(Disclaimer: KND and all its relations are property of Cartoon Network Inc. and Mr. Warburton. The story is property of me.)
now loading….
kids next door operation
S.O.U.T.H. A.F.R.I.C.A.
Southern Operations Utterly Transform Hoagie and Abby. Foreign Recon Is Creepily Amazing.
Chapter 1: Moonbase
"Numbuhs 1 and 5 of sector V reporting for duty, sir," Nigel Uno said saluting and straightening himself at attention. Beside him stood his second in command, Abigail Lincoln, showing equal respect for their commanding officer. They stood in the Supreme Commander's office, the central nerve of the sprawling Kids Next Door Moonbase.
The Supreme Commander in question, Rachel Mackenzie, codename Numbuh 362, stood behind her desk, the central fixture of the large room. A single computer and phone sat on it, with various piles of paper and files lined neatly from one end to the other. A wall of glass behind her gave a dazzling view of the barren moonscape sided by the inky blackness of space.
The atmosphere was formal, but familiar, and Rachel welcomed the friendly faces of her long time comrades.
"At ease, guys," she said she said warmly, "and welcome to Moonbase."
As the operatives relaxed, she raised a hand gesturing at the two chairs in front of her desk. They sat, and so did she, lifting a file from one of the piles and opening it. She glanced over it's contents for a moment before looking up at them and smiling.
"Thank you both for coming on such short notice," she began, "I know you've just finished with the clean up operation in Indonesia. How did that go by the way?"
"Scrub was successful, sir," Nigel said, then frowned, "Father's forces have fled the region, but I'm not sure if Sector I will recover. The internal damage caused by Numbuh 391; it's, well, extensive."
Rachel sighed and put the folder down. 4th Sector that year.
"With all due respect, sir," Abby said stifling a yawn, "can we move on to why we were called? Numbuh 5 was up most of last night scrubbing ice cream outta her hair."
"Right of course," Rachel nodded, her voice stern, "I'll cut to it. Have either of you heard of the Lost City of the Basuga?"
Nigel looked clueless but Abby's face lit up. "Yeah, Numbuh 5's heard of it. Some city buried under some desert, huge treasure too."
"Indeed. More specifically it's the Kalahari Desert which covers most of Botswana and parts of Namibia and South Africa," Rachel said, "allow me to explain:"
"As the legend goes, the Basuga were a small tribe of African natives that lived on what is now the South African Eastern Cape, when the Dutch settlers arrived, they tried to take the land away from the native people. Many wars broke out over the land, know today as the Frontier Wars and many tribes fought, but others fled. One of these tribes were the Basuga, they fled up country and into the Kalahari Desert led by their chief at the time, Moshoeshug. They wandered through the desert of months, living barley on the little supplies they had. Just when they had lost all hope, they stumbled across an oasis. The Basuga settled around the oasis, and everything was hunky-dory. Then, Moshoeshug started exploring the untouched areas of his new kingdom. What he found was sugar cane, loads of it. Now the Basuga had been known for their taste for the sweeter things in life, so Moshoeshug couldn't help but try the cane, but as he's about to, he apparently sees a vision of his father warning him of the magical properties of this particular cane, which happened to be the sweetest in the world. He said Moshoeshug may use it, but only for the good of his people. Moshoeshug agreed, and his Kingdom grew into a wealthy city as more and more people heard of the indescribable sweets produced from the cane. But as his wealth grew so did his greed. Moshoeshug soon forgot all about his father's warning and began hoarding all the Kingdom's riches for himself. This angered the ancestors, and to punish Moshoeshug, they ordered the desert to open up, and swallow the city, taking its people and treasures with it."
"And let me guess," Abby smiled, liking the sound of things more and more, "you want us to find it."
"Usually something like this wouldn't concern the Kids Next Door," Rachel said reaching for another pile on her desk, "but we are not the only ones looking the Lost City." She handed a file to Nigel who, after looking through it, passed it to Abby. It contained various written reports and grainy reconnaissance photographs of an operation in a desert. One of the photo's showed several men standing around an open crate. In the centre stood a figure entirely black, eyes glowing red, a pipe sticking from a featureless face.
"Father," Nigel said simply, his eyes narrowing behind his dark glasses.
"Yes," Rachel continued once again, "the current theory is that Father wants to use Moshoeshug's treasure to take control of all the worlds' candy, I'm not entire sure if that is truly what he's ultimately after, but if it is I don't need to explain as to what that means and why we can't let that happen. You and your team need to get to it before he does."
"Again, with all due respect," Abby said frowning, "Numbuh 5 is the only one on this team who has experience with this kind of thing, I'm not sure sending the entire sector is wise."
"I realize this, but this kind of operation simply cannot rest on a single operative," Rachel said picking up another a third file, "and even with a full team, you are still going to need help."
She handed the file to Nigel.
"Now, we don't have that many African Kids Next Door sectors; only two, Sector E in Egypt and Sector S in South Africa. The political turmoil on most of the continent makes it difficult to establish our influence. The South African Kids Next Door are fairly new, having only been founded 4 years ago. Nonetheless their experience in the Kalahari and local knowledge and expertise will prove invaluable. Your mission is to rendezvous with Sector S and with their assistance gather information on Father's Southern African operations and locate and secure whatever it is he is after. Any questions?"
Both Nigel and Abby shook their heads.
"That about covers it then," Rachel said standing up. Nigel and Abby did the same. "The mission specs will be sent to your Tree House. We expect your departure for South Africa at 06h00 tomorrow."
She turned to Abby.
"Numbuh 5, you are dismissed; I need to have a private word with Numbuh 1."
Abby glanced over at her superior, but he showed no sign of reaction. Not entirely convinced, she saluted and made her way out. Rachel watched as she did. The door shut. A moment of silence passed.
"May I ask what this is about," Nigel asked is a curious tone, his face still not giving anything away. Rachel locked eyes with him, her face stern with an edge of concern.
"Numbuh 1, did you hear about sector Q?" Rachel asked.
Nigel raised an eyebrow. "Yes, there was a report dispatched to all sector leaders a month ago," he said cautiously, "the entire Sector went traitor. The whole team joined the Teenz."
"Correct," Rachel said, sitting back down, "but under further investigation, Global Command discovered that it wasn't the whole sector that was corrupt, it was just two operatives, Numbuhs 56 and 53, which caused the upset. Motivated by Numbuh 53's older sister, they managed to convince the entire team to go rouge. They were all approaching veteran status, 12 years old each, and considered some of the best on the European subcontinent."
Nigel, still standing, shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other.
"It's a sad but well known statistic that in every sector there is at least one corrupt operative," Rachel continued, her gaze still locked on him, "what happened in Sector Q and more recently Sector I is becoming more and more common as the 6th Age rolls on."
Nigel began to look nervous.
"I'm sorry," he said, "but what has this got to do with me?"
"I'm getting to that," Rachel said, noticing his change in confidence, "Nigel, do you trust your team?"
"With my life and childhood," Nigel said without hesitation.
"Very heroic, Numbuh 1," Rachel said rolling her eyes, "but, still, we have been keeping an eye on Numbuh 2 and Numbuh 5. Numbuhs 41 and 43 have done an extensive investigation, and the both of them have been up to something; something out of KND regulation."
She looked at Nigel. All confidence had evaporated.
"You wouldn't happen to know anything about this, would you?"
"N-no n-n….," Nigel stammered but then forced himself to calm down, "no not at all."
Rachel frowned and leaned forward in her chair, tapping a command into her computer. A disembodied voice sounded:
'Office surveillance deactivated'
She stood up and rounded the desk to stand in front of Nigel. He was already taller than the average operative, and she looked up at his face her expression softening somewhat.
"Listen, Nigel," Rachel said, "if something is going on, and you know about it, you have to tell me. If proof that any members of your sector are involved in corrupt activities is found, they are liable for immediate decommissioning, and if it is found that you were aware of these activities, you are liable for the same punishment. You still have a long run with KND; don't let something like this wreak it."
"I am well aware of the consequences," Nigel sighed, his body slackening. He looked her in the eye, a small smile playing on the edge of his mouth, "and, if there was anything going on, you'd be the first person I'd tell."
Rachel smiled back and reached out to touch his cheek, but as she did the door swung open and Numbuh 63.5 burst in.
"Sir, I have sector W on line one, it sounds urgent."
Nigel quickly grabbed her hand and shook it, harshly shattering the moment.
"Understood sir," he said professionally, "I will see to it right away."
"Yes," Rachel said taking a step back, looking hurt, "Ok, Herby, put them through."
Numbuh 63.5 saluted and left the room followed by Nigel.
Rachel shook her head sadly as she walked back over to her desk and picked up her phone.
Inside the bustling hanger of the Moonbase's Command wing, Sector V's S.C.A.M.P.E.R. was being refuelled. As a number of young mechanics and technicians scurried around the green craft, Hoagie Gilligan Jr., codename Numbuh 2, and Abby were inside of it, talking softly. Hoagie was much, much thinner after his parents had sent him to the Loosapound Fat Camp, his now log and lanky frame taking up the pilot's seat while Abby leaned against the main control panel.
"It's just as I thought," Abby was saying, n edge of worry in her voice, "They've had Numbuh 41 and 43 on us."
"Shit," Hoagie said rubbing his chin, "I was so sure we'd been more careful."
'Hey, they're good," Abby said with a shrug and then smiled at Hoagie, "We're gonna have to hack into the KND mainframe and erase Numbuh 43's report, think you can do that?"
"Oh please," Hoagie snorted grinning back.
Suddenly Nigel was in the doorway. He looked at them both with a curious stare.
"So what was that all about?" Hoagie asked, cheerfully grinning at the sector leader. At the same time he balled his fists. It was an act, he actually wanted to break Nigel's nose.
Nigel's face brightened.
"Nah, nothing important," Nigel said stepping inside, "Just a few additional details on the upcoming mission."
Abby remained silent, shifting from the cockpit to her own post. Nigel made his way to the chair in the centre of the craft and sat down.
"Right," he said with a long sigh, "Numbuh 2, take us home. I need some sleep."
"Aye aye, captain," Hoagie chimed, flicking several switches and brining the craft to life.
Outside the team working on the craft removed the fuel hose and did a final check before giving Hoagie a thumbs up and clearing the floor. The craft's engines roared to life and it lifted lightly off the docking bay floor. The S.C.A.M.P.E.R. rotated and glided to the edge of the bay. After receiving the go-ahead from Moonbase flight control Hoagie gunned the throttle and they shot into space, beginning the slow journey back to earth.
A/N: I don't know if anyone does recognise this, it may be from before most of your time, but this is indeed a rewrite of a fic of the same name from about 6 years ago. I assure you that I and DarkMike, the original author, are one and the same, so this is totally legal or whatever. I'm working to regain access to my old account and as soon as I do I'll be sure to put something on the user profile that confirms this.
Anyway, the point is that I plan on doing a total rewrite of the fic and this time finish it. I'm not sure how strong the fandom is anymore, but if there is enough interest I want to give my creation new life and save it from my edgy teenage self! This fic get's very dark, brooding and Indiana Jonsey, putting 12-year-olds in situations they oughta not be. But hey, if anime can do it, why can't I? So, if this sounds good and you'd like more leave a review and say so. I may just do it anyway. I dunno, I'm doing a BA, I have too much time.
Hugs and kisses
Simon