The Storm(Chapter 2)

Story by Nicole Badger on SoFurry

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#3 of Club Penguin

To view the rest of this work visit Archive of Our Own and type TheBookWriter in the search bar. You'll find this fanfic along with others I've written.


The following day, Aunt Arctic called a press conference at the Club Penguin Times to inform the island of the coming disaster. Within hours of its announcement, reporters and concerned citizens had crammed themselves into the Coffee Shop. The reporters were directed upstairs to the meeting by the EPF security guards, while the citizens sat nervously chatting to one another on the couches and chairs provided, accepting the mugs of coffee and hot chocolate that the Coffee Shop staff offered them.

Outside the Coffee Shop, yet more penguins were gathered, with some peering in through the Coffee Shop windows. Set up in front of the Night Club was a large projector, with another inside the Lighthouse and another set up inside the Pizza Parlor. Here too, penguins had gathered in large numbers, while those who remained at home with their families would also be able to view the press conference on their own television sets. As the island waited for the press conference to begin, they all asked each other questions: I wonder why they've called a press conference- Dunno. Must be important- Yeah. Have to wonder though, maybe it's something bad? Those EPF lot seem awful solemn today- Guess we'll have to wait and see- Yeah. I just hope it doesn't take long. I've got work to do in the Mines after this, one of the tunnels has collapsed. Crazy stuff- Shh! Look! It's starting!

Almost as one, each penguin on the island stopped what he or she were doing and looked at their screens. For a few seconds, all that was shown on screen was a countdown from five, then there was a burst of static, and then Aunt Arctic was on screen, sitting at a table spread with a blue tablecloth, a pile of papers stacked neatly at her left elbow. She began by politely greeting her audience, before somberly informing them all of the terrible tsunami that would soon strike the island. The statement was meant with gasps of fear and dismay, and the reporters were quick to ask questions. During it all, Aunt Arctic remained calm and serious, stating that while the damage would be catastrophic, it was thanks to the island's elite team of scientists and researchers that they were now aware of the threat and could prepare for it.

"Yes, it will be terrible," Aunt Arctic said. "It may even be the worst disaster this island has faced, but I can assure you that all will be well so long as we do what we have always done: Look out for one another. Simply pack what you need and be ready to move inland as soon as possible."

More questions followed, with the press conference lasting well into the afternoon. When at last all question had been asked and it seemed the island's citizens were sufficiently reassured and calm, Aunt Arctic brought the meeting to a close. As soon as the conference was over, each of the island's citizens went home ans began to pack the essentials they'd need while staying in the designated safe areas. The EPF agents hurried to get started on their assigned duties, whether it was directing penguins to their designated safe zones, helping to move food stores to secure locations, or helping penguins to evacuate their homes quickly. Jet Pack Guy found Rory the construction crew chief, and together they began the long process of enlarging and sealing tunnels so that penguins and food supplies alike could get inland fast. As they did so, Rory muttered continuously under his breath, saying how there was far too much blooming ocean and how it should have blooming learned to behave itself years ago.

Jet Pack Guy said nothing. To Rory and other penguins who saw him that day, he appeared just the same as always: Silent and and serious. However, what they couldn't see was the worry that was perfectly hidden behind those trademark dark shades. The island faced its worst threat in history, and for the first time, Jet Pack Guy was scared. Defending the island from Herbert and some crazy robots and super villains was one thing, but this was was another matter entirely. Lives were at stake now, and there was a high probability that some on the island would perish before this was over.

That was the part that really got to him, Jet Pack Guy realized. He didn't want to lose any of his friends after all they'd been through together and the good times they'd had. Sledding with Ace...helping Gary with inventions or experiments...hanging out with Dot and the others at the Coffee Shop...pulling pranks with Rookie on April Fool's Day, going out for sandwiches afterward...

Wait. What? Jet Pack Guy stopped walking for a moment, perplexed with himself. Had he seriously just been daydreaming? About Rookie of all penguins?

Rory, who had continued walking, stopped when he realized Jet Pack Guy was no longer beside him. Turning towards him, Rory raised an eyebrow.

"Oi, buddy, you okay?" he said.

Jet Pack Guy nodded. "Sorry," he said as he rejoined Rory in their walk. "I should be staying focused."

Rory glanced sideways at him as they walked. "Mate, you don't need to act so tough all the time. No one'd blame ya for feeling overwhelmed. Frankly I don't know how ya manage it all to begin with."

Jet Pack Guy nodded. "I know. I mean, stopping that half-mad bear and everything else? Okay, I can handle. But this is just crazy. I didn't think we'd ever have to face something like this."

"Aye," agreed Rory. "This is one ripe pickle we're in, yeah? But somehow I think Aunt Arctic is right. We'll get through this somehow. We always do."

"Let's hope so."