Sorry for my bad English.
Third chapter and I must say, it is going better than the fanfiction focused on their school days. I might get the idea where I am doing wrong with their original story. But enough chit chat.
To the fic!
-Ryan, are you cooking chicken in milk? -Koro asked his partner.
-I know what I'm doing. -Ryan answered while cooking their dinner.
The night has come and they decide to start the expedition on the next day, knowing that could be dangerous to travel through the desert at night.
They sat a camp near the professor's fallen vehicle, which he insisted to fix. They made a bonfire and were cooking their dinner, which was always an adventure for one of the members of the team.
You see, Ryan has a small phobia of fire, so each time he started to cook something for their teammates, he always was wary about the type of fire he was dealing with it. So there he was again, high alert as he used a spoon to stir the milk in the pot, looking like he was waiting for the fire itself to jump on him.
Sally did her best to stifle the small laugh from escaping her lips as she watches her gunslinger teammate cooking. She knew it was cruel but was hard not to laugh.
To not start to laugh at Ryan's fear, she put her focus on Professor Papyrus, who still was trying to fix his automobile.
-Professor, don't you think it is time to allow your vehicle to rest in peace?
-Nonsense! -Papyrus exclaimed. -This is merely an inconvenience. Tomorrow morning, my automobile will run as it used to, just you wait!
The brunette could only let out a sigh at the professor's persistence.
-Sally. -She hears her partner call for her and sees Unicorn walking towards her while holding a bowl. Whatever it was, it smelled delicious. -Dinner.
Sally thanked her partner and took the bowl from her hands.
-What it is? -Sally asked. -I heard Koro talking about chicken and milk.
-Chicken and milk stew. -Unicorn plainly answered, sounding excited as a member of a jury.
Sally took some with the spoon and put it in her mouth, then hummed.
-It is delicious! -The brunette spoke with glee. -Professor, would you like some?
-In a minute dear. -Papyrus answered. -I just need to connect those wires and then...
Before Papyrus could finish his explanation, Unicorn made a sign to Sally to them take a step away. The moment after they did that, another smokescreen came from the motor and coated the professor's face with soot.
The old man turns his attention to the young ladies and opened his mouth to speak, but only a cough followed by more soot came from his throat.
-You want to dinner now? -Sally asked.
-A break from my work on my automobile may be what I need to discover what to do. -Papyrus spoke and went to join the teenagers.
None of them notices Unicorn looking at the car, before joining her teammates and Papyrus.
The morning came with the team taking turns to keep guard.
Suddenly the team awoke from the cries of joy from Papyrus.
-It is alive! -He shouts while leaping like a rabbit. -It is alive!
-What is alive, professor? -Koro asked. -Your mustache?
-My auto-mobile! It is alive!
-Really? -Koro asked. -Here I thought about buring it on the sand to give it a worthy burial.
Sally also could not believe it. After spending most of the time trying to fix his auto-mobile, she also thought it to be a lost cause. Yet, there it was the automobile, the motor alive and running.
Then, a theory comes to the brunette's mind as she turns to her partner.
Unicorn was a little far from the group, sitting on a rock while playing her guitar with the volume down to not awake her teammates and not call for attention. Sally notices by Unicorn's side some tools and the rock girl's hand were covered in grease.
Unicorn already shows in the academy time and time again that she knows her way around electronics and mechanics, so it is not so hard to think that she is the reason why the car was running again.
-Everyone on board! -Papyrus called. -We have a lot of sand to travel!
-Professor, would you not like to have breakfast first? -Sally asked.
-After breakfast! -Papyrus loudly stated before turning off his car.
-So, whatever we have for breakfast? -Koro asked.
-Whatever you did not eat yesterday. -Ryan answered while checking on his bag.
As they prepared for their first meal of the day, Sally turns to the professor.
-So professor, how do you intend to look for the missing tomb?
-I will use the ultimate piece of technology for exploration in the sand, a Desert Submarine.
...
...
...
The team looked at the archeologist like he grew a second head.
-Aaahh! -Then Ryan's scream makes everyone focus on him as he is covered in fear from the fire.
-Ryan, I could have started the bonfire, you know? -Koro asked as Sally turns back to the professor.
-Professor, did you say a... Desert Submarine? -Sally couldn't help but ask.
-Yes. It is a splendid piece of modern technology. It uses vibration technology. -If Papyrus was not so focused on his explanation, he would have noticed Koro chuckling. -This technology vibrates the machine at a small level to the point where only someone with a sharp touch sense can notice. It opens a path through the sand, quickly pulling apart to make way for the submarine to travel underground! With its latest generation infrared, looking for the ruins of the emperor Thantan-Ka will sure be no problem!
After the small explanation, the team saw some sense in his words. If this vibration technology can be used to make a path through the sand and not affect the passengers, the mission may be easier than they thought.
Except for one detail.
Before entering the room of the hotel where the professor was staying, they all noticed a small submarine in the parking lot. At first, they did not know what got into someone to bring a submarine to the desert but after the explanation professor Papyrus gave, the team put two and two together.
-Professor, did you leave the submarine in the parking lot? -Koro asked.
-Precisely.
-The same parking lot where was parked your car?
-Yes.
-The same submarine we left behind the moment you drove your car to the desert?
...
...
...
##
Far from where the team and the professor were, travelers heard a scream of despair, and could only wonder what caused such a scream.
-Ok, ok. No panic! No panic. -Papyrus began as he turns from left to right. -I SAID NO PANIC!
-Professor, calm down. -Sally tried to take the old man back to his senses. -It is not so bad.
-It is BAD! -Papyrus began. -The submarine was my trump card to find the missing tomb and now, I left it alone where thieves and mulligans can easily steal and sell the parts after being dismantled! That's why I am saying NO PANIC!
-So, this somehow will make it impossible for us to have breakfast? -Koro asked.
-Koro! -Sally chastised her teammate.
-What? It is the most important meal of the day, isn't it? -He asked while holding a plate.
Sally just sighed and turns to her partner.
-Any ideas, Uni?
Unicorn first raised a hand, her finger also raised, and then... she fell backward unconscious.
-For the love of God, take off your leather jacket! -Koro shouts at the unconscious girl.
After finishing the breakfast and waking up Unicorn, they all gathered around the professor's car to plan.
-Ryan, couldn't you just chill on your back to locate those obelisks? -Koro asked.
-You know it does not work like that Koro. -Ryan answered. -Unless those obelisks are attacking me or something, my chill will not alert me to where they are.
-Professor, could you not just use some radar or something?
-I'm afraid it is not a possibility Ms. Highwind. -Papyrus answered. -the constant sandstorms coupled with the sand size electric dust makes impossible the use of radars on this desert. -Papyrus commented as he turned away from the group with his arms on his back. -This is why the Desert Submarine was my trump card to find the tomb.
-And here is this stupid tomb. -Koro sarcastically commented.
-How do you know it is in this desert in the first place? -Sally asked.
-My researches revealed to me that Thantan-Ka's followers were more frequently seen in this area of the desert. -Papyrus answered and turn back to the team. -They used a special route through the desert in order to bring the offerings to Thantan-Ka.
-So why don't we just try to discover the path his followers used? -Sally suggested.
-And how do you suggest we do that? -Ryan asked.
-It's simple. -Sally began. -Perhaps somewhere in the sand must have a remnant of their ways of transportation.
-They what? -Koro asked.
-The vehicles they used to transport their food. -Ryan explained.
-And why didn't she just say that? -Koro asked but Sally just ignored him and continued her explanation.
-I once read that most of the relics found have more stories to tell than the very people who lived at the same age as the relic. We just need to find any leftover from the times of the emperor and give a look at whatever we can find to search for some clues.
-Well, -Papyrus began. -I have nothing to lose since I lost my submarine. I say we give it a try.
-And how do we do that? -Koro asked.
-Just follow my lead. -Ryan answered him and stood at the top of the rock Unicorn was on the morning.
He then, for his teammates' confusion, began to wave his arms as if he was going to swim. Before anyone could ask what he was doing, he literally took a dive in the sand! His friends and Dr. Papyrus watched with their eyes full of surprise as Ryan was diving in the sand, digging at fast peace.
-Okay, I get it. -Koro said and jump in the air.
In midair, he began to rotate, creating a small tornado and using his body like a drill to dig the sand.
-I'm surprised how multipurpose those two can be. -Sally commented with a smile.
Now all they have to do is look around as they could for any clue left centuries ago, and wonder what they could possibly find.
End of the chapter.
What they could possibly find in order to help them find the tomb of Thantan-Ka. Only time will tell.
See you next chapter.