Transmission 48: We Rise, You Fall
Up on the Command Deck, Abby's teammates continue to battle Numbuh 1000's P.O.W.U.H.-S.U.I.T. and their attacks are starting to take their toll on the seemingly invulnerable machine. Having lost his lasers, Numbuh 1000 has been forced to try and hit his enemies instead and it's proving to be nearly impossible. "Gah, stand still you damn teenagers!"
"In yer dreams!" Wally replies and peppers the suit's chest with his heat-lasers, which Numbuh 1000, in his fury, hasn't realized is damaged.
"You can't defeat me! I am Numbuh 1000! The Supreme Leader of the Kid NextGUAHRGH!" Hoagie tackles the suit's right side, causing Numbuh 1000 to nearly lose his balance and bite his tongue as well. But before he can respond, Rachel stabs her twin swords into the damaged chest area, causing electricity to surge out from the gash in the armor.
"Yes we can and we will!" she says as she jumps away but before Numbuh 1000 can grab her, the suit's right arm is suddenly struck by a blue beam, encasing it in blue crystal.
"Sorry, puta, but you're out of time." The Kid says coldly as he prepares to fire his Stupefier rifle once more.
"Grr…stop getting in my way!" Numbuh 1000 evades the second shot but when he tries to attack The Kid, Kuki lifts him and repeatedly smashes the Exo-Suit against the floor and then throws him to the other end of the destroyed corridor. Then, As Numbuh 1000 stands up, the elevator shaft behind him starts glowing as a visible heat-haze fills air around him. "Huh?! What the…?!" Just as Numbuh 1000 turns around, he is struck by a blazing, blue sphere of fire that engulfs him instantly. "ARRGGHHH!" he screams as the he is propelled across the Command Deck, against the same wall he threw Hoagie.
"It's…it's Nigel!" Rachel shouts as the others regroup.
"But that's not his flame color!" Hoagie says as they realize Nigel has lost control. Then, Abby jumps out of the shaft and lands next to Rachel.
"Guys, Numbuh 1's…oh…" her voice fades as the blue sphere reformats into Nigel, the outline of his Silhouette Suit having turned dark blue, bordering on the dreaded purple color.
"Guah…so, you finally show your true colors, Nephew?! Look at yourself! You look just like Father!" Numbuh 1000 mocks Nigel and spreads his suit's arms. "Try all you want, my suit is immune to your flames!"
"…No, it's not." Nigel replies with a slightly distorted voice and reformats his hands into swords made of blue fire and dives at the Exo-Suit, coldly slicing both arms off effortlessly.
"Wha…what?! Impossible!" Numbuh 1000 shouts in disbelief as Nigel stands up and looks at him in the eye.
"Are you having fun, Caleb?" he asks as he takes a step forward while the armless Exo-Suit steps backwards. "Don't you remember? You asked me that same question when we fought in the warehouse in March. Well, are you having fun? ANSWER ME!" Nigel's voice becomes more distorted while Numbuh 1000's entire being gets filled with fear, fear he's never felt before.
"…" his lips quiver as Nigel hovers before him and grasps the suit with telekinesis. He then rips the Exo-Suit in half easily, causing a helpless Numbuh 1000 to fall on the floor.
"Ugh…NO! MY SUIT! DAMN YOU!" Still possessing his silver gauntlets, Numbuh 1000 starts firing lasers and electricity at Nigel, but they simply go through him. "RAAAAAHHH! DAMN YOU, DAMN YOU, DAMN YOU!" he screams hysterically and continues to fire.
"Do you feel it? This is what it feels like when you're completely powerless to do anything, just like how my team felt when you framed us!" Nigel's words go on deaf ears as Numbuh 1000 screams and fires lasers at him, but Nigel rips his gauntlets from his hands and crushes them with telekinesis before lifting Numbuh 1000 off his feet. Then, Nigel pulls the fake Book of KND from Numbuh 1000's pocket and grabs it. "Gi…Give that back!"
"Let me tell you something as well, Numbuh 1000." Nigel pulls the raving Splinter Cell leader closer to him and looks him in the eye. "Remember when we were called to the Moonbase 3 years ago, before the Supreme Leader's birthday? She didn't just want to spend her last days with us, she had another reason. She gave back the Book of KND to me and replaced it with a forgery."
"Gh...you're lying!"
"Really? Then let me show you." Nigel takes the other book from his hoodie's pocket and opens both books. "Only the real one has my page in it. But I guess a blessed savior like yourself didn't realize that." Numbuh 1000 stares in disbelief at the two books and just like Nigel said, the one he had does not have Nigel's page, which only has a single phrase written on it: "WE ARE KIDS NEXT DOOR!" "You took everything from us 3 years ago and now, we'll do the same to you." Nigel then engulfs the fake book in flames, to Numbuh 1000 horror.
"No…NO!"
"This book, is just like you, a fake." Nigel says coldly as the fake book is instantly turned to ash right before Numbuh 1000's eyes. He drops the Splinter Leader to the floor, who scrambles towards the pile of ash left behind and grasps it.
"You…HOW COULD YOU?! You've destroyed the Book of KND!" Nigel looks in silence as Numbuh 1000 finally snaps and cradles the ash in his hands. Neither he nor his teammates can comprehend the pitiful act unfolding before them. Even Numbuh 1000's followers can only watch in disbelief as their leader is reduced to a raving, hysterical creature grasping at ash. "Nephew!" Numbuh 1000 pounces at Nigel, who grabs his arm and subdues him to the floor. "Gha! Let go! Get your filthy hands off me, you damn teenager!"
"Look who's talking." Nigel says coldly but then, his Silhouette Suit unexpectantly begins to flicker, and he starts experiencing immense pain. "Aurgh…no…not yet…" Seeing his chance, Numbuh 1000 breaks free from Nigel's hold and draws an Erasure Pistol from his back pocket as Nigel collapses on his knees. Reacting immediately, his teammates rush towards him but Numbuh 1000 quickly points his pistol at Nigel's head.
"Don't move!" he shouts but Sector V point their weapons at him instead. "Put you weapons down, teenagers!"
"Like we'll listen to you!" Wally replies, his Stupefier Cannon aimed squarely at Numbuh 1000's head.
"Then you'll have to watch as I give Nephew the punishment he deserves!" Numbuh 1000 says defiantly as he prepares to squeeze the trigger but then, out of nowhere, a laser strikes his hand and the pistol is shot out from his grip. "Ow! Urgh…what? You…?!" Numbuh 1000's eyes widen as he realizes who shot him. "Numbuh 105…what are you doing?! Lower your weapon at once!" he shouts as the Global Tactical Officer points his S.P.I.C.E.R.-II at his leader.
"No…this has gone far enough!" he yells, shocking the other Splinter Cell loyalists and Sector V, who have already pulled Nigel away from Numbuh 1000.
"I should've known you'd betray the KND like this!"
"I betrayed the KND years ago when I joined the Splinter Cell! Because I thought our cause was just! But now, I realize you were just using all of us to get revenge on the world."
"Our cause is just! We will create a utopia for all kids!"
"Yet you're a teenager yourself!" Numbuh 105 grips his pistol harder and stares furiously at Numbuh 1000. "All this time, the KND was being led by a teenager. And to think I actually believed you. We followed your orders, because we thought we were doing the right thing! But you couldn't care less about anyone else, except yourself."
"I have devoted everything I have to Project: Never Grow! And so did everyone else! Without it, Father will take over the world! Don't you see that you're playing right into his hands?!"
"You knew about Father's Day! But you didn't intervene!" Numbuh 105's revelation shock's everyone, especially Nigel.
"Where did you learn that?!" Numbuh 1000 hisses at the Global Tactical Officer, who then brandishes a data-disc.
"I did some digging of my own…after you ordered that orbital strike on V2, which still had our allies inside! You were willing to wipe them out, just so you could defeat Sector V!" he shouts and throws the disc towards Rachel, who catches it and inspects it.
"What is this?"
"It's a copy of Numbuh 1000's personal log, that I copied from his personal terminal."
"You traitor! You've sold the KND to the teenagers! Do you have any idea what you've done?!"
"I should've done this a long time ago, but…deep down, I still believed in you. Now I know I was a fool for believing a single word you've said! You could've stopped Father's Day! The Intelligence Division intercepted Father's plans, but you told them to not inform anyone, because you needed it to happen to justify our coup! My little sister was tortured in there! How could someone like you ever call himself a savior?! Tell me?! Was everything we've done, worth the sacrifices?!" A distraught Numbuh 105 shouts at his leader, who clenches his fists.
"The only thing…that matters…is the mission we were given…by Numbuh 74.239! I swore, I would do everything necessary to ensure…it will succeed…and I will not let anyone…stand in my way! Least of all…you!" Numbuh 1000 suddenly uses his hidden J.E.T.A.B.O.O.T.S. and lunges towards his Erasure Pistol but just as he grabs it, Numbuh 105 also uses his own J.E.T.A.B.O.O.T.S. and tackle Numbuh 1000.
"Raaaahhhh!"
"Gah! Let go of me!" They start brawling on the floor over the control of the pistol.
"You won't get away with this! Not after everything you've done!"
"A traitor like you would never understand my ideals!"
"You're the traitor, teenagARRRGGHHH!" Before anyone can intervene in the fight, Numbuh 105 is shot multiple times at close range by Numbuh 1000, and his limp body falls to the floor.
"I am…not a teenager! And now…I'll take care of the rest ofGuaaagh!" Before Numbuh 1000 can fully stand up, Wally rushes towards him and delivers a vengeful punch on the Splinter Cell leader's jaw, knocking out three teeth and sending Numbuh 1000 reeling back onto the floor. "*cough*, *cough*…urgh…damn you…" he curses but Wally then slams him against the floor while Nigel, with what strength he has left, removes the Supreme Leader's helmet and key-card from him. "No! *cough* This is not over! I won't lose…to the likes of you! I am Numbuh 1000, the Supreme Leader of the Kids Next…" Wally stupefies him mid-sentence and spits on his crystal prison.
"That was for my brother and everyone else you hurt, you cruddy SOB." he glares the Stupefied Numbuh 1000 one more time as the others are tending to the unconscious Numbuh 105.
"Is he…?" Kuki asks Rachel, who shakes her head.
"I'm afraid he is…he was shot multiple times, so I don't think he has any memories left…"
"Damn it!" Nigel punches the floor repeatedly in anguish. "Wiping out people's minds isn't…going to save anyone!" Seeing his reaction, even the Splinter Cell loyalists finally give in and surrender to Numbuh 81.
"We…hand over the Moonbase to you…do whatever you want with us…" Numbuh 145 says with head lowered before the Liaison Officer, who nods.
"Your surrender is acknowledged. Guards, seize them." While the Splinter Cell loyalists are being restrained, Rachel contacts the Wild Child.
"This is Numbuh Epsilon. Mission complete. Numbuh 1000 has been captured. Relay this message both our troops and the KND."
Then, the other door right behind the Supreme Leader's seat is blown open as Patton and Fanny, followed by the Combat Force, rush in. "Alright, who wants some?! Huh?" Patton notices that the fight is already over, and the Splinter Cell members have been captured. "Aw man, we missed the action." he laments as Fanny sees her friends surround Nigel.
"Hmm? Oi, you guys okay?!" she says and runs over to the them, followed by Patton.
"Bruised but nothing else…ugh…" Nigel groans as Abby and Wally help him back onto his feet.
"Man, you really went all out on him…" Hoagie says as Nigel glares furiously at the frozen Numbuh 1000.
"I had no choice…he threatened to hurt my parents and all of you…" Nigel replies solemnly.
"But at least you're fine. Numbuh 5 thought he'd really you know…taken you out…"
"As if I'd let someone like him do that to me…ugh…" Nigel replies while holding his side, which causes Kuki's medic's training to kick in.
"Numbuh 1, you're injured! Numbuh 5, Numbuh 4, lower him to the floor so I can take care of those bruises."
"No, Numbuh 3, there's really no need to…"
"Ah quit your complainin'. We've still got Father to take of care and we can't send ya out there injured. So you're gonna as Numbuh 3 says." Abby says as she and Wally set Nigel down, allowing Kuki to use her healing magic to quickly mend his injuries.
"Uhm…thanks, Numbuh 3." Nigel replies as he stands up.
"No problem!"
"So, what's the plan now?"
"Well, Numbuh Zeta, we'll need to…huh?" Nigel is interrupted as another door opens and Keith enters, followed by the escaped prisoners and the teens and operatives they freed in the Defense Control Bridge.
"Heh, looks like you guys had a real party here." he says jokingly.
"Huh?! Wait a minute, Numbuh 1-Love! What are you doing here?! I thought you were Decommissioned 3 years ago." Rachel shouts in disbelief at the former leader of Sector J.
"So did we, but he helped us secure the Defense Bridge, though he didn't tell us why." Nigel eyes Keith who puts his hands up.
"Hey, mon, don't look at me like that."
"Allow me to explain, Commander." Numbuh Gamma's face appears on a secondary screen next to the shattered big screen.
"Please do." Rachel glances at the Intelligence Chief, who crosses his hands.
"Agent Hermit is another one of our deep-cover agents, who I sent to the Moonbase beforehand to get it's layout and free the prisoners."
"Too bad I couldn't save everyone…that guy had all the prisoners erased and chipped right before the battle." Keith points at the Stupefied Numbuh 1000.
"Yeah, we saw that. That psycho sicked 'em against us down in the lower levels." Wally glares at Numbuh 1000 as well while Rachel eyes the Intelligence Chief.
"So that's how you acquired the floor plan for the Moonbase."
"Yes, that is correct." Numbuh Gamma replies stoically.
"I see…anyway now that the Moonbase is under our control, we need to re-establish contact with the Earth ASAP, so we can coordinate the attack on Father's mansion next."
"I will handle that, Commander." Numbuh Gamma contacts Herbie in the Switchboard from the Deciphering Room and soon, the shattered main screen lights up and on it appears Angeline.
"Supreme Leader!" Numbuh 81 and the other freed operatives salute her.
"At ease. I'm guessing you took care of Numbuh 1000 since the commlink is working again." she asks Nigel and the others, who move closer to the screen.
"That's correct, but not without a cost…" Nigel replies and points at an unconscious Numbuh 105. "He was erased by Numbuh 1000, after he renounced the Splinter Cell…but thanks to him, the Splinter Cell are no longer a threat." Nigel says as he leans on Abby's shoulder.
"Thank you. I knew could rely on you guys to do it."
"It's not over yet. We need to take care of Father as soon as possible." Nigel replies sternly
"Don't worry, I've already sent all of Earth's KND forces towards the Delightful Mansion. The Space Fleet has also agreed to join in on the attack. We've also managed to get the Array working, so we can bombard Father with it." Angeline replies, filling everyone with an intense sense of confidence.
"Good. I'll have the TND prepare for a joint attack on the mansion as well." Rachel says as Nigel gestures towards Charles, Kimberley, Ted, Tommy, Lee and Sonia, who stayed behind to aid Angeline in re-organizing the Earth's KND.
"Then can you send Numbuhs Tau-6, Pi-2, Eta-4 and Scout Team W to join the TND troops? We'll meet them once we return."
"Will do. I'm glad we're working together again, Sector V."
"We feel the same way." Nigel and his teammates nod confidently at Angeline while Hoagie points at the screen.
"And tell my little brother to stay safe out there?!"
"Hey, The Tommy can take care of himself, thank you very much!" Tommy shouts from the background, causing his brother to laugh, along with his friends. Then, Rachel begins communicating with Angeline about their plan of attack as the freed operatives under Numbuh 81 assume their posts on the Command Deck. Patton, Fanny, The Kid and Keith have also stayed on the Deck, with Keith talking with the prisoners while The Kid is leaning against a wall, away from the others. Sector V gathers in-front of the large window behind the main monitor to watch as the KND Space Fleet, now under Angeline's command, changes course and heads towards Earth to support the ground troops in the assault on Father's mansion.
As they gaze out into space, Nigel looks at his friends. "We finally did it…"
"Yeah, after all that crud we had to go through."
"I gotta admit, this has been a crazy two months…"
"You said it, Numbuh 2." Abby nods as Nigel takes a deep breath.
"I want to thank you guys…for agreeing to help me back in the submarine. I don't think I'd ever have gotten this far by myself…"
"You believed we were innocent this whole time, Numbuh 1. We should be thankin' you for makin' us a team again. Numbuh 5 was ready to get Decommissioned in that icebox."
"I think all of us were, even if we didn't admit it." Hoagie says as Wally clenches his fist.
"I wanted to get Decommissioned…but not anymore…"
"Hmm? Since when did ya get back to your senses?"
"I talked with Numbuh 2 after what happened to Maurice…and I guess I realized that only cowards would do that…and I'm not like those Splinter Cell punks who mind-wiped themselves."
"Heh, looks like actually have a brain in that thick head of yours, sport." Abby playfully messes with Wally's head, much to his annoyance.
"Hey! Cut it out!"
"Hah-hah-hah!" his teammates start laughing but then, Kuki begins to tear up.
"Numbuh 3? What's wrong?"
"I…I'm just so happy we met again…I though we'd never see each other again after we separated 3 years ago…" she sniffs as her friends are reminded of what Kuki had to go through in their absence and Abby puts her hand on her shoulder.
"We all feel that way, Numbuh 3."
"She's right. Nothing is going to tear us apart ever again."
"…yeah…" Kuki replies to Nigel as Wally moves closer to the window while putting his hand against the glass and looks down on the Earth, in the direction of Australia.
"Why the crud do I have to go back there…" he mutters as Hoagie walks next to him.
"Oh yeah, that's right, you're moving back to Australia next week…"
"Don't remind me…"
"Aw, cheer up, buddy. We'll come and see you anytime."
"Numbuh 2 is right. We've got a whole summer vacation ahead of us after all." Wally doesn't reply and looks out into space. Then, he is hugged tightly by a teary-eyed Kuki
"Wally! I promise I'll come visit you! Then you don't have to be alone there!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know! Will ya cruddy let go?!"
"Nuh-uh!" Kuki squeezes even harder as Wally tries to frantically break free while their teammates start laughing at the couple.
"I tell ya, those two are never gonna change."
"Hah-hah, indeed…"
Then, their conversation is interrupted by Rachel. "Numbuh 1! Numbuh Rho is waiting for you and your team in the armory. Get yourself re-armed and then board your ship. We'll begin the attack soon."
"Understood, Numbuh Epsilon. You heard her, let's move." Nigel says as Sector V step away from the window but before they leave the deck, Nigel stops next to Rachel. "What about you?"
"I'll have to stay and command the operation from here, but of course, I can come and lend you a hand if things get too tough for you." she winks mischievously at Nigel, who chuckles.
"Hah, I'll keep that in mind." he replies as Patton and Fanny approach them, along with Keith and The Kid.
"And us?"
"You three will join Sector V as well. As for Agent Hermit, Numbuh Gamma is waiting for you in the Deciphering Room."
"Roger that." Patton replies sternly while Keith nods. Then, Rachel turns her attention to Nigel and Sector V.
"Father's mansion is a tough nut to crack, Numbuh 1, so be careful."
"Don't worry. With our numbers, Father won't stand a chance. We'll stop him before he can implement his plan."
"Or will you, Mr. Uno?" a sinister voice interrupts their conversation as the Command Deck's computer terminal's screens begin flashing red.
"Huh?! What's happening?!" Rachel shouts as Nigel runs over to the closest terminal and his eyes widen as he realizes what is causing the flashing.
"It's…Father! He's attempting to hack the Moonbase's systems!"
"What?! Then that means…"
Inside the Wild Child, every screen in the Switchboard is also flashing red, alarming Herbie. "We're being hacked! Initiate countermeasures!" he shouts as Numbuh Gamma contacts the Switchboard.
"Numbuh Iota-3, we need to sever our communication lines to the Moonbase, right now! Father's trying to get his hands on the Deciphering Room's databanks through the Moonbase's systems!"
"Of course! Sever the connections!" But despite cutting the Wild Child from the Moonbase's network, the virus does not stop.
"Dammit…it's not working!" Herbie shouts as Numbuh Gamma looks around the Deciphering Room with a grim expression.
"…it's already infected all our systems…we'll need to completely shut down everything!"
"You can't be serious! If we do that, we'll lose all communications with Earth, and there's no guaranteed way to recover all the lost data!"
"We have no choice, Numbuh Iota-3! Father will know everything about the TND if we don't do it now!" Numbuh Gamma shouts at a shocked Herbie, who clenches his fists and then, nods.
"…all right. Shut down everything! Hurry!" Then, in an instant, TND's entire computer network is shut off, taking with it the Moonbase's computer network as well.
Up on the Command Deck, Rachel receives a call from a grim Numbuh Gamma. "Commander…"
"What happened just now?!"
"Father broke through the fire wall and infected our computer system…even though we did shut down the system, I don't know how much data he got his hands on…"
"What about our communications?!"
"Only local communications work. Everything else is gone." Numbuh Gamma replies grimly as Nigel hits the terminal.
"Gah! No! This is not happening…it's too soon!"
"Hah-hah-hah-hah!" Father's sinister laugh echoes on the Command Deck as his image appears on all the other screens apart from the main one, where Angeline is still visible. "Bravo, Mr. Uno. You managed to finally take down that delusional little runt and his friends. They've been a real annoyance but, now that he is out of the way, I can begin my plan, ahead of schedule. And I owe it all to you, Mr. Uno…or should I say, Nephew."
"You…how did you…" Nigel starts seething from rage as Father leans back on his throne in satisfaction.
"Your dear cousin has very generously provided me with a way in. Then it was only a matter of when to act. Of course, it was a lot more complicated than that, but the result has been most satisfactory."
"You used Eliza…damn you…" Nigel clenches his fists as his Silhouette Suit covers him for a split second.
"She told me everything quite willingly. After all, she's on the adult's side now."
"You think you can defeat us just by taking down our communications?! We've already begun attacking your mansion with everything we have!" Rachel shouts defiantly but Father let's out a cold chuckle.
"Oh, I am aware of your oncoming attack on my humble abode, but it doesn't matter. Now that you disabled that runt's jamming system, all I have to do is push this button and the world will become…peaceful for ever more." Nigel freezes as he realizes what Father is about to do.
"No…you wouldn't…"
"Watch me." Father replies and presses a button on his armrest. For a moment, nothing seems to happen but then, a bright blue flash is emitted from the top of the highest spire in Father's mansion, and it quickly begins to cover the whole planet.
…TRANSMISSION INTERRUPTED….
End of Phase 4
Note: Woohoo! We've finally reached the end of the 4th arc. It's been a long time coming. Once again, I'd like to thank everyone who has picked up and read this, because without you, I wouldn't have gotten this far. Next, we'll start the 5th and final part of Operation: RETRIBUTION, though the releases will probably stay as a once a week affair, since part 5 is still being written.