Chapter 6: Approaching Storm
The scene is a dark, dingy soda bar. Despite the cantina music playing in the back round, this place lacks all the friendly atmosphere and friendly chatter of Lime Ricky's. Dib, now Numbah 11, discreetly enters the bar and takes a seat at the bar.
"What'll it be mac?" the barkeep asks.
"One Poop Cola..." Dib requests while pushing a rare Yipper card onto the counter, "and some information."
The barkeep checks the card for authenticity, then pockets it before handing Dib his soda. "Can't believe anyone actually drinks that crud, but it's your card." He the leans in and speaks at a whisper. "What do you want to know then?"
"I'm looking for a kid, green kid, claims it's a skin condition." Dib explains. "Might have been through here not that long ago."
The bartender suddenly became nervous. "I...uh, no, nope, nobody like that's been through 'ere." He explained in a panic. "I think you'd better leave!" he hissed at Dib. As he left in a huff, an African American boy watched him leave through mirrored sunglasses.
Once outside, Dib activated his wrist comm. "Nothing to report so far. Barkeep knows something, but is too scared to talk. I recommend bringing him in for questioning." Any further reporting was suddenly cut off by a searing purple laser beam burning a hole near Dib's foot. Quickly tracing the shot, Dib sees a hooded figure disappear down an alley. "Call you back." he speaks curtly before cutting the line.
Chasing his would-be assassin down a dark alley, Dib briefly looses sight of him before noticing he has suddenly climbed up a small building. Dib draws a 2x4 grappling gun made from a hairdryer and umbrella frame, and used it to ascend the building. The two continued their chase, jumping from rooftop to rooftop, Dib slowly gaining on his attacker. Finally, he closes the distance and launches into a flying tackle, grabbing his opponent and causing them both to smash to the ground.
Dib, blinded by pain, could only feel his enemy slip from his grip, leaving him holding a hooded sweatshirt. Unfortunately for the foe, this alley ends in a brick wall, leaving him trapped! Dib finally gets his face out of the dirt, allowing him to identify his foe as...
"ZIM! I, the incredibly paranoid Dib, should have known!" Dib exclaimed.
"DIB-STINK! You will pay for the destruction of my base, pay with your FACE!" Zim yells back, PAK legs extending for battle.
Before either could make a move though, a bright flash of light appeared behind them, then vanished as quickly as it arrived, leaving Numbah Infinity in its place. He reaches into his tuxedo and removes a small silver cylinder with a glowing red light on the end. "Sorry Dib, but you're getting too close. It's a shame though, you'd make a good operative."
The last thing Dib remembered is a flash of red light.
(KND symbol)
The scene changes to the interior of the Rainbow Monkey Historical Society, a group of female KND operatives dedicated to the study and preservation of all things Rainbow Monkey related. Numbahs 3 and 362 had come here to see if they could learn anything about the Rainbow Kingdom. Right now one object in particular interested them.
"The Rainbow Monkey Royal Regal Rod is an ancient artifact, rumored to be owned by a fictional "Rainbow Queen." A nerdy tour guide explained, "But it is most likely an extremely elegant, well made fan work by an enthusiast well versed in metallurgy."
The Staff was the size of a small child, clearly meant to be held by an adult. The body seemed to be made of gold, with a shinning, huge ruby placed at the top. Various jewels of glittering colors were encrusted all along it.
Thoroughly enthralled by the glittering object, Numbah 3 and 362 did not notice the wand was once again glowing until they were snapped from their daze by a commotion coming from the entrance. "Look, the wand's glowing!" Kuki pointed out.
"We'll have to deal with it later, we've got trouble!" Rachel responded, and the two took off for the entrance. They came to an abrupt halt when they saw Harvey "Two Face" McKenzie standing in the ruins of the front doors, henchmen on his flanks. "...Harvey?" Rachel asks, stunned. She had heard the reports, but didn't think he had become this bad.
"Hello sister." Harvey replied grimly while raising his weapon.
Farther back in the museum, Numbah 83 peers around a corner to see the drama unfold, but suddenly notices that one of Harvey's goons has vanished. Scanning the area, she notices him slipping past the exhibits. Sonya prepares to chase him, but recoils in fear when he briefly vanishes behind a pillar, for when he re-appears on the other side, the common thug has been replaced by a freakish black and green child, with wide glasses obscuring fire red eyes.
Nergal Jr.
Sonya briefly considers fleeing, but thinks of Lee, and becomes determined to be brave for him. Thus, she pursue him.
Back with the others, Numbah 362 has just punched out Harvey's other goon. She turns to Kuki. "Numbah 3, Harvey had one other accomplice. He must have fled into the museum. Go take care of him, I'll handle my brother." Numbah 362 ordered with determination. Once Kuki had run off, Rachel began to circle her brother.
"Harvey, I don't want to fight you, but I will do what it takes to get you help." Rachel spoke in an even voice. A faint cracking could be heard, however, if one was listening close enough. Her will wasn't nearly as iron clad as she projected it to be.
"Sis, I really just need you to get out of my way!" Harvey snarls while aiming his G.U.M.Z.O.O.K.A. and firing several shots. Numbah 362 easily evades the shots, and knocks her brother down with a sweeping kick. As he climbs to his feet, Harvey suddenly has his wrist grabbed by his sister. "Harvey, I need you to listen to reason! Let me help you!" Rachel pleaded.
But there was no reason left in Harvey's mind. "Don't. TOUCH. ME!"
Back with Sonya, Nergal Jr. has approached the case holding the Rainbow Monkey Royal Regal Rod. Slowly, writhing black tentacles rise from his back. Although visibly frightened, Sonya bravely steps forth and assumes a battle position. "H...Hey! Get away from that!" was the best she could muster up.
Nergal Jr. simply scowls at her. Without a word, he lifts a palm and sends a jet of fire at her. Yelping in surprise, Sonya ducks out of the way and begins to huddle in a corner. Satisfied she will not interfere further, Nergal Jr. turns his attention back to the case, using his tentacles to cut away the glass.
Numbah 3 rounds the corner just as the fire dances forth. The light from the wand is almost giving her away. Noticing all the other girls have already fled, Kuki puts two and two together. "Sonya, catch!" she cried while tossing the wand to the frightened girl.
All eyes are suddenly on the wand, which Sonya barely catches, accidentally bumping it against her forehead. That was good enough for it, apparently, as rainbow light suddenly washed over Numbah 83, going so far as to lift her from her huddling position to float a few inches off the ground. She spun around once on air, as an elegant ice skater spins on ice. As with Rachel and Kuki, her regular clothes were instantly replaced by a skirt, a shirt, gloves and boots. The primary color of Sonya's apparel was pink.
Unlike the others, however, she did not revert to normal in another flash of light. Her arms unfolded in front of her, extending towards Nergal Jr. The following words came to her unconsciously. "Rainbow Light," she whispered serenely, "Harmonization."
A burst of light erupts from her fingertips, smashing Nergal Jr. right through the glass case and right into the Royal Regal Rod. It is then that Sonya transforms back to normal, and notices she damaged the artifact. "Oops." she mutters quietly.
Nergal Jr. looks to around. The Rainbow Regal Rod had been snapped in two by the force of him being thrown into it. Its two halves lay on opposite sides of him. Smiling smugly, Nergal Jr.'s head suddenly and violently twists around backwards, with several audible cracks. The red suddenly fades from his eyes, as they return to their normal green color. An expression of exhaustion appeared on Nergal Jr.'s as his head snapped back to normal. "Uhhhh... I have such a headache." he spoke for the first time that night.
Back with Rachel, her brother is slowly wearing her down. Harvey's moves are unpredictable, frenzied, and fueled by madness. Rachel is constrained by her unwillingness to hurt her brother, even though it is for his own good.
Suddenly Kuki joins the fry, having left Numbah 83 behind to secure Nergal Jr. She charges at Harvey with a S.P.L.A.N.K.E.R., but he avoids it, knocks the weapon away in a counterattack, and pulls his arm back to throw a karate chop...
...when a red rose flies out of nowhere and lands between the damsel and the madman. Everyone's eyes followed the flower to a short, blonde kid wearing a domino mask and a tuxedo standing on top of a street light, holding another rose. He throws the second one directly into Harvey's face, the pedals breaking apart and scattering all over the face.
"Agh! My allergies!" Harvey exclaimed before sneezing. Seizing the opportunity, Numbah 362 rushes forward and grabs his wrists, pulling her brother's arms behind his back and subduing him.
The masked figure moved to jump into the shadows, but slipped and landed on his face. He quickly picked himself up, ran over to a bus station, waited for three minutes, then got on the bus.
Numbah 3 was in full on swoon mode. "Who was that mysterious masked man?" she asked with a sigh.
"Why was Numbah 4 wearing a mask and a tuxedo?" Numbah 362 asked rhetorically, being a little bit more intelligent then Kuki. Deciding not to dwell on it, she activates her communicator and calls for a prison ship.
(KND symbol)
It is a calamitous day at Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, with a new Friend slogging in through the door every minute. They were as wildly diverse as Friends can be: some short, some tall, some friendly, others aloof. But they all share on thing in common: They are all refuges.
As Cartman's mighty war machine spread across the land, Eric had quickly declared Imaginary Friends to be "gay," and ordered his forces to destroy them on sight. Hundreds of Friends have had to flee their homes. Those who don't are quickly crushed beneath Cartman's iron fist. Most wash up here, wracked with worry that their creators are suffering under the tyrants rule.
In light of this discrmination, Madame Foster has opened her doors to the KND, allowing them to use her house as a base of operations against Cartman, as well as baking them all the sweets their little hearts desire. Frankie was, of course, eager to give the little twerp a pounding, and the injustice of the Friend's plight was strong enough to overcome Mister Harrimen's usual gruffness, as he too whole heartedly supported their endeavor. Mac, in regards to his earlier service, had been sworn in as a temporary recruit, as the KND respected his decision not to join full time.
Inside the makeshift HQ, Numbah 60 is reading over several reports. "A Bus Walker trapped, a Cartmanbot snipped, we're just not doing enough damage here!" Patton exclaimed with frustration. "Cartman's army is huge, and all we can do is pick off the small fries!"
Suddenly, a generic KND operative rushed through the door! "Numbah 60! Numbah 60!" he yelled frantically, "an enemy force has been spotted! They're coming this way!"
Everyone in the room suddenly shrieks with terror. Numbah 60 was able to silence them by blowing on a whistle. "Quieeeeeeeeeeeeeet!" he yelled, causing everyone to fall silent. "If the enemy is coming this way, we need to fortify our position, double time! And this! is not! DOUBLE TIME!" Everyone instantly begins rushing about, organizing and fortifying the foster home for the oncoming storm.
Meanwhile, behind enemy lines, Cartman is woken from his sleep on board the Executive Bus Walker. As he awakes, it is obvious he has been sweating. For the last three days, his dreams has been filled only by the sound of drums. "My lord," the mechanical butler reported, "we are seven hours away from the target."
"Finally, I can wipe out those gay little freaks!" Cartman exclaims. "Now go get me some dinner! And an aspirin!"
(KND symbol)
Elsewhere, the powerful Negative Navy steams across the ocean blue, in hot pursuit of the enemies of Negative Numbah 4. Mandark, still dressed in his Admiral's uniform, stands on deck of the lead Battleship, when a robot rolls up to him. "Lord Mandark, we shall arrive at Bikini Atoll in approximately 26 hours. There is a 98.3% chance that the KND navy is anchored there.
Mandark's only response was his signature laugh.
A/N: What happened to Dib? What's with Nergal Jr.? Who is the last member of the Honor Guard? Will the KND win the upcoming battles, or the war as a whole? Will the Time Lock be maintained? Tune in next time for more answers!