Chapter Two
The wind-blown snow stung the faces of the group as they pulled their parkas over their faces to shield them from the blasting Arctic wind. The cold was intense, and they still felt a bit chilled with the wind, despite their warm cold weather slops. Their visibility was down because of the sudden storm. Their feet ached from walking, as they had been traveling almost as soon as they grouped up. So far, they had crossed nearly 150 miles in what was, for them, three days. Despite the aches and cold though, they kept exploring, determined to see what was in this strange world.
"Bloody hell, it's cold!" Gunslinger said. "What do you have on the temperature gauge?" He asked. Torch, who was in charge of the scientific gear, took a temperature reading with a small device.
"It reads twenty below." He said. Gunslinger moaned. "Be thankful. If my guess is correct, it's still summer." More groans. Spartan, who was bringing up the rear dragging a portable sledge with the team's gear on it, laughed.
"Buck up." He said. "Its places like this where one is tested." Gunslinger glared at him.
"You'd better not give us any more of that warrior meaning-of-life crap again." He growled.
"Some say the desert is the ultimate test." Spartan waxed philosophically. "But if you ask me, it is the ice that truly tests a man's mettle."
"I told you not to do that!" Gunslinger groused. KC laughed.
"Now everyone pay attention." He said. "This is the proper way to gripe." Gunslinger rolled his eyes and groused some more. The others just mostly tuned it out.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, the storm let up a bit, and they could finally get their bearings. By Torch's calculations, they had traveled approximately 210 miles, much better than any of them had thought. They only had about four or so more days of traveling ahead, and with visibility improving, they could finally start exploring properly. But first, they decided to make camp. Even though it was nearly midnight, the sun still peaked above the horizon.
"This place exists in its own time zone." Torch said, using his pyrokinesis to make a fire for them from some fire material they carried. Everyone gathered around it to warm up, and rest their aching bodies. Gunslinger placed his hat over his eyes and slept, thoroughly exhausted from the ordeal. KC replicated some fresh food and begin cooking some beef stew for them.
"How long have we been walking?" Spartan asked
"Three days." He said. "We've covered a long way too." He said. "By my calculations, we should reach geographic north in less than two." He said.
"It would be nice if we had some kind of vehicles to help us." Spartan said. "Might be faster."
"We won't know until Stitch gets back." KC replied. He had sent Stitch out ahead of them to scout the way. Knowledge of the terrain would be vitally important for them. He had just finished cooking the stew when Stitch came over the horizon. KC waved to him as the little furry alien scuttled over on all fours.
"What's the situation?" Torch asked.
"Water." He said, pointing out over the horizon to the northwest. KC knew instantly what he meant.
"Great." He thought. "Bad news guys. We've got polar sea to cross coming up." He said. The others groaned.
"And just how are we supposed to get across that without boats?" Gunslinger asked. KC thought.
"We'll have to contact Jumba and ask him to send us something to help us." He said. He pressed a button on his communicator. Nothing happened. He checked the device and saw that the battery was drained. "Blast it, no communications!" He shouted. More groans.
"Relax." Gunslinger said. "Obviously one of us is going to have to transport back and get them." He said. "I volunteer." He said.
"Why you?" Torch asked.
"My talent is shooting things." He said. "Unless you plan on hunting, which you won't because you have replicators, I'm pretty much useless." He said. "Torch you need for fire, Spartan and Stitch are strong and can haul the stuff, and KC, well, he's the leader." KC thought for a moment.
"Alright." He said. He handed another device to Gunslinger. "Press this button to open the portal and return home." He said. "Good luck." He said. "God go with you."
"Thanks." Gunslinger said. "I'll cya guys soon." He pressed the button on the device, and instantly the portal flashed open. Gunslinger waved to his friends before stepping into it, and being whisked back home.
The others were surprised when Gunslinger popped back over so quickly. He dusted himself off from hitting the floor before speaking.
"Howdy." He said.
"615, what are you doing back so quickly?" Jumba asked.
"We've got a problem." He said. "We have a body of water coming up that we need to cross." He said
"Let me guess, you will be needing watercraft?" Jumba said. Gunslinger nodded.
"ASAP." He said.
"Follow me." Jumba said. "I have some personal watercraft designed for Arctic conditions." He said. Gunslinger followed him.
They returned shortly with some personal watercraft small enough to be used by experiments. The craft looked like ice blue jet skis, but their dainty appearance masked the tough duranium hull that could withstand the rigors of travel through icy waters with ease. Not surprising, since the material was commonly used in starship hulls, and deep space was just about as hostile an environment as one could find. The small engines were powered by the same power technology which drove the portable replicators, giving them the ability to travel long distances with minimal power use. Vehicles like them were commonly used on the more icy worlds of the Federation, which made Jumba rather proud of his creations.
"The portal is ready." Lilo said.
"Good." Jumba said. "Let's not keep friends waiting." He said, loading the lightweight but strong Arctic vehicles on a track leading into the portal. Gunslinger pushed a button, and the track slid the vehicles into the portal with ease.
"Excellent." He said. But just then, the portal began to flicker, as though the machine were losing power.
"What the heck?" Jumba said, as the machine began to smoke.
"What's going on?" Halo asked, frightened. Angel whimpered.
"Power surge." Jumba said. "Everyone out, now!" They didn't have to be told twice, and they all scrambled out the door, just as the bottom of the machine burst into flames and exploded, sending shrapnel and smoke all over the place. The gang cautiously came back in and observed the damage. The entire power unit of the machine was destroyed, along with the coils which held the portal in place. The machine was wrecked.
"Oh no." Halo said, on the verge of tears, now that she realized her husband was trapped. Jumba rushed forward, thermal gloves in hand, and surveyed the damage.
"Not good." He said. "Jumba can fix this, but will take me at least two days." He said.
"That means they'll be stuck over there for four whole years." Lilo said. "Can't you fix it faster?" Jumba shook his head.
"Ordinarily I might be able to, but coils have been destroyed." He said. "I will need to manufacture new ones." He said. "But, I will bring your loved ones back." He said to Halo and Angel. "Jumba promises." Halo smiled. She knew she could trust the man she had come to call Papa.
"We'd better get to work then." Gunslinger said. "Who knows what could be back there waiting for them.
When they got the water vehicles, the team was elated. Then, they waited for their friend. When an hour passed without him returning, they began to grow concerned. Obviously, there was a problem which kept him from coming back. That meant that they too could not yet return. The concern wasn't massive though. They figured that Jumba would have the problem fixed in no time, and so they set off, vehicles in hand, to continue to explore this strange world.
None of them had any inkling of the adventure that awaited them in this frozen land.
The windows of the tiny village at the top of the world gleamed with the rising of the new day's sun, and the residents took advantage of the daylight to go about their daily business. Shops were opened, the streets filled with busybodies carrying loads of all kinds, and schools were opened to teach the younger residents of the village. The reindeer couple was taking their newborn for a walk through the village. Rudolph kept sniffing around, curious about this new area he had never been to before. They approached a public park, and he began pawing at the ground with his hoof, curious as to what the cold white stuff was. His mother smiled warmly.
"We call this snow." She said, emphasizing the word "snow" as a mother would when trying to teach her baby a new word. Rudolph looked up at her.
"S-snow?" He said, his squeaky baby voice emphasizing the new word.
"That's right, dear." His mother said. Blitzen smiled warmly as his little boy. Rudolph beamed.
"Snow! Snow! Snow!" He chirped, giggling and hopping around. He rolled around in the snow and wiggled his ears at his parents, before hopping off and accidently kicking some snow into his father's face. Blitzen shook the offending snow off.
"Mitzi," he said, "he's at it again." He said. His mate looked at him with a smile.
"I don't see what the problem is." He said, watching her little boy play. Blitzen watched him as well.
"Noses are not supposed to glow." He said.
"Says who?" Said Mitzi, smiling some more. Blitzen couldn't help but return it, though he also couldn't help but fear for his son and how the town would react at seeing his bizarre nose. His question would soon be answered.
"Hey, Blitz!" He heard a familiar voice calling. Cringing, he turned to see three other reindeer approaching. He recognized them as his brothers Comet, Cupid and Dasher. Not sure what to do, he ended up catching Rudolph in his hind legs, wanting to spare the poor little buck any teasing the might result from his nose. Rudolph struggled a bit as the deer approached.
"Hello fellas." Blitzen said, nervous. Cupid, a deep brown haired reindeer bearing a heart-shaped mark on his forehead, looked at his brother.
"So, where's the baby buck?" He asked. The three of them were anxious to meet their nephew. Blitzen bit his lip.
"Well I…uh." He stammered. Mitzi was not impressed.
"Embarrassed by your own son?" She hissed in his ear. Blitzen got the message and allowed Rudolph to step out.
"Come on out, Rudolph." He said. The newborn fawn squeaked at the strangers. The three bucks awed at him. Mitzi smiled.
"Rudolph, these are your uncles," she said, "Comet, Cupid and Dasher." She gestured to each one. All three bucks smiled at him.
"Snow." Rudolph chirped at them, trying out his new word. Cupid started to tickle him with his hoof.
"Coochie coochie cooo." He said. Rudolph giggled up a storm and rolled around on the ground. Mitzi grinned as a group of passersby also came over to admire him. Blitzen smiled. Everything was going fine so far.
"Chip off the old buck." Cupid said as Rudolph giggled. Just then… it happened. His nose suddenly began glowing again. Cupid jumped back at the sight.
"Yikes!" He yelped.
"Look at that." Dasher said. Comet, his narrow eyes framing a lightning bolt mark which went down his face, was struck dumb at the sight. Blitzen needed to figure something out, as the others were beginning to stare at the sight as well.
"Uh, no need to be alarmed." He said. "It's just an allergy." He looked at Mitzi. "We'd better go." He said. Together they took their son into town, away from the crowd that had begun to stare and point at the glowing oddity before them. Blitzen growled as soon as they were out of earshot.
"Grr, I'll lock antlers with the first buck who makes a crack about my son's nose." He said. And he wasn't kidding. He looked like he was ready to fight at the drop of a hat.
"He's beautiful, not odd." Mitzi said. "And perfect the way he is." She gazed at her son, who bounded alongside them as they approached the village.
"You're absolutely right." He said. He smiled, his mind already forming big plans for his youngster. He could see him at the head of a future sleigh team, Santa at the reins. Yes, he foresaw a bright future for the young buck, and he hoped that future would never be denied.
