Dot slowly leaned back into her chair. "I... but... how?" She asked sympathetically.
Gary looked back at his friend. He seemed depressed. Of course he's depressed. His childhood friend was dying. "She has a lethal illness, with no known cure." He continued to speak quietly.
Both penguins knew; there weren't any hospitals in Club Penguin. But, there were doctors who'd care for you in your igloo.
"How long until she...?"
"Two days. This Monday is when the time comes." Gary answered. Dot frowned. She could only imagine how he's feeling right now.
It was hard for Gary to talk about it. The small shakiness in his voice, the glancing around the room, the lack of eye contact. "We haven't seen each other in years, but I still remember the times we shared together. She was one of the things that got me into inventing."
Dot knew how much he'd invent. It wasn't only his job, it was his life. He loved it. Creating things nobody ever thought of making, creating a better future... Then Dot got an idea. "You make things. You make a better future. Use that to your advantage."
She paused to see his reaction. He seemed a bit interested in where she was going with this. Dot continued, "Make a better future for her. Create something for her!" She hit the table with her flippers determinedly, causing Gary to flinch. "Make her a cure!"
Gary immediately began thinking. That idea sparked his mind. But he knew. He knew how hard this would be. "Two days-"
"Is all you have. I know. But you're Gary the Gadget Guy! The most smartest penguin in Club Penguin! You can do anything. Don't go down without a fight, or you'll regret it later. At least try!" Dot interrupted.
'She's right...' Gary thought. He saw the determination in her eyes. Her devotion. Her hope. "I'll try." Gary said with a small smile.
Dot's grin widened, "That's the spirit!"
••• Meanwhile... •••
Rookie didn't know if it was okay to laugh. He just saw Jet Pack Guy get hit by a snowball. Snowballs come flying out of nowhere all the time near the Snow Forts, usually when you'd least expect it.
JPG shot his head towards the Forts. The penguins there, who knew who he was, cowered in fear. While the others, seemed confused, yet apologetic.
Jet Pack Guy noticed the look on Rookie's face. He was trying not to laugh. But really, mostly anything can make that green Penguin laugh. JPG rolled his eyes and wiped the snow off his head, but then Rookie finally burst into laughter.
Jet Pack Guy picked up some snow and rolled it into a ball. He aimed it at Rookie. Not near the beak, wouldn't want him to choke. Wouldn't want to knock off his cap or glasses either. So, he threw the snowball at his left shoulder, to make him stop laughing.
Rookie felt the snowball hit him. He laughed lighter. He knew that Jet Pack Guy could throw it harder, but he knew that if he did, it would actually hurt. Rookie appreciated the thoughtfulness, but still made a snowball and threw it at Jet Pack Guy, not thinking of any consequences, like if he'd get angry.
JPG didn't get angry, but he knew that war has been declared. He threw a snowball at him. Rookie grinned and threw one back, but Jet Pack Guy dodged it by shifting to the side, entering the Snow Forts. By now, the other penguins went back to their own snowball fight.
"It's so oooonnn!" Rookie said loudly and made two perfect snowballs by simply scooping his flippers in the snow, in one swoop. He threw them towards Jet Pack Guy, but he dodged them by ducking.
As he ducked, he spun, and collected a chunk of snow in his flipper, which elevated up his wing as he collected more snow. Jet Pack Guy lifted himself. That all happened in one swift motion. He quickly shaped the chunks of snow into five snowballs while balancing them on his wing. He smirked at Rookie.
Rookie was amazed, but didn't hesitate to run away towards the Town at top speed. Jet Pack Guy chased after him with the snowballs.
••• Meanwhile... •••
Dot took one big gulp of her coffee, then stood, leaving her bill on the table. "I'll help you, okay?"
Gary stood and nodded once, he made a smile, "Thank you, Dot."
"No problem!" She smiled back then began walking towards the exit with Gary. They left the building.
"So I was think- AHH!" Dot cried. A snowball hit her on the stomach in mid-sentence. Instead of looking up to see who threw it, she began wiping the snow off. Gary, however, looked up.
To his surprise, he saw Rookie and Jet Pack Guy having a snowball fight. He chuckled, and Dot looked up. She smirked. They were both thinking the same thing.
"Missed!" Rookie said when Jet Pack Guy attempted to throw a snowball at him. He stuck out his tongue.
Before JPG could respond, he got hit by a snowball on the side. Rookie got hit by one too. They both darted their heads where the snowballs came from. They grinned at the sight of Gary and Dot.
The snowball fight lasted a good ten minutes. Having a snowball fight with each other was obviously something they weren't used to, but it was fun overall. The fight ended up taking them to the entrance of the Mine.
"Wait! Pause! T!" Rookie said breathlessly, then flopped backwards into the snow. Everyone stopped. They were all tired, but they all had a smile on their faces. After a silence of everyone catching their breath, Dot spoke,
"I won."
Although there wasn't any evidence to prove it, that's what she declared.
"No, I won." Rookie said as he sat up. He began to wipe off the snow, "By the way, what were you guys doing near the Coffee Shop?"
"I was getting coffee," Gary explained, and paused for a second, realizing he never even got coffee, "And I saw Dot sitting alone. I went up to her and we spoke for a while. We decided we are going to make a cure for the Enterovirus D68."
"Work away from work, huh?" Jet Pack Guy said, causing Dot to flinch. She always did work away from work. "Can I help?" He offered.
JPG was a serious agent. So serious, that he doesn't even want to take vacations or day offs. However, for this week, he was ordered to take a vacation. He had no choice, but he also had no plans. Helping Gary will kill time, and it's better than sitting at home doing nothing.
"I wanna help too!" Rookie blurted. He loved helping people, but Rookie forgot about the bills he had to pay, unaware he was distracting himself.
"I'd love it if you two would lend your assistance, thank you." Gary said with a small smile. "We should head to my lab."
"Great, let's telepooooort!" Rookie said as he took out his Spy Phone from his pocket, and pressed a button. Nothing happened. He looked a bit disappointed.
Confused, Jet Pack Guy took out his Spy Phone from his pocket. Before testing the teleportation button, he noticed he got a message. JPG opened it, read it, then spoke, "Teleportation is unavailable due to an accident."
"Weird..." Dot commented. Everyone looked thoughtful.
Rookie was thinking if it was his fault, even though he knew it probably wasn't. Jet Pack Guy wondered what the accident was, and Gary was thinking of the quickest way to get to his lab. "Let's take the mine carts. We can use the secret passageway that leads to my lab." Gary said, breaking the short silence.
"T-the mine?" Dot repeated a bit quietly.
"Is something the matter?" Jet Pack Guy asked, noticing her fidgety state.
She shook her head, then put her mind into more focus. Dot raised her head a bit, then smiled, "Heh, I just don't want to get my clothes dirty. Sure, snow is okay to have on my dress since it's easy to wipe off, but coal and dirt stains, you know?"
Dot gives more information than she needs to in certain situations, unlike Jet Pack Guy who gives very little information.
Dot glanced towards the Mine, "I'll be okay. Let's go." She began walking.
Rookie followed, but Gary and JPG gave each other a look that read '' she's hiding something '' before following.
The four entered the Mine, and climbed down the flight of stairs. They approached the mine carts. "Dibs the front cart!" Rookie called, connected four carts together, then got into the front one. Gary got into the second, Dot in the third, and Jet Pack Guy in the last.
Gary started the carts by moving the lever. They began to move, slowly getting faster and faster. The signs to turn right sped by them.
"Okay everyone, teamwork!" Rookie cheered, as he was the first one to lean right. The others did the same. Rookie seemed to be enjoying the ride, like it was a roller coaster.
Gary was anxious due to the walls being too close together. He was claustrophobic. Dot wasn't enjoying the ride, and Jet Pack Guy, who was sitting behind her, noticed this. Rookie did tricks on his cart, which shook the cave, causing tiny bits of coal to fall, which irritated Dot when they fell on her dress. She was also annoyed by the sparks from the rail when the carts turned.
They were nearing the secret pathway. A small lever was on the rails. The only way to reach it at this fast speed was by using one of the tools from the old Spy Phone. Once the lever was switched, a fork in the road would appear, leading to Gary's lab.
Rookie, who was too busy doing tricks on the cart, missed the chance to switch the lever. Gary missed the opportunity as well, since he was too anxious. The same goes for Dot, since she was busy wiping coal off of her dress. That leaves Jet Pack Guy, who wasn't distracted at all. However, his old Spy Phone was accidentally destroyed by Rookie the day before yesterday. Gary was in charge of fixing it after the vacation.
"Um... guys?" Jet Pack Guy said.
Dot looked up, then behind her, "What is-" She stopped mid-sentence, noticing the lever that they missed.
Rookie was standing on his mine cart by having his feet on the edges of it. He turned around full circle. He was now riding backwards while standing on the cart, "No! Did we miss the lever?"
"Rookie!" Gary cried, "That's dangerous!"
Jet Pack Guy noticed signs on the walls, warning them of a left turn. "Lean right!" He yelled to Rookie in a panicked voice.
He did as he said, and the others leaned left. The carts didn't crash and Rookie maintained his balance.
"Oh my gosh!" Dot said.
"Very impressive!" Gary commented.
"Good job." JPG said with a smile.
Rookie couldn't help but smile too. He didn't feel like a klutz anymore. He continued to stand there, taking in all the glory.
More coal fell on Dot's dress. She began to wipe it off. Jet Pack Guy looked behind himself. The lever wasn't in sight. Gary couldn't see the signs on the wall since Rookie was blocking it. Before they knew it, the carts crashed at the next turn.
The mine carts came to an immediate stop. Luckily, none of them went off the track. But Gary's glasses flew off, and Rookie fell backwards. He landed on his feet, and caught the glasses mid-air.
"That was a close one." Rookie muttered to himself.
"Is everyone okay?" Jet Pack Guy asked.
"Yep." Dot answered, then noticed Gary, "You good...?"
"W-where are my glasses?" Gary panicked. He was freaking out. His claustrophobia was getting the better of him. Dot and Jet Pack Guy noticed his major fidgeting.
"Hey..." Rookie put his flipper on his left shoulder to comfort him, then gave him his glasses. He quickly put them back on, but was still terrified.
No one was aware of Gary's claustrophobia. But now, they knew. Everyone was shocked and worried.
Dot spoke, "We need to take immediate action! There's a lever beside the lever we missed, which will make the carts move in the direction we lean. Since we can't move the carts by ourselves because their too heavy, we need a volunteer to-"
"I'll do it!" Rookie interrupted.
"Let me go instead, it'll be faster if I use my jet pack." JPG said.
"No!" Rookie blurted, which shocked them by his sudden small outburst, "I-I need to do this. By myself." He didn't want to be a burden, or some useless penguin who could only do sick moves on mine carts. He felt responsible for missing the lever, since he was on the first cart, and for the crash since he was distracted by the praise he got for nailing that backwards stance while turning.
'I should've focused, instead of fooling around. I missed it and caused this pain to Gary! Let me do this for the team, let me pay for my actions!' Rookie thought to himself.
"The walls are too narrow anyways. You might get hurt." Rookie said, "I'll do it." He left before anyone could make any further arguments.
After a short silence, Jet Pack Guy spoke, "G?"
There was no response.
Dot stood, and noticed he wasn't moving. She lifted Gary's glasses to see his eyes were closed, "He fainted..." She announced, then sat back down.
There was an awkward silence. Jet Pack Guy and Dot were alone.