Transmission 27: Infiltration
In the skies above Cleve, Wally has trailed the damaged S.C.A.M.P.E.R. while staying hidden using his stealth-cloak. The ship flies at a low altitude due to the damage it sustained but as he tries to go closer, he notices two more S.C.A.M.P.E.R.'s that arrive from the left and the right and begin flying in formation.
"Aw crud…I gotta find a way inside that thing…hang on Joey…" he keeps his eyes glued to the damaged S.C.A.M.P.E.R. as they fly to the south of Cleve. To his left, he can see Sector V2's Treehouse, covered in steel armor plating and turrets with an aircraft carrier sitting at the top. However, something else catches his eye: the massive ring running the entire circumference of the Treehouse and the large cannons built into the ring.
"Huh? What the crud are those?" Then, he realizes that the ships are turning away, forcing him to do a quick turn to stay behind them. The S.C.A.M.P.E.R.'s leave the city limits and keep flying through the countryside until they arrive to a building complex, surrounded by a steel net fence.
"Hey, that's an old in-door sports center…what the crud are they planning…?" he slows down and watches as the ships stop above a basketball court, which splits in two and one by one, they begin descending into the empty space below.
"Crud!" Wally shouts and dives down, landing onto the roof of the damaged S.C.A.M.P.E.R. He looks up as the fake court's doors start closing but right before they slam shut, something small gets through on the last second and lands on the same ship as Wally, who recognizes the creature.
"Stinky-Bradley?" he whispers and the skunk turns around, it's mechanical eye glowing. To Wally's surprise, it sees him, despite his stealth-cloak.
"How the crud can you see me? Wait…Numbuh 2 had something to do with it, right?" Bradley nods and clamps its shovel arm into the roof as the ships arrive into a large hangar, that resembles a rail-yard.
"What kinda place is this?" Wally whispers while the ship lands on a designated landing pad. As Wally looks around, he is shocked by the utter silence inside the facility. Only some operatives are talking while the rest silently do their work.
"He musta chipped everyone here…" Then, Wally notices Fanny step out of the ship, followed by the other Hunters. They roll out a cart that has four cages on it with an unconscious prisoner in each one.
"Joey…okay, listen, you gotta find a way to contact the others, I'm gonna find out what's going on here." Wally looks intensely at Bradley who nods and jumps down from the ship, slipping past the operatives and scurries into a side exit. Wally meanwhile starts hovering and follows Fanny as her group approach a KND operative who has the symbol of the Decommissioning Squad on his shoulder.
"All targets were secured." Fanny says with a monotone voice.
"Excellent. Have them moved to the detention area. Once we bring tomorrow's targets in, we can begin placing the chips."
"Understood." she replies and hands the cart to two younger operatives who push it away, with Wally in tow. He follows them into a dark corridor that leads to a big service elevator. Thanks to his stealth-cloak, he remains hidden, hovering above the operatives. The elevators stop and its occupants leave, entering another corridor, made of concrete, at the end of which are two large reinforced doors, which open as the operatives' approach. Wally slips through before the they close and is greeted to a shocking sight: A large, dimly lit room, lined with bigger cages, each one occupied by a person.
"This…is just like in the Hideout…what the crud is that bastard planning?" He clenches his fists and sees the operatives placing the cage holding his brother on top of an empty bigger cage, near the back of the room. The smaller one connects to the larger cage and the bottom of Joey's cage slides away, causing him to fall into the bigger cage. The operatives then do the same to the three other cages and push the cart out of the room, leaving Wally inside. He looks around for cameras and scans the room for any other security systems, but to his surprise, the room itself has only two cameras, both pointing at the exit. "Looks like they made this place in a hurry or somethin'…" Wally lands but the moment his feet hit the ground, his legs give away and he collapses on his knees.
"Aw crud…I didn't have time to recover from the mission." He pulls himself back up and runs to his brother's cage where his six-year-old younger brother is held in. "Joey…Joey can ya hear me?" Wally whispers but Joey is still knocked out cold. "I'm gonna get you outta here, I promise…" Then, the person in the cage next to Joey's, speaks.
"Hey, is someone there?" A nasal, female voice asks, prompting Wally to look at the prisoner and recognizing her as a KND operative.
"Numbuh 202?"
"Who are you and how do you know my old codename?" Wally looks around and de-cloaks, startling the other prisoners. "Wha? Where did you come from?"
"I snuck in."
"How? This place is sealed shut."
"Not a problem when you can turn invisible. Anyway, you really are Numbuh 202 from Sector G."
"Ex-Numbuh 202. I haven't been a part of the KND for 2 years, but more importantly, who are you?" Wally pulls back his helmet, shocking the former 2x4 technology officer.
"Wallabee Beetles?! What are you doing here?" The other prisoners also recognize him.
"Beetles? Isn't he a Teen Villain?"
"Yeah, he and the rest of Sector V are the most infamous traitors in KND history…"
"Why did you come here?" Numbuh 202 eyes Wally with suspicion.
"I came to get my brother back, or uhm…so I thought…Anyway, what kinda place is this anyway?"
"You're asking me. They just snuck into my house and caught me off guard. Most of us were brought here yesterday and the rest came tonight. I guess Numbuh 1000 wants to decommission us or something…"
"No, he wants to put those mind-control chips into you guys. I heard some kid wearin' the Decommission Squad's badge say that in that big hangar."
"No way…so that's why all the operatives looked so weird…what…what do we do…?" The blond-haired Numbuh 202 looks at the floor dejectedly while Wally notices the other prisoners beginning to panic or fall into despair.
"Not if the Teens Next Door have anythin' to say about it."
"Teens Next Door? Like the ones in that broadcast?"
"Yup. Me and my team are with them now. We're gonna kick both Numbuh 1000's and Father's asses." Wally says defiantly.
"Wow…but what can you do if you're trapped in here with all of us…"
"I'll think of something…how many people are in here?"
"Well, I haven't spoken to many yet…shh, the guards are coming back!" Numbuh 202 points at the red light next to the door turning green.
"Dammit!" Wally re-cloaks as the doors open and two operatives roll another cart inside. Locked in the small cages are more familiar faces: Lee, Sonia and to Wally's disbelief, Hoagie's younger brother, Tommy, who is loudly protesting his capture.
"You've made a big mistake capturing The Tommy! I swear I will escape and make you all pay! You bring shame to the name of the KND!" his shouting goes on deaf ears as they are all placed into separate cages. Then as operatives then leave once again, Wally de-cloaks.
"Damn, they captured those guys too…Hold on a sec, I'm gonna go check on them." Numbuh 202 nods and looks on as Wally runs over to Tommy's cage.
"Tommy?"
"Huh? Numbuh 4?! Wow, how did you get here?!"
"Shh, stop shouting. I followed these guys here cuz they took my brother."
"Oh…I wish Hoagie had done the same…"
"Hey, knock it off, we gotta find a way outta here."
"You're right…hey, isn't that Lee and Sonia?" Tommy sees his old Cadets Next Door classmates locked in cages opposite to him with Lee trying to calm down a panicking Sonia.
"Let me out! I don't like dark places!"
"Calm down Sonia…" Lee's attempts are in vain but then, he sees Tommy and Wally staring at them. "Wait, is that you Tommy? And Numbuh 4? How did you guys end up here?"
"The Tommy is ashamed to admit that he was caught by surprise…but fear not, for I will find a way out of here and rescue you all…OW!" Wally kicks his cage, causing him to fall on his behind.
"I said stop shoutin', squirt. How the heck am I gonna get all these people outta here…" Wally mutters as Numbuh 202 waves from her cage.
"Hey, come over here!"
"What?" Wally walks over to her cage and looks down at her.
"You haven't come up with a plan, right?"
"Not yet…and I have no idea how all of you guys are gonna get outta that one corridor."
"Then why don't you at least free us first?"
"No way, if I do that, it's gonna start a ri…hmm…hold that thought…" But before Wally can say anything, he hears sounds coming from the ventilation duct above the huge room. Then, the steel vent at the end of the duct is ripped apart by a mechanical claw.
"Huh?" Wally looks up and sees Bradley jump down from vent and land next to him. "What are ya doin' here? I told ya to contact the others?" The skunk squeaks and generates a holograph from its left-eye, showing Wally the layout of the facility. "Where the crud did you get this?" Bradley highlights a room overlooking the hangar.
"That must be the control center…" Numbuh 202 comments and looks at the holograph intensely. "So, there are no escape tunnels and the only way out of the huge hangar…Numbuh 1000 didn't put much thought into this…"
"Ya got a plan or something?"
"I need to study this holograph a bit more…just give me a few minutes."
"Okay, I'll go check who else we got here…" Wally nods and goes to see the other prisoners.
…
Outside, a few kilometers from the sports center, Hoagie flies the M.O.S.Q.U.I.T.T.O.H.-W.A.S.P. towards the last known location of Bradley's beacon. "Numbuh 5, are you picking up anything?"
"Nothin' yet Numbuh 1…hold on…Numbuh 2, STOP!" Abby shouts, causing Hoagie to decelerate hard, pushing everyone forward in their seats due to whiplash.
"Ow…what was that for?"
"You should be thankin' me! There's an automated 2x4 perimeter defense system just a kilometer away and it was gonna pump us full of holes." Abby brings out a 3D model of the surrounding are, which shows a massive, circular formation of small 2x4 towers and a fence that's connected to them.
"Ah…right…but why is such large system here in the middle of nowhere? All I see are small houses below."
"Hmm…Numbuh 3, are you picking up any communications in this area?"
"Uhm…no…just static, LOTS of static…"
"Wait, can I borrow your headset?" Abby reaches towards Kuki, who hands her radio head set. The moment Abby puts them on, she recognizes the sound.
"Hey, this is that same sound that jammed our coms when we had to rescue Numbuh 1 from that warehouse."
"Then that can mean only one thing, there's a KND base nearby." Nigel puts his hands together and brings up a map of the area onto the big screen above Hoagie.
"Numbuh Epsilon, what do you think?" he turns his chair towards Rachel who is studying the map intensely.
"Hmm…the only possible place you could hypothetically build a base would have to be that sports center. Its location matches the size of the defense system and it's not in clear view."
"Then we've found our target. Numbuh 2, bring us down. We'll need to do some reconnaissance first."
"Roger dodger." Hoagie puts the W.A.S.P. down near a forest, and actives the ships sensor array.
"Numbuh 3, try and pinpoint the source of the jamming. Numbuh 5, you and Numbuh Epsilon go and investigate the defense system. The rest of us will remain here, understood?"
"Got it!" Abby gets up and follows Rachel down to the cargo ramp while Kuki dejectedly listens to the jamming frequency. Her sad expression is not left unnoticed by Nigel.
"You're worried about Numbuh 4, right?"
"Of course…He was angry before he left…I couldn't even make him feel better…"
"I understand, but don't worry. You know better than anyone that Numbuh 4 is not going to be captured just like that."
"I know…" Suddenly, she hears a faint voice coming from her headset.
"…llo? Ca…yone…ar me?!"
Her eyes widen and she jumps up. "I'm picking up something! It's…it's Numbuh 4!"
"What?! How's he able to transmit anything with this heavy jamming?" Hoagie turns around and sees Kuki smiling brightly.
"It's him, I know that voice!"
"Boost the signal, Numbuh 3!" Nigel shouts and Kuki starts to increase the power of the ship's transmitter, until the sound becomes clear.
"Hey, is anyone there?!"
"Numbuh 4?"
"Numbuh 1? Aw yeah! It worked! Good thinkin' Numbuh 202." Wally says and they hear a female voice at the other end.
"It was nothing…"
"Numbuh 4, is there someone there with you?" Nigel asks and Kuki tenses up slightly.
"Oh right, you guys aren't gonna believe this. This sport's center is a KND base and they've been filling it with ex-KND operatives. Numbuh 1000 plans to chip them all."
"What? That's…unbelievable…why would he resort to something like that!?" Patton shakes his head while Nigel leans back on his seat.
"I suspect it's because we've shown ourselves to the world. He probably wants to stop the TND from growing in size."
"Answer Numbuh 1's question." Kuki interrupts Nigel and has an oddly irritated expression.
"Uhm, right. I found Numbuh 202 in here, along with a bunch of other people from back then. They even captured Tommy."
"That's THE Tommy!" Tommy joins the conversation, surprising Hoagie.
"Huh? Are you telling me Tommy's there too?"
"Hoagie? Uhm…sorry, they kinda caught me when I was snooping around…but, that will not bring down The Tommy!"
"Yeah, that's him alright…" Hoagie feels slightly conflicted over the fact that his brother is there. On one hand, he's disgusted that Numbuh 1000 was going to chip his brother but on the other hand, he somehow doesn't seem too surprised that he was captured.
"Excuse me, but who are we speaking to right now?" Numbuh 202 asks.
"Numbuh 1, Numbuh 2, Numbuh 3 and Numbuh Zeta. I had Numbuh 5 and Epsilon go do some recon. Regardless, how are you able to talk to us?"
"Well, your robo-skunk stole the base's layout from the control room and we figured that if we connect Wallabee's communicator into a power box inside the prison, we could tap into the base's coms and transmit a message through the system, without being caught."
"'Wallabee'…" Kuki mutters while the boys are impressed by Numbuh 202's quick thinking.
"Very impressive, Numbuh 202. Is it possible to transmit the layout to us in any way?"
"No, we're barely able to keep this channel stable."
"I see, well at least you're in one piece, Numbuh 4."
"Yeah, isn't that great, Numbuh 3?" Hoagie says, but Kuki only mutters back.
"Yeah…great…"
"Now, how many prisoners are in there and what's your escape plan?"
"The only way to get outta here is through the hangar below the basketball court and we've got like…I dunno, 50 people in here…" Numbuh 202 replies.
"50? Man, Numbuh 1000 isn't messing around…"
"And, there's one more problem…Numbuh 86 is here too and…she's been chipped."
"WHAT?!" Patton jumps up, while the others are equally shocked.
"That's not good…she's a formidable fighter in her own right and with no morals stopping her now…this is going to be a very tricky rescue…" The conversation is interrupted by Abby and Rachel, who return from the recon mission.
"No dice, Numbuh 1, that perimeter's got guns comin' outta the wazoo. Huh? What's with y'all?"
"Ah, Numbuh 5, Numbuh Epsilon, good timing. We've been able to establish contact with Numbuh 4."
"For real? Numbuh 4, you in there?"
"Numbuh 5? Yeah, I snuck in but getting' outta here is a whole different thing…"
"Excuse me, but I have a suggestion." Rachel recognizes Numbuh 202's voice.
"Wait, is that you, Numbuh 202?!"
"Numbuh 362? You're here too?"
"How did you end up in there? I thought you were on the run?"
"I got caught like everyone else here. We didn't even know what Numbuh 1000 had planned for us until Wallabee came here."
"'Wallabee'…" Kuki mutters again, catching Abby's attention.
"Heh, so ya can get jealous too…"
"Anyway, as I was saying, what kind of man power do you have out there?"
"A modified M.O.S.Q.U.I.T.T.O.H. and the people I mentioned. Though I don't think we can carry 50 people on this ship…Numbuh 2, what do you think?"
"Not a chance. I had to sacrifice some of that extra space to make my baby go faster."
"Yeah, I thought so…what did you have in mind, Numbuh 202?"
"Well, the hangar is filled with ships. Based on the design, this was probably meant to be a ship repair yard, but they've turned it into a prison in haste. That's why they've stuffed us all into a big room with only one exit. I've studied the layout quite a bit and I suspect they've got an armory here as well. If we can somehow get to that armory, get weapons and commandeer the ships, we may be able to escape…"
"A very bold plan, but I like it. However, it won't be that easy."
"I know, that's why I was going to ask if someone from your side could sneak in and gives us a hand. I've no doubt that Wallabee can hold his own, but this place is crawling with heavily armed Decommissioning Squad operatives."
"'Wallabee'…" Kuki continues to mutter.
"Not to mention those Teen Hunters…Okay, I think we can work with this. Do you need a distraction?"
"No, the armory is not far from where we are, so we can probably get there no problem. Most of us here have combat experience."
"AND you have The Tommy on your side!"
"Was that yo brother?" Abby asks Hoagie, who sighs.
"Yup…" Abby chuckles as Nigel adjust his glasses.
"Alright. I will relay this information to the TND. We'll use our ship as a forward command center and coordinate the operation from here."
"Numbuh 1, let me go in." Patton looks intensely at Nigel, surprising Rachel.
"Are you sure?"
"100%. Fanny's in there, and I'm not gonna let her fight on Numbuh 1000's side." Rachel's eyes widen the moment she hears "Fanny".
"No way…is Fanny there?"
"Yeah, and Numbuh 1000 chipped her."
"No…how could he…" Rachel puts her hands over her mouth as her mind is filled with worry over her old partner and just as she is about to volunteer as well, Kuki jumps up.
"I'm going too!" she has an unusually determined, but cold expression.
"Hmm…alright. Numbuh Zeta, Numbuh 3, you two will infiltrate the base and facilitate the rescue. We'll remain here and monitor the situation from our end. We'll contact the Switchboard and talk things through with them. Get moving, it's best if you go there as quickly as possible." Patton and Kuki nod and run out of the bridge.
"And we're gonna show these guys a riot they've never seen."
"Numbuh 4, have Numbuh 6 go and meet with Numbuh Zeta and Numbuh 3. That should make it easier for them to get in."
"Roger. I'm cutting the coms now. We'll see ya on the surface."
"And remember, everyone comes back in one piece."
"Count on it." Wally's voice fades into static as Nigel sighs heavily and leans back on his seat.
"Haah…this is turning into quite the night…"
"Yeah, tell me about it…I didn't sleep at all before we had to take-off…"
"Numbuh 3 was the only one hittin' the zz's but that's not why she's so pumped up."
"What do you mean, Numbuh 5?"
"Heh, I think somebody's jealous that Numbuh 4's trapped in a prison cell with a girl who calls him by his full name." Abby chuckles.
"Ooh, man those two are hopeless. I'm glad I don't have that kind of drama to worry about." Hoagie says and tampers with his console while Abby pulls down her hat slightly.
"Yeah, aren't you lucky…"
...
Inside the prison, Wally and Tommy start freeing the prisoners one by one, making sure that everyone is aware of what their plan is. They also keep a close eye on the door, in case more prisoners are brought in. As Wally approaches three cells near the right side of the room, he recognizes one of the prisoners but more importantly, the familiar jersey he is wearing. "No cruddy way…" he mutters as the person he sees is a former member of Sector X and a fellow teammate to Numbuh 78 and Ted, Numbuh 34. However, he is wearing a football team's jersey. The other two prisoners are also ex-KND but like Numbuh 34, they are also wearing the same jersey, reminding Wally of Ernest and the things he did to the prisoners in the Hideout.
"Hey, you gonna let us outta here or what?" Numbuh 34 asks with a gruff, irritated voice.
"Yeah…" Wally grabs the side of the cage and rips it off, allowing the well-built Numbuh 34 to crawl out.
"Man, thanks, we've been stuffed in here for the whole evening."
"No problem…" Wally replies coldly and frees the others as well.
"Hey, what's with that tone? I thought ya came here to save us."
"Sorry, it's just that seeing anythin' related to American Football makes me sick."
"Is that so? Well too bad, me and the guys just got accepted into the Hooligans last week since they needed more players."
"The Hooligans? What the crud are you doing with the Hooligans?" Wally glares at the former KND operative, who gets defensive.
"What's your problem? They're the best football team around! They even showed us their secret Hideout."
"Heh, too bad it's gone now." Wally mutters and tries to walk away but Numbuh 34 grabs him by the shoulder.
"What do you know about that? If you've got a problem with us being with the Hooligans, then say it out loud."
"It's because those cruddy Hooligans hurt my friends and tortured little kids in their Hideout! That's why, I HATE the Hooligans and the Teen Ninjas!"
"Teen Ninjas? Who are they?" Numbuh 34 and his friends look at Wally in confusion and he realizes that none of them where indoctrinated into the Ninjas.
"So, they didn't let ya in either…" Wally shakes his head and offers his hand to the former KND operative.
"Sorry that I went off on ya like that. I thought you were in deep with them but I guess I was wrong…"
"Hey, don't worry about it, we've all been through bad times. Heck, I don't even remember my time as a kid anymore. Don't know why though…" They shake hands as Numbuh 202 walks over to them.
"Uhm, is everything alright, Wallabee? I thought I heard yelling."
"Woah…" Numbuh 34 is instantly smitten by the blond girl, who is wearing a blue track suit, ripped jeans and brown safety shoes. She adjusts her blue tinted safety goggles slightly as Wally turns around to face her.
"Nothing. I just freed the last prisoners." Wally replies and Numbuh 202 looks over his shoulder, towards the hulking brown-haired boy.
"Ah, you must be Numbuh 34 of Sector X."
"Numbuh 34? What's that?"
"He's been decommissioned." Wally whispers to her and walks away.
"Oh, right, sorry about that, old habits. I'm Kimberley, what's your name?"
"Uh…right…you can call me Charles. Ppppleasure to meat ya."
"Same here." Kimberley smiles and shakes Charles's hand, causing his face to turn red.
"Hey, try to loosen up man, this ain't the first time you're talkin' to a girl." His friends snicker behind him.
"Sh…shut up!"
"Follow me, we're making a plan to escape from here." Kimberley gestures towards the other prisoners who have huddled around Tommy and Wally, who are looking at a map of the base that Tommy copied from Bradley before he left.
"Okay, so, our first target is here, the armory. If we can get weapons, we can then force our way to the hangar and steal enough ships to escape. That's the basic idea here, but working out the details is going to be much trickier." Tommy points his R.A.K.E. tool at the map, highlighting the important locations.
"Then we've gotta find a way past those freaks wearin' Battle-Ready Armor. Since Numbuh 86 is with 'em, this is gonna be hard…"
"Hey, what's with this "Numbuh" stuff? Just what kinda place is this?" Charles asks with a loud voice.
"We've been captured by the Kids Next Door, an organization that fights against evil adults and evil teenagers, or at least it did…" Kimberley explains.
"Kids Next Door? That's a weird name. How do you guys know all this?"
"Because, everyone in this room used to be a member of the KND at some point."
"Everyone? Including us?" Charles points at himself and his two friends as Kimberley nods.
"Yeah, even you three, but you were decommissioned so you don't remember."
"What? You aren't making any sense. I don't remember anything about this…oh wait…does decommissioned mean they wiped our memory or something?"
"Yup. Your old codename was Numbuh 34 and you served on the Treehouse of Sector X. My codename was Numbuh 202 before I fled Sector G."
"And I was Numbuh T! Before I took on the mantle of, The Tommy!"
"I was Numbuh 83 and he was Numbuh 84. We were in Sector W." Sonia points at Lee who nods.
"Mine was Numbuh 58, I was a prisoner transport pilot." A girl with long brown hair says cautiously. The other prisoners also tell Charles their old codenames, leaving him speechless.
"Wow…and I don't remember a dang thing…So, what was your codename then?" He points at Wally, who shows him four fingers.
"Numbuh 4 of Sector V."
"Heh, quit acting cool." Charles laughs slightly causing the other prisoners to loosen up as well. Somehow, sharing their old codenames has eased the tension in the prison. "Okay, now that we've got the self-introductions out of the way, what's the plan?"
"Well first we gotta bust through that door and get to the armory without getting caught." Wally says Tommy snaps his fingers.
"The Tommy's got an idea!"
…
Meanwhile, in the base's control center, the scrawny operative wearing the Decommissioning Squad's badge, stands in-front a large monitor. He is wearing an officer's uniform and a colander with the number '090' painted on it. To his right is a window, which gives him a direct view of the hangar as he types on a console below the monitor and puts his hands behind his back.
"This is Communications Command, please identify yourself." A monotone voice speaks to him through the monitor screen.
"Re-Commissioning Base Commander Numbuh 090 here. I wish to speak to the Supreme Leader."
"Understood. Please hold…The Supreme Leader will talk to you now." The screen changes and then, Numbuh 1000 appears on it.
"Supreme Leader!" Numbuh 090 salutes Numbuh 1000.
"At ease, Commander. What is it?"
"I wish to report on our progress."
"I see, well, please proceed." Numbuh 1000 leans on his desk and looks at Numbuh 090 expectantly.
"The prison has been filled to maximum capacity. We can begin re-commissioning them tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? Didn't I order to re-commission them immediately?"
"Yes, Sir, but we've had some logistical problems because this base was not meant to be a prison in the first place.
"And why should I be concerned about that? Need I remind you we are running out of time. If we can't get more, shall we say, experienced operatives, our schedule will suffer. And you know what happens then, don't you?"
"Yes…but you have to understand, we are doing our best. I am very grateful that you've lent the Teen Hunters to us, they've made this a much easier job but like I said, tomorrow at the earliest. We still need to prepare the chip implanters."
"Is that so? Very well, but don't waste any more time, you understand? I don't want those so-called "Teens Next Door" traitors to find out about this operation."
"Don't worry Sir, this base is unassailable. If anyone tries to sneak in, the perimeter defense system will deal with them."
"I certainly hope so, for your sake as well. I'd rather not chip you like I did with the Science Division. After all, you understood why we have done all this."
"The disease of Adulthood must be stopped, just like Numbuh 74.239 warned us before he and Numbuh Infinity finished their mission."
"Exactly! I will ensure that their original mission will succeed, under my control of course."
"Yes, Sir!"
"Alright, get back to work. The next time you contact me, I expect that all 50 of those teenagers have been chipped."
"Yes, Sir! I will not disappoint you, Sir!" Numbuh 1000 nods and ends the call. Numbuh 090 then turns to his right and looks at the hangar as a K.O.L.O.S.S.A.L.I.N.E.R. is pushed from one of the side tunnels into the launchpad. "If only the KND had always been this efficient, we'd have defeated those adults and teenagers years ago…" Suddenly, his monitor start blinking and he presses a button on the console. "Yes, what is it?"
"Sir, the prison's surveillance cameras have shut down." A non-chipped Communications Officer speaks to him.
"What? How is that possible?"
"We don't know, Sir. Perhaps a malfunction or something."
"Send a team down there and make sure none of the prisoners have tried anything stupid."
"Yes, Sir." Numbuh 090 turns off his console and sits down behind his desk. He then looks at a picture of Numbuh 274, the former Supreme Leader and Rachel's predecessor.
"You would agree with our cause, no doubt. If only you hadn't gone with them…" he mutters to himself.
…
Outside the base, Patton and Kuki have sneaked past the defense system thanks to the stealth-cloaks on their B.R.A.'s and approach the steel perimeter fence. "There it is…this place is way too quiet." Patton as they crouch next to the fence.
"I'll check if it has any alarms." Kuki summons a ghost hamster that goes through the fence and looks around before returning back to her.
"Man, I was not prepared for that…" Patton mutters as Kuki listens to the hamster.
"Wiggles says that there's a laser grid above the electrified fence. If we stay invisible and jump high enough, we won't be caught." Kuki says sternly.
"That's our ticket then. Let's go." Patton booster jumps high over the fence and Kuki follows suit. Then, she notices a red light approach them.
"Huh…Bradley?" The cyborg-skunk greets them and gestures with its shovel arm. "He wants us to follow."
"Okay, lead the way." Patton says and Bradley leads them to a seemingly innocent looking boarded window near the ground. The skunk then nudges it with its shovel-arm and to the teenager's surprise, it bends inwards.
"So that's the "entrance"?" Patton kneels next to it and takes a look inside where he sees a wide air duct going downwards. "Where does it lead, Numbuh 6?" The skunk nods and shows them the hologram of the base, highlighting the air duct. "Oh, I see, if we crawl through that vent, it'll take us to the communications room." Patton smirks slightly and takes another peek inside. "I think Numbuh 6 should go first, then me and you'll hold the rear, okay?"
"Sure."
"Alright. But before we go, let's just recap: Once inside, we rendezvous with the prisoners and Numbuh 4 and help them escape."
"Right." Kuki has a serious expression on her face, surprising Patton.
"Well, I'm glad you're pumped. Let's do this." Kuki and Bradley nod and one by one, they crawl into the vent.
…
As the two teens infiltrate the base, down in the prison level, a group of five guards, one of them without a chip, march through the corridor that leads to the prison doors. "Secure the area and find out why the cameras are down. Set your weapons for 'Ouch'."
"Yes, Sir." The other guards reply in unison with a monotone voice.
The team leader nods as the doors open upon their approach and they immediately notice that the lights are also down and the entire room is dark. "Wait. Command, this is Team 1, the lights are down in there too. I think you should send some reinforcements."
"Negative, we cannot spare extra troops at the moment, they are still moving the Implanters into the Re-commissioning room." The Communications Commander replies.
"…Understood. Switch your weapons to 'Pain'. I don't like this…" The guards approach the entrance in formation, their S.C.A.M.P.S. and M.U.S.K.E.T.S. armed and ready. However, the moment they walk through it, the doors slam shut behind them and the prison is plunged into total darkness. "AMBUSH! OPEN FI…" The guards are caught completely by surprise as they are mobbed by the 50 ex-KND operatives. In few seconds, all five are knocked unconscious. The prisoners then turn the lights back on and strip the guards from their weapons.
"*whistle* Wow, that went better than I thought. Good job guys." Kimberley wipes her forehead.
"All thanks to the tactical genius of, The Tommy!" Tommy puffs his chest proudly as Wally kneels over the non-chipped operative and starts to go through his pockets.
"Here ya go, Numbuh 202." he hands Kimberley a level 6 key-card.
"Perfect, with this, we can go to the armory without triggering the alarm." he eyes the card in satisfaction and puts it her pocket. Then, one of the guards groans slightly.
"Aw crud, he's wakin' up!" Wally deploys his Stupefier Cannon but before he can silence the guard, the former prisoner transport pilot, Numbuh 58 recognizes the guard and steps in.
"Wait!" she kneels next to him and pulls of his helmet.
"Hey, that's Numbuh 59!" Lee also recognizes the guard as Numbuh 59, Numbuh 58's co-pilot.
"They chipped him too…" Numbuh 58 puts her hand on the boy's cheek as Wally kneels next to him as well.
"Stand back." he rolls the boy on his stomach and pulls down the collar of his gray combat suit, revealing the mind-control chip in the back of his neck. The sight of the chip shocks the prisoners as most of them have never seen it in person.
"So that's it…" Kimberley says with grim expression as Wally rips the chip and the wires connected to it from the boy's neck, causing him to spasm slightly.
"Uhm…what the heck is that?" Charles looks over Wally's shoulder as he closes his fist over the chip.
"This is the thing Numbuh 1000 was gonna put on you all. It makes ya his slave." He says with an angry expression as he crushes the chip into bits.
"No way…" Charles is left speechless as Wally stands up and puts his hand on his younger brother's shoulder.
"He already did it to my brother." Sonia also tries to say something but Lee stops her and shakes his head.
"That's just sick, who does this guy think he is, brainwashing kids like that?"
"He thinks adulthood is a disease and is using the KND to do it." Kimberley replies grimly.
"And that's why the Teens Next Door are figthin' him. We're gonna bring him down, no matter what." Wally says and walks over to the door. Then, Numbuh 59 regains consciousness.
"Uh…huh…where am I?" He says with a Texan accent.
"Numbuh 59? Is it really you?" Numbuh 58 helps her co-pilot up.
"Huh? Of course, it's me…I was about to go home…huh, this ain't home? Where am I?"
"You were mind-controlled by one of the these." Tommy shows him the remains of the chip Wally crushed.
"Hey, that's my Anti-Ninja chip. Why's it broken?"
"Anti-Ninja chip? What are you talking about?" Numbuh 58 asks him as he looks around.
"Numbuh 1000 gave it to me a year ago. Said it would stop me from turning against the KND when I'd turn 13…"
"That's what he told you? This thing is a mind-control chip that makes you a mindless slave." Kimberley explains.
"Really? Then…what have I…" He looks into his hands and realizes that he is wearing an outfit he doesn't recognize. "Hey, I wasn't a guard…"
"Do you get it now? You were tricked, like everyone else in the KND. Numbuh 1000 has turned it into his own private army."
"I…never thought it was a…" Then, Charles puts his hand on the beleaguered pilot's shoulder.
"Hey, get a grip buddy. If ya feel like you wanna redeem yourself, how about helping us escape?"
"Escape? Oh…that's right, what you guys doing in here?"
"Numbuh 1000 captured us and plans to chip us, like he did with you." Numbuh 58 replies.
"Huh? No…I don't want that…Okay, I'll help, just tell me what to do." Charles slaps him on the back and smiles.
"That's the spirit. Let's get outta this dump, all of us." The others nod but then, as Charles tries to remove another chip, Kimberley stops him.
"Wait, don't do it?"
"Why not? If these guys are all controlled then shouldn't we…"
"I understand how you feel but if we stop to remove every chip, there's no way we'll escape."
"But…"
"Believe me, we'd like to do pull those things from everyone but we don't have the time. All we can do now is to make sure WE escape." Charles lets go of the unconscious guard and is visibly frustrated.
"Hey, don't worry, my buddies in the TND are gonna find a way to get rid of those chips." Wally says, lifting Charles' spirit slightly.
"Okay, then let's not waste any more time."
"That's the spirit." Kimberley jokingly nudges Charles, who turns slightly red. The prisoners then leave the prison, led by Wally.
"We need to turn left before the elevator. The armory is at the end of that corridor." Tommy shouts and the group does as he says. They run to the end of the corridor and reach large steel doors. Kimberley swipes the card into a reader next to the door and it opens. Inside, are 6 operatives, who are quickly Stupefied by Wally who then runs over to the door and stands guards while the prisoners raid the armory.
"Okay guys, hurry up, before they figure out we've escaped." Kimberley shouts as the ex-operatives arm themselves.
"Wow, these are brand new. I bet they were brought in here recently."
"What the heck are training bra's doing here?" Charles shows a pink bra to the others, feeling uncomfortable.
"Hey, that's a Battle-Ready Armor! Where did you find that?" Tommy asks.
"In this box…there's 5 of them here…" He points at a silver box next to a rack of S.C.A.M.P.S.
"Sweet. Hey guys, we've got 5 B.R.A.'s over here!"
"What the heck are you talking about? Ain't this just a girl's training bra?"
"Oh no, that's a standard Teen Ninja Battle-Ready Armor. Numbuh 4's wearing one too." Tommy points at Wally, who stands near the entrance.
"This turns to that? Bullcrap."
"It's not! Try it on, trust me." Charles looks at Tommy with suspicion and puts the bra over his football jersey, causing his two friends to snicker.
"Nothin's happenin'. I swear, if you're talking outta your ass, I'm gonna…"
"Wait, I'm serious. Its voice controlled so you need to say: "Armor, ON!" and it'll activate." Charles is still skeptical but humors Tommy.
"Fine…Armor, ON!" The B.R.A. activates and a red and charcoal-gray set of Ninja armor folds over the well-built teenager.
"Woah!"
"Told ya. You wearing that is gonna make this breakout 10-times easier."
"This thing's freakin' cool! How do I use this?"
Tommy huffs proudly and walks closer. "The Tommy will give you a quick tutorial but, your friends have to put these on too! With three big guys on our side wearing those, we're gonna bust outta here in no time."
"You heard the kid, let's do this!" While Tommy teaches the three Hooligans how to use the armor, Wally goes over to where Sonia and Lee are.
"Hey, can you guys do me a favor?"
"Sure."
"Keep my bro safe, okay?"
"Cool."
"Of course, we will! You saved us from Father so it's the least we can do!" Sonia replies with a friendly smile and Wally nods in return. He then returns to the door as Kimberley approaches him.
"See anything?"
"Nope. But I'm not likin' the silence…"
"Well, it won't be silent for too long." Kimberley say as the inmates gather behind them, armed and ready to escape.
End of Transmission 27
Note: We're getting some new characters in this chapter. If you're getting confused by the different names, I recommend checking out the KND wiki/fandom page. I used their real names, unless they weren't mentioned in the wiki, like with Numbuhs 58 and 59.