Operation: C.O.M.I.C.-C.O.N.

[SAVE_US.WBTC]

Disclaimer: I do not own KND or any of its characters. They are the property of Mr. Warburton and Curious Pictures.

Operation: C.O.M.I.C.-C.O.N.

Congressional
Outcast
Makes
Improbable
Comeback
Campaigning
On
Nonsense

Summary: Sequel to Operation: G.A.M.E.O.V.E.R. (numbuh8.proboards48.com/index.cgi?board=draftarchive&action=display&thread=1121422596) A cunning enemy returns and once again sets his sights on the entertainment loved by millions of kids. Will Sector V be able to strike back and defeat the mad censor? Find out in this thrilling installment.

Chapter 1

Although the kids of Sector V followed the standard protocol like any other Saturday, the treehouse was filled with a buzz, containing a certain mixture of excitement and apprehension. The team milled about the briefing room, awaiting orders from Kids Next Door Global Command. As Numbuh 1 ordered his second-in-command to check the computer for orders relayed from Kids Next Door Moonbase, his teammates nervously awaited the announcement. Today marked a special, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If there was no mission assigned to Sector V, the entire team promised to take the day off and enjoy the festivities. However, any disruption in the schedule would mean that the day would instead be filled with a harrowing, dangerous battle against adult tyranny. The operatives held their breath and crossed their fingers in anticipation as Numbuh 5 announced the results.
"No signs of adult activity within the range of our sector. As of this moment, no missions have been assigned to us."
Upon hearing the declaration, Numbuhs 2 and 4 let out jubilant cheers of triumph. "Alright!" Numbuh 4 exclaimed. "That means we can go!"
"Well, at least this time, you aren't so crazy," Numbuh 5 remarked. "Remember the last time you were in such a hurry for something like this?"
"Yeah, and I wish I can forget," Numbuh 4 replied. "That was one of the worst days of my life."
"Hey, we won that fight," Numbuh 1 declared. "Don't ever forget that. Anyway, I'm glad we have a little more time before we leave today. We can prepare for an emergency better without that stress."
"Yeah, Numbuh 5 ain't gonna be rushed like that again."
"Don't worry," Numbuh 2 reassured her. "We're on a tight schedule today. Although, the lines and crowds are still gonna be huge. Especially for him."
"Yeah, that man's a genius," Numbuh 4 stated. "After all these years, I finally get to meet him!"
"Well, just hold your horses," Numbuh 1 remarked. "We still have a few hours before it starts." He reached for the remote control to begin the daily ritual of Saturday morning cartoons, but the kids were instead met with an unpleasant surprise.
"Eww!" Numbuh 3 shrieked. "Who had this set on CNN?"
"Er, eh, that was my fault," Numbuh 4 admitted, embarrassed. "I was looking for sports scores last night, and they only had the ticker on this cruddy adult station."
"Well, turn it off," Numbuh 3 commanded. "I'm not watching this boring stuff!"
"I'm on it," Numbuh 1 declared. His hand moved toward the remote, but suddenly froze as the kids found themselves staring horrified at a familiar face on the TV screen.

"In other news," the television anchorwoman droned as the team's rival began to emerge from the imposing building, "Former Congressman Bob Williams was released from prison today. Williams was expected to win a fourth congressional term by a landslide, before a corruption scandal forced him to vacate his seat and earned him a ten-year prison sentence. Williams' release comes merely five months into his sentence. Allegations of bribes to the warden, judges, and District Attorney have surfaced, but as of yet, no definitive evidence has been discovered. Despite his conviction, Williams plans to seek reelection, and has entered the congressional race. Currently, his support is marginal, however, he has reverted back to his old platform of serving the interests of children, with a particular focus on a new area of children's well-being."
Former Congressman Williams exuded suave confidence as he walked down the steps of the prison toward a podium at the bottom. "I have made some serious mistakes in the past," he began, "but I hope you will look past these mistakes and send me back to Washington to look after the interests of our children. I am willing to do something my replacement has not. I promise that I will protect our children from the violent filth that pervades their popular entertainment. I have already started a grassroots organization, Media Observers Against Nastiness, dedicated to fighting the corrupting influence of entertainment such as the 'Crimson Slayer' series, which warps young minds and causes harmful, and even fatal, acts of violence. I will not stand by and let our children be poisoned!"
Scattered applause floated through the air, mainly from Williams' fellow activists. "I may have gone about protecting our children the wrong way last time, but my intentions were morally right. This time, I will not fail. Instead of having retailers voluntarily restrict children's access to material with graphic violence, I will pass a law requiring them to do so. I also plan to clear my name and promise to settle things with the ones who thought they could destroy me and my reputation!"

Former Congressman Williams' words hung heavily in the air as the Kids Next Door listened to him issue his vendetta against them as the anchorwoman continued the story.
"Williams' organization is set to hold its first demonstration today at the annual Comic Convention. The event will be marked with the release of the latest Crimson Slayer video game, Hijinks from Hell, and an appearance by the author of the Crimson Slayer comic books and designer of the video game series, Tony Sawyer. Sawyer is an outspoken critic of the agenda of Media Observers Against Nastiness, and has spoken and written extensively on the benefits of violent media. He earlier issued a challenge to Williams for a debate, but no answer was received. Whether any sort of confrontation arises at the convention today remains to be seen."

As Numbuh 1 clicked the TV off, Numbuh 4 moaned, "Oh, crud, we have to face Williams again? I thought we put him away for good last time. Now we have to go through all this trouble, and I can't even enjoy the comic con?"
"Don't worry," Numbuh 5 replied. "You'll find a way to outsma...er, we'll be all over him and his band of crybabies."
At that moment, the computer began beeping, signalling an incoming transmission. Numbuh 2 turned around and switched the communicator on, and a short, stocky boy wearing a white luchador's mask appeared on the monitor.
"This is Numbuh 619, head of the Kids Next Door Video Game Protection Unit. I must speak with the leader of your sector immediately."
Numbuh 1 quickly made his way over to the computer and began, "This is Numbuh 1, leader of Sector V. What is the nature of your business?"
"We have an urgent alert. Former Congressman Williams is out of jail, and has returned to your sector. We believe he may strike today at the comic convention."
"I know, we just heard about it on TV," Numbuh 1 remarked. "What do you believe Williams will do during his protest?"
"We don't know yet," Numbuh 619 answered. "All we know is, he will move to block the release of the new Crimson Slayer game, and will possibly attempt an attack on Tony Sawyer."
"Will the Video Game Protection Unit be able to provide any backup for us?"
"We will attempt to monitor the situation and intervene as necessary. Unfortunately, we're stretched thin enough as it is. We're trying to prevent bills from passing in several states, get laws overturned in two others, and, just today, the bulk of the unit was shifted to this mission from a dispatch to Washington intended to stop the passage of a federal law. We're doing all we can, but it isn't easy."
"Well," Numbuh 1 stated gratefully, "We are thankful for the work you have been doing."
"Hi, Numbuh 619," Numbuh 3 waved from the background. "Thanks for all you did over in Illinois. You kids in the Video Game Protection Unit are the greatest!"
"I'll have you know that I was originally selected to head up the unit," Numbuh 4 declared indignantly. "I don't know why I ever refused the position, but boy, was that a mistake."
"Anyway, we will infiltrate the convention and stop Former Congressman Williams before he carries out his plan," Numbuh 1 announced. "Any extra services you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Over and out."

The team's aircraft passed over the city and towards the convention center. As they approached their destination, Numbuh 1 sat glued to a communicator.
"The Video Game Protection Unit is in place," Numbuh 619 announced from over the speakers. "We will await your signal."
"Understood," replied Numbuh 1. "As soon as Williams shows up, we'll call you on the communicator."
The aircraft began to descend in front of the convention center. As it did, the kids looked out to see a mess of activity and noise.
"Hey guys," Numbuh 5 observed, "You may want to check this."
A large crowd of men in starched white shirts and black ties and women in long, black dresses had assembled in front of the convention center, heckling costumed convention-goers, and occasionally attempting to pull the younger children away from the doors. As the aircraft moved closer to the crowd, the kids could make out the signs the mob carried: "Suffer the Little Children," "Ban the Slayer," "Keep Kids Away From the Slayer," and "Sawyer is a Super-Villain" were among the many slogans the crowd displayed. Numbuh 2 turned on the outer speakers to pick up the crowd's chant of "Hey hey, Ho ho, the Crimson Slayer has got to go."
"I knew it," Numbuh 1 muttered. "Media Observers Against Nastiness is already here. They will strike at any time."
"I got the target locked," Numbuh 4 declared. "We can take them out now and get it over with."
"Negative, Numbuh 4," Nigel rebuked. "Former Congressman Williams will use any preemptive strike as propaganda to show that the Crimson Slayer causes violence. We must wait for them to make the first move, so we can allege self-defense. Don't worry; the Video Game Protection Unit has the place covered. All they need is for us to give the sign."
Numbuh 4 gritted his teeth and watched the scanners hover over the angry crowd as the ship docked.

Sector V made their way through the mob of protestors, angrily staring the activists down as they entered the doors of the convention center. Inside, the scene was radically different, filled with a multitude of entertainment that each of the kids loved, and a calm sense of serene enjoyment, entirely different from the brash scenes of hatred outside.
"Hey, look!" Numbuh 2 cried excitedly. "A Yipper tournament! I've been practicing for this for weeks. Time to show those losers who owns the card table!"
Numbuh 3 was the next to demonstrate her elation. "Look at that booth! Rainbow Monkey Collectors Appraisals! I should get my Rainbow Monkeys back out of the ship. I bet I have some valuable dolls in there!"
"Stay together," Numbuh 1 ordered. "This is now officially a mission. We have to be prepared to battle the adults at all times. And I think I know where they're going to strike."

"Why do we have to be at this event?" Numbuh 3 complained. "Sharing and caring from Rainbow Monkeys is much more rainbowrific!"
"Because," Numbuh 4 retorted smugly, "Numbuh 1 knows to stake out the good exhibits."
"Quiet," Numbuh 1 admonished his teammates. "We have to blend in. Don't call any attention to yourselves."
At that moment, the event's host stepped up to the podium. "May I have your attention please," he began. "It is now my honor to reveal to the world, for the first time, the newest, greatest, most realistic, adrenaline-jacking, vomit-inducing video game in the Crimson Slayer series, Hijinks from Hell." The man pulled a tarp off a towering pyramid behind him, exposing an enormous stack of game cartridges. The team looked around the room for intruders, only to find Numbuh 4 staring at the assemblage with a tear in his eye. "And now," the speaker continued, "allow me to introduce the man responsible for the game, and for the Crimson Slayer franchise. He is the chief designer of the Crimson Slayer video games, executive producer of the Crimson Slayer movies, head consultant on the Crimson Slayer television series, and third generation artist and writer of the Crimson Slayer comic series. I present to you Mr. Tony Sawyer." The crowd erupted in applause as a young, bespectacled man walked out on stage and saluted the crowd. As he approached the podium, the doors to the room burst open, and the mob of activists filled the room. Some stormed the stage, and began erecting metal bars around the video game displays, caging them in. Others walked through the crowd, confiscating Crimson Slayer merchandise from the children. The Kids Next Door hit the floor, and Numbuh 1 whipped out his communicator.
"Something's wrong," he whispered to his teammates. "Somebody's jamming my signal. I can't contact Numbuh 619."

The kids peered up to see Former Congressman Williams onstage, with a megaphone in his hand. "This ends today," the fallen politician announced. "Sawyer, you have been destroying our children for far too long. Your reign of terror is over. We are taking over this convention, taking away these implements of death, and taking back our children!"

-Transmission Interrupted

Here's Chapter 1. I'd love some reviews, at any point throughout and at the end of this fic. It's not going on fanfiction.net, so you'll have to post here.

[violet]

Am i the only one who likes this? update now!

[SAVE_US.WBTC]

Chapter 2

Sector V slowly rose back up, staring through the heads of the people in front of them, as Former Congressman Williams continued his tirade.

"Look at this garbage! Do you have any idea what it does to children?" He walked over to the cages containing the video game display. "Hijinks from Hell. Bah! Absolutely deplorable. This so-called entertainment has brought nothing but negativity and serious mental damage to our nation's children. Finally, I have taken it upon myself to do something about it."
At this, Tony Sawyer marched directly up to Williams, and angrily stared directly into his eyes.
"You know that's a load of hooey," Sawyer snapped back. "Violent media does not cause violent behavior. You know it as well as I do, and there is no way you can use that lame argument as your hot-button issue to sneak back into office after the world discovered your little extortion scheme."
"Some adversary you are," Williams responded condescendingly. "Reverting to mudslinging instead of debating me on the facts."
"Mudslinging?" Sawyer cried. "May I remind you that you are a convicted felon who was caught on tape shaking down an arcade owner and threatening to close down his place of business if he did not enforce your moral code. Reminding the public of that fact is hardly mudslinging. Besides, you seem to be the one afraid of the facts. In all your rhetoric, you have yet to provide one conclusive shred of evidence that the Crimson Slayer, or any other violent media series, is harmful to children."
"I have given plenty of evidence. There are numerous scientific studies..."

As Williams turned to face his adversary, Numbuh 1 noticed a black metal box with a red antenna sticking out of his back pocket. "Look at that," he whispered to his teammates. "That's a signal blocking device that prevents transmission of satellite communications. That's why I can't get through to the Video Game Protection Unit."
"Do you think he knew we were coming?" asked Numbuh 2.
"It's possible," Numbuh 1 answered. "Or, he doesn't want the news media catching him in any more shady, forceful dealings. Whatever the reason, we have to get that device away from him."
"Numbuh 5 can probably get to it," Abby stated. "I just have to find my opening and get through."
"Hold up, Numbuh 5," Nigel warned. "Wait until he's completely distracted before you make your move. Even then, be careful. Williams has this whole room covered."
"How much longer until Williams drops his guard?" Numbuh 2 inquired.
"It shouldn't be too long," Numbuh 1 replied. "Sawyer really seems to have him going."
Numbuh 5 braced to make a dash for the stage. As she scouted her route to avoid the patrolling activists, Sawyer and Williams continued their exchange.

"If you read my book, The Joy of Swordplay: Why Fantasy Violence Benefits Children," Sawyer explained, "you will see, not only that violent entertainment should not be feared, but that it can be used positively for emotional development. Kids can experience natural feelings of rage, courage, and power that they must otherwise suppress most of the time in the real world. Comic books, video games, and other forms of violent entertainment provide a safe haven, and a controlled environment for these feelings to flow without causing harm to one another. It's a natural tendency for children to test their limits of bravery and their ability to handle graphic images and themes. The Crimson Slayer offers them this opportunity that has been a rite of childhood for generations."
"Absolute nonsense," Williams answered impulsively. "Actual studies were conducted in laboratories to show conclusively that viewing violence increases violence."
"That right there is a fundamental problem," Sawyer explained. "We can't just look at complex behavior from a scientific standpoint within the confines of a laboratory. The artificial setting, weak measures of aggression, and biases on the part of both the researchers and the subjects all contribute to the overall ineffecitiveness of the research design."
"Oh, great. Next thing you know, you'll say kids should be allowed to smoke cigarettes."
"It is completely off-base to compare video games with tobacco. While we can objectively measure the presence or absence of cancer, brains are infinitely more complex than lungs. We cannot capture the speculative field of psychology in such a narrow, simplistic context."

While Numbuh 5 searched for her opening, the rest of the team stood enthralled by their hero.
"Sawyer is so awesome!" Numbuh 2 declared admiringly. "It's like he's known me for my whole life!"
"The Crimson Slayer may be icky and scary," Numbuh 3 mused, "but I can see what he's saying. I can't understand anything Captain Censor-Pants is trying to say."
"I told you guys he was a genius," Numbuh 4 announced smugly. "He's about to put Williams in his place for good."

Suddenly, Numbuh 5 whispered over to her teammates, and signaled them with the thumbs-up.
"I'm just about ready," she announced. "I just have to wait for this gorilla to pass, and then I can sneak up behind the cage and snatch the signal jammer away from Williams."
"Good," Numbuh 1 replied. Make your move as soon as he's gone."
Numbuh 5 tilted her cap over her eyes and crouched to avoid making eye contact with the enormous, hulking henchman lumbering past.
Numbuh 1 gritted his teeth. "Wait for it..."

As the team sweated out the tense moment, the argument onstage continued.
"You have committed the highest degree of moral turpitude," Williams charged. I can have your entire franchise dismantled piece by piece."
"Just you try it. I am not afraid of you," Sawyer declared loudly. "My father testified before the Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency to defend the comics industry. He stood up to far more oppressive and dangerous individuals than you. People like you tried to destroy my family's vision, and they failed. I'll sooner see an axe tear through my brain before I give in to you and your phony crusade to fulfill your political ambitions!"

Just as Numbuh 5 positioned herself to move into the aisle, a familiar voice boomed beside her, echoing throughout the room.
"That's it, Sawyer!"
Numbuh 5 turned around to see Numbuh 4 standing on his chair, hollering at the stage. She smacked her head in frustration as Wally continued to heap untimely praise on his idol.
"Give it to him good, mate! Williams, let's see you argue your way out of this one!"

Former Congressman Williams froze as his eyes came to rest upon the boy responsible for his prison sentence, and his removal from the House.
"You! How did you get here? Anyway, I'm glad you could make it, as we still have some unfinished business to take care of." Williams clapped his hands to signal his lackeys. "Seize them! All of them!"

As the goons descended upon them, Numbuh 1 desperately called for a retreat. "Kids Next Door," he bellowed, Disperse!"

-Transmission Interrupted

Sorry it took so long to put Chapter 2 up. Between school and a complete creative draught, I have had no time to update this. Fortunately, I have a window of time over the next few days.