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…Resuming Transmission…
Transmission 49: The Delightful World
38 years ago
A 12-and an 11-year-old boy are standing inside the radio room of a middle school. "Ben! I won't let you do this!" a brown-haired, stout boy shouts with a British accent. He is wearing black sunglasses, a beige shirt underneath a red vest, brown shorts and a metal washboard over his chest with a large zero painted on it. Before him stands a lanky, bespectacled boy wearing a clean, white shirt, a black vest, blue trousers and suspenders and a red tie.
"No! I'm too close, Monty!" the boy called Ben shouts and brandishes a c-cassette. "I'll broadcast this tune and brainwash everyone in the school into proper, obedient students like myself! Then I'll be free of those stupid bullies!"
"Just because those crooks made fun of you, doesn't give you any right to brainwash everyone!" the boy called Monty takes a step forward as Ben clenches his fist.
"I'm the only one with that right! I'm better than anyone in this school, yet they keep tormenting me! A popular student like you would never understand how I feel!"
"I'm your brother! I know you better than anyone and this isn't like you!"
"Oh, do you?! No, you're too busy playing with your KND friends to even bother with me! But I don't need you! I swear I'll succeed where Pappy failed and prove to everyone that I am superior!" Ben shouts maniacally while his older brother Monty can't believe what he's hearing.
"You…you can't be serious! Pappy was evil! He treated us kids like slaves!"
"But he had power! Power to rule over all! And now, I have it too!" Ben's eyes begin turning yellow and a dark aura starts to cloak him.
"Don't do this! You can't let the Silhouette Suit consume you!" Monty tries to run towards his brother, who sends him flying across the room with telekinesis. "Urgh! Ben…" Monty gasps as Ben moves closer to the intercom's control unit.
"Sorry, Monty, but I won't let anyone stand in my way! Especially you and your Kids Next Door!" but just as Ben places the cassette inside the radio, the whole control unit is blasted apart by Monty, using his P.R.O.T.O.- S.P.I.C.E.R. pistols "NO!" Ben shouts as Monty continues to fire, destroying the unit and the cassette along with it. "Grr…MONTY!" Ben shouts and unleashes a surge of flames at his brother, who rolls to the left, but the flames hit the wooden wall behind him, igniting them.
"I told you, I wouldn't let you do it! If you really want to follow in Pappy's footsteps, then I'll do everything I can to defeat you!" Monty shouts and attacks his younger brother with his pistols, but Ben creates a black wall in-front of himself to block the attack.
"You'll pay for this, Monty! You'll pay!" Ben screams and launches fireballs at his brother, who again dodges as fire alarms go off in the school, causing everyone to frantically flee, except for the two brothers.
Outside, a red-haired girl wearing a blue school uniform meets up with three other kids. "Vice-Commander Numbuh 999, we've gotten everyone out of the building!" a blond-haired girl speaking with an Australian accent and wearing a pot over her head salutes the girl, who is looking around with a worried expression.
"What about Numbuh 0?!"
"We haven't seen the Supreme Leader anywhere."
"Then we have to go back and find him!" the girl says with a British accent just as fire engines arrive at the scene.
Inside, the brothers continue to fight, completely ignoring the fire raging around them. "Why do you always have to get in my way?! I hate you, Monty!" Ben shouts as he tries to snare his brother with the dark aura, but Monty is just too quick and easily evades him. However, he then notices a large support beam about to collapse on Ben, prompting Monty to react.
"Ben!" he shouts as he tackles his younger brother, saving him from the falling beam but Ben throws his brother aside and pins him against the floor of the burning cafeteria.
"All these years, I had to hide in your shadow! No matter what I did, I wasn't good enough for Pappy! But you, you were his favorite! And you just had to turn against him!"
"He…was a tyrant…and I hate him for it!" Monty replies as he tries in-vain to free himself from Ben's telekinetic hold. "Ben…why do you want to be evil?!"
"Because that's my destiny! I will make everyone bow down before me! But first, I'll erase you from this world!"
"I'm your brother!"
"I don't have a brother!" Seeing the madness in his brother's glowing, yellow eyes gives Monty the strength to free himself and kick Ben in the stomach, but he quickly recovers and cloaks his right arm in the black aura. "You can't defeat me! I have Pappy's power on my side…huh?" Ben notices that Monty's left arm is glowing. It's covered in a white aura with an orange outline.
"MONTY!" Ben screams and charges at his older brother, who does the same.
"BEN!" their fists connect, causing a powerful flash, that's clearly visible from the outside. Then, just as fire fighters are about to enter the burning building, out of the thick smoke, Monty appears, carrying his unconscious younger brother in his back.
"Monty!" the red-haired girl shouts as she runs to meet him, along with the other kids.
"Please…cuff him up and send him to the Arctic Prison…"
"But…that's your own brother."
"No, Numbuh 999…he's our enemy now…he's…he's acquired Grandfather's powers…" Monty replies solemnly as a large 2x4 flying machine lands in-front of them. As his brother is taken away, Monty looks out into the sky, with tears flowing down his eyes. "Ben…why did it have to end up like this…but I swear, even after I'm decommissioned, the Kids Next Door will find a way to defeat you…no matter how long it takes…" Monty clenches his fist, which, for a brief moment, glows white.
Present Day
As the blue flash envelops the world, Father's manic laughter is heard throughout the Moonbase. Up on the Command Deck, Rachel tries to frantically talk to Angeline, who's communication line is still working for some reason. "Numbuh 78, what's happening down there?!"
"I don't know, it's some sort of a beam…UARGH!" Angeline starts to scream and writhe in pain before, to the horror of everyone present in the Command Deck, she is Delightfulized right before their eyes, along with all other KND operatives on the bridge of the V2 Treehouse.
"TOMMY!" Hoagie screams as his little brother is Delightfulized as well and the broadcast ends.
"It's a…Delightfulization Ray…no…No…FATHER!"" Nigel shouts furiously as Father continues to laugh.
"Hah-hah-hah-hah! Take a good look, Mr. Uno! Thanks to you, I've finally succeeded in destroying the Kids Next Door! Every single child under the age of 13 on the planet has been Delightfulized, including all those fools you sent to attack my mansion! Did you honestly think you could defeat ME?! An Adult?!" Father declares and stands up. "But that's not all! Now that I have your data, I can have my Delightful Ninjas snuff out all your little hiding places on Earth."
"Wha…what do we do…" Rachel's knees give out, but Nigel quickly runs to her side.
"We can't give up! We still have our own fleet. We'll charge Father's mansion and…"
"Oh, I'd like to see you try." Father interrupts just as the Moonbase is rocked by a powerful explosion.
"What the crud was that?!" Wally shouts as Hoagie realizes what the cause is.
"It's…the C.L.A.M.M.A.H. Array! He's taken control of it!" Hoagie shouts as another shell from the Array strikes the Moonbase, shaking it to its core.
Nigel then takes Rachel's communicator and contacts the Wild Child. "This is Numbuh 1! What's the status of the carrier?!"
"We've been hit on the stern and the propulsion system is down!" a panicking Herbie replies.
"Can you separate the carrier?!"
"No, the docking system is jammed! We'll rip off the Moonbase's hangar doors if we try to forcefully separate!"
"Dammit…"
"It's useless to resist, Mr. Uno! This the end of the line for you, and your little rebellion."
"You haven't defeated us yet, Father!" Nigel shouts defiantly as his teammates come to his side.
"That's right! We ain't out of the fight yet!"
"What's the matter?! Too scared to take us on yourself?!"
"Hah-hah-hah, now why would I waste my precious time coming up there? Granted, I could have you all Delightfulized easily, but where's the fun in that? It's much more enjoyable to simply watch as you struggle in vain, despite knowing you've lost. Oh? Not convinced? Well, take a look at this then." Father begins showing footage from around the world and it has the desired effect.
"Jo…JOEY!" Wally shouts as he sees his now Delightfulized little brother sitting silently in a pre-school class, wearing a blue school uniform. Then, another familiar face appears on the screen.
"Mushi!" Kuki covers her mouth as her younger sister is shown walking silently on the sidewalk, together with her boyfriend, Sandy. They too are wearing similar clothes as Joey. This is followed by footage about Fanny's two younger brothers, Paddy and Shaunie and Rachel's younger brother Harvey, all of them Delightfulized.
"If you think you can frighten us with that, you're wrong!" Nigel refuses to give up, but this only amuses Father further.
"But you haven't seen the best part. Observe:" he pushes a button on his armrest and then, Joey hits his head against his school desk, without blinking an eye.
"You cruddy SOB! What are you doin' to my brother?!"
"Now that they are Delightfulized, I can make then do whatever I want! Anything I command, the children will obey, without question, as it should be! Do you understand? Anything!" Then, everyone realizes what Father means, causing their convictions to falter.
"Don't give up! Just because he has the upper hand, doesn't mean he's won!"
"Easy for you to say! He's got my brother!" A distraught Wally shouts at Nigel, who notices that Father's tactic has worked.
"We can save them! All of them! We just need to come up with a plan and…"
"Oh, please do! I'm looking forward to it. Why, I'd gladly let you come here right now, if you want! But until then, enjoy being trapped on the Moon, with no way of getting to Earth."
"You won't get away with this, Father! I swear!"
"Hah-ha-hah-haa! On the contrary, I already have! This is the world I have desired! A world where children obey adults and don't talk back! I have created an ideal world, where there is no conflict, no crime and no delinquency! Grandfather's world was cruel and violent but my world, is peaceful! A new, Delightful World!"
"…that doesn't make this world any better than his!"
"Hah-hah, you sound just like your father. So disgustingly stubborn and defiant. A shame he was a fool who believed that children being 'free' would make the world better! The world can only be changed by those who are worthy! And I am the only one on this planet with that right! HAH-HAH-HAH-HAH!" Father ends the broadcast, but his manic laugh continues to echo throughout the Moonbase. Standing in stunned silence, no one on the Command Deck can quite comprehend what has just happened.
"Did…did Father just Delightfulize the entire planet?" Hoagie asks with a shaky voice as Nigel kicks a terminal next him.
"Dammit! He…was ready to strike the moment we brought down Numbuh 1000…I should've known he'd do that…how could I be so naïve!"
"Nigel, it wasn't your fault. None us knew either." Rachel's attempt at comforting Nigel is ignored as he immediately begins planning their next move.
"It doesn't matter, we need to attack Father's mansion right now!"
"But how? All our communications are gone, the Moonbase's computer system is down and we can't launch any ships, because the Gihugeacarrier is jammed in the main hangar." Patton says but Nigel tries to feverishly think of another way.
"Then…we'll use the portals! If we get a small team close to the mansion, we can…"
"Numbuh 1, ya know that's not gonna happen. Didn't ya hear what Numbuh Zeta said? We ain't got no way to outta here!"
"There has to be! I am not going to sit around and let Father control the world! Don't you understand?! We can't let Father win!" Nigel shouts, his eyes filled anger and his teammates can tell he's not himself.
"Numbuh 1, ya aren't thinkin' straight! Numbuh 5 doesn't like this either, but we're trapped in here."
"But we can't waste time! Numbuh 3, teleport us to the Wild Child's test hangar, right now." Nigel's tone angers Wally, who steps between them.
"Hey! Ya can't just tell her to do that!" Wally shouts at Nigel as Abby also steps in.
"Nigel, get a hold of yoself! Ya can't lose yo head over this!"
"I'll do it!" Kuki yells, interrupting the argument.
"Huh? Numbuh 3, not you too!"
"But Numbuh 5, maybe we can think of a way to save everyone when we go there. It…it's better than yelling at each other here, right?" Kuki says hesitantly, causing Abby and Wally to relent, as The Kid, Patton and Fanny also join them.
"Hey, if you're plannin' on going fighting again, I'm comin' too."
"Same here." The Kid and Patton say firmly while Fanny clenches her fists.
"Father's gonna pay for brainwashing my little brothers…"
"Thank you…I swear we'll defeat Father, one way or another. Numbuh Epsilon, we'll go on ahead."
"But Nigel!" Rachel shouts just as Kuki teleports everyone to the carrier. Then, she turns towards a bewildered Numbuh 81, Keith and the prisoners. "I know I don't have any authority over you all, but…if we're going to get through this, all of us, kids and teenagers, need to work together. Father may have won this round, but not all hope is lost."
"You know I got your back, Commander." Keith smirks confidently while Numbuh 81 and the other freed KND operatives straighten themselves and salute Rachel.
"We'll do everything we can, Ma'am!" Rachel is taken aback by their salute and she smiles weakly.
"Thank you…I appreciate it…"
…
However, unknown to their allies, five agents are running for their lives through the maze-like corridors of Sector V2's Treehouse. "Oh man, this is way too crazy for me!"
"Shut up and keep running!" Kimberley shouts at Charles as they, along with Ted, Lee and Sonia flee from both the Delightfulized operatives and the Delightful Ninjas, who stormed the Treehouse when the ray covered the planet.
"What do we do?! We can't run forever!" Ted shouts as lasers whizz past their heads. Glancing over his shoulder, he can see blue-eyed, white clothed operatives and white-armored Ninjas catching up to them. Then, Kimberley remembers something.
"Numbuh Eta-4! You've still got two portal discs, right?!" she asks as Charles fires blindly behind him, forcing their pursuers to evade.
"Haah…haah….ye…yeah?!"
"We'll use a portal! It'll take us right back to the carrier!"
"Huh? Oh yeah! I get it."
"Good! Then why don't ya make it already?!" Charles shouts just as a stray laser hits the wooden floor between himself and Sonia and Lee, knocking the two 12-year-olds off their feet.
"Augh!"
"Ow, my foot!" Sonia yells as splinters drill into her leg. Acting quickly, Charles grabs her and Lee and starts carrying them. "I gotcha! No one's gonna be left behind!" he shouts as Ted fiddles his pockets, trying to find the discs.
"Aw come on, where are they?! There!" he wraps his fingers around a disc and pulls it out of his trouser pocket, but he doesn't notice that the other disc slips out and falls to the floor. "Okay! One portal, coming up!"
Back in space, Sector V, Patton, Fanny and The Kid enter the test hangar, although Wally and Abby have to give Kuki a hand, as the teleportation drained her quite a lot.
"This is crazy…Numbuh 5, we can't go fight Father like this!" Wally says to Abby, who eyes a stone-faced Nigel.
"I know…but Numbuh 1's not gonna listen…" she mutters as Numbuh Gamma and Numbuh Omicron arrive to meet them.
"Numbuh 1, what are you doing here?"
"Numbuh Omicron, we need to use the portal generator, right now!"
"Are you daft? We don't have any out-going portals on Earth."
"Then we could…"
"Numbuh 1, what you're asking is impossible. We can't generate a portal without an exit. Isn't that right, Numbuh 2?" Numbuh Gamma says sternly and looks at Hoagie, who nods hesitantly, much to Nigel's growing frustration.
"Ye…yeah…I designed it that way…"
"Argh…there has to be a way! Numbuh 3, can you teleport us one more time?"
"Numbuh 1! She just teleported us here! You're not seriously asking her to teleport to Earth?! Look at her! She can't even stand straight!" Wally shouts as everyone eyes Nigel while an exhausted Kuki bites her lip.
"I'm sorry…I don't have the strength to…"
"It doesn't matter if it's just one! Give me a portal disc! I'll go there and…URGH!" Abby punches Nigel in the gut, causing him to fall to his knees.
"Will ya give it a rest already, Nigel! Listen to ya self! Do ya really wanna go there right now, after what just happened?! What's gotten into to ya?!"
"Ghh…I can't! If we let Father rule the world…everything is going to…"
"Just cause he won this round, doesn't mean we've lost the war! Think about it, Numbuh 1!" But their words go on deaf ears as Nigel gets up and tries to approach Kuki, but Wally, Abby and The Kid stop him.
"Step aside…Numbuh 3…teleport me…NOW!" Nigel's voice begins to distort as his Silhouette Suits appears and flickers, scaring Kuki and their teammates.
"Numbuh 1…" she cowers as Wally activates his gauntlets in knuckle-mode.
"You lay a finger on her and you'll regret it!" he moves to cover Kuki while Numbuh Gamma steps in-front of Nigel as well.
"Numbuh 1, we don't have the combat strength to attack Father's mansion. We need to regroup and count our losses first. Surely you of all people would agree!"
"He's right! You ain't thinkin' straight!"
"My head is clear! Father must be defeated! And…I'll do it myself if I have to!" Just as Nigel is about to step closer to Kuki, an alarm goes off.
"Numbuh Omicron! A portal is opening!" a member of the Science Section shouts over the intercom, halting the confrontation.
"A portal?! From where?!" Numbuh Omicron asks as Abby pulls Kuki away from Nigel while Wally and The Kid keep him in their sights.
"It's…coming from Sector V2!"
"V2? It's Numbuh Tau-6's team!" Patton shouts as Nigel turns around and makes a beeline for the Test Hangar where the cannon-shaped portal generator is located.
"Come on! We gotta stop Numbuh 1 before he does somethin' stupid!" Abby shouts and runs after Nigel, followed by the others, though Wally sticks by Kuki's side, due to her exhaustion.
"Dammit, if they open a portal now, they'll lead the enemy right to us!" Numbuh Gamma thinks as everyone runs through the armored doors and down the stairs onto the hangar floor, where the portal is slowly opening.
"That's it! We'll use that to…"
"Oh no ya don't! You ain't goin' through that portal, ya hear me!" Abby gets ahead of Nigel and grabs his shoulder.
"What are you doing?! We've got a way back to Earth! We'll retake V2 and then attack Father's mansion!" Nigel shouts with a menacing voice, as Abby realizes he has the same fanaticism in his eyes as Numbuh 1000 had earlier.
"No, we ain't! I'm not lettin' anyone past me!"
"Why don't you understand?! We got a chance to save the world!"
"We can do that when we're ready to fight again!" Their argument is interrupted as the portal fully materializes and they see Ted, Kimberley and Charles, who is carrying the injured Sonia and Lee, running towards them. They can also see the horde of Delightfulized kids and teenagers pursuing them.
"We gotta give 'em covering fire!" Patton shouts and stars firing his Stupefier Rifle through the portal, followed by Wally, The Kid and Fanny while Hoagie is unable to move a muscle, as one of the pursuers is none other than his little brother Tommy.
"No…Tommy…"
"Come on, just a little more!" Charles shouts as they close in on the portal. Ted is the first one reach it and he is pulled inside by Fanny, who is the closest to the portal. Then, Kimberley stops in-front of the portal and gestures Charles to hand Sonia to her while Lee jumps out of his grasp and runs through the portal, followed by Sonia.
"There! Now let's move!" Kimberley says but just as she is about to enter through the portal, Charles sees a Delightful Ninja appear on the wooden rafters above her.
"Look out!" he shouts and tackles Kimberley from behind, pushing her through the portal but he himself falls on the floor just as the Ninja lands on him, striking Charles with an electrified knuckle.
"GUAAAARRRGHH!" the pinned 14-year-old screams as Kimberley turns around and runs towards the portal.
"Tau-6!" Behind her, Kuki tries to push the Ninja away from Charles with her telekinesis but it doesn't work. Abby meanwhile lets go of Nigel and runs past him before grabbing Charles' hand, which is sticking through the portal, as do Wally and Patton while Fanny continues to fire on the pursuers.
"Pull!" Then, the Ninja fires at Charles' hand, causing Abby to lose her grip.
"Ghh…damn you…" Charles curses the Ninja but the electric shock has stunned his body. Then, to the horror of everyone, the Ninja takes a Delightfulization chip from their belt and prepares to implant it on Charles' neck.
"NO!" Kimberley screams but just as the Ninja is about place the chip, Charles manages to deploy his right-hand laser cannon and he fires at the disc, causing the portal to slowly shrink. "CHARLES!" Kimberley tries to go through the portal, but Abby grabs her from behind.
"No! Ya can't go back there!"
"I can't leave him! Charles!" tears begin forming in Kimberley's eyes as Charles looks through the collapsing portal.
"Don't give up! You guys gotta keep fighting! You gottaARGHHH!" he screams as the chip Delightfulizes him just as the portal closes.
"CHARLES!" Kimberley breaks free from Abby's hold and collapses on to her knees while everyone stares in disbelief. "You said no one was going to be left behind!" she punches the floor as Abby kneels next to her and puts her hand on her back.
"Crud…" Wally clenches his fist while The Kid looks away. Ted can't comprehend what just happened while a shocked Sonia spontaneously hugs a stunned Lee.
Nigel however, is furious. "Why did you stop me?! We could've driven them away!" Abby immediately jumps up and walks back over to Nigel, her eyes filled with rage.
"Will ya shut your mouth already?! Didn't ya see what just happened?!" she screams at Nigel, who refuses to back down.
"Yes I did, but we can't let that stop us! The only thing that matters is that we defeat Father!" he shouts as Abby notices that Nigel's eyes are starting to turn yellow underneath his white-framed, green sunglasses.
"Nigel…what are ya saying?! Is defeating the Father more important to ya than your own teammates?! This ain't you! You're soundin' just like Father!" her words stun Nigel, who looks at his hands and notices a faint, dark aura covering them. His eyes widen as he then looks at his teammates and he takes a step back.
"What…what have I…no…" the look in his teammate's eyes causes Nigel shake as he realizes that the Silhouette Suit had seeped into his mind and started to corrupt him because he couldn't handle the shock of Father taking over the world. "I…what was I about to do…" the fog over his mind clears as he recalls everything that just happened. "How could I…dammit…I lost control again!" Nigel collapses on his knees and stares in horror at his hands as the aura fades. He then looks up at everyone as his eyes are filled with despair. "I'm sorry! I almost forced you all into certain doom…" Abby crouches in-front of him and offers her hand to him.
"We understand, Boss. Ya took it worse than everyone else, we get it. He's your uncle, after all."
"…that's why he said he was waiting…he wanted me to come to his mansion so he could…turn me into his servant…How could I be so foolish to fall for his mind-games?!"
"No point beating yourself up over this. Pull yourself together now, we've got work to do." Patton says as Abby pulls Nigel back to his feet. Behind them, Ted tries to console a grieving Kimberley.
"Don't worry…we'll find a way to turn him back…"
"It should've been me! He got Delightfulized because of me!" Kimberley throws her blue goggles to the floor as Abby walks back over to her and helps Kimberley up.
"We all feel the same way, Numbuh Pi-2, but ya can't blame yourself. He saved ya from bein' Delightfulized."
"But…he got left behind…" Kimberley replies with a raspy voice.
"Like Eta-4 said, we're gonna turn him back, just like everyone else." Abby tries to assure Kimberley but she does not reply. "Come on, let's go back. No point in hanging around here anymore."
"I agree, Numbuh 5. We need to ascertain the situation and repair all the damage the carrier and the Moonbase suffered." Numbuh Gamma says, to which everyone agrees, apart from Hoagie, who can't get over the fact Tommy has become his enemy. Then, as everyone starts leaving, the alarm goes off again.
"Numbuh Omicron! Another portal is being activated!"
"What?! How is that possible? We didn't give any Portal Discs to any of our Earth bases." Then, Ted puts his hand in his pocket and comes to a horrifying realization.
"Uhm…I don't have my second disc…" his face turns pale as Numbuh Omicron grabs him by the shoulders.
"You lost the second disc?! How?!"
"It must've fallen out when we…" Suddenly, the portal opens again and to everyone's shock, Delightful Ninjas fly out of it and hover in the air.
"Well, well, well. It looks we found a back door. Delightfulize them all!" The lead ninja says as they dive down on the weary Sector V and their allies. Acting quickly, Numbuh Omicron runs over to the portal generator's control panel and pulls a red lever, shutting the exit portal before anymore Ninjas can enter, but 14 are already attacking the others.
"Numbuh 5, Numbuh 2, get everyone out of here! Numbuh 4, Numbuh Zeta, Numbuh Beta, Agent Halcón, we'll hold them off!" Nigel shouts, prompting Abby to grab Kimberley's hand and run away, while Kuki and Lee help Sonia up the stairs.
"All personnel, move to the upper level! Sound the alarm!" Numbuh Omicron shouts as Nigel and the others attack the Ninjas, but they are tired and can't fight with their full strength. Their task is also made more difficult by the Ninja's enhanced abilities, thanks to their Delightfulization.
"Gah, these guys are annoying!" Wally shouts as he fires his Stupefier Cannon at the Ninjas, who easily dodge and begin pushing the defenders back.
"Dammit, they'll over run the whole carrier if we don't stop them here!"
"Don't have to tell me twice!" Fanny says to Patton as she draws her mace in combined form and tries to attack the Ninjas at close range, but just like Wally, she can't hit them.
"Surrender to your fate, rebels! No one will stand in the way of Father's new world order!"
"We'll never surrender to him!" Nigel replies as the Ninjas form up and dive on him. Then, Numbuh Gamma steps in-front of Nigel. "What are you doing?!"
"Ending this fight." he replies calmly and places his index-and middle fingers against the round birthmark on his forehead, which starts glowing. Then, Numbuh Gamma point the same fingers towards the attacking Ninjas. "Sagittarius." he mutters and a single arrow, made of light, flies out of his glowing fingers and impales the first Ninja. Then, multiple similar arrows are fired from the first arrow's head, impaling the other Ninjas as well and they stop in their tracks. For a moment, they seem to simply freeze but then, all 14 of them are enveloped in bright light, causing them immense pain.
"ARRRRRGHHHH!" they squirm and writhe for a few seconds before the light fades and the Ninjas fall to the ground.
"Wha…what the crud just happened?" Wally says with is mouth wide open while no one else is able to say a thing. Then, Nigel notices that something is happening to the Ninjas.
"Wait a minute! Look!" he shouts the Ninja's armor and appearance returns back to normal while Numbuh Gamma collapses on one knee. "They…they're free from the Delightfulization."
"Urgh…I simply short-circuited their Delightfulization chips…" Numbuh Gamma replies as he stands up while Nigel crosses his arms.
"How exactly did you do that? Who are you really, Numbuh Gamma? Isn't it about time you explained yourself?" Nigel eyes Numbuh Gamma as Abby comes to his side.
"Numbuh 1, what do ya mean?"
"Numbuh Epsilon and I have had our suspicions about him for awhile now. The way you seem to be in the know about everything and the fact you've been operating behind our backs."
"This is no time to start accusing anyone, Numbuh 1."
"I am not accusing anyone, Numbuh Omicron. I simply want an explanation, that's all. Or can any of you explain how Numbuh Gamma just defeated those Ninjas?" Nigel's question makes the Science Chief hesitate, along with everyone else.
"You are correct, Numbuh 1. I have some explaining to do but that will come later. The Moonbase and the carrier have sustained damage and Father has cut us off from Earth. Once everything has settled down, I'll gladly explain everything." Numbuh Gamma looks directly at Nigel, who sighs and then, nods.
"Yes, I agree. I'm in no position to question you or your motivations. I think we all need some time to come to terms with what just happened."
"Then the Science Section will begin assessing the damage and plan the repairs. Numbuh 2, can you lend us a hand?" Numbuh Omicron asks Hoagie but he hesitantly shakes his head.
"Sorry, Numbuh Omicron. I…I'm not sure I can do anything right now…I need to clear my thoughts…" he replies but the Science Chief puts his hand on Hoagie's shoulder.
"That's fine, lad. You just come to me when ya feel better."
"I'll help, Chief! Just tell me what to do!" Ted puts his hand up, as does a red-eyed Kimberley.
"I'll help too. Numbuh Tau-6 would've done the same."
"Alrighty then. Gather up all able technicians and head out. We've got lots of work to do." As the Science Section gets to work, Hoagie turns around and silently leaves the lab, as Abby looks over her shoulder and sees him walk away. She sighs but doesn't go after him.
"Then I'm gonna go check up on the Combat Force and help them with the prisoners. No doubt there's still some Splinter Cell loyalists hiding in the Moonbase."
"I'll come with ya." Fanny says to Patton and they leave as well, while Kuki takes Sonia's hand.
"Come on, I'll take you to the infirmary so we can get your leg healed."
"Tha…thank you…"
Then, one by one, the others got their separate ways leaving only an exhausted Numbuh Gamma in the test hangar. "As expected of Numbuh 1. You were right, Numbuh Delta. He really is sharp, but it was only a matter of time before the jig was up."
…
Down on Earth, Father standing in-front of the large pained-glass window of his throne room and watching out into the large lake, located close to the cliffs his mansion is built on. "It's a shame you could never see this, Pappy…Your son has finally succeeded in destroying the Kids Next Door."
"Hah-hah-haa…you haven't won yet, Benedict."
"What?! Pa…Pappy?! What is this? Where did that come from?!"
"Surprised? I have been watching you longer than you think." Grandfather's specter replies coldly as his reflection appears on the glass.
"Huh?! Wait a minute…you're speaking through the Silhouette Suit, is that it?"
"Hah-hah, sharp as a tac, aren't you, Benedict. My spirit cannot be extinguished, as long as someone from the Uno bloodline uses the Silhouette Suit."
"Well, you've shown yourself at the right time! I did what you couldn't do! I have destroyed the Kids Next Door and taken over the world! I am your true heir, after all!"
"You are both naïve and a fool to claim victory! For I will not declare a winner when there are pawns remaining on the board. Nigel Uno is still up on the Moon. Why have you allowed him to hide there?"
"Because he will come to me! He knows the only way to try and reverse my planet-wide Delightfulization is to come to the mansion! Then, I'll destroy his will and turn him into the loyal Nephew he was meant to be."
"Hmm…heh-heh, a very smart plan. But, Nigel Uno is Monty's son and that alone makes him superior to you, Ben." Grandfather says mockingly, causing Father's Silhouette Suit to flare up as his yellow eyes glare furiously at the apparition in the window.
"Do not compare him to me! I am an adult, and I will not be defeated by that fool!"
"Hah-hah-hah! Even with everything you've accomplished, you'll never be as good as Monty! You are a coward, who hides behind your schemes and your suit. Just like you hid behind Monty when you were a child! That is the difference between him and you. Even if he was a misguided brat, he never backed down, but you! You ran away, you cowered in fear and never stood your ground! No son of mine, is a weak, coward!"
"Grr…you're just a voice. I am Father! The embodiment of evil! I am not the child I used to be! And I am superior than Monty or his son! I'll prove it to you!"
"Oh, please do, Benedict. I'll be watching, with great interest. Hah-hah-hah-haa!" Grandfather cackles and fades away, leaving Father furious.
"Ghh…damn him…why…why do you always choose that bald oaf over me…?" Father presses his hand against the glass and then, walks back to his throne.
"What is your command, Father?" the shadowy figure appears on the main screen.
"Have the minions taken care of the TND's hiding places already?"
"They are making progress, thanks to Eliza Solis, but their resistance is formidable."
"Tell them to hurry up."
"Yes, Father."
"What about their moles?"
"They have fled, but it is of no consequence. They have no way of contacting their allies and we have already figured out their identities. It's only a matter of time before they are captured."
"Good. I admit it was an excellent idea to make those teens believe I had a specific date set for the global Delightfulization. They fell for it quite easily."
"Indeed, but the teens hiding on the moon will have to be dealt with eventually."
"They will come here. But of course, we can always force them out, if necessary." Father says and leans back on his throne in satisfaction, having finally defeated the Kids Next Door, after many years of trying. Now, the Earth was under truly under the control of adults, with Father at the helm.
End of Transmission 49
Note: And now, we begin part 5. Though I consider this as a sort a of bridge between the end of 4th and the next chapter, which will be the official first chapter of the 5th and final arc of Operation: RETRIBUTION.
I've been waiting a long time to get this far and I'm really excited to release more chapters as I go.