Hey peeps! Here's a new story, this one coauthored by me and Bml1997. I am a strict Skilene fan, so don't worry about Skipper's little crush, I will explain later if my coauthor likes it. This chapter was by me, she'll write the next one. So R&R everybody!

Skipper sat up, rubbing his sapphire eyes wearily. Another day in captivity, waiting for the news of a transfer or anything. Just ANYTHING would be better than the endless boredom.

As if his wishes had been answered, a woman walked into the small room. She grabbed his cage and two others and carted them out of the room and into a small enclosure.

"Alice? You there?"

"Yeah, just getting the four penguins settled. Be there soon."

Skipper raised the feather that served as an eyebrow.

Alice left the room after opening the doors to his and three other cages. Skipper waddled out, looking around nervously.

Another penguin, taller with sculpted muscles and green eyes, waddled out.

"Greetings! I am Johnson!" the penguin barked.

Skipper tilted his head. This penguin seemed military.

"Rank?"

"Lieutenant. And you?"

"Skipper. Just like my name."

"Specialty?"

"Leadership. And fighting."

"Mine is some science, but mostly fighting. And I suppose some weaponry."

Skipper evaluated the penguin. He seemed tough, and definitely military. Maybe they could form a team... But not with two people. Who was in the other three crates?

The second crate wobbled, and a second penguin fell out. He was short and had brown eyes. He rubbed his eyes blearily and croaked out a "hello" before realizing where he was. He immediately snapped to attention.

"Huh? Where am I? Johnson?"

Johnson chuckled.

"Manfredi, calm down. We're fine, it's only a transfer. Now introduce yourself to a new Skipper."

"Manfredi glanced at him, as if seeing him for the first time.

"Oh. Hello. I'm Manfredi, you are?"

"Skipper. Are you Private or Secondary, i.e. Medic or Weaponry?"

"Private."

Skipper nodded. This seemed like a good, solid team... But who was in the third crate?

A female penguin stepped out, graceful and cautious. Her hazel eyes glanced around, one of them covered by swooping feathery bangs. She was tall, and looked kind of like Johnson with a high forehead and slim body.

"Hello." She said in a quiet voice.

"I'm Mersady, and you are?"

Skipper gazed, entranced. She was beautiful... Then shook himself out of it.

"Skipper, the leader of this military group. This is Manfredi and Johnson, my lieutenant and private."

She laughed.

"I know them! Johnson is my brother, and Manfredi is my cousin! You, I don't know." She grinned. "But now I do!" Skipper gazed into her eyes, and then shook himself. He couldn't get distracted.

Just then, Alice came in.

"Okay, penguins, time to go." She said in a thoroughly unenthusiastic voice. Skipper waved as he allowed himself to be scooped up and put in a crate.