Next chapter up. Please enjoy and review/comment.
THE HUMILIATION OF THE RING
BY THE YOUNG AND FREE DRAGON
Wir halten euch die Treue
Wir halten daran fest
Und halten uns an Regeln
wenn man uns regeln lässt
(We remain loyal to you
We stand by that
We follow the rules
if we are allowed to rule)
-Haifisch by Rammstein
CHAPTER ONE: FRESH BAIT
"I don't want to talk about Blowhole right now." Skipper stated, bluntly.
"But skippah," Private persisted. "He sent a letter of warning! He's going to take New York with his new found army!"
Stupid... Blowhole stupid. As cliché and dumb as that sounds, it's Blowhole.
"He could be bluffing," Kowalski mused. "Or he might be setting a trap for us."
"Exactly," Skipper said. "Which is why we aren't going to act. Not yet anyway. We're going to take it slow."
The other penguins glanced at each other.
"With all die respect, Skipper." Kowalski said. "You've never been one to 'take things slow'."
"Are you questioning orders, soldier?" Skipper snapped.
"No sir." The scientist said, meekly.
"Good. Then I want you men to go out and patrol the city. Look for anything out of place and report back. Got it?"
"Yes sir." They chimed.
"But what are you going to do, Skippah?" Private asked.
"I'm going to prep for any sort of combat. Our supplies and weaponry have been low since our last encounter."
That seemed to satisfy them and they took off. Skipper sighed and picked up the note from Blowhole.
"Thought they'd never leave." Skipper murmured to himself.
He looked at the P.O. Box (or at least what was listed as one) on the note:
181081515517
It was much too long to be an actual address (At least in New York, perhaps in Atlantis...), so the dolphin did not send the letter by mail. He must have had one of his henchman plant it (so the speak) in the zoo mail box because they knew the penguins checked it everyday.
Skipper got out Kowalski's graphing calculator and typed in the human alphabet and put a number by each. He then divided the P.O. With commas into numbers below 25. 18, 10, 8, 15, 15, 5, 17.
"Very simple for you Blowhole." Skipper sighed, feeling a little anger and anxiety in his stomach. "You're getting sloppy. Can't afford that."
18=S, 10=K, 8=I, 15=P, 15=P, 5=E, 17=R.
Skipper sighed again. An excited dolphin is never easily dealt with. Especially when you are the object of excitement. He quickly translated the entire letter (by turning every letter into a number, adding every word together then breaking it up and translating back). He was surprised at how the mastermind had worked these words to sound like a threat.
Skipper,
Meet me by the duck pond at 11:30, 11/15.
Well at least if anyone decoded it, they dolphin had not conveyed any emotions of given away what he planned. That at least was something. Skipper was surprised that Kowalski had suspected nothing. If the tall penguin had, he would have told Skipper of his suspicions. Skipper liked that loyalty in his men.
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Skipper felt a gas mask being thrust over his face and green mist began to spread over the zoo. He watched, unmoving, though frowning, as the zoo animals passed out. When the must cleared, he tossed the mask away, and there was Blowhole, smiling his trademark smile.
"Greetings Skipper." He said, giggling a bit.
"Blowhole." Skipper said, nodding slightly.
"Dismissed." Blowhole said to his lobsters, who nodded and crawled away. "Walk with me Skipper."
Skipper nodded and the two were soon leaving the zoo, Skipper with his flippers clasped behind his back and Blowhole grinning as he looked forward and stole glances at Skipper. Whenever they reached a secluded spot, they turned to one another.
"You've got much confidence in me Skipper," Blowhole chattered. "You're usual paranoia will not get in the way of this meeting?"
"Not at all," Skipper said, hoping up on the dashboard in front of Blowhole and glaring at him. "So what is your nefarious scheme this time?"
"It wouldn't be any fun if I told you," Blowhole smiled, leaning closer. "But I'm sure you can easily guess."
Skipper couldn't mask his amusement, but he knew he had other things to discuss with the dolphin. As Blowhole leaned in to kiss him, he placed a flipper up and warded him away. Blowhole looked at him with hurt eyes.
"What's wrong?" The mammal asked.
"Knocking everyone out? Sending me a message with a fake plan? You're getting really sloppy." Skipper scolded, shaking his head.
"I'm only trying to keep things fresh in our relationship." Blowhole said, meekly.
"Are things getting stale already? It's only been a few days!"
"No, I'm not bored I just..." Blowhole trailed off looking down. "Thought you might like something different."
"I don't! You're putting me in jeopardy over this!" Skipper said. He could feel his anger returning a bit, as he spoke how he felt. Couldn't the dolphin see that this was too much? He was compromising everything by being so ditzy-headed!
"I'm sorry... baby..." He mumbled the last words.
Since Skipper had not called him any terms of endearment, he was beginning to feel rejected and angry at himself. Skipper must be right, he had staged everything. How could I take such a risk?
Skipper didn't seem to hear the "baby" part.
"I told you that I wasn't ashamed of you, but that we need this as a secret. Maybe it will just stay a secret for however long the relationship lasts!"
Blowhole wanted to question Skipper's choice of words. After all, they stung when he said them. He realized that it was too early to be thinking about the relationship taking a step further than it was, but it hurt for him to say that it just might end, after all, he felt strongly connected, did Skipper feel a different way?
"I guess I was thinking..." Blowhole mumbled. "I guess I'm stuck in my evil ways. I wish I could change."
"You don't sound very sure." Skipper retorted.
Blowhole wasn't. He didn't want to change at all. He'd been very pleased with everything so far, and failures now were nothing, since he failed to his lover. He didn't mind anymore. Playing cat and mouse sounded perfect. But apparently Skipper didn't want to do things that way, and apparently he had asserted himself as the dominant in their relationship. Blowhole's stomach clenched as he felt a bit of anger rising but kept it down for now.
"Very well. Until our paths cross again, Skipper." He turned and drove away.
"Wait! We haven't set up a meeting time!" Skipper shouted.
"Your friends should be waking up, I suggest you attend to them." Blowhole called over his shoulder.
Skipper sighed as he looked at his feet. I messed that up, didn't I? He thought to himself. But another voice reminded him that they had neglected to set up a meeting time for the meeting that had just occurred (though they had neglected because they were having much fun together). But Blowhole had set it up on his own. Maybe he meant to the next time as well. Skipper sure hoped so, his pride would take a heavy blow, as would his heart if he was wrong.
Every chapter will appear on Deviant art a little while before it does on here. I cannot say how long it will be each time, but just check out my DA account to find out if it's up or add me to your watch list and/or the fic to your favorites. There also might be special art for the fic soon, it depends.
