I was working on this chapter a few days ago, but my computer decided to nearly die on me! Had to nearly start this one over from scratch, along with some of my outline for the story. Darn computer problems. Anyway, perspective changes this time around. And as usual, a * (or multiple) means there are notes below. So let's get onto the story.
CHAPTER 2 – The Arrival
"It's a nice day outside," I said to myself. "The perfect day to write." As I was thinking of ideas, a weird purple glow came from outside. I opened my blinds* and saw 5 figures falling out of some portal thing while screaming and hit the ground fast and hard. All I could tell is that 4 were black and white, while another was a mixture of brown and white.
The portal suddenly closed and disappeared while I was heading outside. When I got outside, I checked to see if the 5 figures were alive. They were alive, but out cold. It was a bad idea to leave them outside, so I tried to pick them all up, but was unable to. I ran into my house and grabbed a laundry basket** and placed them carefully in it and brought it into my room.
Upon closer inspection inside after putting them carefully on my bed, I could tell that the figures were four penguins and one otter. "There's no way that's possible. Absolutely no way," I thought. "There's no way the Penguins of Madagascar and Marlene wound up here." I immediately took a picture with my phone and sent it to Google. My doubts were quickly gone. "Wow, how'd this happen!" I thought. "Now how am I supposed to wake them up?"
When I thought of how to wake them up, I heard one of them waking up. It was Marlene. "Are you alright, Marlene?" I asked. As her eyes were opening she said, "I think so." I don't think I have any broken bones." "Wait, you're a human! How do you understand me? Where are we? How do you know my name? Don't hurt me!" She started panicking like I've seen before***, so I had to coax her back down. "Marlene," I said. "You seem like a reasonable otter and the last thing I want to do is hurt any of you. Can we figure this out calmly?"****
She calmed down, but still seemed apprehensive towards me. "Well, ok. But what happened?" she asked. "Well, this portal opened up outside and you guys fell out and crashed into the ground. I couldn't leave you outside, so I decided to bring you in here. What happened to you guys that you wound up here?" I asked.
"Well, Kowalski was showing off a new invention which let him visit other universes and it must've had some kind of a problem. We were all sucked in the portal and I guess arrived outside your home, I think," she said. "But how do you know my name and how can you understand me?" she asked.
"Well, maybe the knock your head got when you came out of the portal changed something in your brain that lets you speak to me. As for how I know your name, well…" I started to reply.
Just as we were talking, I heard some more groans and Skipper say, "Kowalski, status report." To that, Kowalski replied, "We seemed to have enter another universe, Skipper." "Yes, I know that Kowalski. Is everyone alright?" Skipper asked. They all replied to each other that they were.
"Oh, Skipper, I'm glad you're alright!" Marlene exclaimed. "Are alright Marlene?" he asked. "Yes, I'm fine," she replied. "We all are thanks to that human." "A human?" Skipper asked.
"Uh… Hello?" I said. When Skipper heard my voice, he looked at me very suspiciously. "Who are you?" he asked. Kowalski quickly said, "Skipper, I doubt this human can understand you." "Um, I'm Matthew." I replied to both of them.
"Spy!" yelled Skipper. "Stand back Marlene!" "Wait a minute Skipper!" "Give him a minute to talk! I think we can trust him!" she exclaimed to Skipper while pointing to me. "Marlene, you trust a human when we've all had to deal with Alice and other humans in our lives?" he asked her with a very questioning look on his face. *****
I just stood by and waited for them to finish their conversation, in both respect and slight fear of Skipper's paranoia. "I'm not sure Skipper. But friendliness beats paranoia," Marlene said. Upon considering that, he asked, "Well, what do you think Kowalski?" Skipper asked. "I'd say there is a 20% chance that the human is an enemy and a 80% chance not." Kowalski answered.
"Rico?" Skipper asked. "I dunno," he replied. What about you Private?" Skipper asked. "I'm not sure Skipper, but I have the feeling Marlene is right," Private said. "Well, based off your opinions, everyone, I guess so as well. But I've got my eye on you!" he said as he looked at me.
"Yes, sir!" I said and saluted. "Can we have more time to talk? Does anyone have anything that can pause time?" I asked, mostly directing that question at Kowalski. "How do you know about my Stopwatch?" Kowalski asked. "Well, if we pause time, it'd be a lot easier for me to explain to Marlene and now the rest of you how I know you."
So that's the end of part 2. Looks like Skipper and his team have decided to not attack me, for the time being. Will they honor my request? How will I tell them they're from TV and if so, how will they take it? What'll happen next? Only I know for now. See you soon. Please rate and review. Now it's time for some notes.
* I keep my blinds closed because I can't see my computer with them open. Plus, it's cooler without the sun shining inside.
** Here's something that looks like the laundry basket. This isn't it, but it's close: /17ianRN. I think it'd be big and strong enough to hold all 5 of them. Plus, it's a lot safer method than potentially dropping a few of them.
*** Reference to Marlene panicking in either Littlefoot (when Skipper lies about zombies to get her into animal control) or All Tied With A Boa (after Savio's mouse that he sends scares Burt and knocks him out).
**** I'm building a relationship with a character early on to try to become friendly with everyone.
***** I actually had planned for a different scenario to occur, involving the Harder They Fall Maneuver (from Stop Bugging Me) and me jumping at the Stopwatch before they could press it, but after that conversation with Marlene, I realized that wouldn't work for Skilene.
