Dark Days

Chapter 11:

In the last chapter, Rico went to save Cadence. He learned that she had been an EPF agent before but quit after she realized that she let her work get ahead of her and never did anything 'fun'. Jet Pack Guy, Dot, Rookie, and the bomb squad came in to disarm the bomb. At the end of the chapter, Rico realized that a bomb, controlled by the Killer, was on Rico.

"Whoa, whoa, what?" Rookie said. "The bomb?"

Rico glanced over at the bomb that the bomb squad had previously disarmed. Something didn't seem right. He ran over to it and grabbed it from one of the bomb squad member's hands.

"Eh –"

"Hold on," Rico interrupted the squad member. He looked at it. From the looks of it and based off what Jet Pack Guy had told him once, he could tell it was fake. He gave it back. "It's fake,"

"What?" the squad member said, confused.

"The bomb is fake." He turned around. "And this one," he pointed to the giant bomb on his back. "…is real,"

"Whoa!" the squad member yelled. "Everyone out. We've got an active button-controlled bomb!"

"Shut your face," Rico said to the bomb squad member. "No one needs to leave. Get the chief over here,"

"Okay," the bomb squad member went to go get his chief. Through the dark window, Rico spotted something in the igloo next door.

There was a penguin with an evil grin on their face. They were holding up a giant remote control with a giant red button on it. It was the Killer, which was expected.

"No," Rico said in anger. He wanted to dart next door and kill him, but he knew somehow that any bad moves and the bomb would detonate.

"Yes?" said the chief of the bomb squad.

"I've got a bomb on my back and…" he said. "You need to remove it and stop it before it goes off,"

"How much time is left?" asked the chief. His name was Tim.

"It's not timed," Rico turned around.

"Great," Tim said. "There's a problem there. You can't remove the bomb,"

"What? Why?" Rico hadn't been very alarmed until he heard that.

"It's controlled by a remote. However, we can find and destroy the remote. The bombs have a chip in them that can tell us where the remote is," Tim said.

Rico thought about it and suddenly feared about what the Killer would do if he agreed.

"No," Rico said quickly.

"What? Are you crazy?" Tim asked, shocked.

"I-I have my reasons," Rico said. He turned back to his squad.

"Boss, we gotta get that bomb off of you," Jet Pack Guy said.

"It could go off whenever the controller decides," Dot said.

"We can't have you go boom!" Rookie exclaimed.

"No, we can't," Rico said.

"What?" asked the others.

"We're not going to remove it right now because we can't,"

"Boss, are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. If we remove this bomb, it will blow,"

"And why is that?" asked Dot in a sarcastic voice.

"I'm being sabotaged," Rico explained. "I saw him…"

"Who?" asked Rookie.

"The Killer," Rico said in a whispered tone. "He was next door, holding up his remote control like it was a Penguin Play Award,"

"But he wasn't in any plays," Rookie said.

"For all we know, this could be the Stage's next production," Jet Pack Guy said. "It could be a trilogy and then a sequel to that trilogy,"

"Yeah, that sounds fantastic," Dot said sarcastically. "I'd love to see reenactments of penguins getting murdered and all that,"

"I know, right?" Jet Pack Guy said, not realizing the sarcasm.

"I hope they include all of the trivial details," Rico said.

"Like when you explode!" Rookie said happily. His emotion suddenly changed back to serious when the others looked at him.

"What makes you say I'm going to explode?" asked Rico with wide eyes under his 3-D Glasses.

"Uh, I uh…" Rookie said. "EGG ROLLS."
Rico rolled his eyes. "Look, I'm being sabotaged and if I do anything he doesn't like, he'll press the button," Rico said, changing the subject back to the bomb.

"Then we'll have to plan an attack to get into wherever he is and stop him," Jet Pack Guy pulled out his gun.

"Put it away," Rico said, rolling his eyes. "You're not going to do that. He sees our every move. He'll blow me up because of anyone doing something he doesn't like."

"So, basically, he's becoming a dictator?"

"No, because I won't let him," Rico said.

"Why's that?"

"I'm going to turn myself in and surrender myself."

"What? No you aren't!" Dot said.

"One penguin's death over the entire island's? That's something I'd rather have happen. I'm sorry," Rico said.

"No, boss, you're not doing that," Jet Pack Guy said. He started to get angered. "You're playing into what he wants you to do! Don't do it!"

"I have to, Jet Pack Guy. Look at it. We're only a few days in and he's already got me to the point where I think it is time to surrender!" Rico said.

"Can…can you at least go home and think about it?" Jet Pack Guy finally said.

"Alright, fine," Rico agreed.

"Keep your phone with you in case there is anything to report," Jet Pack Guy said.

"Alright, alright, okay." Rico said. "See ya later," he headed off to his igloo.

Rico entered his igloo and had his gun handy in case there was someone in there. After scanning every square inch, he put his gun away after deeming it was safe. He went to his couch and turned on the TV. He was contemplating over whether to do what he had planned on doing or not. It would be best for the EPF. But he was sure that the Killer would have more bombs and trap more places to cause this so that the EPF would surrender.

"He's smart," Rico said to himself. "If we won't surrender, he'll make us. That's putting the meaning into place, if you ask me." He stared at the TV. Nothing important was on.

"I know I am," said a voice that came from behind him.

Rico turned around and was startled to see the Killer standing there.

"Thank you for the kind compliments," he said, putting his phone away.

"What's with the…"

"Ah, voice recorder. Just wanted to keep that." The Killer said. "I've always wanted to hear you say that,"

"I've said it before," Rico said. "Haven't you been watching me?"

"No recorder handy," The Killer said. He cleared his throat and changed back to his serious tone.

"What're you doing here?" Rico asked.

"I just came to tell you what you need to know," the Killer said. "You see, I've got that bomb on you for a reason. You described the reason. Good job!"

"Yeah, well, you've got your wish. You're probably going to have me surrender," Rico dreaded it and didn't want to admit it. But he did.

"Yeah, I know," the Killer said. "Your squad doesn't want you to, but you are,"

"Before I go," Rico said. "Where are you going next?"

"What do you mean?" asked the Killer.

"Who are you going to attack next? What place are you going to attack next? What is going to happen next?"

"Ah," the Killer said. He sat down next to Rico. Rico did his best to scoot away. "I can't tell you any of that, y'see,"

"I'm going to die," Rico said. "Why not?"

"Alright, fine," the Killer said. "The Clothes Shop."

"What?"

"The Clothes Shop. Hot models everyday around there."

"And you want them dead?"

"Y'see, Herbert thought of this brilliant plan that made us kill all of the sexy penguins so that then, the island goes bland and then everyone leaves to look for more hotties," the Killer said. "Plus the rate of repr-"

"Whoa, whoa, don't say the second part," Rico said. "I know what you mean."

"Ah, well, good," the Killer said. "I couldn't believe that Herbert actually said that."

"Neither can I," Rico said. "But to be honest, that has to be the worst plan I've ever heard," Rico admitted.

"Yeah, it is, isn't it?" the Killer said. "But it's fun to do."

"What? You enjoy the explosions?" Rico asked, confused.

"Of course!" the Killer exclaimed. He lowered his voice. "You get all these bombs and you plant them. Who would've thought that all these things can be destroyed from something small like that? Anyhow, you plant them and stand back. Then you grab this little controller," the Killer pulled out his controller for Rico's bomb. "And then BOOM!" (he shouted 'boom!')

Rico was startled by the sudden shout of 'boom'. "How do you find joy in that?!" Rico said, shocked.

"The same way Jet Pack Guy does!" the Killer said, noting Jet Pack Guy's love for explosions, guns, and all that.

"Well, I hate to tell you this but that plan won't work," Rico said, angered.

"I know, but our other one will," the Killer said.

"No it won't," Rico said.

"Yes it –"

Rico punched the Killer across the face. The remote went flying across the floor. The Killer made an attempt to grab his beak. Rico punched him again and pulled out his gun. The Killer punched him back. The gun was sent flying through the air and then landed on a table in Rico's bed area. The Killer's beak was bleeding. He punched Rico and then darted over for the remote.

"Aha!" he yelled.

"Agh," Rico said, trying to relieve the pain. He rubbed his beak and noticed that the Killer was no longer on the couch. He looked to where the Killer now was.

"Haha," the Killer clutched the remote firmly and was ready to press it.

Rico knew he couldn't do anything about it. He just braced for impact and waited for the explosion. And then the explosion occurred.