DISCLAIMER: This fanfiction is set before the events of the episode Operation T.R.E.A.T.Y and attempts to replicate the Numbuh 2 Detective Episodes from the original series. Written by SixGumGang.
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Loading Kids Next Door Mission, Operation H.E.I.S.T
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Heist
Ending
In
Striking
Turnabout
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Chapter 1: Prologue to a Case.
"At the time it had happened, I could not tell if it was my sharp sleuth intuition or not, but as I shortly entered the trance between consciousness and sleep, I abruptly woke up to the screams of children scrambling around in terror and the fading echoes of bottle cap guns being fired in the distance. It was obvious something really bad had happened. And so I took in my detective hat and gear and headed straight out to investigate."
Cue in the jazz music and the vignette noir filter.
"I might have had to take the day out for my friends, but fighting adult tyranny could leave one really tired, longing to sleep or have at least a single moment of peace. It was all too common and familiar to me, I knew well at the KND, fighting for the sake of children could leave me unrestful, and today due to these circumstances, I refrained myself from taking on any missions and called it a day, you know?"
A friendly yet familiar voice narrated calmly, the soothing and mild voice with a flair of mystery in its tone, like a two-sided dilemma, it proclaimed itself amongst an uncertain most intriguing paradox. The voiceover merely pertained to none other than the ingenious Hogarth Pennywhistle Gilligan Jr., more known fondly and dear as Numbuh 2.
"I am Hogarth Pennywhistle Gilligan Jr., sleuth junior detective. It has been a day since I started working on this case, and frankly, things aren't going so well for now. I've been trying to prove the innocence of my friends, framed for a crime they didn't commit. Nigel, Kuki, Wallabee and Abigail are all at risk of serving permanent Detention along with the former president Jimmy, and I need to stop this. I still remember how all of that started, on that horrible, rainy night."
Playing the role of the detective once more in a mesmerizing case hard to crack, whose stakes have risen further than any problem the junior Sleuth has ever solved before, going further than fishy cake frosting business and an "assassinated" Rainbow Monkey Plush, this time things were serious, and there was no time, hour, minute, second or day to lose now.
At the Streets.
"On that day, my wandering insights had led me to head out on the way to the Gallagher Elementary School. By my watch clock, I could tell it was 6:21 PM. I hoped my mother or my little brother, Tommy, wouldn't find out I wasn't home, which would cause unwarranted problems. A sight of children screaming around accompanied, their deafening screams were getting tiring at this point. Unfortunately, none of them wanted to tell me what happened, however, by my detective perspicacity, I had noted they all had one thing in common ..."
"Gum in their hairs, huh."
The Detective had his own suspicions of who could be behind this heinous act. Slowly, a mist spread around the area. With a watchful eye, he stared at the alleys from the corner of his eye, to not be caught unaware by a surprise ambush of sorts. It was bleak and the alleys and the streets were empty and silent. Hogarth knew this was suspicious, but no one seemed to be around, not even a single voice to be heard, as he looked at the sky, he noticed it would soon start to rain. Taking a step forward, he noticed something strange.
"Huh?"
The Sleuth suddenly noticed something glued to both of his feet, seeing it was too bleak around him, he couldn't see well what happened around. He felt slightly uneasy, thinking too much about his friends, and what could have happened to them, they weren't back yet and that made him concerned. Hogarth remembered hearing that Sector V went on a mission without him, which quickly raised intrigue to the Detective.
"At that time, by taking out my flashlight to illuminate my surroundings, I had seen gum and even more gum everywhere, even some glued to my shoes. I had crouched down to further analyze, taking some gum out from my shoes from the tip of my fingers. It was authentic bubblegum with even rests of saliva in it. Missing bottle caps were scattered across the ground, I deduced that maybe, a fight ensued in these streets. Mayonnaise, ketchup, and other condiments were littered around, leaving a trail that ended at the school."
As Hogarth ran across the streets rapidly, it was starting to rain. The first droplets of water dripped from the skies on his hat like a broken sink. He didn't want to go to the school soaked in water, so he tried to cover himself with his hat the best he could. As he finally reached the Gallagher Elementary School, the rain finally started to pour out rapidly.
At The Gallagher Elementary School.
"Arriving at the school, I was greeted by a disastrous sight to behold, the school was entirely ransacked. Gum and only more gum everywhere, bottle caps scattered around, and remains of broken green glass bottles ... and oddly tumbleweeds. Whoever was behind this certainly didn't know how to cover their tracks, and there seemed to be many footprints around, at that moment it was quite evident to me that a single person alone could not have done this, however, I could not assume right off the bat."
The Detective pondered, realizing he had to go inside the school to continue following the trails.
"As soon as I stepped inside of the school to further investigate, it was of no surprise the halls were also littered with gum around. Several dirt marks from shoes on the ground and garbage cans rolling in the ground like tumbleweeds, ketchup, mayonnaise were again splattered around. The place certainly had a "lively reception". I continued further my way, the vestiges and traces ended at the refectory's doors. Curiously, the doors were unusually left unlocked, but as soon as I pulled the handle, I was stopped for my surprise by the Hall Monitors."
As of a sudden, a trio of Hall Monitors lunged forward from the shadows carelessly, their deep-blue sea glasses flashed a white glow from their lenses, each grappling their hands on Hogarth's back with a strong grip, in anger pushing him back, consequently severing a blue piece of his shirt in an attempt to immobilize and subdue him. Although the Detective tried to break free from their grasp, they eventually managed to immobilize him, keeping him static in his position, neutralizing him.
The Sleuth gritted his teeth in anger as he looked back from his shoulder, glaring at the Hall Monitors who were gripping on him. They wore the same uniform from the time when the Delightful Children had their short and corrupt mandate as Presidents, of the 4th Grade, one of them seemed to be communicating with someone, whispering in a walkie-talkie, quickly taking it out after noticing the Detective's uncalled eavesdropping, which angered him visibly.
"What is the meaning of all of this? What are you all doing? I did nothing wrong! I am just trying to investigate what happened here, please, let me go! I'm innocent! Hear me! I am just looking for my friends!"
Hogarth said rushedly, keeping eye contact with the hall monitor with the walkie-talkie, whose nickname is inside of his head: "Communicator". That was his name now. Looking around, the halls still seemed the same, something was wrong, and he could feel it, at this point he knew they were the only ones inside the school, which certainly was suspicious to him.
The Hall Monitors switched looks between themselves and then back to Hogarth, maybe pondering that the Detective maybe was telling the truth, though he actually was. They seem to quickly shudder that thought off, bitterly ignoring him for some seconds before "Communicator" decided to speak, making a signal to the other monitors to let him talk.
"Silence! We know your little group of friends is part of these so-called "Kids Next Door", and we'll NOT let you go until our Vice-President comes here! While at it, YOU'LL stay with us, CAPISCE?!"
The hall monitor said furiously, with a mockingly disdain on his tone as he pronounced the name of the organization. He grits his teeth, rolling his eyes angrily as he continues to maintain eye contact with Hogarth. The Sleuth pondered as he glared into the eyes of the "Communicator", to his curiosity he wondered why he hated the Kids Next Door. Could they have had something to do with all of this?
Suddenly, Hogarth heard footsteps echoing nearby from the halls, turning his head, he sees a figure walking in, having shortly entered the school from the entrance, though the person's body was covered by the shadows, a hat broke out of the silhouette, Numbuh 2's right brow rises inquisitively as he pronounces:
"Wilson Woodrow."
"That's right." Shortly after, the Vice-President replies, walking forward as the Hall Monitors reorganize their positions, letting go of Hogarth as they make way for the Vice-President to pass as he continues to walk forward. The hall monitor trio starts to watch Numbuh 2 closely, one blocking out the entrance for the hall and of the refectory as "Communicator" watches the Detective closely.
"We know your friends are part of this and we'll—"
"With who, you say, Wilson?" Hogarth cut Woodrow's speech, abruptly interrupting him. "Maybe the Six Gum Gang? Tell me another!"
The Vice-President leans his head down as chuckles, looking into Numbuh 2's eyes. "Hogarth, Hogarth, Hogarth." He says as he leans his head up, adjusting his hat as he stays close to Numbuh 2.
"I obviously know you're not one of them, but that is not the case now, now let me finish speaking-"
"Say, what is it then?" Hogarth replies, interrupting the Vice-President again.
"What is the deal with you, and these Hall Monitors? Where are my friends? Tell me, now!" He inquired, slightly angry. He knew Woodrow wasn't a trustable person at all, he was evidently corrupt, it was not hard to see this considering his past fortunate "deeds".
The Vice-President smirks as he looks closely into the Detective's eyes.
"I suppose then ... nobody's told you the news yet, didn't they Hogarth?" Wilson takes a small pause to breathe, continuing right after.
"Look, and hear me out now. Your group of friends were subdued by our Hall Monitors after they were found attempting to steal the luncheon of the refectory about an hour ago! They were the ones WHO broke into the school on this bitter night and ended up spreading terror in their way!"
Wilson said as the Hall Monitors nodded with their heads to agree with the Vice-President, probably to please him. He soon continued further with his speech:
"They burglarized and pillaged our noble school. Though nobody's sure where all of the food went after they stole since they were captured, weird."
Numbuh 2 looked in disbelief and in doubt as he heard Wilson's speech, thinking to himself that just could not be true, it just couldn't! Why would his friends do such a thing? He knew them too well to come to the conclusion that was a farce, a treacherous lie. Which wouldn't be surprising coming from Wilson himself.
"No way, Wilson!" The Detective shouted.
"My friends would never do this, that has to be a misunderstanding! You're coldly lying to me, aren't you? You must've made all of this up, you just plain don't like us and want to see us gone for your good! I don't trust you!"
Hogarth continued in a rushed manner, looking visibly angry as he glared in the Vice-President's eyes, gritting his teeth.
"..."
After hearing the Sleuth's rant, Wilson face-palmed, looking visibly disappointed with his frowned face, crossing his arms right after as he looked into Numbuh 2's eyes with a neutral expression on his face, though he seemed slightly annoyed for much of his own sake, the Hall Monitors continue to watch closely the situation unfold.
"Look, dude. We have proof, we have evidence from our cameras that have recorded every single of their movements, we can even bring out the eye-witnesses to confirm! You might not want to accept this, but that is what happened, and like it or not, it is the truth. You can't just prove to us otherwise, there is no way you can do this!"
The Vice-President took a pause, eyeing his surroundings for a moment as he once again looked to Hogarth as he continued to say.
"Your friends will be judged thoroughly in the Gallagher Elementary's 4th Grade Tribunal the day after tomorrow for armed burglary, larceny and betrayal against our noble school! If you want to be present at their case, I'd suggest not missing it, after all, that would be a real shame."
Wilson looks to the sides for seconds as he gets close to Hogarth's face, tipping his white hat as he provokes him.
"At least, be glad that you're not a criminal like your friends."
Numbuh 2 was boiling with anger from Wilson's provocation, though he tried to get control of himself, his eyes twitched and his body shook with anger. His eyes looked down together as he clenched up his fists, though he didn't plan to resort to violence, his frustration made him want to launch Wilson to the stratosphere. He simply knew he was wrong, and he was determined to prove it.
"You listen here, Wilson!" Hogarth pointed at Wilson's face, the Vice-President flinched at this as he looked scared for a second, backing off slowly. The Hall Monitors at the sight of this seemed startled, however, they decided to not intervene, maybe they were enjoying the scene of his.
"Hogarth you—" Woodrow replies angrily, having his speech cut abruptly again by the junior Sleuth.
"I might not know yet what you did to them, but I know this is a farce! Someone framed them! I know this, my friends would never do these acts you speak of, you know I won't trust you, so mark my words. I will prove you wrong, and I demand to begin my investigation on this case. If you're not hiding anything you probably won't mind if I take a look around here tomorrow, won't you? Huh?"
The Vice-President stayed speechless as Hogarth talked, thinking to himself. He breathed at a rapid pace, visibly stressed as he watched the Sleuth, feeling uneasy inside.
"Just as I thought, heh."
Eventually, Hogarth calmed down, taking his finger out of Woodrow's face, taking a deep breath as he walked towards the Vice-President, getting his face close to his as he tipped his hat, similarly as he did, proceeding to walk out towards the entrance of the school. This act enraged the Vice-President.
"I'll be taking my leave, now see?" Numbuh 2 said as he walked out in the direction of the school's entrance.
The Hall Monitors looked dazed by his courage to stand up against the Vice-President. Switching looks between them as they proceeded to discuss between themselves. Wilson looked annoyed as he continued to watch Hogarth from the distance.
"Did he really talk like this to our Vice-President?" One of them commented. "He's probably gonna get into big trouble!" The other replies. However, the "Communicator" remained silent, glancing at Hogarth.
Wilson observed Numbuh 2, shaking his head with an unnerved but intriguing face as he spoke to himself:
"We'll see so, so-called Detective."
The Vice-President turned around, hearing and watching the hall monitors with an annoyed face, proceeding to call them out:
"Hall Monitors! Dismissed!"
The trio hears this, stopping their conversation as they make their way out of the school, following behind Hogarth, they remain silent after this.
Before leaving, the Detective looked back, tossing a comment out loud over his shoulder, tipping his hat again.
"Hogarth P.I is on the case, now."
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TRANSMISSION INTERRUPTED. CONTINUES IN CHAPTER 2.
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