Dark Days

Chapter 26

In the last chapter, the squad of the PSA agents discovered what Frost was up to after a meeting that was delayed by an argument between Frost and Seaweed which resulted in Seaweed being fired from the EPF. Rico and the squad found out Frost would be at the Puffle Hotel - their next stop. As they got there, they discovered that Frost was upstairs. As they reached the rooftop, there was no sign of Frost - only a bomb that was about to go off.

"What do you mean it is about to blow?" asked Candence.

"There is a bomb up here," Rico said.

That did it. The others raced to the edge of the rooftop.

"Wait, why don't we just use the cannon to the Cloud Forest?" asked Emrys.

"And then jump off the cloud fifty-thousand flippers back to the island? We're better off jumping just fifty!" Rico said.

"Good point," Emrys rejoined the group back at the edge. They all looked down.

Rico noticed the bomb beeps got louder - a sign that it was about to go off.

"Alright," Rico said. "I hope you were all prepared for something like this," He grabbed hold of a pull string on his Glacier Suit.

"I think I was..." said Dalekcaan.

"We all were," Icetail retorted.

"Oh yes," Dalekcaan was reminded of what to do in these situations.

The squad jumped off of the building and quickly pulled the pull strings attached to their agent outfits which deployed a parachute to break their fall.

They all reached the ground safely.

"Well that was a close one," said Bellykid.

"Must I remind you that the bomb hasn't gone off yet?" asked Jay.

"Oh right..." Bellykid said.

The squad remained silent as they headed for the clump of trees that lay ahead of the Plaza. And just like that, the Puffle Hotel exploded.

The blast was minimal, but could've killed anyone inside. Thankfully, the hours of management weren't this late as no penguins were that over-achieving to work so late. Or to put that in minimal terms...they're too lazy.

Rico grabbed his EPF phone and radioed into the officials. "Blast at the Puffle Hotel. We need whatever we can get for help to repair and evacuate anyone around."

"Well, it appears that we were tricked." Rico told the others.

"Tricked?" asked Bellykid.

"By Frost and his team of enemies," Rico replied.

"Oh," Bellykid replied.

"Well, here's the deal," Rico said, leading the others into the room where they could watch Jack's feed. "We are in dire need of a new plan."

"Of course," replied Icetail. "But what is our next plan? Despite what happens in most stories and situations when someone says it, a new plan isn't just going to fall from the sky,"

"Indeed," Rico said, opening the door. "But what I do know is that I thought of one the first time and I can think of another one,"

"But what about the fate of Jack, Rico?" asked Jay. "If we were tricked, then Frost must've found out what is going on and perhaps has done something to him."

"Indeed," Rico said. "And that's what I'd like to find out,"

They entered the room where they could watch the live feed and waddled over to the chairs and sat down. Rico brought the feed up on the screen and the screen was dark. It was still live but it was dark. You could hear voices in the background.

"And just why did you think this plan would work?" asked a familiar voice. Rico quickly identified the voice as Frost. But who was we talking to?

"Jack?" Rico yelled at the screen.

No reply.

This was bad.

"I thought it would help," Jack replied to Frost. "I didn't think it'd fail! Rico is a smart penguin and is barely ever wrong on most things! I'm sorry...!"

"Sorry isn't acceptable and doesn't undo the damage that is done," replied Frost.

"Frost, I hear voices from the microphone. It appears these agents have discovered what is going on," yelled Herbert.

"Bring the camera back up and show them what's going on. I'm sure they'll be surprised!" Frost said.

The screen now showed Frost and a bunch of goons in a room with Jack in the center of them tied to a chair.

"Why hello there, agents," Frost said into the camera. He couldn't see what was going on at Rico's igloo, only hear.

"Frost!" yelled Rico. "What are you doing? Why have you apprehended my colleague?"

"Like you have to ask?" asked Frost. He laughed. "I knew from the start Jack was a ruse," Frost said.

"You did?" asked Emrys.

"Of course," Frost replied. He smirked. "I'm not stupid. You wonder why I put him on the main team of enemies now, eh? All because I wanted it to appear that the plan was going to work. In reality, it was bound to fail."

"Of course it was," Rico said to himself. "Frost, whatever you do, just don't. I prefer that you don't harm my friend in any way, rather you harm just me or yourself,"

"It isn't that easy, Rico," replied Frost. "If you don't want anyone you care about harmed, then you shouldn't try to harm me or my team. And even better - you should just surrender,"

"We're never going to surrender," replied Candence. "Never!"

"We all say things we don't mean," replied Frost.

"Well I mean it. And I'm sure everyone else here does!" Candence retorted.

"Sure," Frost replied. "I've got work to do. It's called the process of interrogation. And now you can sit back and watch it. I'm sure you'll enjoy it,"

Frost turned off the microphone.

"Guys, write down every aspect of the background. Right now." Rico yelled.

"What?" asked Dalekcaan.

"If we write down the background and get images of it, it'll help us later of where they may be!"

"Ohhhh!"

They all grabbed paper and some grabbed cameras. They wrote down everything they saw in the background and listened.

"And what might you want now?" asked Jack.

"I'd like to know why you did this," Frost replied.

"To help Club Penguin. To help the PSA. To help Rico."

"The PSA?" asked Frost.

"Yes," replied Jack.

"Didn't they go boom several years back?" asked Frost.

"Yes, but...wait, what?"

"What?" asked Frost.

"I know you're a very good actor now, Frost," replied Jack. "But really? You have to act like you don't know what the PSA is?"

"I don't know what it is," Frost said.

"Very funny. You tried to bomb them earlier! The Penguin Special Agency! The agency full of special skilled penguins that track down the most dangerous criminals. They're higher than the EPF! Don't act like you've never heard of them before, Frost!"

"No!" yelled Rico, knowing no one on the other end could hear him.

"What is it, Rico?" asked Jamoy.

Rico started shaking his head and pounding his fist on the table.

"Herbert! Go look into this 'PSA', right now!" Frost said. "I've got a few tricks up my sleeve for them,"

Now Jack realized he had made a mistake. It was clear that Frost had no idea what the PSA was and now the secret was blown. Rico hadn't realized it either; no one had. Frost hadn't tried to bomb the PSA. He had miscalculated and dropped the bombs in the wrong area. It bombed both areas.

Frost buttoned up his velvet blue coat and turned to leave.

"Wait, boss, what do you want us to do with 'im?" asked a goon.

"Ah, yes," Frost smirked. "Kill him. Get rid of him. And make sure the others see. That'll teach them not to mess with the Killer," He laughed evilly and the goons turned to Jack.

In Rico's igloo, Rico kept a staring gaze on the screen with thoughts going through his mind. He saw what was going on but wasn't paying attention. The others covered their eyes as Jack was killed right before them. Rico just stared as the visions entered his mind. And before it was over, Frost came on the screen and whispered something.

"Where the water flows,

Cadence will know,

And where the eight and the nine meet,

is where Dot will be complete.

Two hours left.

Go now."