Broken Soldier
1. Training ´til you drop
"All right, men. Let´s get up! We´ve got many things to do!" Skipper´s stern voice sounded inside the HQ. Kowalski groaned and turned around in his bed. With half closed eyes he looked at the clock. "Good God, Skipper. It´s 4AM. What´s so important for getting up this early? Again?" the scientist growled. Since the team had had a few failed missions recently, Skipper was focused more than ever to keep the team on red alert all the time.
The leader himself almost didn´t dare to sleep at all. He was ready for an attack from his enemies all around the clock. His paranoia was on a whole new level and so he, demanded the same from his team. Kowalski really was getting annoyed, because he was constantly tired and he hadn´t even time for his inventions anymore.
Private and Rico were on Kowalskis side. Both couldn´t even keep their eyes open from all the training and recon duties anymore. Last week, Private even collapsed from sheer exhaution while they training topside. Kowalski diagnosed a dehydration and a physical burn out. But Skipper didn´t care about it.
"Get up, soldiers. That´s an order!" Skipper growled threatingly. In a flash, the three penguins were on their feet. They didn´t want to make their leader even more upset, because they all knew, that disobeying would end in much more training.
So they went on top of their HQ and started as usual. After a few hours the sun dawned and Skipper decided that it was time for a little breakfast. The penguins ate without a word. Tired, they watched their leader eating his fish and drinking his coffee, while the other three chewed their fish like it was bubble gum.
They weren´t even hungry, but they had to obey. Kowalski noticed that Skipper had bloodshot eyes and deep edges below them. He knew, that their leader was on his own physical limits. "Skipper, don´t you think, that´s time for a break from all the training? I mean, it makes no sense. Even if we would get into a fight, we all would collapse from sheer exhaustion, before even throwing a punch" Kowalski asked, but Skipper´s face darkened while he was asking.
"Are you doubting on my leadership? Do you think I´m going nuts?" Skipper growled, trying to sound calm, but Kowalskis question had started a sudden rage inside him. "No, no, no. I just want a break, for god´s sake. I mean, take a look at yourself. You look like a zombie, Skipper!" Kowalski burst out and stood up. Private and Rico were just watching, none of them wanted to get involved into the fight.
"Oh yeah? Do you think that? Maybe I´m not that weak, like you guys. I don´t complain about a litte sleep deprivation. I´m always ready. And so should you!" Skipper yelled and got up too. He and the scientist were watching each other closely, both growling. "Okay, maybe a little more and harder training will beat those thoughts outta your mind, Kowalski! Topside, pronto!" the leader orderd finally.
Kowalski growled again, but he didn´t respond, trying to keep Skipper as calm as possible. Their breakfast just half eaten up, they went to the ladder again. Skipper went ahead. "Thanks, Kowalski" Private growled sarcastically and threw an angry gaze at him. Rico muttered something not understandable, but he sounded angry too.
All three slipped through the hatch, watching Skipper taking a deep breath of fresh morning air. He turned around, looking at his tired men. "Fine, let´s start. I thing 50 laps in the pool will wake you up!" he barked with a grin on his face. Kowalski, Private and Rico sighed, but they jumped into the cold water. After just 10 they were about to collapse, but Skipper told them to stay in the pool.
10 more laps later, Kowalski couldn´t hold out for longer anymore. With his last strengh he climbed out of the water. "What do you think are you doing?" Skipper asked with an annoyed expression. "Bathroom" Kowalski gasped and went down the hatch again. Private and Rico looked at each other, puzzled. They saw Skipper nodding and continued before the leader recognized they had stopped the training.
Down the ladder Kowalski quickly waddled into his lab. After 5 minutes he returned to his team, holding Skippers coffee mug in his flippers. "What is that about, Kowalski?" Skipper asked a little confused, staring at his scientist. "Nothing, I just wanted to do you a little favor, hoping you´ll finally quit this hard training. But it seems I´ve failed already" Kowalski responded with a slight grin on his face, which no one of them noticed. Skipper took the mug and sniffed at it suspiciously.
"Oh God, do you think I´m going to poison you now?" Kowalski growled, crossing his flippers over his chest. "You wouldn´t dare to" Skipper answered and took a sip. He swallowed, but he noticed, that it really was just plain coffee. "Okay, thank you. Now continue" Skipper said, but the scientist didn´t move.
A few seconds later Skipper felt slightly dizzy, but he tried to ignore, because he thought it would be caused by fatigue. The leader yawned loudly. "Are you getting tired, Skipper? Don´t you wanna take a nap?" Kowalski asked with a grin on his face. "No, I just..." Skipper muttered and collapsed. "Skipper!" Private and Rico shouted and watched Kowalski catching their unconscious leader before hitting the ground. "Finally" the scientist sighed.
"What have done, Kowalski? Did you put something in his coffee?" Private asked a little scared. "Yes of coures I´ve put something in his coffee. It was about time, I can´t take it anymore" Kowalski burst out, panting. "So he´s just sleeping?" Private asked and looked at his leader, who had his eyes shut tightly and his coffee spread all over his chest and belly.
"You´re going to be in so much trouble when he wakes up" Private said, looking sternly at Kowalski. "What choice did I have, Private? He wanted us to train until we drop dead. He´ll sleep for a couple of hours for now and so will I. Who´s with me?" the scientist asked and Rico and Private raised their flippers, but with worried expressions on their faces. They knew Skipper is going to kill Kowalski when he wakes up again.
Slowly Rico took the sleeping leader and they went down the HQ again. The mad penguin put Skipper into his bunk and after that, he climbed into his own. "Okay, he´ll sleep for at least 5 hours now. I gotta set the alarm clock, so we will be awake before he is" Kowalski murmured to himself, while Private and Rico were asleep already. With a satisfied sigh, Kowalski rested his head on his pillow and fell asleep within seconds. He had no idea in which trouble he brought himself into.
