Chapter 8: The Penultimate Battle.
Within an infinite void of darkness, Eric Cartman floats in the either. Suddenly, a pair of fiery eyes open before him, the vast darkness shifting like eyelids.
"Find the Macabra Skull," it spoke in low, meancing rasp, "and victory will be yours." The sound of drums could be heard beating in the distence.
Eric longed to reply, wanting to speak to the nameless evil before him, but his focus was enraptured on the strange eyes. Glistening red and green flames danced within them, and he could almost see the charred forms of his enemies writhing in pain.
"Find the Skull..." it rasped once more, and Eric returned to the world of the waking, the drums gradually growing quiet. Finally, he awoke.
Eric lies in his bed aboard the executive Bus Walker. This is the third time he has had this dream, twice before the destruction of Foster's (and a large number of his soldiers) and once after. Just then, someone knocked four times. "Come in!" Cartman yelled while rising from his bed.
Eddy walked through the door, holding a stack of papers. "Sir, I've found what you've been looking for." he speaks nervously.
"The Skull?" Cartman asks, all his attention focused on the scammer's words.
"Yes, it's currently on display in..."
Before he can finish, a rank and file messanger bursts through the door. "Master Cartman! Master Cartman! There's been a revolt at the Cul-Da-Sac! We need to..."
"SHUT THE *BLEEP* UP!" Cartman shrieked back with madness, unleashing bolts of electricity upon the messanger. As he lay twitching on the floor, Eric, now calm, turned to Eddy. "You were saying?"
More scared then ever, Eddy nervously muttered, "Uh... yeah, the Macabra Skull is currently on display in a natural history museum..." he handed Cartman a paper with a picture paperclipped on. "In Miracle City, Mexico."
(KND symbol)
The scene now changes to a bustling port at Bikini Atoll, where dozens of 2x4 warships ready for battle. Unlike the other branches of the KND, their Navy hadn't been heavily involved in the war against Mandy, and as such, hadn't suffered the heavy losses the other branches had, meaning they were ready for battle against Negative Four's armada.
Onboard the flagship, KNDS (Kids Next Door Ship) Weekend, Numbah 362 delivers the battle plan to an assemblidge of ship captains and Sector V. "So once the main body has drawn away the heavy hitters, Numbah 1 and his team will board the enemy Flagship and shut down the remote controller co-ordinating the robotic sailors."
Suddenly, an operative bursts in, disrupting the meeting. "Hey Numbah 1, could you come over here? We just captured a submarine snooping around the base, and the captain says he knows you." he reports.
"I'll handle this." Numbah 1 declared while walking out. "You guys fill me in after the meeting."
"Typical boy." Numbah 86 huffed with contempt as he left, drawing everyone's attention for a second. It also caused Numbah 3 to notice the Rainbow Wand was glowing inside her pack. Kuki whispered into Numbah 362 ear, who nodded in understanding.
Back with Numbah 1, he entears a makeshift cell, to find none other then...
"Dexter! Good to see you!" Numbah 1 exclaimed upon seeing the blocky genius.
"Numbah 1! I have come to offer my assistance against Mandark, but your comrads seem to have mistaken me for an enemy." Dexter replied.
"Don't worry, I'll clear this up. We need all the help we can get."
Back in the planning room, Numbahs 3 and 362 watch Numbah 86 hold the wand. "So I touch this to my forehead, and suddenly turn all sparkly?" The other two girls nod. "That sounds absolutely insane."
"Don't make me make this a direct order, 86." Numbah 362 replied.
With a skeptical look on her face, Numbah 86 touched the wand to her forehead, begining the transformation (much to her shock.) Just like the others, her regular clothing was replaced by a skirt, boots, shirt and gloves. Her's were styled red.
After returning to normal, Numbah 86 looked at the others. "OK. Explain. Now." she demanded.
"Well, it all started on this creepy island..."
Several miles away, Mandark's fleet is ready for battle. "Launch the first wave of warplanes!" Mandark orders.
Air raid sirens begin to wail across the island. 2x4 aircraft begin launching into the air, but the red and black warplanes overcame them. With lightning speed, they began raining down bombs.
"Let's go, let's go! Get those guns up!" Yells the gunnery chief of an anti-aircraft battery. Heading her words, a crew of three KND operatives begin aiming the 2x4 weapon, made from eight dart guns strapped together and aimed with a telescope. Before they could begin firing, however, a warplane bore down on their position and unleashed a barrage of lasers, scattering the ground crew.
Elsewhere, the ships themselves were slowly inching out of the harbor, sustaining heavy fire all the way. The waterway out of the port had become blocked by the sinking wreck of a cruiser, the first causilty of the battle, lost to a torpedo barrage. Although they were sitting ducks for the aircraft, the remaining ships captains were nervous about pushing through, afraid they'd be next.
Elsehwere, transport ships had broken off from the main force, and were trying to come ashore west of the base. KND operatives were dug in, ready to repulse them, when a freak storm of pouring rain and piercing hail erupted over them.
Behind the mass of landing ships is a heavily armored battle yhact. Standing on its bow is none other then Kyle the Wizard, using his powers to summon the cloud of rain and ice to demorilize the kids. It was working, as several were on the verge of tears, crying for their parents.
Meanwhile, in the occupied Sector J, a massive Sand Castle stands atop the remains of the Tree House. This is no ordinary giant sand castle however, as the missles slowly readying themselves to fire prove. Locking onto the Bikini Atoll anchorage, the command of King Sandy resonates across the grounds.
"FIRE THE MISSLES!" he commands. With a great roar and towering plumes of fire, the unwanted gifts from the sky take flight, boring down on the hapless KND operatives.
This has not escaped High Command's attention. "Numbah 362! Numbah 362! Incoming missiles!"
"Activate the anti-missile countermeasures!" The Soopreme Leader commands in response.
"It's no good!" the officer yells back. "The signals out and Tom isn't responding and I dropped my ice cream cone and I want my mommey! AHAHA!" he breaks down into tears.
"Get a hold of yourself soldier!" Numbah 362 snaps back. A quick glance out the tactical readout indicates that similar collapses of moral were occuring all over. "Activate the emergency broadcast system! Patch me into every communications device on this island!"
With some difficulty, the crying operative carried out the Soopreme Leader's order, and soon her voice was heard by every child struggling to hold the line.
"Attention Kids Next Door!" Rachel exclaimed passonitly, grabbing the attention of her listeners. "I know that we've had a rough couple of months, and I know many of you are tired and hungry, but you must stand tall!"
The crew of the AA-gun begin to feel a fire ignite in their hearts at their leaders words. "Today we fight for more then just the rights of children, we fight for the rights of the entire human race! Of children not just everywhere! but for every child not yet born, every child who grew up! For the right to live lives free of fear, free of tyranny!"
The ship captain begins to feel bold. "Think of your family, of your mom, your dad, your sister, your brother, think of your pet if you have one!" Rachel continued to speak passionately. "And know that today, you fight for them! You, and all the other operatives fight this fight, and it is a fight that we. can. not. LOSE!"
At the beach head, a look of steel determination covers the faces of the defenders. "We are the Kids Next Door, and we will win his fight! No crying until the end! KND rule!"
At this final proclamation, chants of "KND RULE!" rose from across the battlefield, as moral returned to the shell shocked troops.
"Alright, you heard her! Get that weapon ready!" the gunnery chief exclaimed.
"SIR YES SIR!" the operating crew chant back, determination dripping from their voices. Within moments, the weapon is functioning and firing away at the black and red cloud above. The darts fired by this weapon have been heavily modified. The sucker cup has been removed from the tip, explosives have been packed down the middle, and the entire thing has been swathed in a wrap of soda can metal. The barrage proves devestating against the automated aircraft. Bolt after bolt detonates against the warplanes, blowing holes in their sleek red armor and knocking them from the sky.
Onboard the bridge of KNDS Gumball, the ships captain orders them to advance into the thick of the fighting. "What about the torpedos captain?" one crewboy asks.
"Darn the torpedos, full speed ahead!" the captain orders, and with renewed vigor, the crew pushed the ship into the brawl, guns blazing, into the heat of battle.
Filled with resolve, the dug in KND soliders defended their post with everything they had! Streams of gumballs rip through air and metal, laser beams burn holes through robot after robot, and squirts of condiments fry circuits, reducing the metal warbots to empty husks. The rain and hail continue to beat down, but the KND operatives stand defianent, willing to fight mother nature herself.
Back in the water, Kyle is suddenly struck by a splitting headache. He falls to the deck, gripping his noggin in pain. The crew goes to help him, but suddenly, the entire yhact shakes. They've been hit!
"Success!" Dexter exclaims beneath the waves, having confirmed his targeting was spot on, and confirming his submarine's first kill.
With the ship sinking, Kyle, headache mysteriously gone, looked to the sky and saw the oncoming missiles destroyed by the KND defense mechanism. He quickly conjured a portal and fled.
The sky was on fire and the ocean filled with scrap metal and desperate hamsters, thrown adrift after the ships they were powering was blown apart. Cannons roared as mighty beams of energy scorched and sizzled metal armor.
Through this chaos weaved a single C.O.O.L.B.U.S., the only vessel unconcerned with destroying the enemy. Swooping away from powerful laser beams and skimming the water to evade the fighter cloud above, it remains wholly committed to its goal: Delivering Sector V to the flagship.
"500 feet to the target!" Numbah 5 reported.
"Captain, we got two bogeys tailing us!" Numbah 2 reported the from the cockpit.
"Numbah 4, take them out!" Numbah 1 ordered. "Numbah 2, can you fly by that cruiser and try to lose them in the fire?"
"No good captain!" the pilot replied. "Scans show that ship has some pretty big AA guns. We'll be torn to shreads if we get on their scopes."
"Dah...grrr...blasted, bloody...cruddy jerks! I can't get a lock on 'em!" Numbah 4 yells with frustration. The aircraft is suddenly rocked by a hit from the cursed fighters.
"Damage report!" Numbah 1 demands.
"Not to bad, all things considered." Numbah 2 replied. "Only dented the armor. If they get another shot in though, then we'd be in trouble!" As if acting on cue, another shot rocked the C.O.O.L.B.U.S. "Me and my big mouth..."
"100 feet to the target!" Numbah 5 updated.
"Landing gear's shot, armors wrecked, one more hit and we're toast!" Numbah 2 replied, a tad painicked.
"Numbah 4...!"
"Just...can't...get...a... HOLD STILL YOU CRUDDY LOSERS!"
They were suddenly saved however, when a barrage of fire ripped through the first aircraft, then the second.
"This is Sector V," Numbah 2 spoke into the radio. "Who just saved our bacon?"
"The truth is out there, you guys!" a familiar voice spoke over the radio.
"DIB!" everyone exclaimed simultaniously.
Dib is currently flying the same type of craft Numbah 1 used during Operation: .W.I.N.G. "Guys, listen. A few minutes ago, the tracer I put on Numbah Infinity started signaling. Just like whenever I'm right, no one at Headquarters would belive me about him taking Zim. I've been ordered to fight in the battle, but I have to go after him! I must find the truth!"
"Dib, slow down!" Numbah 1, "deserting in the middle of a battle, espically one like this, can be grounds for De-Commisioning!"
"I know." Dib said solemly. "I know I haven't been with you guys for long, but this has been the happiest time of my life. I'm wearing a wire and there's a camera in my glasses. They're transmitting to a data file on my home computer. If the transmission gets cut off, the audio and video records, along with all the other evidence I've collected about the paranormal, will be transmitted to you, Nigel. I know you'll keep looking for the truth, even if I'm decommisioned! And if I don't come back at all, know that it was all Numbah Infinity's doing!"
"Dib, just think about what you're doing for a minute..."
"My mind's made up. Stay safe out there," a smile then crossed his face. "After all, I'm probably not gonna be around to help you out anymore."
The screen then turned black, and the words End Transmission appeared in white letters.
"We've reached the target!" Numbah 5 alerted.
"Hang on guys! It's time for some fancy flying!" Numbah 2 yelled as the C.O.O.L.B.U.S. began shaking from the small arms fire impacting the armored surface.
Numbah 2 retaliated with the forward guns, knocking out the real heavy weapons before they could start firing. He then punched the accelarator and charged at the ship. "Hang on to your underware!"
Meanwhile, Dib was flying his ship away from the battlefield when his radio crackled to life. "Attention KND operative! You are leaving the scene of a battle you have been ordered to participate in! Return to action, now!"
"Sorry but I can't do that!" Dib replied. "I must discover the truth!"
"Operative, you will be De-Commisioned if you do return to battle..." was when Dib turned off the radio and consulted his map.
"According to this, Numbah Infinity has taken Zim to... Mexico?" Dib mumbled as he checked his co-ordinates.
Meanwhile, onboard Mandark's flagship, Kyle the Wizard, eyes glowing green, stands before a strange, cylindrical, tailed object currently resting in the armaments bay. With a wave of his wand, he hovers it over to the depth charge chute and crams it is. Wordlessly, he begins the firing sequence, but before it can be completed, a robot rushes into the room.
"Lord Kyle," it reports, "An enemy aircraft has collided with the ship and delivered intruders. You are needed to repulse them."
Kyle just nodded and followed the robot out... but not before setting a timer of the depth charge chute for ten minutes with the flick of his wand.
A/N: Just thought I'd give some much deserved recognition to the various unnamed KND operatives throughout the series. The first half of the chapter was their chance to shine.
I apologize if the inclusion of Dexter and Dib seem a little sudden. I was worried this story wasn't living up to its nature as a multi-crossover. They will both have importent roles in what is to come.
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