I don't want to waste my energy or power on something like this" Freddy said before he leaned his head back and gurgled.

"We're not circus animals, okay? We're not gonna bounce balls on our noses and clap our hands like seals for your amusement" Luther said.

Then suddenly while looking at Allison, Diego pulled up one of his knives before throwing it towards Luther.

The knife made a curved in mid air and flew towards Reginald before it turned, flying past his ear before changing direction again, lodging itself into a pillar making a loud metallic thud.

Klaus looked at the knife while Reginald wrote something down in his notebook causing everyone except Maddie and Freddy to lean forward a bit.

"What are you writing?" Diego asked "You are zero for two, young man" Reginald answered, referring to the night where he stabbed Diego, causing Allison to snicker into her glass while Maddie let out a small chuckled. 

Diego stood up from his chair and he was about to rushed towards Reginald but Five blinked out of his chair before he appeared in front of Diego, putting his hands on his shoulder, stopping him "Stop" he whispered.

"Now that is interesting" Reginald said.

Then Maddie's eyes glow red and as red whisps wrapped around her hands, red whisps wrapped around Diego and he floated over and was force down on a chair "Sit down Diego and stay there" Maddie said as her eyes changed back to normal.

"That is also interesting. Very" Reginald said before he wrote something down in his