It was dark when Skipper's eyes snapped open again. He'd been sleeping uneasily but he was sure something had woken him. A noise? No… a light. Gingerly he pulled himself upright. Thankfully his spinning head seemed better and he stood without any dizziness. As he stepped across the room he realised the light was coming from the manhole at the top of their base. He glanced back at the bunks. There were three sleeping forms indicating his men were all tucked up. He frowned in annoyance. Someone should have checked the base was secure.

Fearlessly he ascended their ladder and looked out onto the floe. At first he couldn't determine where the glow was coming from. Everything looked normal if a little hazy. Had a mist blown in? Then he saw a figure sitting on the edge of the water. Without hesitation he jumped through the hole and landed in a fighting pose.

"Hold it… Private?" he dropped his guard in shock at the sight of the young penguin. "But…"

"Hello Skipper." The little bird didn't seem at all disturbed. Skipper wondered how he could have mistaken the form in Private's bunk. Clearly the little penguin couldn't have snuck out before him.

"What are you doing?" he asked waddling over.

"Looking," the figure gestured at the water.

"At what?" For the first time, Skipper felt a glimmer of fear as he approached the edge. The strange light was glowing up from the water.

"The past," the boy said simply. Skipper watched the youngster's face until he was stood next to him. It was the picture of innocence. With an effort Skipper directed his gaze down into the water.

"What the…" he stepped back in shock. However Private showed no fear and after a moment Skipper recovered. Slowly he moved closer again and sat down, looking deep into the water.

"How are you doing that?" In the water a shimmery image of a troop of penguins floated before him.

"I'm not doing anything. This comes from you." Skipper looked again at the boy and realised that though it looked like Private, this was not him.

"Who are you?" he demanded.

"A memory of your past." Skipper watched him for any other reaction but he was still staring intently at the water.

"Who's that?" the boy asked suddenly. Skipper glanced down into the liquid image and gasped.

"That's… me…" he managed. His eyes locked on the vision. A troop of chattering penguins were marching happily up a beach. But off to one side was a small chick, just losing his down, and watching sadly.

"And who are they?" his companion continued.

"They're the rest of the colony. At least, my age group…"

"Where are they going?"

"They're going to celebrate Christmas," Skipper murmured softly.

"And why aren't you going with them?" Skipper drew himself up.

"I was special. My father was an army officer. He trained me to be just like him."

"So you didn't get to play? How sad."

"It wasn't sad," Skipper denied, though he was belied by the sad face of his past self. "It's made me who I am today."

"Yes, it has." Skipper sensed this was not in total agreement with his statement and was about to explain more fully when he was interrupted.

"Oh! Look. What's this?" Skipper looked back into the water. A different memory was flowing past. Skipper smiled.

"That's the first year you… Private was with us."

"You wanted to make Christmas special."

"We thought he'd be going home again. We wanted him to have fond memories."

"You knew what Christmas meant then." Skipper nodded.

"It all worked out somehow… despite everything…"

"Yes, Christmas isn't just about parties." Skipper looked sidelong at him wondering whether his strange companion knew about his earlier comments.

"And now?" Again Skipper looked back to find the images had changed. A very familiar face swam in the water.

"Marlene," he murmured softly.

"And does she feature in your Christmases past?"

"No, Well… every year she invites us to celebrate with her but… we never go…" His companion looked up at him for the first time. There was a strange glow to his eyes.

"And do you regret that?"

"No… well, maybe… I could have gone one year, perhaps. The first year she came maybe… but she might have been a spy!" The youth sighed.

"She might… but she might not." He stood up suddenly.

"Hey, wait! You've gotta explain…"

"Christmas is dawning," the boy declared looking towards the horizon.

"What?" Skipper followed his gaze and was amazed to see the sun appearing. "But it can't be more the 0100!" As he turned back to the other penguin he was shocked again. It no longer resembled Private but now looked the spitting image of Kowalski.

"Wha…?"

"Let's take a walk."