Coming to Reality:
Chapter 2:
In the last chapter, EPF Squad No. 1 was met with a very confusing case that they had no idea what the answer was or would be. They left to investigate as we 'flashed-back' to Rico's morning where he tried Puffle O's for the thirty-billionth time and didn't learn his lesson yet again. Snow came to his igloo to collect some weapons for the Director and Rico left, not hearing the "Aaaaah!" coming from the cellar, despite the fact he has really good hearing.
"I've asked everyone, chief. No one has anything to report," Dot approached Rico. They were searching the Plaza for evidence. Nothing turned up.
"What if they all vanished in the Time Trekker? What if they went through the windshield?!" asked Rookie.
"While that," Rico paused to think briefly. "May…seem likely, it doesn't sound relevant. 73 penguins vanished. I don't suspect they all went through the windshield,"
"When did you go in the Time Trekker, Rookie?" Jet Pack Guy asked, suspicious. "We've been on duty for two weeks. We were busy during the Prehistoric Party,"
"I found it in the Gary Memorial," Rookie said. "I tried it out. I was taken back to the 2006 Sports Party,"
"Did you get me some ice skates?" asked Rico.
"No," Rookie said. "Everyone looked at me like I was insane and they all wanted to use it. They wanted to see what the future of Club Penguin would be. I told Gary that he would create it. It almost broke wh-"
"Wait, when did all of this take place?" asked JPG.
"Oh, last night," Rookie replied.
"Okay then," Rico said. "Sounds like you had fun,"
"Yeah. There's a lot in that Gary Memorial Museum. There are all these proto-types and gadgets. It's hard to believe we were the ones that found all of those and set them up," Rookie replied.
"Anyhow, where do you want us to search next?" JPG asked.
"Well, there's nothing but drywall here," Rico said. "We're still at the dead-end. We need just some sort of evidence…" Rico thought for a minute. "Let's try the Snow Forts,"
"Wait, wait, wait – you think that just thinking gives you the idea that the Snow Forts has some evidence?" Dot asked.
"Dot," Rico said trying not to look her in her (I'll save the adjectives that describe how hot she is for later) eyes. He scoffed, trying not to show emotion. "Uh, yes, yes exactly!"
Dot rolled her (again, I'll save the adjectives for later) eyes. "Alright, let's go,"
At the Snow Forts…
The Snow Forts were barren. It appeared that no one was around.
"Hey, Jet Pack Guy, just for kicks, what's today?" Rico asked.
"Sunday, February 3rd, why?" answered Jet Pack Guy.
"Well no wonder no one is around," Rico said. "Today is the day that penguins hold parties at their igloos hoping that the blue or red team will win the Super Plate,"
"I have no desire to follow the Super Plate," JPG said.
"I thought the Super Plate was next week?" Rookie asked.
"I'm betting on blue," Dot said.
"Commander, what about you? What team do you like? Red?" Rookie asked, knowing that JPG and Dot liked blue.
"Rookie, that's not important right now," Rico said, annoyed.
"YOU LIKE BLUE DON'T YOU?!" Rookie said, suspicious. Rico never really liked what the others liked. He would sometimes be one that stood out…on purpose. So he wasn't going to admit he liked either team, even though they sort of had a suspicion that he liked red.
"This is a waste of time. Why investigate when there is nothing to investigate because middle-aged men-penguins are at their igloos screaming their heads off because the red team scored a goal!?" Rico was frustrated. He was ignoring Rookie now.
"Look, it's not all bad!" Rookie said.
Everyone looked at him.
"Maybe the blue will make a comeback!" Rookie smiled, hopeful.
They all just stared at him silently. Rookie smirked in embarrassment.
"Anyhow, let's just go check some other areas," JPG said.
"I still think this is a waste of time," Rico rolled his eyes. He and the others waddled to the Town. "Stupid sporting events. 'Super Plate'? What type of name is that?!" he furiously mumbled to himself as they left.
Later at the Town…
Rico and his squad were waddling around the Town investigating when the Director called Rico.
"Hello?" Rico answered.
"Agent, I can't seem to contact Snow. Did he ever arrive at your igloo?" asked the Director.
"Yes he did," Rico said. "He went down into my cellar and I left before he left,"
"I haven't been able to get a hold of him…something is wrong here," the Director replied.
"Perhaps we have a lead in the case?" Rico asked. "He always reports for duty on time so something is going on,"
"Indeed. Please check out your igloo. That is your new top priority." The Director said. "Is it okay if I send out some officials to your igloo to investigate?"
"Yes, that will help." Rico said. They both hung up.
"Boss, what was that all about?" asked Jet Pack Guy. He had his spy gadget out.
"The Director wants us to check my igloo for anything. Apparently, Snow didn't return after collecting the weapons this morning," Rico said. "I should've waited for him to leave before leaving,"
"Hey, commander, that's okay, I leave my puffles at home hungry all the time," Rookie said.
"And that has to do with what?" Rico asked.
"Leaving Snow before he leaves is like leaving your puffles without feeding them…it's just stuff you shouldn't do," Rookie answered.
"Leaving Snow? More like, leaving you, Rookie," JPG replied.
"Alright, so, let's go to my igloo, let's go see what we can find there," Rico said. "Don't expect much. I'd know what goes on there,"
"Yeah, yeah, let's go," Dot said.
Two minutes later…
Rico and the others had arrived at the doorstep of his igloo. Rico got out the keys and opened the door. He entered to his *awesome* igloo.
"Wow, you really changed it," JPG said, gazing around the igloo.
There were TVs on the wall for island surveillance. There were tables for agent work and everything.
"Alright, let's make it quick," Rico said.
"AHA!" Rookie said. They all stopped and looked at him like it was something important. "I KNEW YOU LIKED BLUE!" He was pointing to the blue team pennant on the wall.
"Rookie, would you just – ah, forget it!" Rico rolled his eyes. He looked over at the table where he had put the note for Snow. It was untouched.
"The note?" JPG said. "Where did you have it before you left?" He went over to it.
"Right here which means," Rico paused. "Snow didn't leave,"
"Snow wasn't the only one here," Dot pointed to the rugs. They were moved slightly.
"How did you…?" Rico trailed off. Dot somehow knew that the rugs weren't in the position they were earlier.
"Alright, well, the officials must not have returned either," Rico said. "The Director sent some officials here to check for Snow. Something happened to them, too…"
"Alright, well, for the moment of truth, let's go downstairs and see what is down there," Dot headed for the trap door area.
Rico noticed it was open, which meant no one returned from it because it auto-shuts when you return from it. He was the first to go down but he brought his gun with him just in case.
"It's dark in here," Rookie said.
"Indeed," JPG smirked.
"There are lights," Rico turned on a light. "Now ssshhhh." He hushed.
They were all silent as they went downstairs into the large cellar. There were racks of weapons everywhere. There were all these types of weapons and stuff and everything. Someone could live down here and maybe someone did. Maybe that penguin was causing the vanishing-ness.
Rico got off the stairs and so did the others. He slowly crept towards the center of the room. He looked in each room and had his gun handy. No one was down there but those four. Rico noticed spy gadgets and the box of weapons were sitting out.
"BOSS! GET OVER HERE!" JPG yelled from the main hall.
"CHIEF, HURRY!" Dot said.
Rico ran as fast as he could to his squad. His eyes lit up as he saw it. A giant purple light was coming from the ground. It wasn't just a light; it was a hole! It was swirling around. It was like a portal.
"Commander, what the heck is this?!" asked Rookie.
"I don't know," Rico said, remaining calm. He thought back to all the times he had been down here. He hadn't noticed a portal here. It suddenly dawned on him. "Agh, I just remembered it!"
"What? What did you remember?!" Rookie asked.
"When Henry and I were getting weapons to kill the Killer," Rico said. "My igloo exploded and debris floated down here. We couldn't get out so we tried a jackhammer to drill into the ground. Unfortunately, he just caused a geyser which Henry said he'd take care of. I seriously believe he did, but how did this happen?!" Rico explained. He was still calm.
"Well, I think we figured it out," JPG said.
"I've had so many visitors to my igloo the past few days," Rico said.
"Like who? Any of them on the missing list?" asked Jet Pack Guy.
"I can't name them all off the top of my head," Rico said. "Snow, Henry, Toasty, Lake Blue1, Cyclone," the list would continue but he stopped there.
"Henry is the only one not on the list. That means they all are in there," JPG said.
"Great, now this means," Rico took a deep breath.
"It means what?" Rookie asked.
"I'm responsible! I don't know where this leads to and if you can ever return," Rico said. "So if any of these penguins die, it's my fault!"
"Great, now what?" Dot asked. Her (avoiding the descriptions) voice helped Rico remain calm.
"Well, if this is my problem, then that means that I have to fix it," Rico said.
"What? You're not saying…" Rookie said.
"Yes, I am," Rico said.
"Boss, you're not going down there! Under any circumstances, you are NOT going down there!" JPG said.
"Jet Pack Guy, this is my problem and I must fix it. You guys can come down if you need to. I'll have my spy gadget. If I'm not back in an hour, come down there. Don't tell anyone but the Director about this, okay? We can't let word spread!" Rico said.
"Chief, I'm not sure this is the best idea you've had," Dot said.
"It has to be done. It's a risk I'm willing to take," Rico said.
"Okay, fine, whatever you say commander," Rookie said.
Rico made sure he had his spy gadget and his phone on him.
"Boss, are you –"
Before Jet Pack Guy could finish his sentence, Rico jumped down the purple swirling mass of unknowness.