Chapter 2 – An Old Friend
Nack and Bean landed safely on the airstrip of the South Pole, and they boarded off. The two stood just outside of the control tower, taking in the view of the serene landscape. The expert bomber lead them to a small wooden shack just outside the airport, where several snowmobiles lined up neatly in a row.
The owner of the snowmobile rental establishment, a penguin wearing an orange beret, walked up and greeted them with a friendly smile. It was a relief getting away from Wallabee's clutches, for now anyways.
"Hey Bean. Hey stranger."
"S'up Jeffrey. I'm just here to visit my ol' friend again."
"Ah…I see. Well, I won't have to tell you the way then. The Fox Nomads are out of hibernation, so you might need this just in case."
Jeffrey handed Bean a weapon, whom he handed to Nack. "It seems like you're better with guns than I am, so you can have it."
"Oh…thanks."
Nack receives the Tranquilizer Gun (holds 18 rounds).
"Who are the Fox Nomads? " Nack asked.
"They are a tribal group who has lived in the mountains north of here through the generations. Bean's path to his friend's home runs through those mountains. They're pretty hostile if outsiders step onto their lands, so use this Tranquilizer Gun just in case they start attacking you. It'll put 'em out for about an hour. Do NOT kill them. We have to respect their territory."
"Alright. I'll try not to bust a cap by mistake."
"You better not, or you'll be thrown in jail."
"What?"
"Killing one is a direct violation of the Nomad Preservation Act."
"I'll borrow one of these snowmobiles if you don't mind." Bean said.
"Go right ahead Bean. It's on the house."
"Much obliged Jeffrey. I'll see ya around."
Nack and Bean hopped onto the vehicle and zoomed down the desolate fields. The cold lands were painted in orange by the setting sun. The duck continued driving as the weasel seemed to be distracted. He was thinking of something.
"Bean."
"Yeah Nack?"
"I've been thinking…Why did you save me back there at the bar? You could've easily left me there to die."
"Considering the way you've treated me earlier, I should've left you there…but I didn't."
"Then why?"
"I noticed that you were quite skilled with the gun, it would be a waste to have you pushin' up daisies. So I figured you would make quite an asset to our cause of taking Wallabee and the company down."
"…So you're saying you saved my life because I would be useful in achieving your goal."
"Something like that. We're not exactly buddy-buddy or anything."
"I didn't say we were. I was just asking a question."
"That's fine with me. You are indebted to me though since I saved you. Until we take him down, you have to stay with us."
"Tch…fair enough. I'll help your little posse get rid of the 'roo bastard. He owes me. Once we've done that, I'm gone."
"Cool. Seems like we both have our reasons for taking Wallabee down."
He continued driving until they reached the base of the mountain. Not being able to go any further on snowmobile, they got off and walked. It was starting to get dark.
"We use this trail to go to the other side, then we descend down the slope into a cave. After we get out of the cave, you'll see a hut. That's where my friend lives. He'll be able to help us out."
"Okay. This better not be a waste of time." He replied, equipping his Tranquilizer gun. Locked and loaded.
"Trust me Nack. It isn't. You'll see."
Stage 3: Chill Peaks (Player: Nack)
Mission: Get to the other side.
Bean will be with you as you navigate through the treacherous mountain trail. Be wary of slippery slopes and rock slides. You'll fall into freezing water if you're not vigilant. Since you're stepping onto their territory, the Fox Nomads will become hostile and attack. Watch out for the spears they throw at you. Press left or right on the C stick to change weapons. Use the Tranquilizer Gun to put them to sleep. Do NOT use your Revolver and kill them, or else you'll forfeit a life and start from the last checkpoint. Mission is completed when you get to the other side of the mountain.
Nack and Bean stood at the top of a long slope. Night had fallen upon the mountain as well as the lands below. They had quite a view from their position. The airport terminal was easily visible, a few miles away.
"Check this out…I know a faster way to get down to the cave." Bean grinned. Using a bomb, he planted it at a nearby tree. Its fuse was lit and now counting down.
"Do you know what you're doing, duck?"
"Of course I do. Just trust me on this."
11 seconds later the bomb exploded with a sizable bang, making the tree fall over. Nack just turned and stared at him like he was the most idiotic person in the world.
"Bean! You realize what you just…!"
"What's your problem? We'll use this as a type of log flume and…wait…do you hear that?"
"…Hear…what?"
It started out as a rumble, then it steadily became louder and louder. Nack looked up and nearly had a stroke when he saw a huge blanket of snow cascading down toward them, falling faster and faster.
"Tell me something Bean. If you set off a bomb on a snow-covered mountain, what do you think will happen?"
Bean looked up as well, his pupils turning microscopic seeing a white blanket of doom coming their way.
"…An avalanche?"
"Correct a mondo genius. Now let's get the hell out of here!"
They hurriedly got onboard the fallen tree and rode it down the mountain, with the avalanche right on their tails. While clawing with their hands to gain momentum, they weaved back and forth to avoid crashing.
Bean was barking out orders. "Go left! NO! Your other left! STUPID! No right! Listen to me! Turn idiot turn! LOOK!"
"I'm gonna shoot you in the head if you don't shut the hell up!"
"There's the cave right down there! Steer toward it!"
Weasel and duck zipped right into the small cave at the bottom. They skidded along until the tree finally stopped. The avalanche of snow roared in and blocked the entrance with an immense collision. What a sight this was. The caves had walls of solid ice that showed crystal clear reflections of themselves, both distorted and perfect.
"You okay Nack?" he asked, shaking his feathers.
He was busy patting the snow off his purple fur. He took off his hat and dusted that off as well. "Oh yeah…I'm just peachy keen."
"Are you mad at me?"
"Now why would I ever-be-so mad at you? Causing that avalanche and nearly being killed by it was so much fun. Let's do it again."
"Your sarcasm is overwhelming. I'm sorry. Okay? I humbly apologize."
"Save it. Let's just keep going, and try not to get us killed this time. Otherwise I'll have to choke you."
"Sheeesh…fine. I won't. Calm down."
"I almost got killed because of you and you want me to calm down?"
"…Alright. Bad choice of words. I already said I was sorry. Let's just go."
Stage 4: Cool Caverns (Player: Nack)
Mission: Find the exit.
Don't let your reflections off the solid ice walls confuse you. Trek your way through the snaking path of the cavern. A few forks in the road will make this a bit of a maze. Try not to get lost. Keep your eyes up for falling icicles. Use the shadows to pinpoint where they'll land. Those territorial Fox Nomads are in here as well, ready to skewer you with spears. Remember to use your Tranquilizer Gun. You don't have to worry as much about the bats, feel free to blast those away with your Revolver. Mission is completed when you reach the exit.
Nack and Bean stepped outside and saw the lone hut in the middle of the valley. This was a perfect location for the person who wanted to get away from it all. No civilization for miles around. The stars dotted the night sky.
"There's one thing I have to tell you before we meet him." Bean said.
"What is it?"
"Don't make eye contact with him."
"What?"
"Don't make eye-contact with him. He gets really irritated by it."
"…Okay…"
The duck, with the bounty hunter behind him, knocked on the door.
"Come in! huff Door's open. puff"
The two came in. There was a nearly 7 foot tall polar bear wearing a red snowcap and green scarf, practicing his swings on a punching bag. He had at least 2 feet on Bean and Nack, easy. He was a monster at 500+ pounds.
Nack readjusted his cowboy hat. "I thought polar bears lived in the North Pole."
"This one doesn't."
The polar bear stopped his rigorous training and lumbered up to them, extending his big paw. "What's up Bean?"
"Hiya Bark."
Bean gave Bark a high-five, then a low-five, then the slow hand-slip, then the pinky-lock, and finally a friendly hug. Nack pretended not to notice anything.
"Who's the purple rat?" he asked, now focused on him.
"That's Nack. He's an….acquaintance of mine."
"Hey Nack. Nice to meet ya. I'm Bark." he greeted, offering a handshake.
"Hi Bark.." The weasel replied. He shook his hand, but still looked the other way.
"Hey…how come you're not looking at me? Am I scaring you?"
"(Don't look at him Nack…)" Bean quietly muttered to him.
"Hey! I'm talking to you! Look at me!"
"(Don't look at him man…)"
Nack felt a lump in his throat, still turned away. "That's okay……I can…hear you…just fine. Th…thanks…"
"Are you disrespecting me?" Bark asked, cracking his knuckles. "Because if you are, I wouldn't mind twisting your spine into a pretzel."
Nack turned his head the other way, still not meeting eye to eye.
"(Don't even think about it! Keep your eyes away!)"
"So it's going to be like that huh little rat?"
With one hand, Bark picked Nack up by the throat and brought him up to his face. The weasel still had his head turned and didn't look at him.
"Guess I'll have to beat some respect outta you!"
The polar bear growled and reeled back for the punch. Nack closed his eyes, readying for impact.
"…"
"…?"
Bark simply laughed out loud, giving him a noogie. "BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I'm just playing with you. Bean told you not to look at me, didn't he?"
Nack gave Bean a dirty look. The duck was on the floor rolling with laughter.
"No hard feelings Nack?" he asked as he put him back down.
"…I suppose."
"Hahaha….now that we got that outta our systems, what brings you here Bean?"
"Long story short, a kangaroo named Wallabee and his goons are out to kill us. According to him, Nack and I are a threat to his business. We need some serious backup if we plan on fighting back. That's why we came to you Bark."
"So that's how it is huh…sure…I'll join ya in your fight."
"Really?" Bean lit up. "You'll help us?"
"Of course. You're my pals after all."
He smiled. "Thanks Bark. I knew I could count on you."
"No prob. By the way...it's getting pretty late. Did you want to sleep over, and then think about what we can do tomorrow?"
Nack was busy looking outside as Bean replied. "Yeah..that'd be a good idea. It's been a long day."
"Cool. Let's call it a night and get some shut-eye. I got a couple of sleeping bags for you to use."
Soon, all three were sawing logs rather noisily. Barksnored the loudest. The polar bear slept in his hammock, while Nack and Bean snoozed in sleeping bags. The night had come and went without incident.
The next morning…
Bark awoke to the sound of footsteps outside his hut. He quickly leapt from his resting place and looked out the window. Two lackey kangaroos had machine guns armed and ready, aimed right for the polar bear's house.
"(…Shoot…that must be the goons Bean was telling me about…)"
"Ready…"
"Uh oh…"
"Aim…"
"NACK! BEAN! STAY DOWN!" he shouted, diving to the ground beside them.
"FIRE!"
A hail of bullets started tearing through the hut. Glass shattered, tables split in half, and walls became Swiss cheese. Objects were being erased before his very eyes. The lead storm continued for a while, and then it stopped. Bark's once-humble home was nowin shambles, the air thick with dust. That was one hell of a wakeup call. Bark hesitated, and then walked to the door. His fist began to tremble in furious anger.
The two gangsters entered the house, only to get knocked down flat by Bark's double clothesline.
"Bastards!"
They were KO-ed.
"What the hell's going on!" Nack shouted.
"Wallabee's thugs have found us it seems." The polar bear answered, then waved them to come along. "Let's get outta here fellas. It isn't safe in here."
Nack, Bean, and Bark ran outside…only to meet five more lackeys with machine guns lined up.
The green duck was shocked. "My god…Wallabee's lackeys followed us all the way HERE! But…but…how!"
Bark cracked his neck and knuckles. "Kick ass now. Ask questions later, Bean."
"Yeah…" Nack added, putting his hand down by the holster. "Let's get these idiots out of the picture first."
Boss: Wallabee's Swarm (Player: Nack)
You will face 3 waves of 5 machinegun-toting lackeys. They will jump around, firing every so often with partial range. Defeat the current wave to face the next one. Now might be a good time to use your rolling technique. Other than Bark's devastated hut, there is no cover. Your friends can now help out in battle. Push down on the C stick to have Bean throw a few bombs. The blasts have good range. Push up on the C stick to have Bark perform one of six random fighting moves: clothesline, shoulder tackle, giant swing, power bomb, big boot, drop kick. Using your friends' skills isn't free though. It costs 20 percent of the Burst meter per use. Win the battle by defeating them all.
Wallabee's attempted hit on the three mobians had failed. Bean and Bark stood amongst the defeated marsupials with confident smugs.
The weasel noticed some equipment on a slain gunman. "Hmm…now what do we have here…"
Nack received the Nightvision Goggles! Push the Z button to toggle on and off.
Nack also received an Assault Rifle (holds 60 rounds)! This semi-automatic weapon fires three-round bursts. It eats ammo quickly, so don't get too carried away with it.
"Is everyone all right?" Bark asked as he surveyed the grounds.
"Like you need to ask." Nack answered, reloading and cocking his newfound toy.
"I'm cool Bark. I'm cool. See what I mean? Wallabee doesn't freakin' play around."
"Yeah, I see what you mean. This guy is serious."
"We have to go back to Down Unda'. We have to stop Wallabee, and his Boss."
Nack readied his Revolver as he pointed it up in the air. "It's gonna be your turn to face the barrel Wallyboy. I'm getting my money, whether you like it or not."
Bark flashed his teeth and pounded his fists together. "Anyone who trashes my home and tries to kill my friends are beggin' for an ass-whoopin'."
Bean spun a bomb on his finger. "If we don't stop them, the environment will deteriorate. My home will be uninhabitable. With your gun skills Nack, and your brute strength Bark, we could stop them. Guys, we're going to his Main Headquarters in Down Unda'. We'll end this."
Next Chapter: Showdown at Down Unda'