This one just came to me because so many people have back yard 'cook-outs' this weekend, at least here in the US. This one is set while they are still kids, so no real romance here folks, sorry. I just can't go to bed without getting this chapter down. Oh, in case you haven't seen Operation Z.E.R.O. turn away now to avoid spoilers. This one should be short, no more than two or so chapters, so you won't have to wait as long for it as for my other story. :)
Without further ado, I give you my second KND piece...
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Kids Next Door Mission
Operation: C.O.O.K.O.U.T.
Call
Operatives
Over
Kasually
Oust
Unwanted
Trespassers
Writing Operative: CallMeButLove
Nigel Uno, aka Numbuh One, Supreme Commander of Kids Next Door Sector V was frantically trying to evade detection by a rouge adult who was currently in pursuit of the ten-year old British boy. He just had to make it a few more feet to his room and he could activate the newly restored Escape Pod. He had tried to call for back-up on his wrist communicator, but the other adult in the household had managed to sabotage it with her infernal garden hose. Why they needed a perfect garden was beyond him, it's not like there was anything actually worth eating growing there. Nothing but terrifyingly fresh vegetables that the two adults could try and con him into consuming.
Ha! He thought, they don't know who they are dealing with. One of them may have been the illustrious Numbuh Zero once, but since he had made re-commissioning impossible by irreparably destroying the Re-commissioning Device, now he was as dangerous to handle as any other adult. He had just about made it to the door of his room, when his father stepped from out of thin air, or that's how it seemed, to materialize right in front of him barring his way of escape.
"I say Nigel, old bean. I wonder if you'd toddle on along to your uncle's house down the lane, and invite him to our annual summer cook-out?", he blinked down at his son with an oblivious smile.
"Our annual what? We've never had a 'cook-out' before dad! And I really don't want to invite who I think you are talking about anywhere, let alone here. He's evil and he - ", unfortunately for Numbuh One his father exercised his parental rights and cut off his small son's protestations mid-thought.
"None of that now, son. None of that. On your way now to Uncle Ben's house to tell him we'll be eating at five, but that he should come early. Your mother has all the proper cook-out snack foods that the paper recommends and we'll be able to enjoy the afternoon in the back yard. I even have some new Sousaphone music to listen to while we're at it", he stopped with a jolly smile and Numbuh One tried once more to convince his dad not to go though with this madness. It was very much as though Numbuh One had not spoken at all, because his father simply looked down at him and added.
"Oh and Nigel, be sure to tell Uncle Ben to bring your 'cousins' along so you can all play together. Won't that be fun, eh?", he turned and missed the roll of Numbuh One's eyes as he replied in a bitterly defeated tone.
"Yeah Dad, sure lots of fun. Just peachy", he grumbled and then called after his father.
"Oh Dad, I'll just be a minute, I have to change my, my shirt – right. Wouldn't want to visit Uncle Ben in a dirty shirt now would I", he scrambled into his room, shut the door and activated the Escape Pod. He briefly thought of how silly it seemed to have to fly out of the escape route from his room, just to get into the tree-house that grew up through the middle of the house, but he also knew that if he went back downstairs to the entrance he'd never make it past his mother and father without being forced to go to the mansion right then and invite the Delightful Children from Down the Lane and their 'Father' over to his house for a back yard, suburban, cook-out dinner.
At least this way he could get into the tree-house undetected and send emergency calls to the rest of Sector V. He only hoped none of them were trapped by their parents on this long weekend. He would need all the help he could get to face having the five Delightfuls and Father in his back yard all afternoon. If they worked together they could find a way to get rid of the villain and his children, without Numbuh One's parents being any the wiser. Somehow.
Numbuhs Two through Five were all busy engaging in the last relaxing weekend before summer vacation, and fortunately for Numbuh One, none of them had been given any chores yet. They each quickly made their excuses to their parents and headed off in the direction of Nigel's house as soon as their communicator alerts went off. When they burst into the Briefing Room, they'd all expected to find Numbuh One behind his podium, ready to tell them what the latest mission was to be. Instead they entered to find him pacing absently around the room oblivious to their presence.
They all began firing questions at him with lightening speed, and after a minute they noticed that he had not replied. Numbuh Five took the chance and spoke to him herself while the others listened.
"Numbuh One? The emergency mission alert went off, and we're here. So what's up baby?", she stood with her usual poise looking down at him from under the famous red hat.
"I- well team I need you all to come with me on a very sensitive mission. I need you to be in my back yard at 1500 hours ready for anything. The DCFDTL and Father are expected to be there so be prepared to have a real challenge on your hands. Ehm, in case you didn't already know, um, well you will all remember when I discovered my dad's previous identity as Numbuh Zero right?", they nodded not sure where he was going with this.
"Well I found out something else too. My dad's brother Benedict betrayed him back then, and he has since become the worst enemy the KND have had to face. He's evil, he's – he's FATHER", Numbuh One stopped and lowered his eyes afraid that his team would be disappointed in him for having such a close relationship to their worst enemy.
"Aw don't worry Numbuh One, we understand, don't we guys?. Ya can't help what the adults in your family do. We'll give those delightful brats and their Father a good butt-kickin' and then we'll come back here to the tree-house and hang out OK?", Numbuh Four was always ready for a fight, and this was no exception.
"Yeah, Numbuh One your uncle being evil isn't your fault just like it isn't Numbuh 86's fault that her dad's a villain", Numbuh Two added trying to be cheerful.
"Thanks guys. Now I need you to organize mission prep Numbuh Five, because I have to go down the lane and invite them. Kids Next Door – initiate Operation C.O.O.K.O.U.T.", he turned to look at them with a smile over his shoulder as he engaged his rocket boots and flew off down the lane.
He knew he had to be ready for anything on approach to the mansion, because he wasn't sure that there wouldn't be a trap waiting for him from the DCFDTL. There was an eerie silence surrounding the house which made him nervous. He crept stealthily toward the door and was just about to ring the bell, S.P.A.N.K.L.E.R. drawn at the ready, when the door opened and he found himself face to face with his arch enemy. Only he wasn't in his usual black silhouette suit this time and Numbuh one found him a lot less intimidating that way. The bow tie and suspenders outfit he had on now, was not threatening at all, and in fact he looked as harmless as any other big, clueless adult on the street.
Father looked down at the boy standing on his doorstep and sneered, sniveling distaste evident in his voice.
"Well, well if it isn't my nephew, Nigel Uno. What are you doing here anyway? I already told your father we'd be at his little barbeque so what did you do come to spy on us?"
"Uh actually no. My dad sent me to invite you and the children to the cookout. He didn't say that he'd be calling you about it. Well, then, I guess you're on your way so I'll be on mine", he answered with a somewhat nervous laugh.
As Numbuh One stepped quickly back down the path away from the door, he heard Father's voice from behind him, sounding evil again.
"Don't worry Numbuh One. My Delightful Children and I fully intend to make this little gathering very, VERY, memorable", with that he laughed maniacally until Numbuh One was to far away to hear him any longer
TRANSMISSION INTERRUPTED...
