Joe felt the sensation of falling as the air whipped past his ears. He wasn't too scared so he didn't yell; he was just startled. He had fallen many times before and a few had been in similar to what was happening now. Then all of a sudden, he hit bottom, hard; so hard that he lost consciousness for a couple of minutes. When he came around he first realized that it was somewhat chilly and that there was a slight pressure all around him. Then it hit him. He was underwater! He began swimming around, trying to figure out which way was up. As he finally got to the surface, he began breathing natural air again. He called for Françoise but his voice was too weak for her to hear. He listened to the waves for a moment and guessed were land might be. When he was nearly there he felt sand underneath him so he continued walking the rest of the way. He took his shirt off as he reached shore knowing that it would just make him colder and get in his way. He sat on the sand to rest. After a while, he got up and began to search the new area above the water. He found a waterfall but no other passageway except for the way he came. Therefore he dove back into the underground lake. After some time, he found only one exit and got back out to warm up. "Man, that water's cold! I bet a human would freeze in about seven minutes if they fell into it," he mused out load. He was drowsy, not from the cold, so he decided to take a small nap.
Françoise had been walking for about an hour when she suddenly stopped. She thought she heard something. Then she heard it again. It was a voice! "Hello! Who's there!" she called out loudly then stood quietly to listened.
After a few seconds Albert, she thought, called back. "…9? 003? Is that you!"
"Yes!"
"Stay there! I'll come to you!"
Albert had been walking for about six hours total. He was waiting for 006 to call him again since he checked up on him every forty-five minutes. He had passed the waterway about three hours ago. 'I'm glad my equipment is waterproof,' he had thought. Then his communicator was brought to life.
"006 to 004. Any sign of them?"
"Besides a strip of recent clothing in a water channel, no, I haven't."
"Ok. Well, 008's still out searching the ocean, just to let you know."
Albert didn't answer. From a far off he thought he heard someone say, "…lo! Who's there!"
"004?" asked Chang.
"I think I hear someone. Hang on," he said into the radio then called out, "009? 003? Is that you!"
After a second he heard them say back, "Yes!"
Glad that they were found he told them, "Stay there! I'll come to you!" And he started running forward. "006. Yes it's them. I'll be in at their location in a few minutes."
"Roger. Good work, 004. Tell us when you get there." On the other end, Albert could here a couple shouts of joy.
As Françoise stood there, she could see a light bobbing towards her and hear running feet coming her way. As they rounded the corner she saw Albert. "004! It's good to see you!" she exclaimed.
"Good to see you too," he replied with a smile while his eyes checked to see her condition. All he saw was that she had slightly tousled hair, was a little grubby, had a few rips in her clothing, and a couple of small scrapes that had barely bled. But when it registered that she was alone, his smile turned into a frown. When Françoise saw his expression change, her smile turned sad and looked at her shoes.
"Where's 009?" he asked
"He fell down a deep crevice. He fell so far that I could hardly hear the splash that followed. He had told me earlier that if we got separated for me to head back."
"How long ago was this?"
"About an hour ago."
"Alright, let me tell the others," he said to her, then turned to his radio. "004 to 006. You still there?"
"Yes, we're here."
"It was 003 but she's alone. 009 fell down a crevice an hour ago. It sounds like he hit water and it's too far down to use the rope that I have and he's probably moved on by now. You copy all that."
"Roger. We got it all and we agree that you should come back. 005's at the entrance now, he can pull you guys up."
"Alright. We'll be at 005's location in a few hours. 004 out."
Turning to Françoise he said, "Well, we should get going. It's a good five and a half hours walk back at least."
"Ok. But let's do so quickly. I can go faster now that I can see."
All he did was nod in response.
The ocean…
Pyunma had almost finished his search and had found nothing so far when he spotted a possible opening. He went to check it out. 'Man, this water is colder than what I'm use to. And it's most likely even colder inside. I'm going to have to go warm up and eat. I'll check this out later,' and headed back up.
When Joe woke up from his nap he got up, stretched, and then waded into the water. He began swimming cautiously arms out in front of him and slightly to the side so he wouldn't hit anything. He swam this way for about three hours until he was able to faintly see. 'I must be getting close to the exit' he thought. After a moment, he wrapped his arms around himself. He was freezing! And to make it worse, his vision was beginning to get blurry. He was beginning to shake hard now and was unknowingly beginning to sink! That's when a fuzzy, moving figure came into view. Unable to keep his eyes open any longer, his eyes fell shut…
Pyunma had just jumped in after his break and was heading for the cave. 'I think it got colder.' He complained. Forty minutes into his search of the cavern he made out a person swimming his way. Since the cavern looked to long for a human to swim, he decided that it had to be Joe. So he began swimming towards him. When he got somewhat closer he saw that Joe was without his shirt, trembling hard, and was going so slow that he was slightly sinking! Seeing this he went faster. When he was about nine meters away, he saw Joe stop swimming, his eyes flicker shut, and began sinking. Afraid for his friend and leader, he went to top speed, grabbed him, and swam for the opening. "002! Come in 002!" he said urgently into his waterproof headset. Jet had brought him out to the shore.
"Ouch! Sheesh! I can hear you, 008. What's wrong?" Jet answered and asked back.
"It's 009! I found him but before I was able to get to him he fell unconscious! I believe he passed out from being in the cold for to long!"
"Get back to shore. I'll fly him back to the house."
When Françoise heard what was going on, she began going faster. Understandingly, Albert followed suit. "I'm sure he'll be fine, 003," he said to comfort her. She just kept going.
As soon as Pyunma got to shore, Jet put a blanket around Joe. "Go, I'll follow," Pyunma said.
Jet took off with Joe on his back. Flying fast, he got to the house in no time. "Dr. Gilmore! Dr. Gilmore!" Jet called as he got close. Gilmore came hurrying out as Jet landed next to the porch.
When he saw Joe limp on his back he exclaimed, "Oh my! What happened? Bring him inside." Jet explained how Pyunma found him as they went inside. While he was explaining, Joe stirred but didn't wake on his back. Jet stopped speaking and glanced at him, then continued.
"Well it just sounds as if he fell unconscious from the cold. We'll just warm him up by the fireplace," Gilmore said when Jet finished. They had just placed Joe on the couch, put another blanket on him, and got the fire started when Pyunma burst in puffing.
"He'll be fine, 008. No reason to worry," Gilmore said before he was even asked.
Hearing this Pyunma gave a sigh of relief and leaned against the wall. "You hear that, 003? He'll be just fine. You can stop worrying now," he said into his headset to the others. After listening for a moment, then he gave a small laugh and said, "Whatever you say. 008 out," and he took off his head set.
Seeing Gilmore's shocked and questioning glance, Jet said, "004 found 003 an hour after they were separated."
After hearing this, Gilmore's face changed to a happy smile. "I see. I guess 007 just forgot to tell me. Oh well…"
"Ok. I just wanted to make sure that 009 was going to be alright. Now that I do, I'm going to get this sea salt off me," Pyunma announced handing Jet his headset and walk toward the stairs to take a shower.
"I'll go and check on the others and give back our communicators. Are you going to be alright, Professor?" Jet asked.
"I'll be fine, 002. Go ahead," he replied. When he had left, Gilmore glanced over at Joe and saw that he was stirring. He quickly went to his side. After a few seconds Joe opened his eyes.
"You're at the house. How are you feeling, 009?" Gilmore said when a confused look came over his eyes.
Giving a small sigh, Joe answered, "Other than being cold, I'm fine. Have you heard anything about 003?"
"Yes I have. 004 found her an hour after you two got separated from what I've heard."
"Good," Joe said with a bigger sigh mixed in.
"Now, you just get some rest. I'll tell the others to keep it down when they get back."
Joe nodded in replied as he closed his eyes and soon fell asleep.
"Good night, 009. Good to have you back," Gilmore whispered as he went to get a book and sit on the porch to make sure the others wouldn't march in and wake him up.
A little while later Pyunma came out with clean clothes on. "Have a nice shower, 008?" Gilmore asked.
"Uh-huh. 009 looks to be doing fine, just to let you know," Pyunma said as he sat down nearby to watch the clouds.
"Thank you. Just remember to keep it down so he can rest."
"No problem. It's just 006 and 007 I'd worry about when they come to make dinner," Pyunma said with an amused grin.
"Yes, those two never give it a rest," Gilmore said with a sigh and shaking his head.
"Speaking of them, here they come. Arguing, as usual," Pyunma announced while rolling his eyes. When they got close enough, Gilmore and Pyunma sent them a stern look. They saw them and shut their mouths.
"Try to keep it quite while you make dinner tonight. 009 is resting on the couch. He needs it. Understood?" Gilmore said firmly as the two reached the porch.
"No problem Doc.," GB said as they went inside.
"008? Can you go and sit at the table and read a book, perhaps, to make sure they don't make too much of a ruckus?" Gilmore asked after the door shut.
"Gladly. I don't feel like hearing arguing right at the moment anyways," he replied and left.
After a while, Kazumi came out and sat next to him. "I see they found 009. And it's very quite tonight. How about a game?" he asked
"Sure." And they set out the game on the table between them and turned their chairs so they faced each other. "I have 008 making sure they don't fight so 009 can rest," Gilmore said when they had finished setting up.
"That's good. Do you know how it happened," Kazumi asked as they started playing.
"Kind of. I don't know many details. We'll just have to wait for them to explain at dinner or breakfast." When they were in the middle of their sixth game, they saw the others coming.
"Ah. Hear they come, my friend," Kazumi announced.
As they come closer, Gilmore got up and greeted them. "Good to see you, my dear," he said to Françoise, and to all of them said, "009's fine and sleeping on the couch so I want you keep it down tonight. 006 and 007 seem to be doing a good job so I expect you to as well. Yes you can check on him, 003. Then I suggest that you get some sleep too. If you want to get something to eat, that's fine." When they walked into the house the others greeted Françoise. When she was able to escape, she went to check on Joe. She smiled when she saw him. He had turned so that he was on his side with his back to the fire. She went over to his head. He mumbled something in his sleep. She giggled at him and left for bed since she had decided to skip dinner. She was glad to be back home.
The next morning Joe was the first to wake up. He got up yawning and stretching, then put the blankets in the dirty clothes, and went to take a shower. When he got out he waited until Chang came down to fix breakfast and went to help. Chang rejected at first but Joe convinced him that he was fine and then Chang agreed happily. By the time they were finished everyone but 002 was down. Joe went to go get him. After a minute they heard a yell and then a bunch of shouting. All of a sudden Joe came running down trying to hide his laughing behind a hand. The others looked at him confused and while the shouting continued on. Joe was leaning against a wall laughing so hard he was practically doubled over. When he got control of himself he explained to the others, "He wouldn't get up. So I threw some cold water on him. You should have seen his face! It was priceless!" Everyone burst out laughing or giggling. Those that had done the same thing before were laughing the hardest. By the time the laughing had all settled down and Joe had taken his place, Jet came down stairs grumbling loudly. Everyone ate. "It's good to have you two back," Ivan said. And every thing went back to normal.
As normal could be for them that is.
The End
