Hi! It's sbartist357 with another PoM story for all you fanguins out there! :) About the cover, I made it using Photoshop. If you want to see it in full size, go to DeviantArt and type in my username, TheKuddlyKrab; the picture's called "PoM: Skipper and Private Meet the Killer Poster 1" (without the quotes). Okay, this fanfic is based on a movie, but don't worry; you DO NOT have to know the movie to read this! I'll explain more at the end of this chapter. For now, enjoy the prologue! :D

"Well, that was an interesting movie."

The penguins, lemurs, and Marlene had just finished watching a film for movie night in the HQ. It was an old black-and-white murder mystery from the 1940s. The lemurs had barged in and refused to leave; Marlene was invited. Skipper figured that since it was more comical than scary, Private wouldn't get scared by it and, fortunately, he seemed to be okay (at least, he wasn't shivering or clutching his lunacorn). Everyone enjoyed the movie except Julien, who seemed rather annoyed.

"Eh, so the mystical guy with the funny hat and hypnotic powers didn't do the killing? That is ridiculous! He was completely capable of doing the killing! Right, Maurice?" He looked at his advisor.

"Uh, I guess so."

"Of course, Maurice! The problem was that the plumpy one was too stupidy! Watch, I could hypnotize anyone!" He produced a pocket watch from out of nowhere and swung it in front of Mort, who was sitting next to him.

"You like the feet. . ." Julien said mysteriously. Mort's eyes grew wider than usual as he stared at the ring-tailed lemur's feet.

"I like the feet. . ." He repeated, reaching out to touch said feet. Julien kicked him into the side wall and proudly turned back to Maurice.

"See? I, too, have the magicalistic powers of the guy with the funny hat!" Skipper looked away from the TV and groaned.

"Ringtail, Sad Eyes always liked your feet."

"No one asked you, fishy-smelling penguin! I can tell you don't believe in my mystical abilities." Skipper rolled his eyes.

"Well, you're right about that, Ringtail. Okay, the movie's over. Now get out." He pointed to the ladder. Julien huffed.

"Fine." He and the other lemurs left through the fish hatch. Marlene started to get up.

"Well, it was certainly a fun movie night, guys! Thanks for inviting me!"

"You're welcome, Marlene. Too bad the lemurs had to barge in."

"Oh, it's fine. I really liked the movie! Well, I guess I'll head home; it's getting late. Bye!" The penguins waved at her as she left through the side door and closed it behind her. Private looked at Skipper.

"So, how did the hotel manager wind up being the bad guy? I thought it was the guy with the hat."

"You mean swami." Kowalski corrected.

"Yeah."

"Well, it's pretty simple, Private," Skipper began. He paused to think. "Uhh. . . Kowalski, you're the explanations guy. You tell him." The lieutenant gave Skipper a small glare for putting him on the spot before turning to face Private, who was waiting for him to answer the question. Kowalski sighed.

"Okay, so it all started when. . ." He went on to explain how the hotel manager was the killer, including the other murders that occurred during the movie, in elaborate detail. Twenty minutes later, he finished. Skipper, Private, and Rico stared at him with blank looks.

". . . And that's why it was the hotel manager, and not the swami, who committed the murders."

"Uhh. . . Okay." Private replied. He had no idea what Kowalski just said, but decided not to ask again; Skipper and Rico seemed just as confused.

"Kowalski, did you even understand what you just said?"

"Honestly, no."

"Okay, then. Let's clean up and hit the sack, boys. It's past our regular lights out time." The penguins did as they were told and climbed into their bunks. Skipper turned the lights off and climbed into his bed at the bottom.

"Private?" He asked quietly. The youngest penguin looked down at him from the second bunk.

"Yes, Skippah?"

"The movie didn't freak you out, right?"

"No, I liked it," Private replied, smiling. "It was funny." Skipper returned his smile.

"I'm glad you did. Goodnight, Private." He turned onto his side, facing away from the portholes. Private laid on his back again.

"Goodnight, Skippah." The young penguin closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Okay, so Private's asleep; we'll enter his dream in the next chapter. :) As for the movie, this story is based on the 1949 film Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff. Again, you DO NOT have to be familiar with this movie to enjoy reading this; I wrote this story to cater to the characters' personalities, not the other way around. For those who have seen this film, some of the events will be changed/omitted because of this. I'll have more notes on that as we go along. :)