Another Life

Disclaimer: I do not own Penguins of Madagascar and make no money off this story.

Chapter 1: The Big Switcheroo

'Alright, Kowalski. Let's see your newest doomsday device,' the penguin commando stepped into the lab, followed by his scientist.

'It's not a doomsday device, and shouldn't we wait for Private and Rico to get back?' Kowalski waddled up to his invention and glanced back at the open doorway.

'Negative. They're on a very important, very top secret, mission. Besides, I'd rather get his over with,' Skipper announced, sipping his piping hot coffee.

'Oh fine. This is the Viewer 9000. With this ingenious invention, we will be able to look into other parallel universes,' the scientist announced, waving a flipper at the TV now perched atop the machine.

'So that's where the TV went. Wait, parallel what?' Blue eyes narrowed in confusion, prompting a loud sigh from the taller penguin.

'Scientists have been contemplating the theory of alternate realities for many years. Just imagine it, Skipper. With my invention, we will finally prove that there are parallel worlds out there, just beyond our limited sight. We may even have counterparts of our own on these worlds, living completely different lives. Wouldn't it be fascinating to find out?' Kowalski let out a girly giggle and caressed his machine lovingly.

'Sounds like science fiction to me,' Skipper rolled his eyes at the other penguin's enthusiasm.

'Oh, really? Then you can be the test subject,' the scientist darted behind his commander and pushed him directly in front of the mirror.

'What? Don't even think about it, Kowalski,' the older penguin glared at his subordinate.

'There's absolutely no danger. My baby is simply going to scan you and find your counterpart in another dimension. We'll be able to see him and his immediate surroundings on the screen. It's foolproof,' Kowalski insisted, giving the shorter penguin his best puppy-dog eyes... for science, of course.

'Fine. And have I ever mentioned how creepy it is that you call your machines your babies? Seriously man, you really need to get out more. Stop mooning after Doris and find someone else. Someone not on the team, cause we really don't need another Manfredi and Johnson incident,' Skipper grumbled, crossing his flippers over his chest as he glared at the TV screen.

'Doris...' Kowalski started up the machine and held back a sob. Turning away, he rubbed the tears from his eyes as he pushed the buttons from memory.

'Kowalski, is it suppose to be glowing like this?' the uncertain quiver in Skipper's voice made the scientist glance up just in time to see blue glow shoot out of the TV screen and engulf his leader's body.

'SKIPPER!'

'KOWAL...'

The scientist covered his eyes with both flippers as the glow got brighter and brighter. A loud thump echoed the room, followed by the sound of broken glass as the light vanished, leaving Kowalski blinking sunspots from his vision.

A plush, black and white shape was laying face-down on the floor, surrounded by broken glass. A quick glance at the TV revealed that the screen had shattered. Turning his gaze back to his fallen leader, Kowalski was startled to find his eyes fixated on the penguin-sized army jacket Skipper was now wearing.

'Now there's an odd sight,' the scientist grumbled to himself as he flicked the machine off.

'We heard screams and... oh no, Skipper!' Private stepped through the door and dropped the snow cones he was holding as he took in the sight of his fallen leader. Rico growled behind him, hacking up a bazooka and scanning the room for danger.

'Careful, there's broken glass on the floor. Private, get the broom and dust-mop. Rico, as soon as Private does a quick sweep, you and I will carry Skipper out of the lab,' Kowalski ordered, watching the youngest member of their rookery rush back into the room. Rico grunted and threw his gun to the side.

In moments, the penguins had the lab swept clean and their commander moved to a safer spot in the main room. Private threw a pillow to Rico and watched him tuck it under Skipper's head as Kowalski checked him over.

'I'm sure he'll be fine. He's just unconscious,' the tallest penguin announced as he took a step back.

'What happened? Why is he like this?' Private's voice trembled with concern as he turned his baby blue eyes on the scientist.

'Uh, oooh. Well, it was... an accident,' the genius rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly and took a half-step toward the safety of his lab.

Rico and Private exchanged a look, then sighed in unison. 'It was another one of your inventions, wasn't it, Kowalski?' Private glared, in his own adorable way, at the older penguin.

'It wasn't suppose to do that,' Kowalski waved a flipper at their unconscious leader. 'It was just suppose to scan him and show us his counterpart in another dimension.'

'Really, an alternate dimension machine?' the young penguin's eyes widened in curiosity. A groan from the floor caught their attention, drawing it back to their commander who was now sitting up and rubbing his aching head.

'What happened? Where am I?' Blue eyes swept the room before focusing on the other three penguins.

'Are you alright, Skipper?' Private took a step forward, hesitating when their commander threw his flippers over his eyes with a shout.

'Gah! Why are you three walking around naked? Go put some clothes on!'

'Clothes? We're penguins, we don't wear clothes,' Kowalski stated.

'Of course penguins wear clothes. All people wear clothes. Only fish don't wear clothes, cause they're just dumb animals. So, if you three have decided to become nudists, leave me out of it,' Skipper grumbled, still covering his eyes.

'Hey, you are wearing clothes. You're even wearing a shirt under that army jacket,' Private exclaimed out loud in amazement.

'Oh no,' Kowalski's brain finally clicked on a possible explanation for why their leader was acting so strange.

'Oh no, what?' three voices echoed him.

'I think, maybe, just maybe, the Viewer 9000 might have sent our Skipper to another dimension and brought his counterpart here. If so, then I should really rename it. Maybe the Transporter 9000 or the Switchinator 9000...' the scientist pondered aloud, ignoring the odd looks he was getting from the other birds.

'So, the reason you're all standing around naked is cause I'm in an alternate universe filled with nudists? I guess it could be worse. You could all have been hippie nudists,' Skipper commented, pushing himself to his feet and trying hard not to look down.

'Oh wow, this is amazing. What's it like in your universe? Am I happily married to a lovely female penguin? Do we have any children?' Private giggled as he waddled happily closer to his alternate leader.

'Married? Kowalski's the only one in our squad that is married. Last I checked, you were dating some armadillo chap by the name of Kid. I mean really, who calls their child, Kid?' Skipper rolled his eyes and surveyed the strange base he now found himself in.

'I'm married?'

'I'm dating the Amarillo Kid?'

'What bout meh?'

'Hi guys!' a familiar female voice swept through the room as the otter poked her head through the hole in the ceiling and waved at them.

Skipper quickly covered his eyes again as Marlene dropped down into the base, unclothed. This nudist thing was going to be difficult to get used to.

...tbc...

Note: Next chapter, we get to find out what happened to Skipper and what kind of strange parallel world he dropped into.