Chapter 18
The cruise took about 10 days. Nobody had anything to complain about, though. Andy was able to go and do some activities around the ship, Claire caught up on doing some rest, West was able to do some research about their destination, and Josh was Josh. He didn't really interact with them or anyone. They also looked outside the window from time to time to see the ocean.
When they got there, it was indeed cold, but that shouldn't be much of a surprise. The ship docked in a port, and Passengers were allowed to come out and walk about the place.
"We'll be departing five days from now. If you wish to stay in a cabin outside of the ship, please talk to someone who knows. Make sure you come back on the boat on time, or you may be left behind."
The announcer went on about not disturbing the local wildlife and other rules, but the gang didn't mind that. Their plan was to stay on the cruise and have their in-ship cabin be their base of operation. West got a copy of the Antarctic map, and started making plans.
"Alright, so we only have five days to get the gear in this area. So, I suggest that me and Andy go fist towards the center. Once we've lost track of humans and cameras, we can return to being Pokemon. Once we've located the Gear, we'll mark it on the map, and then all of us can run right to the area."
After agreeing, Andy and West slipped on the rings and left the cabin. They began their trek on the Antarctic soil, and started walking forward. While they were walking, Andy kept checking the Gear charm for any reactions to the area. When they came out of contact with all human civilization, they took off their rings, and continued walking.
They walked on until Andy and West found it difficult to walk due to the cold. All that time Andy did not see any reaction from his Gear. When they returned to the cabin, they checked off all the places they checked.
"Alright, after all that walking, the only places I could think to check are the South Pole and the Pole of Inaccessibility."
"Pole of what?" Claire gasped in surprise. "That's a thing?"
"Yep. And as the name suggests, it is inaccessible."
The next day they returned to their search, this time with Andy and Claire. They went away from where he and West went last time, and explored some more. Again, Andy did not find any reaction.
When the time they went back to the ship on the first day rolled around, Claire did not want to go back just yet. Andy, too, wanted to stay out longer, so they kept walking.
Wait a second, why...why am I so warm suddenly?
At first Andy believed that this was the final stage of hypothermia he learned in Boy Scouts, but when it didn't get worse, nor had any limbs turned purple, he looked down.
The Gear is reacting to something!
Andy pulled Claire's attention to the charm. Since they were already not wearing their rings after going out of range, Andy checked the Aura. Sure enough, a flow of pure green energy was flowing into the Gear. He followed the path into the distant horizon, moving side to side to see the path.
When he had finished getting his bearings, he and Claire hurriedly returning to the ship, anxious to give the news of their discovery.
***
"What, really?!" West shouted in surprise!
"I'm surprised, too." Josh said. "I honestly thought it would take us a while."
"Did you find where it went?!"
"I think so." Andy put his hand on the map. "Let me see here...me and Clair were standing here facing this direction." Andy grabbed a random green marker and started drawing. "The path went like this...and I only say it far enough to go to this." When he had finished drawing, the line ended right between the South and Inaccessible poles.
"Nice! You got us bearings! How much are you willing to be it's at ol' Inaccessible?"
"A lot. It would make sense, if it really is inaccessible."
"Nice! Tomorrow, we set off for the pole!"
And they all went to bed.
***
Andy was woken up with a bang of the door in the next room. It seemed to disturb everyone else, too, and soon everyone was awake.
"What in the world was that?" Claire yawned.
"I dunno." Josh mumbled, exceedingly drowsy. "Andy, use your Aura thingy already."
Andy focused and saw four large Aura blobs outside. They were unlocking the doors and investigating rooms. The blobs already inside the rooms were searched, and then left alone.
"We may have some trouble." Andy heart pace was increasing slowly. All sleepiness he harbored had fled.
West cautiously stepped towards the door and peeked outside. He took a few moments to study them, and then closed the door as fast as he could without giving them away.
"It's just as I thought. Pokextinction."
"Huh?!" Everyone was shocked. "How can you tell?"
"Well, for one thing, they're posing as medical people with anti-rabies treatments, which, no doubt, have the purple stuff inside 'em."
"I guess we'll have to leave right now."
The gang grabbed all the backpacks and the map, so the Pokextinction members could not find the Gear or where they were off to. They precariously opened the window and got outside. They closed the window, and proceeded to climb to shore.
When they got on shore, they took one last look at the map, and everyone ran towards the Pole of Inaccessibility.
I took a while, and Josh really hated it. When they got to the pole, there was a statue of a man.
"Alright! We're here! Andy, could you show us how to get in?"
Andy closed his eyes and focused on the Aura. The Aura path curved behind the statue and into the ice.
"Okay, it's right here. But how do we get in?"
Each Pokemon tried a move, but it was impenetrable. Until, however, Claire had an idea.
She took out her stick, and lit it on fire. She then dropped the stick on the ground, and it slowly melted away.
"Pokemon ice can be melted by Pokemon fire!"
Sure enough, the ice disappeared and the stick was tumbling down a stairway made of ice.
"Alright, here we go!"
Chapter 19: Next
The cruise took about 10 days. Nobody had anything to complain about, though. Andy was able to go and do some activities around the ship, Claire caught up on doing some rest, West was able to do some research about their destination, and Josh was Josh. He didn't really interact with them or anyone. They also looked outside the window from time to time to see the ocean.
When they got there, it was indeed cold, but that shouldn't be much of a surprise. The ship docked in a port, and Passengers were allowed to come out and walk about the place.
"We'll be departing five days from now. If you wish to stay in a cabin outside of the ship, please talk to someone who knows. Make sure you come back on the boat on time, or you may be left behind."
The announcer went on about not disturbing the local wildlife and other rules, but the gang didn't mind that. Their plan was to stay on the cruise and have their in-ship cabin be their base of operation. West got a copy of the Antarctic map, and started making plans.
"Alright, so we only have five days to get the gear in this area. So, I suggest that me and Andy go fist towards the center. Once we've lost track of humans and cameras, we can return to being Pokemon. Once we've located the Gear, we'll mark it on the map, and then all of us can run right to the area."
After agreeing, Andy and West slipped on the rings and left the cabin. They began their trek on the Antarctic soil, and started walking forward. While they were walking, Andy kept checking the Gear charm for any reactions to the area. When they came out of contact with all human civilization, they took off their rings, and continued walking.
They walked on until Andy and West found it difficult to walk due to the cold. All that time Andy did not see any reaction from his Gear. When they returned to the cabin, they checked off all the places they checked.
"Alright, after all that walking, the only places I could think to check are the South Pole and the Pole of Inaccessibility."
"Pole of what?" Claire gasped in surprise. "That's a thing?"
"Yep. And as the name suggests, it is inaccessible."
The next day they returned to their search, this time with Andy and Claire. They went away from where he and West went last time, and explored some more. Again, Andy did not find any reaction.
When the time they went back to the ship on the first day rolled around, Claire did not want to go back just yet. Andy, too, wanted to stay out longer, so they kept walking.
Wait a second, why...why am I so warm suddenly?
At first Andy believed that this was the final stage of hypothermia he learned in Boy Scouts, but when it didn't get worse, nor had any limbs turned purple, he looked down.
The Gear is reacting to something!
Andy pulled Claire's attention to the charm. Since they were already not wearing their rings after going out of range, Andy checked the Aura. Sure enough, a flow of pure green energy was flowing into the Gear. He followed the path into the distant horizon, moving side to side to see the path.
When he had finished getting his bearings, he and Claire hurriedly returning to the ship, anxious to give the news of their discovery.
***
"What, really?!" West shouted in surprise!
"I'm surprised, too." Josh said. "I honestly thought it would take us a while."
"Did you find where it went?!"
"I think so." Andy put his hand on the map. "Let me see here...me and Clair were standing here facing this direction." Andy grabbed a random green marker and started drawing. "The path went like this...and I only say it far enough to go to this." When he had finished drawing, the line ended right between the South and Inaccessible poles.
"Nice! You got us bearings! How much are you willing to be it's at ol' Inaccessible?"
"A lot. It would make sense, if it really is inaccessible."
"Nice! Tomorrow, we set off for the pole!"
And they all went to bed.
***
Andy was woken up with a bang of the door in the next room. It seemed to disturb everyone else, too, and soon everyone was awake.
"What in the world was that?" Claire yawned.
"I dunno." Josh mumbled, exceedingly drowsy. "Andy, use your Aura thingy already."
Andy focused and saw four large Aura blobs outside. They were unlocking the doors and investigating rooms. The blobs already inside the rooms were searched, and then left alone.
"We may have some trouble." Andy heart pace was increasing slowly. All sleepiness he harbored had fled.
West cautiously stepped towards the door and peeked outside. He took a few moments to study them, and then closed the door as fast as he could without giving them away.
"It's just as I thought. Pokextinction."
"Huh?!" Everyone was shocked. "How can you tell?"
"Well, for one thing, they're posing as medical people with anti-rabies treatments, which, no doubt, have the purple stuff inside 'em."
"I guess we'll have to leave right now."
The gang grabbed all the backpacks and the map, so the Pokextinction members could not find the Gear or where they were off to. They precariously opened the window and got outside. They closed the window, and proceeded to climb to shore.
When they got on shore, they took one last look at the map, and everyone ran towards the Pole of Inaccessibility.
I took a while, and Josh really hated it. When they got to the pole, there was a statue of a man.
"Alright! We're here! Andy, could you show us how to get in?"
Andy closed his eyes and focused on the Aura. The Aura path curved behind the statue and into the ice.
"Okay, it's right here. But how do we get in?"
Each Pokemon tried a move, but it was impenetrable. Until, however, Claire had an idea.
She took out her stick, and lit it on fire. She then dropped the stick on the ground, and it slowly melted away.
"Pokemon ice can be melted by Pokemon fire!"
Sure enough, the ice disappeared and the stick was tumbling down a stairway made of ice.
"Alright, here we go!"
Chapter 19: Next
