"Walski? What's happening?" a tiny voice, shaking, asked.
Kowalski placed a finger on the child's lips, holding him closer to his chest with the other arm. Kowalski sat behind one of their neighbor's house in the dusky night, Private in his arms. "Stay quiet, Private. We… we need to stay hidden, okay?" he whispered, own voice trying to mask his nervousness.
He peaked behind the corner, seeing no one in view. He let out a sigh of relief, slouching against the wall.
Suddenly, he heard a voice booming from afar.
"I know you're somewhere here, Tux brothers. Hand over your child and no one gets hurt," it called, tone in a teasingly dark sadistic manner.
Kowalski cursed under his breath, his breathing becoming unsteady. He shook himself out of the panic, he needed to focus! His brother was being hunted!
He needed a way to escape, to get back to their home. But with Private out in the open of his arms, the mad man would see him clearly with his robotic eye.
Kowalski didn't know the man that trailed their tails. But he knows, from Skipper, that this was the infamous Dr. Blowhole.
Only Skipper and the twins had ever encountered him. So why does he want Private? How could he even know of the five-year old's existence? Hell, he didn't even know about Kowalski!
Kowalski snapped back into reality upon hearing approaching footsteps, a deep chuckle accompanying it. He thought quickly, at least to have tried a way to fool this man into thinking they were not of Tux blood.
Suddenly, an idea came to mind. True, it's a weak plan, but if this man has never seen either of them, he may not have the faintest of thinking they were his targets.
Kowalski put Private down and began to dig through his pockets. He pulled out various markers, pens, pencils that he would use to write on his pocket book. He chose out a red marker and then a black marker.
Private tilted his head, curious when suddenly Kowalski placed a hand under his chin and directed him closer. He giggled, but forced himself to suppress it when he remembered Kowalski telling him to stay quiet. But the sensation of the cold marker running across his face just tickled so much!
On his baby brother's face within seconds were two red circles that covered both his cheeks. Under the circles would run a black line to under his chin. And on the corners of Private's mouth were also two lines, and just like that, resembled the traits of a marionette. Or at least a child dressed as one.
Private's eyes set onto the reflection of the window behind Kowalski. He studied Kowalski's work, tempted to touch it, but had a hand pull his own away from his face. He looked at Kowalski, eyes wide and head tilting to the other side.
"Walski? Why do I- "he asked, but was cut off as Kowalski picked him up again.
"Shh, I don't have many options of getting us through that man, but this is the best we have. Just trust big brother on this okay?" Kowalski explained as calmly as he could, ruffling the child's hair when he gave a small hum.
"Now, I just need you to act like a puppet, okay? Try not to say anything unless I give you a cue, okay Private?" he instructed carefully, standing up. Private nodded, holding onto Kowalski's sleeve.
"Hello there."
Kowalski gasped, heart pounding and stomach weary. Luckily, Private hadn't screamed from the scare, but instead cowered his head into his arms. They did their best to recollect themselves in front of this shady figure.
"O-oh, you gave m-me quite a shock, sir!" Kowalski played, forcing himself to keep his panic from being visible now that it's show time.
The man chuckled, eyeing the two down. "My apologies. Are you from this neighborhood?" he questioned. He eyed Private, who remained in his hiding.
Kowalski tugged at his collar. Was it becoming hard to breathe or what? He answered. "I-uh, yes. I am. Why do you ask? Are you lost?"
The man closed his one real eye, the other scanning around. He shook his head, putting his hands up in front of him. "No no, I am not. But I am looking for someone who lives around in this neighborhood," he paused. "Do you perhaps know where Skipper Tux and his brothers reside? I'm here for a visit."
Kowalski thought. "I'm t-terribly sorry, sir, but I do not know where Skipper lives-"
"But you know him?"
"Yes- no! No I don't."
"I think you do, sir"
"N-no! I'm sorry but I do not."
"I'm sure you do. You sound like somebody that Skipper's mentioned before, I'm sure you are him. Look, I have to get going to find him, but if you happen to see Skipper, tell him for me that one of his younger brothers had a severe asthma attack on the streets. He's currently at my home, recovering. It's urgent, so if you find him before I do, please tell him," the man said finally, turning around and beginning to walk the opposite direction.
Kowalski stood there, eyes wide trying to quickly piece together what the man said. Suddenly, Private slipped up, trembling from the presence of the stranger.
"Walski? Is Rico hurt?" he asked, eyes tearing up as he began to break into a sob from the thought.
Kowalski shushed him, trying to calm him down. Suddenly, the man turned around again.
He advanced on the two, backing them up into a corner. He laughed. "So it is you, Kowalski. And Private Tux. Did you honestly think such a disguise would fool me?"
Before Kowalski could protest and try to fix their slip up, the man's robotic eye began to whir. The main part, which 'normally' shined a red light clanked inside, switching with other mains that seemed to have their own purposes, until it stopped on one.
It sprayed out a gas that quickly clouded the two. With every breath, the world became more disoriented and blurry. Kowalski's head began to pain from such visions that he could no longer stand and fell to his knees. The man only looked down, to aim the continuous gas at them. Kowalski fell to his side, to avoid crushing the child already gone limp. Before his eyes shut, Kowalski saw the man looking down at him grinning. And saying "It's nice to meet you, Tux brothers.
Part one! :D Also, again, I really appreciate those reviews some have left on my other stories! And I am still open to suggestions for stories!