Note to readers: Thanks for the reviews for chapter one. This next chapter was supposed to be longer but I realized so much was going on in the first part that it would take away the emphasis on the second part, so I split them into two chapters. Which means chapter three will be up very shortly. Now for the important stuff, I still don't own the KND or any characters related to them. But I do own Mater Nagina, she's my bad guy, I made her up (she's loosely based on my own mother.)

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The street was abandoned, empty save for a few randomly parked cars and of course there was that six- foot, snarling snake woman slithering around. Ten eyes watched the female beast in all her scaly horror as she searched the area for the prey she had been chasing.

"Kids Next Door!" She hissed loudly, "Where are you little brats? No child can hide from the forked tongue of Mater Nagina!"

As she screeched she flung back her head, bearing her long sharp fangs and reptilian tongue. Aside from those features, plus her yellow, slitted eyes and scaly claws, her body from the waist up was perfectly human. Her dark green hair tied back in a respectful bun, large earrings dangling from her earlobes, wearing a modest, although slightly outdated blouse. If the mutated adult chose to wear sunglasses and gloves and never open her mouth she could pass as normal. That is, if it weren't for what was below her waist. Starting at her hips was a long, thick, scaly serpent's tail. She used it to slither about, poking out her tongue to sniff out a certain quintet of naughty children she was just itching to chew out.

The five Kids Next Door ducked their heads behind the fence they were hiding behind. Hoping that their freakish grownup enemy could not sense them there. They gripped their weapons tightly and all looked to Numbuh 1 for what to do.

"Mater Nagina," He began to explain, "Her M.O., being overly critical of children and nagging them to abusive levels. Her weapon of choice--- calling your parents."

The others cringed in fear, except for Numbuh 4 who scowled, un-impressed.

"Is that all?" He asked indignantly. He held his eye to a knothole in the fence and gazed out at the serpentine foe. "I can take out this passive- aggressive hag, no problem!"

Before his teammates could stop him, Numbuh 4 flipped over the fence and ran head on into the open. The S.P.L.A.N.K.E.R. in his hand eagerly readied to do its job. Numbuh 1 leaned past the hiding wall and yelled to his pugilistic friend.

"Wait Numbuh 4!"

But Numbuh 4 was never one to wait. No, he rushed right into Nagina's path.

" 'Ey Medusa!" He shouted, "Time I gave you somethin' ta really complain about!"

Yellow eyes stared evilly at the little boy. Leering, Mater Nagina reared up on her tail, looming tall over the three- foot high lad. Numbuh 4 didn't flinch; instead he held his weapon firmly, hungry for some action.

"MIND YOUR LANGUAGE YOUNG MAN!"

The force hit Numbuh 4 across the chest and sent him flying into the side of a brick house. The sonic blast from Mater Nagina's mouth had taken him completely by surprise. His ears still ringing, he slid to the ground, reeling in pain. His fellow operatives winced at the sight of the small boy's body being propelled by the nearly invisible impact. Numbuh 1 shook his head at Four's costly impulsiveness and waved a signal to the others to follow him into battle.

The small blond moaned weakly, trying to get his bearings straight, struggling to get up. He covered his ears, hoping they weren't bleeding. The blast still stinging his eardrums, temporarily muting all sound around him. A shadow fell before him. He looked up and gaped quazi-fearful at the fanged mouth that contained an even deadlier secret. The snake woman hissed and inhaled for another attack.

"AND WHERE DID YOU LEARN TO DRESS YOURSELF?!"

With a quick duck and roll, Numbuh 4 avoided the blast. Flying brick and rubble nearly hitting him as he landed. His adversary turning her head to assault again.

"WEARING THOSE BAGGY PANTS. DO YOUR PARENTS LET YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE LOOKING LIKE THAT?!"

A speedy leap was all that kept Numbuh 4 from sharing the same fate as the concrete and asphalt that splinted and cracked into a mighty pothole in the ground. He faced his opponent ready to attack. Ignoring the fact that all the sounds of the world to him were now a dull hum. She smirked, bearing her fangs. He braced himself, ready to leap up and smack that lady's mouth clean off.

"AND DON'T GET ME STARTED ON YOUR HAIRCUT---"

She started to unleash another set of pummeling sound waves but the sudden impact of a football being launched at top speeds to her head cut her off. Both she and Numbuh 4 turned to see Numbuh 2, manned with a football bazooka.

"Touchdown!" He shouted happily.

Nagina snarled, slithering towards the chubby boy. Numbuh 2 yelped and aimed for another shot. Firing off the pigskin round he smiled as it seemed to be another perfect shot. But the snake woman took a deep breath and screamed another sonic nag.

"YOU COULD PUT SOMEONE'S EYE OUT WITH THAT THING!"

The rippling vibrations tore through the air, shredding the leathery projectile into harmless bits. The continued on, heading for the rotund gunman who screamed helplessly as the force knocked him off his feet. Numbuh 2 hit the ground with a bounce. He groaned, rubbing his head and twisting his finger in his ear.

As this was happening, Numbuh 1 ran across the suburban battlefield and, taking Numbuh 4 by the arm lead the momentarily deaf boy to safety.

"Numbuh 4, are you alright?" He asked once out of harms way.

Numbuh 4 looked oddly at his commander. He cupped his hand behind his ear and yelled loudly,

"WHAT?!"

_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_

Numbuh 2 grabbed his cumbersome weapon and took off running. Nagina close behind; trying to grab at him with her claws.

"What do your parents feed you? You're a FAT little thing." The she- beast hissed coldly. Two turned to face her, his be-goggled eyes shimmering with emotional pain.

"Hey---" He moped, sounding near tears.

"Why don't yo' mind yo' own business?" Numbuh 5 shouted coming to her ally's aid. She held up a crossbow like weapon and fired it, letting loose a pair of yoyos tied end to end like a bola. The flying toy wrapped around Mater Nagina's head, covering her eyes, blinding her. She clawed at the binding, snarling. Amid her distraction, she was fired upon by Numbuh 3, happily shooting a barrage of teddy bears from her T.H.U.M.P.E.R.

With a fearsome shriek, the snake woman ripped off her blindfold and glared at the children, covering their ears to block out the boisterous cry.

"YOU KIDS NEED TO LEARN TO PLAY WITH YOUR TOYS PROPERLY!"

The sonic nag sent Numbuh 3 crashing into a set of trashcans and a swing of a broad tail knocked Numbuh 5 into Numbuh 2 and flung them both across the street. Numbuh 1 watched his friends' distress and took quick action, firing his S.C.A.M.P.P. at the streetlamp just above Nagina's head. The lamp's bulb burst, showering the mutant with shards of broken glass. As she frantically brushed the fragments from her hair and clothes, he signaled his teammates to join him and Numbuh 4 behind a parked station wagon.

"Man, that lady's louder then the base on Numbuh 5's stereo." Numbuh 2 commented, still favoring his ears.

Numbuh 1 watched their opponent through the windows of their hiding spot.

"Yes, and she doesn't care whose feelings she hurts." He added.

"Fa'get feelin's," Numbuh 4 quipped, his hearing finally back. "What about 'ar ears?"

"We need some way to plug up that big ol' mouth a' hers." Numbuh 5 concluded.

"We could give her some candy." Numbuh 3 suggested.

The group looked to her raising their brows. Gazing at their felicitous friend, a low hissing suddenly filled the air above them. Fearfully looking up the fivesome found themselves face to face with their stentorian enemy.

"YOU SHOULDN'T BE HAVING CANDY BEFORE DINNER!"

The kids scattered away as the blast destroyed the very spot they were standing in, sonic vibrations shattering the car's windows. They took cover behind some more parked cars. Numbuh 5, 2 and 3 ducking behind an S.U.V. and Numbuhs 1 and 4 claiming shelter in the shadow of the sports car. Nagina chased after the larger half of the split bunch.

"Get back here," She growled, "I'm not done with you yet."

Numbuh 1 watched her pursuit, grumbling under his breath. This adversary was proving to be much harder to handle then he had anticipated.

"Is there anything more annoying then a nagging adult?" He asked rhetorically.

"Hi Nigie!" A familiar and unexpected voice chimed behind him. For a split second, or for as he was feeling it; an eternity, his heart stopped. Knowing immediately who it was, and that she shouldn't be here.

"Lizzie?! What are you doing here?!?!" His voice wavered between quiet shock and angered yelling, as if his mouth and mind couldn't agree on which emotion to covey first.

Her eyes glittered with a loving stare, blind to the havoc happening to her boyfriend's companions behind the sports utility a few yards away.

"Well after you had to leave our date so earlier last night, I decided to hang out with you today." She smiled, leaning forward, pulling the baffled Brit into a hug.

"That's nice?" Numbuh 1 warbled, "But Lizzie, you really---"

"But what?" She glared down at him. He gulped and began babbling, stumbling over the words to what sounded like some mixed up attempt at an explanation.

"Well, we're in the middle of a---you see that we're--- I'm needed to- --uhh---"

Rolling his eyes Numbuh 4 decided to butt in and space a bit of his leader's pride.

"Ya can't be 'ere cause weh onna mission."

The Aussie and the interloper exchanged a heated glance, neither wanting to be in the presents of the other.

"Yes! A mission!" Numbuh 1 jumped up straight; an enthusiastic and goofy smile on his face. "An important mission."

Lizzie looked out across the street at Numbuhs 2, 3 and 5 who were running like the dickens from the deadly sonic nag of Mater Nagina.

"It doesn't look very important to me." She huffed taking Numbuh 1's hand. "Come on Nigel."

Her tug met with resistance. Numbuh 1 stood his ground.

"I can't go with you Lizzie." He said. There was a firm seriousness in his small eyes.

"Yeah, 'e can't go with ya." Numbuh 4 reiterated brusquely, "So why don't ya go away ya cruddy cling-on?"

"Nigie," Lizzie whined, "Your friend called me a bad name. Aren't you going to defend me?" She flashed him those humongous pleading eyes. The firmness in his own melted away.

"Uh, well---uh---"

"Need 'elp gettin' rid a 'er Numbuh 1? I can get rid a 'er real good." Numbuh 4 offered eagerly smacking the S.P.L.A.N.K.E.R. into the palm of his hand.

"No Numbuh 4," One halted the boy and turned to his girl. "Lizzie, now really isn't the time for us to be hanging out."

"Why not?" She pouted. He tried to avert his stare from her.

"I'm trying to tell you---"

"Hey! We need some back up ova' here!" All heads turned to the street at the sound of Numbuh 5's cry. The dark girl was using a trash can lid to defend herself from Mater Nagina's fearsome claws. Numbuh 2 was kneeling behind a fire hydrant reloading his bazooka and Numbuh 3 was riding on the snake woman's tail like it were a bronco in some rodeo.

"Whee! I'm a cowgirl!" She exclaimed joyfully before getting thrown off.

"You 'erd what she said Numbuh 1," Numbuh 4 stated, "Let's go!" With a mighty holler the blond warrior began running into the fray, but quickly realized he wasn't being followed. "Numbuh 1?"

He looked behind him and saw his commander held still by the vice-like hug of his girlfriend.

"Lizzie, let go of me. Please. I appreciate your affection, but not right now."

"I don't want you to get hurt!" Her grip was unrelenting, "Why don't you stay here with me?"

One struggled to get free but, the embrace was too tight for him. Numbuh 4 grumbled under his breath.

"Ah fa the love a---" He shook his head and shouted, "Break it up ya love birds!"

The pair stopped their tug and pull, looking at the yelling boy.

Meanwhile, Numbuh 5's defenses were failing fast against the hissing gorgon. Her trashcan shield was already warped with dents and slashes. Her allies too distracted to come to her aid, she had to stand on her own. Nagina reared back and inhaled to deliver her main weapon.

"I'LL TEACH YOU KIDS SOME RESPECT!"

Five barricaded herself with the lid, her ears going numb with pain. The force of the blast became too much to bare, she couldn't brace herself against it any longer. The vocal barrage sent her airborne and careening strait into Numbuh 4 and the Juvenal couple. The group landed in a groaning heap some feet away.

"Ah man, twice in one day." Numbuh 5 muttered. The disheveled quartet got to their feet just as Numbuhs 2 and 3 ran past them yelling. Joining their comrades, the remaining kids rushed away from their position just in time to avoid a sonic blast propelled car crashing down on them.

The group found safe haven behind a parked Winnebago. Panting heavily Numbuh 2 now took the moment to notice the extra member in their mists.

"Hey, what's Lizzie doing here?" he asked.

"She's mucking things up, that's what she's doin'." Numbuh 4 grumbled. Lizzie threw him an angry glance before snuggling close to Numbuh 1.

"I can't help it if I wanted to spend more time with my Nigie."

Numbuh 1's face flushed a bright pink as all eyes looked to him.

"Well, at least it can't get any worse." Numbuh 2 spoke optimistically.

A loud crash above them gained their attention. Mater Nagina had just used her powerful tail to knock the top half of the trailer clean off. Numbuh 3 looked up and the snarling fiend smiling.

"Now it can!" The Asian girl shouted happily.

The operatives turned, aiming their weapons at the looming enemy.

"Ready to fire!" Numbuh 1 commanded, holding his S.C.A.M.P.P. at the ready. He aimed for the Mater's head, prepared to fire. "Now! Wha---!" A sudden pull on his body caused him to misfire, only grazing his opponent's cheek.

Nagina snarled, testing the wound. She hissed ready to strike back, but the ballistics of the other children halted her assault.

Numbuh 1 maintained a neutral expression, gently prying Lizzie's hands from around his torso.

"Lizzie," he said quietly, "Now isn't the time."

"We almost got 'er on the ropes!" Numbuh 4 shouted, using his S.P.L.A.N.K.E.R. to launch rocks at their dermatologicaly impaired antagonist.

"Just stay here, please." Numbuh 1 placed his hands on Lizzie's shoulders, making sure she understood his words. She nodded and watched silently with a pouting face as the object of her affection ran off into battle.

Mater Nagina was aware she was loosing ground to these pint-sized heathens and was already mounting her counter-attack.

"YOU KIDS THESE DAYS ARE WAY TOO VIOLENT!"

The remains of the Winnebago shattered, sending shrapnel flying everywhere. Screaming youngsters scattered to avoid getting hurt.

"I BLAME THE MEDIA!"

Another impact sent them whizzing in all directions, landing where they were randomly cast about.

"Nigel!" The heavyset votary rushed to her battered, British boyfriend 's side. Aside from a sore back made worse by her hugging him, he was all right. He turned his head to check on his teammates, but Lizzie forcibly turned it back with a nudge of her hand. "Are you all right?"

"Uh, yes. I'm fine Lizzie." He murmured. In the corner of his eye he could see his friends getting up, mostly unscathed.

"You had me worried," she fussed. "Never scare me like that again Nigie!"

He opened his mouth to speak but the presents of Mater Nagina towering over him and Lizzie silenced his words.

"CHILDREN YOUR AGE SHOULDN'T BE DATING!"

In a split second action Numbuh 1 pushed Lizzie out of the way of the oncoming blast, then leaped away nearly getting blasted himself. Upon realizing what he had done, Lizzie wrapped her arms around Numbuh 1's neck and held him tight.

"You saved me." She smiled in a sultry way, "My hero."

Congratulations were cut short with the sounds of battle close by. The rest of the KND were busily trying to subdue Nagina, but without a proper plan of attack they were failing quickly.

"Numbuh 1! We could really use your help right now!" Numbuh 2 called.

"Coming Numbuh 2!" The leader called back. He would have rushed right to his friends' side right then but Lizzie's weight on him proved to be an obstacle.

"Nigie, you can play with your friends later." She insisted, "Let's go someplace quieter."

"I can't leave in the middle of a mission!" he resisted.

"Sure you can. Just leave. Your dumb little friends don't need you to play their dumb little game."

A nerve was struck. Numbuh !'s body stiffened, his eyes narrowing, cold and serious. Sensing the sudden change, Lizzie released her embrace. He looked straight at her, his glare hard as diamonds behind his dark shades. As he spoke a chill filled the air.

"This is not a game."

Lizzie had never seen Nigel like this before. It was slightly frightening how although it couldn't be seen in his demeanor or heard in his voice, the anger radiated from him loud and clear.

"But Nigel---" She pouted, trying to regain his graces.

"We can talk about this later Lizzie." He cut her off, turning from her.

"But---"

"Later."

He left her side and quietly walked towards the melee in the center of the street. She watched him with her magnified eyes, hoping he would turn around and forget he was angry. Instead he spoke the five words that stabbed through her heart;

"Kids Next Door! Battle Stations!"

Almost reflexively the quartet gathered in a single spot ready to receive new orders and change their battle plan. Numbuh 1 stood before them, stern faced and silently calculating.

"Numbuhs 3 and 4, neutralize the enemy rear. Numbuhs 2 and 5 take an offensive defense. I'll provide a distraction so you can get in close. Ready?" The operatives saluted, showing that they understood their roles. "Then let's do this!"

The group separated and splintered out around the target. Numbuh 1 ran around to Mater Nagina's right and began firing randomly, quickly gaining her attention. She snarled and slithered after him but found something tugging at her tail, holding her back. Numbuh 4 gripped the scaly appendage with all his strength, anchoring himself with his sneakers dug firmly against the pavement. Nagina thrust her tail back and forth, whipping it about, trying to shake the small blond nuisance off. But Four held on tightly, despite being undulated at rapid speed. Numbuh 3 came to his assistance, leaping larkishly over the swinging body until it was close enough for her to jump on and pin down. The two children both took hold of the tail and dragged it around a lamppost where they tied it securely with a knot.

Nagina growled trying to pull herself free, almost uprooting the light post, but failed. A flying yoyo bola suddenly wrapped around her, binding her arms to her sides. Numbuh 5 fired more shots to make extra sure the snake woman couldn't break free of her bonds. Seeing that her body was no longer able to attack, the mater saw she only had one option left to take her pint-sized opponents out. She opened her mouth wide and took a long deep breath. This was the cue Numbuh 1 was waiting for.

"Now Numbuh 2!"

A single perfectly aimed shot from the pilot's weapon spiraled through the air and landed squarely in the snake lady's mouth, plugging it up. She flailed about trying futile to dislodge the leathery cork from her deadly maw. All that her squirming around did was mess up her already mussed hair and tire her out faster. The kids watched triumphantly as the medusa/banshee hybrid finally collapsed in the middle of the road.

"We did it!" Numbuh 2 called out happily.

The Kids danced about, congratulating each other for a job well done. Numbuh 1 quietly watched as his troops, a look of silent pride on his face. It was a successful mission that could not have been accomplished without teamwork. He felt something meekly take his hand and hold it softly. Looking to his side he found Lizzie gazing up at him, her face glowing with a naïve infatuation, her eyes like awestruck bowling balls. He frowned at her, his mouth slightly open. But instead of anger there was a strange sadness in his eyes, like he had just realized a painful truth.

"Are you done now Nigie?" She asked, stroking his arm.

He looked up at his friends, still celebrating their victory, whooping, hollering and hi-fiveing each other. He swallowed, though his mouth felt dry.

"Guys," He said softly, but still gaining their attention. "Head back to HQ without me."

The stared at him with baffled looks and frowned seeing him holding Lizzie's hand. Especially Numbuh 5 who felt the hint of melancholy in his voice. He let out a deep sigh.

"Lizzie and I need to have a talk."

The couple walked away, Numbuh 1's pace was slow and weighted as Lizzie laid her head on him, hugging his arm.

[To Be Continued]