Right outside the gates of a large base three young penguins were exicuteing a plan.
"Ouch!"
"Don't worry Johnson just a few more."
"Ouch ouch! Skipper that really hurts!" The little penguin whined.
"I know Johnson but as soon as all your down feathers are out they'll let us inlist!"
"Won't it be suspiscious? We did just try that yesterday."
"Aww they won't notice right Manfredi?"
"Sure Skipper." The tallest little chick murmered.
"Come on guys they're always eager for new recruits! Plus it'll get us somewhere warm to stay." The other penguins only sighed. "Buck up boys it'll get better soon I promise!"
"Fine. Lets move out then." The tall one 'Manfredi' motiond for them to follow.
They waddled through the tall gates and to a booth where a grown penguin was dozeing.
"Excuse me sir." Skipper said standing on Manfredis shoulders so he was tall enough to see into the booth. "We'd like to enlist!"
The tall penguin looked them over. "Aren't you boys a little young?"
"No down feathers sir." Johnson chirped happily.
"Weren't you boys here yesterday?" The older penguin scratched his chin. Eyeing them suspiciously.
"N-no sir!" Skipper lied.
"Don't take me for a fool I know you were! The answer is still no so scram!"
He chased them back outside the gates. Where they sat shivering as the last rays of sun went down.
"S-skipper h-how are we supposed to keep warm w-without our down feathers?" Johnson asked with pleading eyes.
"Huddle together boys. It looks like we'll have to try again tommarow."
The penguin at the booth looked up to see the young penguins huddled together outside the gate. He couldn't help but notice how resorceful they had been to think of pulling out their down feathers but now worried how they'd fair in the chilly climate. Guilt started eating away at him. He saw the youngest of them was their leader and it reminded him of someone though he couldn't remember who. Finally he gave in and waddled to the gate.
"Fine you boys can join, but don't think we'll go easy on you."
The shivering chicks looked up at him with thankful eyes.
"Thank you sir!" The younger two said raceing inside.
The oldest chick stayed behind and continued to look up at him. "Thanks dad."
"Not here Manfredi. Here I am your superior and genetics don't matter here. It won't be any easier for you here than it would be for anyone else."
"I wouldn't want it to be."
Manfredi is the oldest, Johnson the second and Skipper the youngest. In this fic they're older thank Skipper was in rock a bie birdie but younger than Private. Hence the ending stage of down feathers. Even though they're too young to enlist they have no where else to go. This chapter was really kindof an intro the rest should focus more on adventures the trio have together.
