Greetings once again. I hope you enjoyed my cliffhanger. I did.

Flt. Sk.: You would enjoy the passing by of a random mortal pedestrian.

…Why do I keep you around?

Flt. Sk.: To do the disclaimer for this pathetic story.

Which you never do.

Flt. Sk.: Very well. Floating Skull shall announce the aforementioned disclaimer. The Kids Next Door belong to neither DRX9 nor Floating Skull.

Thank you. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter. It will throw a wrench into everything that's happened thus far.

Floating Skuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuull!

TRANSMISSION REEASTABLISHED

"Negative Numbuh 4!" cried Numbuh 1. "I should have known!"

"Ah, the operative word: should," replied Negative Numbuh 4. "We all should have done a lot of things. But one thing you never should do is cross me."

Negative Numbuh 4 had not changed much apart from his clothing, which was all black. Short, blonde, and with a fake brown goatee, only one difference was noticed by the captives.

"What's with the thing on your head?" asked Numbuh 2.

"It looks like a tiara," said Numbuh 5 with a smirk.

"Oh, you mean this?" Negative Numbuh 4 took the object in question off his head. Indeed, it looked like a tiara, but there was a large jewel in the center, and strange runes covered the crown. "This is the Dreamcrown…"

"Since when does the big, bad Negative Numbuh 4 wear girl stuff?" interrupted Numbuh 5 with a laugh. Numbuh 2 started laughing, but Numbuh 1 remained silent.

"Funny, laugh while you can," said Negative Numbuh 4. "It won't be long before you're silenced for good. But don't worry," he said, noting the terrified looks on their faces, now empty of laughter. "Much has to happen before you all die."

"What did you do with Numbuh 3 and Numbuh 4?" exclaimed Numbuh 5.

"You'll find out soon enough," he replied with evil grin across his face. "But enough about that, I'm sure you're all wondering what the Dreamcrown is."

"What we'd like to know," said Numbuh 1. "Is where we are."

An evil smirk covered Negative Numbuh 4's face. "You are in my fortress. An impenetrable keep rivaled by none other."

"And let me guess, we're in the Negative World," asked Numbuh 2.

"But of course. My, you really are the opposite of your foolish negative counterpart. But before we continue, I'm getting rather parched. Bring water to Dungeon A!" he barked into what appeared to be a communication device he had pulled from his pocket.

Not a minute had passed before a girl opened the door carrying a pitcher of water and a cup. Negative Numbuh 4 smiled. "I'm sure you all know Negative Numbuh 3."

"What are doing Negative Numbuh 3?" cried Numbuh 2. "Why are you serving this guy? He's pure evil!"

"No," replied Negative Numbuh 3 softly. "My master has unified the world, ridding it of war and oppression. Under his rule, we will soon usher in a golden age of prosperity."

"What are you, nuts?" yelled Numbuh 1. "He doesn't care about the world! All he wants is as much power as he can get his grubby little hands on!"

"My master warned me of those who would not see the righteousness of his vision. For you I share no sympathy." Without another word, Negative Numbuh 3 left the room, closing the door behind her.

"What did you do to her?" exclaimed Numbuh 5. "The Negatives don't follow you anymore."

"All will be explained shortly, my friends." He took a drink of the water, reminding the positive operatives how thirsty they were. "It started when you interfering runts had me sent to the broccoli mines. The mines, you see, are an invariable maze. Not even I can properly navigate my way through them. I wandered around for weeks, having to survive off the broccoli and any moisture that fell from the ceiling."

"Why didn't you just go out the way you came in?" asked Numbuh 2.

"Alas, I was brought in blindfolded via one of my tunneling vehicles. They left before I could follow them," answered Negative Numbuh 4. "I thought I would die down there. However, my luck soon changed when I discovered the Dreamcrown buried in a long forgotten broccoli deposit. When I put it on my head, everything changed. I could feel the life-force of anyone nearby. I used that power to navigate my way out. When I finally exited that accursed place, there was no one. I walked the fields for hours before I found a cabin. The old man living there recognized the Dreamcrown. His ancestor had sealed away the object in a cave hundreds of years ago. The large deposits of broccoli eventually uncovered it. It has the power to manipulate dream energy: the human subconscious. He asked that I return the Dreamcrown to where I found it, and that fool believed that I would do it!"

"It was not long before I came upon some of my former troops. They were not happy to see me, but their minds were full of confusion. I had ruled for so long that many did not know how to handle this new freedom. I told them that I had changed, and would lead the world to a golden age. While I spoke to them, the Dreamcrown spoke to their subconscious. It made them trusting of me without them realizing it. They willing followed me as I re-recruited most of my past army. However, it seemed that if I told anyone of the crown's power, they would become immune to its control."

"So all we have do is tell everyone the truth!" interrupted Numbuh 5.

"No quite," replied Negative Numbuh 4. "They won't believe you. I myself must tell them for the spell to break. Now where was I? Ah, yes, things were going well when another fateful day occurred. I was attacked by an operative who refused to be swayed. Yes, Negative Numbuh 86 was quite a foe, but thanks to her, I discovered a new power. By coming in contact with someone, I could drain away their dream energy. With her dream energy gone, Negative Numbuh 86's body became a lifeless shell. It was almost as if her soul had been taken."

"You monster!" cried Numbuh 2. "You can't just play with people's souls like that! It's…It's blasphemy!"

"Save your preaching, lard boy," said Negative Numbuh 4. "Absorbing dream energy had another unexpected side effect. It allowed me to manipulate the physical world around me. Armed with this new knowledge, I quickly took back control of this world, ciphering the dream energy of all who opposed me, each one making me more powerful than you could possibly imagine. I've been plotting my revenge ever since."

"And what then?" asked Numbuh 1. "What do you plan on doing after we're out of the way?"

Negative Numbuh 4 smiled. "Simple. Take over your world."

"You'll never win!" cried Numbuh 5. "Kids Next Door Global Command knows all about you! They'll never let you control them!"

"I've already thought about that," answered Negative Numbuh 4. "You see, once I collect enough dream energy, will destroy the nexus that separates the two worlds. They will merge, and the positive and negative population shall share the same planet. But everyone will be dazed and confused from the merger. In that state, it will be easy to control your people. And if not, then I'll simply increase my power, if you catch my drift."

"You'll never get away with this!" shouted Numbuh 1. "Somehow, someway, we will stop you!"

"And how will you do that?" asked Negative Numbuh 4.

As Numbuh 1 struggled with an answer, the door swung open. An operative carrying an unconscious Numbuh 3 entered the room. The kids gasped, not at the condition of their comrade, but at the identity of the one holding her.

Standing there, with a wicked smile on his face, was Numbuh 4

INTERRUPT TRANSMISSION

Flt. Sk.: Ah, there is nothing like betrayal to create joy in Floating Skull.

To those of you reading, don't worry. I can almost guarantee that this isn't going in the direction it looks like. But you never know, you'll have read to find out. Until then, ponder this turn of events and remember, reviews are most appreciated!

Floating Skuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuul!