Please note: This is my first FanFiction story EVER. Please review so I know how to get better. I really hope you'll like it!

Disclaimer: I do not own POM or characters of POM... you get the idea.

I do, however, own my own character, Mikey.

"Hmm…" Skipper and Private were deep in the middle of a game of chess. "Ah ha!" Skipper had moved his queen in for the kill. "Check mate, young Private."

"Aww. Good game Skippa," piped the youngest penguin. "Maybe next time."

"I like your attitude, soldier. That's the kind of attitude that just may be your weakness, but it hasn't hurt you. Yet," said Skipper. It takes a moment for Private to realize he's only kidding. "Oh. Haha. Good one, sir," chuckles Private nervously.

"You know, Kowalski and Rico have been gone a while. Do you think they're okay?" Private asked his leader.

Skipper has no answer, his blue eyes glazed over.

"Skippa?"

Still, he has no answer.

Now Private's concerned. He starts to shake Skipper and yells, "SKIPPA!"

Skipper's back in reality, but has a look of wonder in his eyes. "What is it, man?"

Suddenly, Kowalski and Rico burst through the door, each out of breath. Rico starts. "Uhh! Uhh! Uhhhhh!" Knowing it's something very important, Skipper turns to Kowalski, eyebrow raised. "Care to interpret?"

Kowalski flips through his pages. "It seems we're getting a new member to the HQ. Arrived about 5 minutes ago. Should be in the habitat-"

SMASH!! "Now," Kowalski finished weakly.

"Eggs and bacon, men! Why wasn't this in my morning briefing?" Skipper exclaimed.

"Rico and I just found this out not 10 minutes ago. Sorry Skipper," Kowalski apologized.

"That's alright, Kowalski." He was now on the newcomer. The humans wanted him here, but Skipper had other ideas. "About the other. I'm afraid he's a negative. We can't accept new recruits anytime soon. But first, I want you to go find out what exactly is up there, Kowalski."

"Yes, sir." And with that, Kowalski disappeared out the entrance.

"Now, Private, what was it that you wanted?" asked Skipper in the most innocent tone.

"Umm... it seems that I can't remember. If it's important, I'm sure it'll come back to me," Private replied, a little embarrassed.

******

Meanwhile, outside, Kowalski looks in the open crate. At first he sees a pair of glowing red eyes, and the image haunts him. The eyes are gone now. It was just your imagination. He tries to convince him Nonetheless, he slowly waddles inside with his arms stretched out. "It's okay, fella. My name is Kowalski. I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here to welcome you into our penguin home. All of us here are looking forward to you. Well, our leader's not so crazy about you, but you could be able to change that." He feels a flipper on his. "That's it. Just follow me inside, okay?" He heard the smallest of voices respond, "Okay. Kowalski." Little by little they made their way inside the penguins' home, Kowalski not looking back at the newcomer the whole time.

Yes, it's a little short, but it's only the beginning, remember.

Please review. I'll hopefully post the next chapters soon but only if I get enough good reviews. (And if I can figure out how to work the system.)