Author's Note: To everyone who reviewed, thanks. Here's Chapter 4.

Disclaimer: Refer to Chapter One

Chapter Title: Stung by a HORNET

HORNET pod, plummeting toward Earth

Flames encased the HORNET pod as it re-entered the Earth's atmosphere. Within it the HORNET (High Ordinance Robotic Neutralization and Elimination Tracker) began to activate. As the pod's altitude continued to drop the HORNET's computer brain booted-up and immediately began running internal diagnostics. Finding everything in order, the computer brain waited.
When the pod hit 1000 feet it suddenly shattered, freeing the robot within. The HORNET immediately accessed data about its target and up-linked to the Nerd Star. It soon received coordinates for its target and at once sped for the direction the coordinates pointed out.
The hunt had begun. Only one command kept repeating itself within the robot's mind: Find and neutralize the KND operatives and eliminate any means for them to reach their destination.

KND MOSQUITOH, en route to the Antarctic base

Numbah 2 checked the cockpit readouts as he flew the MOSQUITOH. Despite the slight damage it had taken from the WOLF it was flying perfectly. That, in itself, was a testament to Numbah 117, Klaus Heinkel, the KND operative who had originally designed the MOSQUITOH.
But then, 2 remembered that Klaus had joined the Nerds. A very disconcerting thought since, even though they hadn't seen each other for a while, Klaus had been his friend.
He shook his head, he shouldn't think about that now. He had to concentrate on flying his craft.
Suddenly, something in the radar screen caught his eye. He turned to Numbah 1. "Uh, I think we have some company."
"What do you mean, Numbah 2?" asked 1.
2 pointed at the screen. "Something's moving toward us at four times the speed of sound. I have a feeling it's something the Nerds have cooked up."
1 frowned and accessed a terminal, it was a control for an external camera on the MOSQUITOH. He aimed it at the direction of the approaching object and zoomed in. What he saw was a robot that bore a vague resemblance to the MOSQUITOH, except that it was smaller and had a sharper, more dangerous look to it. It was also heading straight for them.
1 jerked his head up and yelled: "Kids Next Door, battle stations!"
The other operatives, who were in the rear half of the craft, came toward 1 and 2.
"What's going on, 1?" 274 asked.
"The Nerds have sent another of their robots after us." 1 reported.
As if on cue, the craft lurched sideways. 2 had done so to avoid something fired by the HORNET.
"That thing's shooting at us!" he shouted.

The HORNET

The HORNET had found its target and had raised its abdomen towards it. It had fired its stinger at it, but the target had dodged it. The HORNET reeled in the stinger (it had a cable attached to it) and fired again. But again the MOSQUITOH dodged it.
Unnerved, the robot again reeled in the stinger. It moved closer to the MOSQUITOH and fired a third time. The stinger grazed the side of the craft but didn't go through it.
As the HORNET reeled in its stinger, its computer brain assessed the situation. Clearly its target was too maneuverable for this weapon. It would have to use something else.
The computer brain scanned its weapons selection to select another weapon. Two ports opened as it selected missiles. It aimed and fired three missiles from each port, for a total of six. It drew back and watched as the missiles sped toward their target...

KND MOSQUITOH

"Oh man," 2 moaned. "Missiles!"
"2! How far to the base?" 274 demanded in an urgent tone, a plan formulating in his mind.
2 gritted his teeth as he struggled with the MOSQUITOH's controls, trying to dodge the incoming missiles. "About..." he panted. "20 miles..."
"Try to keep this baby going." 274 said.
2 grimaced as he jinked the craft left and right. Two missiles flew by it, broke lock, and slammed into the frozen Antarctic ground. Four more to dodge.
274 turned to the other operatives. "There are SKEEBIKES in the cargo hold of this thing. Get to the base, me and 2 will lead that thing away."
"What 'bout you?" 4 asked.
"Just go!" 274 said urgently. Suddenly the craft shook as a missile slammed into it. It shook again as another one hit. "NOW! That's a direct order!"
The others ran to the cargo hold of the MOSQUITOH. A moment later, the hold doors opened and three SKEEBIKES sped out of it. Two SKEEBIKEs had two passengers while the other had one.
274 strapped himself in as the craft shook and jinked violently. 2's flying skills were apparently good since, other than the two hits, he had evaded the other missiles.
"Can we still keep on flying?"
"Yeah," 2 panted. "But we've taken damage."
"Keep on going, we gotta lead that thing away from the others."

The HORNET

The robot saw three new targets speeding away from the MOSQUITOH, but it ignored them. It would deal with them later. For now, the big, lumbering craft was its priority.
It kept after the MOSQUITOH, the craft had taken some damage and was flying sluggishly. Sluggishly enough, the HORNET brain decided, to be an easy target for the stinger.
The HORNET aimed and fired. The stinger flew from it and imbedded itself into the fuselage of the MOSQUITOH. The computer brain then ran a current down the cable toward the stinger. The MOSQUITOH crackled as 100 volts of electricity ran through its body...

The SKEEBIKES

4 felt like a coward, he felt like he was running away and leaving two comrades behind. He didn't like that, he was 4 and he didn't do that.
"Ah don't like this," he said. "Ah don't like it one bloody bit."
"Huh?" 3 asked as she clung to 4 on the SKEEBIKE.
"We can't just leave 2 and 274." 4 said, gritting his teeth.
"Numbah 5 don't like it either." 5 said as she clung to 1 on another SKEEBIKE. "But orders are orders."
"Yeah 4," 30C said. "Our priority is to reach that base."
"Your just sayin' that 'cause your chicken." 4 muttered.
30C's nostrils flared at that but all he said was: "It's our orders."
"Yeah?" 4 said. "Well ah say screw the orders!"
With that, he and 3 turned their SKEEBIKES around and started to head across the snowy ground toward the direction he had seen the MOSQUITOH fly.
"What're you doing, 4?!" demanded 30C.
"Ah'm helpin' 'em out." 4 said coldly. "If ya wanna come along, it's fine by me."
1 and 5 thought it over for a while before turning their SKEEBIKES around and followed 4 and 3. 30C threw his arms up in frustration and followed them as well.

The MOSQUITOH

"AAAAHHH!!!" 2 screamed.
"AARRGGHH!!!" 274 howled.
100 volts of electricity wasn't enough to kill them. But it was enough to cause them pain. 2 let go of the controls causing the MOSQUITOH to swerve erratically. It flew on for a short while before it finally crash- landed on the ground.
Seeing the MOSQUITOH crash, the HORNET withdrew its stinger. It circled the fallen craft like a vulture around a carcass, looking for targets to emerge.
2 and 274 crawled out of the craft, still tingling from the shock they received. 2 moaned. "Man, that was definitely not fun."
"Ugh..." 274 muttered as he staggered out of the crashed MOSQUITOH.
Suddenly, a net seemed to come out of nowhere and wrapped around 2.
"What the... Let me outta here!" 2 yelled.
274 whirled and looked up. It was the robot, looking down at him menacingly. He knew that the robot couldn't smile, but he could've sworn it did as it flew right for him...

Author's Note: Well that was Chapter 4. I'll try to get five out by the end of this week. And, in case you don't know what a SKEEBIKE is, it was featured in the Operation: ARCTIC episode. You know, the thing that ran across the snow and looked like jumbo jet engines. Please review.