(Here's chapter 3. reloaded with some edits and a little more action. Chapter 4 is kinda long so I added the beginning of it to the end of three. If feel there's better suspense now too. I still don't own the KND. Enjoy!)
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The Gilligan house was immaculate, thanks to the morning long toil of Hoagie's mother. The four children running in didn't notice to appreciate the freshly dusted railing as they scrambled up the stairs. They had more pressing matters to focus on. Namely their unfortunate leader and the demon that now had control over his young body. More importantly, what that demon was planning to do to Kids Next Door Moon base once he got there. They had to warn mission command of the oncoming threat, which was why they were at Numbuh 2's house. They needed help.
"Tommy! Open up!" The older brother knocked at the bedroom door.
"You know the drill Hoagie." The nasally voiced sibling called from behind the door. The goggled boy frowned.
"Tommy, I'm not doing it. Now let us in. It's important."
"Nuh uh." Tommy protested. "Nobody gets in without saying the password first."
Hoagie rested his hand on his face with a sigh.
"Okay, fine." He took a breath before reciting in deadpan. "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of adults?"
The door flew open, the short, chubby figure standing in its frame. Cloaked fully in his dark cape and fedora, the squeaky voiced boy tried his best to sound menacing.
"The Tommy knows!"
Numbuh 4 was not enthused by these theatrics.
"Enough a this." He snorted, barging in past the eight-year old, the others following suit.
"Hey, I wasn't done yet." Tommy whined as Hoagie worked his way in.
"We don't have time for this Tommy." He explained, "Kids Next Door Moon base is in danger and we need your help."
"Really?" The eyes behind glasses widened at the prospect.
"Yeah, our base is toast, literally and father's controlling Numbuh 1 in ordah ta sneak past our adult detectah grid." Numbuh 4 finished.
"Father?" Now Tommy was really interested. He smirked, lost in his own little world, "My arch nemesis."
"He's all our nemesis" Numbuh 5 spoke. "and we need a way to contact moon base and warn them that Numbuh 1 isn't Numbuh 1."
"And a way to get up there in case it's too late." Numbuh 2 added.
"I've got a ship!" Tommy happily offered. "And I've got a radio-scanner-mabob tuned onto the private Top Secret Kids Next Door frequency to listen in for adult activity." He smiled proudly pointing to the makeshift piece of hardware. Hoagie's expression was less then prideful.
"Tommy, you know that those scanners are for Kids Next Door member use only!" he scolded.
Tommy backed down from his older brother's glare.
"Well, how else am I supposed to find adult tyranny to fight?" The younger tried to excuse himself.
"That isn't important now." Numbuh 5 interrupted. "We need to focus on warning the Moon Base." She paused to think, her mind on its second wind from the ordeal with Father earlier. "Can you rewire that radio-scanner-mabob to send transmissions?"
"Well sure." Tommy confidently replied.
"Then do it. And we'll need that ship too. Let's hurry guys. We don't have much time."
"Alright!" Tommy was in Comic book fanboy heaven. "An ultimate team-up of good to thwart evil!" He quickly grabbed a bunch of homemade gadgets off his desk and Numbuh 4 snatched up the radio. "I'm driving!"
"What?!" Hoagie protested, "No way! This is Kids Next Door business! I'm driving!"
"It's my ship Hoagie, I get to drive!"
"You still can't land yet without crashing, Tommy. I'm driving!"
Abby unclenched her teeth, sick of the squabbling siblings.
"Just shut up Y'all!" She glared at the duo. "Numbuh 2, yo drivin'. Tommy, you help Numbuh 5 rewire that radio." She noticed her teammates, plus their new addition, staring at her. She rarely had outbursts like this, only when Numbuh 1 was absent did she ever yell at this level. The impact of his not being there was evident on her fatigued face. Numbuh 4 cautiously placed his hand on her shoulder.
"We'll get 'im back," he promised, a hand becoming a fist. "I swear to it."
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The little space pod turned off its engines just outside the range of Moon Base censors. Father smiled wickedly gazing out at the fantastical glowing structure growing out of the moon's surface.
"Yes, this looks just about right." He muttered.
Raising Nigel's hand, he formed a hot ball in the palm and threw it behind him. Out in space, the pod's engines exploded.
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Numbuh 58 reclined in his chair, reading the latest Yipper Comic. So lost in the adventures of the flying dog, he had forgotten his job of monitoring the screens of Moon base command.
That is, until an S.O.S alert sounded, knocking him out of his chair.
"Whot's goin' on in here?" A shrill voice screeched, "Why haven't ya answered that Emergency distress alert?"
The boy scrambled to regain his senses. It was enough that the alarm was blasting in his ear, but having his superior officer yelling in his other frazzled him even more.
"Sorry Numbuh 86 sir." He babbled, "patching it through now."
A few buttons were pushed and the image of Numbuh 1's face appeared on the screen.
"This is Numbuh 1 of Kids Next Door sector V. Do you read me?" The likeness announced.
"And wot sorta trouble ya need us tah fish you outta this time?" Numbuh 86 asked with her usual grouchiness. The British boy's face pouted.
"We were attacked by the Delightful children and their Father without warning. Our base was destroyed. I got separated from my team during the escape. But my ship's been damaged I'll need assistance to get to the Moon base docking bay."
"Assistance is on the way Numbuh 1."
Numbuhs 86 and 58 turned at sound of her voice. Behind them Numbuh 362 stood, a serious look across her face as she watched the screens. She cast her eyes on her fellow operatives. "Lock onto his signal and send out a tow ship."
Salutes flew up all around and within a few minutes the damaged vessel was safely inside the Moon Base's docking bay.
Numbuhs 44a and 44b helped escort their visitor to the main control room, unnoticing the smile on his face as they effortlessly passed under the adult detecting security grid. When they reached their destination Numbuhs 86 and 362 were waiting.
"We haven't gotten any transmissions from the rest of your team yet Numbuh 1." The Moon Base leader told him. "But we're still looking."
"I do hope they're alright." The accented boy frowned "It all happened so fast. We never saw it coming."
86 huffed, eying Numbuh 1 with distain.
"I wouldn't be surprised if yah couldn't see a tree if you were an inch from smackin into it." She chided in a snarky manner. "Yer whole team was probably goofin' off like a bunch a ninnies."
The boy's shoulders shrugged.
"They are only children." He calmly replied.
Numbuh 362 got onto the computer and began typing.
"I'm putting out an APB to all surrounding sectors to keep a lookout for your team, Numbuh 1. Hopefully they'll find a way to gain contact." She turned for his answer, only to see he had vanished from the room. "Numbuh 1? Where'd he go?"
Numbuh 86, who had turned her attention to the monitors for the moment, shook her head unknowingly. The two girls shirked it off and returned to the matter at hand, unaware that their biggest concern was currently making his way through their base without detection.
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"Okay, that should do it." Tommy declared, slipping his soldering tool back into his utility belt, He turned his head to his brother sitting at the pilot's seat. "Now can I drive?"
Numbuh 5 rolled her eyes and took up the makeshift microphone, starting the radio up, praying the Moon base would hear.
"Sector V to Moon Base, come in Moon base." Silence and static. "Come in Moon Base. This is Sector V, please respond."
"Moon base here." Numbuh 362's voice crackled over the speakers, sending waves of relief through the listeners. "Sector V are you alright? Numbuh 1 told us you had been attacked—"
"You spoke to Numbuh 1?" Numbuh 5 interrupted.
"Yeah, he's here safe and sound with us, so you don't have to- -"
"Moon Base you are in danger!"
"What?" the elder operative was confused.
"Numbuh 1 isn't Numbuh 1!" Numbuh 5 explained. "It's Father!"
"Impossible!" Numbuh 86 denied. "Even if Father was usin' his shape shiftin' ability tah pose as Numbuh 1, 'ar adult detection grid would have sniffed him out."
"That's the problem." The dark girl continued "Father is inside Numbuh 1's body, controlling him from beyond the grid's range."
There was silence; the superior officers of the Kids Next Door were stunned, trying to process this new information. 362 finally turned to 86.
"Take some troops and locate Numbuh 1. Hold him until I get there." 86 saluted and left the room. The blond turned back to the communication. "I'll meet you at the docking bay."
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The interior of the Moon Base was labyrinthine to outsiders, and its current intruder surely would have gotten lost if it weren't for his carefully studied blueprints earlier. He reached a junction. One way leading towards the Moon Base's defense system controls, the other heading for the power core. Father was about to choose his destination when Numbuh 86, and a dozen of her selected troops, armed with small weapons, appeared from behind.
"Going somewhere 'Nigel'?" She grinned, mustard blaster in hand.
He turned around to face her. Face concealing his hidden intent.
"I was just going to check on the defense grid." He lied, using Nigel's calmest voice. "If the enemy could find a way past our defenses, they may have found a way past yours as well."
Fanny wasn't buying it. Not even for a second. Numbuh 1 may have been a flake at times, but she knew if he had fears about the defenses, he would have told 362 before doing anything himself.
"Good idea Numbuh 1." She held her weapon at the ready, aiming right for him. "But we already know where the enemy is."
The surrounding operatives drew their weapons and followed 86's example. A smile appeared on their target's face.
"So, you've found me out." The creepy combination of young and old spoke. "I'm glad. I was getting tired of keeping up this charade."
A black, hot aura enveloped Numbuh 1's body, giving him the appearance of the monster hidden within. Father laughed as flames flowed from his standing spot and lashed out towards the surprised Kids Next Door.
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The creaky wooden spaceship came to a rough landing in the small docking bay. Settling from the jolt, Numbuh 2 mentally noted that his brother's technical skills were best kept to non-air born ventures. The four operatives and their ally left the ship and greeted Numbuh 362 with proper salutations.
"We have him held in section 18. Numbuh 86 is handling the situation." She explained as she led them down the hall.
"We'll help anyway we can." Numbuh 5 offered.
"And you have THE TOMMY to assist you as well Numbuh 362 ma'am." Tommy interjected eagerly.
"We kinda had to bring him along." Five said flatly.
"We can use all the help we can get." 362 encouraged, causing Tommy to smirk at his elder company, his brother especially. Hoagie was calmed by his brother's pleasure but deeper in his mind he was fearful for the small one's safety and the fate of his abducted leader.
The group came upon the battle in full progress. Gumballs, flames, Frisbees and other projectiles soared through the air. Numbuh 86 in the middle of it all commanding with bravado.
"Sector V is here!" Numbuh 4 announced heroically. 86 waved them off.
"Just in time to see our successful capture." She called back proudly. The warriors had Father surrounded, distracting him from all sides with harmless weapons fire. His more deadly flare keeping them at a distance.
"Prepare ice cream assault!" her boisterous yell commanded.
A battalion of KND, armed with ice cream shooters and soft serve cannons, surrounded the area. They aimed at Father, ready to take his weakness to their advantage.
"Fire!"
Chocolate, vanilla and strawberry flew everywhere in messy splatters. The cold, sticky blobs pummeling Father, burying him under the slop. Fanny turned to the latecomers, her freckled face beaming.
"Piece of cake." She finalized, giving her hands a dusting. The other's expressions were anything but satisfied. Their gazes focused behind her, wide and surprised, layered with worry and fear. The redhead turned with question to see that Father had not gone down.
He stood there solidly. Melting ice cream dripping from his pilfered body. Softly chuckling as the milky substance trickled from his fingertips harmlessly. Many operatives drew back in shock. The laughter ripped through the silence that had gripped the room.
"But, how?" Numbuh 86 stammered.
Father reached down and scooped up a handful of brown gunk. Running his tongue over it he gazed upon the frightened crowd.
"Mmmm… chocolate."
He cast his eyes on Numbuh 5.
"I told you before, I picked Nigel for more then one reason."
She gasped, the answer hitting her mind as a memory. An argument she had with Numbuh 1 over a mission he had wanted to go on during their day off. Dread squeezing her heart, remembering what he had told her.
"He doesn't get ice cream headaches."
"What?" Numbuh 362's eyes widened. Numbuh 5 hung her head.
"Numbuh 1 is immune to brain freeze. That 's why Father chose him, to cancel out his weakness to ice cream."
"Now what do we do?" Numbuh 2 asked fearfully.
"We keep fighting him until we find somethin' colder than ice cream." Numbuh 86 resolved with anger rising. She wasn't giving up to a technicality. "Fire at will!" She shouted at the top of her lungs.
Everyone with a weapon followed that order with the utmost fury. The room quickly filling with smoke and steam as Father ignited himself for defense. Flames burst through the fog forcing the firing squad to scramble to safety. The thick cloud dissolved slowly. 86 peering through the murkiness to relocate their target. A fiery form dashed down the hall away from the battle, a victorious laugh echoing off the walls.
"He's headed for the defense array!" The raging officer shouted. "Aftar him!"
The soldiers saw the being of blaze and gave chase, their commander close behind.
Numbuh 362 looked back on the members of Sector V. Their despondent faces staring at the scarred halls of battle.
"Numbuh 86!" she called out, pausing the redheaded fighter. "Make sure you take him alive." A nod, and the head of decommissioning disappeared into the furthest hall with the rest of her squad.
"Don't worry guys." The blond turned to assure those left behind. "Numbuh 86 knows what she's doing."
They where statues before her, silent, their minds clogged with the images that had just witnessed, trying not to consider the fact that perhaps their leader was gone. It did seem that Father had full control over Numbuh 1's body and was now wreaking havoc throughout the moonbase the boy had considered sacred, even enjoying the fact that he was being pursued…
"Somethang ain't right." Numbuh 5 shook her head, making her way over to the former battle zone. Brushing hair from her eyes she looked down the corridor her fellow Kid Next Door had chased their prey. With all the smoke in the room he surely could have slipped away unnoticed. But instead in had laughed loudly and attracted everyone's attention to him before running. He could have been gloating, but…
"It was too easy."
TO BE CONTINUED