Club Penguin: EPF: Outdone…
Chapter 10:
For starters, it appears you're all dying to know the password. It's nothing major, although I definitely could've made it major… ;)
We left off where the bombs were reset, the evacuations began and the agents failed at their work…but then Rico swam to the island and stopped the bomb with 2 seconds left.
"ALL BOMBS DEACTIVATED." That was the sound that Rico heard. He wanted to hear that, too. His wish came true. He had just saved the island from what appeared to be the end. A list of options came up. Rico didn't pay attention to them. Instead, he called the Director. The Director answered as soon as the call went through.
"Agent, what the hell did you just –"
"Director, I…I just…" Rico was shocked and out of breath. "I just deactivated…"
"You…You saved the island? What was the p – actually, nevermind…as soon as I get back, I am going to call an emergency meeting in my office for your squad," the Director said.
"Okay," Rico said, relieved. He hung up and watched as ice bergs came back to the island. Eventually, they were all there (they all arrived about thirty minutes later). Penguins returned to their igloos, the Pizza Parlor, the Clothes Shop, the Ski Lodge, you know the other stuff. Rico and his squad met up around the time things returned to normal thirty minutes later.
"What took you so long?" asked Rico.
"Sorry, commander. We had to help some of the officials unload the ice bergs…" Rookie explained.
"Whatever," Rico said. "We just have to go to the Director's office. She'd like to speak to us and commemorate us, I guess…"
"Alright," Dot said.
"Hey, boss, just curious…what did you enter as the password?" asked Jet Pack Guy.
"That'll be explained at the meeting," Rico smirked.
1 minute later, at the Command Room…
"Where's the Director's office?" asked Toasty. She hadn't been down here in a long time (I'm not referring to the time she was hired to this case). In fact, it'd been the second time she had been down here since the Command Room was redesigned (If you're wondering, when Rico quit the EPF, it had the current design. However, when he returned, it had been completely remodeled with offices and stuff…). The first was when Rico reluctantly called her there.
"This way," Rico led the way.
"This may be just my opinion, but," Jet Pack Guy tried pushing past the crowds of careless agents. "Don't you think they should expand the hallway a bit?"
"I agree with that a lot," Rico said.
"Yeah, well, let's propose that to the Director," Rookie said.
Rico and the others arrived at the Director's office. He knocked on her door. She let them in. He opened the door and the agents piled into the room.
"Take a seat," she said.
Rico had an utterly bad feeling about this. They weren't usually asked to 'take a seat'. The five of them all sat down around the screen that had the censored Director's face. Silence overcame the room for about two minutes. They all stared at each other and then looked at each other, wanting each other to be the first to speak. The Director was able to see this easily through her screen of the room.
"I see you are all wondering why you are here," the Director said.
"Uh, yes – that's…that's exactly why…" Rookie piped up.
"Well," the Director replied. "There are a few things we need to discuss,"
Rico looked grim. He knew that it may get better and worse.
"For starters," the Director started. "What was the password? How did you think of it?"
"Let me say this to start," Rico explained. He stood up. "I'm not sure how I didn't think of this sooner,"
The squad and Toasty were on the edge of their seats. They didn't know what he meant. It could be anything.
"Let me guess," Jet Pack Guy said. "It was 'Frost'?"
"No," Rico said. "But that sounds interesting..."
"What was the password?" the Director repeated herself.
"The password was simply something that we discovered earlier in the case…FMJBT. Don't ask me how we missed that…" Rico answered.
The others were shocked. They forgot about a crucial part of the case.
"How on the island did I forget that?" asked Toasty. "I'm the one who played a crucial role in that area of the case!"
"Well, now that the bombs are deactivated, I have some officials from the Penguin Special Agency that will remove the bombs by air. The holes will be filled with snow…apparently, we found a lot a few months ago in the Gadget Room. Gary had been saving it. What for, we don't know. That'll be a new case we'll have to investigate sometime," the Director replied. "And speaking of you, Toasty…"
Rico gulped. With her in the squad, things were sure to get worse. What was the Director going to say – the eternal question.
"Before you continue," Toasty stood up to interrupt. "If you're considering putting me in charge of the squad permanently…I do not want the job…"
"That's…that's exactly what I was…uh, going to ask," the Director replied, shocked by the answer.
"Director, would you excuse me for just a second?" asked Rico. Without an answer, he grabbed Toasty by the arm and took her out of the office. He shut the door behind them.
"Toasty, what the heck did you just do?!" asked Rico. "A job like that? It comes around once in a lifetime!"
"Well, yes, but don't you realize it? You're the one for that job. You're the one who did everything for it! I came in here, thinking I was cool, and stole it from you. It's time to do what is right – give it back to you." Toasty said.
"Are you serious?!" asked Rico. "I'd be honored to have a job like that!"
"You do," she replied. "And if it is rightfully someone else's, then it is theirs. You and I both know, deep down in your…whatever you have in place of your heart…that you'd give the job to the penguin that deserved it."
Rico thought about it for a minute. "Well, if that's what you…"
"And besides," she grasped the sides of her agent suit. "I'm done with the EPF anyway. Remember when I quit? I did it because I didn't think I'd find being on the case and such very fun…"
"Yeah, but…look at them," Rico said, looking in through a small window that looked in the office. Inside, Rookie, Dot, and Jet Pack Guy were laughing at something. "Don't you see it? They're having fun. You'll have fun. We're a fun squad,"
"I'm just going to lay off the EPF for now," Toasty replied.
"Alright," Rico said, shocked. "Let's go," They headed back into the Director's office and sat down.
"Uh…where were we?" Toasty broke the silence that overcame the room when they entered.
"We left off where you turned down my offer," the Director said.
"Is it just me or have I heard the words, 'We left off where', a lot before?" Rookie said, feeling some déjà vu.
"Uh, yeah…I guess…" Dot said, playing along. It was Rookie, after all, and he didn't always make the most sense.
"So anyhow," the Director said. "There is one other matter that we need to talk about,"
"And that is?" JPG asked, impatiently.
"What's wrong, Jet Pack Guy, you have a bus to catch?" asked Rico, smirking.
"No, a jetpack, actually," he said sarcastically.
"Rico, something has been brought to my attention. A situation that needs serious matter." The Director said.
Rico raised an eyebrow that he didn't have. He didn't know where she was going with this and what it would bring.
"Thanks to an anonymous source, I have been hearing that you were 'hanging out' with the number one criminal of the WANTED list…" the Director said.
Rico's eyes grew wide. He had no idea who told her, but whoever did was going to get it…big time.
"Is this true?" asked the Director.
Yes, Rookie and Dot knew about it. Jet Pack Guy didn't. Toasty didn't. That meant it was one of the two. He didn't focus on that right then. He knew that he had to be honest when he spoke to his boss. That's why he didn't lie.
"Director, I'm not going to lie to you," Rico admitted. "Henry and I have been talking to each other and stuff. We're friends."
"That's interesting," the Director replied.
"He has helped me through the toughest of the tough, such as when I had to face the Killer. I am a loyal penguin, you see, and that is why I didn't want to rat him out. I deserve whatever consequences you give me," Rico said.
"There are no consequences," the Director said, shocking everyone in the room.
"What? Why?" Rico asked, confused.
"As you may know, Henry, as I said before, has been at the top of the WANTED list since the 2008 revision," the Director said. "We've been trying to catch him for several years now. He's never stopped for anyone – anyone except for you."
Rico didn't know where she was going with this.
"Being a friend of his, this opens up newer strategies and tasks for the case when trying to catch him," the Director continued. "We can easily get through to him using you, much like what we did here with Chill and Toasty, except, it wasn't very much the same."
"So, what you're basically saying is," Rico paused. "We're going to use me to get to Henry?"
"Yes," the Director said. "I believe that we have a chance at catching the number one thief on the island. You've opened up a whole new experience to the case,"
"Well," Rico said. "I mean, I guess…" he didn't know what to say.
"We'll begin with that soon. As for now, there are no new cases for you to investigate. You've worked hard today, agents. As always, you've saved the island or any threats to it whatsoever. Thank you again for your hard work. I will be sure to call you next time something like this happens…" the Director said.
"Thank you, Director," JPG replied.
"It's been a tough day. You all need to get some rest. You've been on the case for two days now. It's the middle of the night. You need some sleep. I won't have any new cases for you for a while. You need all the rest you can get. You were resourceful, remarkable and ready." The Director said. "Goodbye for now," her screen went black and she was gone.
"Well, what do we do now?" asked Rookie.
"I'm going to the office," Rico said.
"I'll follow," Dot replied.
Thirty seconds later…at Squad No. 1's office…
"Now what?" asked Rookie as they entered the office.
"Rookie, you don't have to keep asking what happens next," Rico rolled his eyes, as did Toasty.
"Today was a tough day," Dot said.
"Yeah, but, once again, we were there to save the day," JPG said.
"I'm headed home, screw this," Rookie said. "GOOD NIGHT, COMMANDER!" he yelled as he left the office, into the hallways of the Command Room.
"I think I am, too…" Dot said. She waved as she left. "See you later, chief,"
"I will leave you two alone to talk, I guess," JPG replied, not knowing what to do. "Uh, good night, boss…"
Rico nodded. The three were now gone, leaving just him and Toasty.
"Are you sure you want to leave the squad?" Rico said when he was sure they were all gone.
"Yes, yes, I'm sure," Toasty replied. "There's no reason for me here."
"Yes, but, we could use you," Rico said.
"Your squad is great and all," Toasty said. "But that Rookie…let me tell you…he's just…like, in love with me or something,"
"Are you in love with him?" Rico smirked playfully.
"No, I've got my eyes set on that Henry guy…" she said. "He reminds me of someone I saw on TV."
"Funny, that's the same thing that I think," Rico said.
"Well, I better get going," Toasty replied.
"Why so soon?" Rico asked.
"I've got to go home. It's the middle of the night. It's almost 4…I think…" she said, looking for a clock. "I'll be asleep until 7pm tomorrow, how much do you want to bet?"
"Yeah," Rico laughed. "Well uh, I guess,"
"Hey, if you need me for any other case," Toasty said. "I'm available. I'm an igloo-penguin. I don't do anything but sit in my igloo, which definitely means I'm always available."
"Well," Rico said. "I'll uh, I'll be sure to call you if there's anything we uh, need your help for,"
Toasty nodded. "See you soon," she headed for the door.
"Yeah…you too…" Rico nodded. He began to realize maybe his sister wasn't as bad as he thought. He didn't care about the past. What she had done – turning down the once in a lifetime request – made him see a different side of her. He realized she was his sister. She was his sister, not a complete stranger. She wasn't there to outdo him in everything. She was there to help. And that is just what she did.
10 minutes later…at the door step of Toasty's igloo…
Toasty had the keys to her igloo out. She had arrived at her igloo tired. She couldn't wait to get inside. She put the key in the lock and was about to turn when a shadow came out of nowhere.
"Toasty," said the voice of the shadow. They stood up and revealed their self. It was Chill!
"Chill? W-what the hell are you doing here? Aren't you in jail?" asked Toasty, shocked. She let go of the keys and turned to Chill.
"I can't believe what you did, Toasty…" Chill said. "You helped the enemy…"
"Enemy?" laughed Toasty. "My brother? He may seem an enemy to me figuratively – but physically, he's…"
"Shut the hell up," Chill interrupted.
"It was him who figured it out. But if you're going to hurt someone, he's not going to be the one for it," Toasty said, defensively.
Let's take it back to that time at the Command Room…
Rico put on his blue duffle coat. He was about to leave the place for the night. He closed and locked the door to the office behind him.
"Hey, Rico, how's it going my friend?" asked a colleague of Rico's. He worked the night-shift with a bunch of other agents for the EPF. Rico didn't get to see him often.
"I'm doin' fine, Snow…how about you? Anything important that you are doing here?" Rico asked, starting a conversation.
"Ah, yes, actually," Snow replied. He was drinking some coffee. "We've got a few agents running around the island. Apparently, there was a prisoner escape from the prison facility,"
Rico raised an eyebrow that he didn't have. "What do you mean someone escaped?"
"Someone escaped from their cell and the facility. We have agents on the case," Snow replied. He took a sip of coffee.
"What's their name? Are they dangerous?" Rico asked.
"Let me look at the file," Snow waddled over to the main desk and grabbed it. He read over it as Rico joined him. "It appears their name is…Chill…?" Snow read.
Rico's eyes widened. "Oh my god…" he said in a slow voice. "This…this is…"
"What?" Snow said.
"Snow, I'm sorry but I have to leave," Rico said.
"It's okay, I know your need your rest," Snow joked.
"I'll…I'll see you later!" Rico ran towards the elevator.
Meanwhile…at the door step of Toasty's igloo…
"You chose not to help us, that's your fault. You chose to help that scumbag of a brother," Chill said. She now had a gun in her hand, pointed at Toasty.
"It's quite a shame," Toasty said. "You never should've become a criminal. You can change that. It's never too late for that,"
"I don't have time for your annoying talk; I've got to get going. I have to get back to the prison before they learn I'm gone," Chill said.
"You just don't get it? I'm helping someone that I care for. You should try it to…oh wait, you can't. You've killed everyone in your family." Toasty said.
"I don't care," Chill said.
"Whatever, get going," Toasty turned back to the keys and was about to open the door.
"I am," Chill paused. "I'm sorry, Toasty…" she pulled the trigger. The bullet exited the gun and went into Toasty as Chill left.
So that's the end of the story. There is no epilogue. This isn't a two-part story. My next story, which I'm real happy about, will NOT be a sequel to this, although Toasty will be in it.
So, tell me what you think. I'll have something that is a continuation of this story AFTER my next story. If you're wondering why, well, you'll learn soon…maybe.