I had originally awoken for a glass of water, but when I heard suspicious noises coming from the Classified Weapons Storage Area, I decided to investigate. I at first I assumed Ringtail had mistaken it for the fridge and was trying to get in (good luck with that), but it still, one day he might just get lucky. However, the door, which was normally padlocked, bolted, and whatever other locking devices Kowalski had, well you get what I mean, was open. I pressed myself against the edge of the door frame, concealing myself from anyone inside the room without limiting my own visibility, and carefully looked around the edge of the door. Inside I could see Kowalski, Rico and Private, all with their backs to me, talking in low whispers. "What are those?" asked Private.

"Quantum field hand held plasma canons, oh and an invisibility ray," Kowalski replied.

"I thought there was only one?"

"That's what Skipper thinks. Anyway, if they come after us, we're going to need the best handheld protection there is. I'm sure you've already assumed that the invisibility ray is for stealth."

"I hate having to do this to Skippah."

"So do I, Private, but it's the only way out."

"Kowalski, Rico...Private!" I exclaimed. It was clear now that this was no meeting to discuss a surprise birthday party, but something far more sinister.

"We've been compromised," yelled Kowalski as he charged forward and pinned me to the floor, "Rico, rope!" The weapons specialist regurgitated a length of rope and tossed it to Kowalski, just as I kicked the taller penguin off of me.

"Kowalski what are you doing! Talk to me soldier!" I shouted in desperation. Kowalski's expression made clear that, though it hurt him to do this, he wasn't going to stop. This seemed strange to me, they knew they couldn't take me. I guess some part of me clung to the hope that they had taken invitation to surprise attack me for training purposes a little too seriously. It was then that it dawned on me that he was probably he was relying off the fact that I wouldn't kill them, and that my loyalty would prevent me from fighting back as vigorously as I would was I threatened with a visit to the doctor. But should I? "I'm not afraid to take out one of my own men Kowalski. Just like Manfridi and Johnson."

"I know Skipper," replied Kowalski, his voice cracking, "I won't hold it against you. You do your duty and I'll do mine. Private! Quantum hyper-cute. Now."

"I'm sorry Skippah." Private whispered before everything went black.

I awoke up to find myself bound flipper and foot on the floor. The ropes, however, were fairly lose. I smiled slightly, it was probably Private's handiwork ,"He wouldn't have the heart to cause me any pain," I thought. That was when I heard footsteps on the concrete island above. I struggled against the ropes until I got a flipper lose. After that it wasn't hard to free myself, but should I go after them? It was my duty. Like Kowalski said "You do your duty and I'll do mine." I tried the various entrances. All locked. I looked for a weapon, anything I could use to get one of the doors open with or provide me with an advantage in a fight. All the small arms were gone and the big ones spiked. However, there was one weapon, nobody but me knew still existed. I pressed three of the bricks on the wall by the side of my bunk. A hidden panel opened. Inside was a laser pistol. The one Blowhole had used to murder my wife. I had sworn I would never use it but I had no choice. I picked up the weapon. The steel was cold against my flipper. As cold and heartless as Blowhole had been when he shot her… Stop it. I had to focus on the task at hand. I started to cut through the lock on the fishbowl entrance. I opened the hatch.

They jumped into the water and across to the other side. I pointed the laser pistol at Kowalski as tears blurred my vision. "Stop or I will kill you Johnson." I could see Manfridi and Johnson in front of me. Manfridi holding the rifle and Johnson looking at Manfridi desperately as I held a knife to his throat. Kowalski looked over his shoulder at me. I snapped back to reality. "Listen to me Kowalski, I don't want to but I will," my gun hand shook with emotion, "I will count to ten. All three of you will stop, drop your weapons, and put your flippers above your head." 1... They kept walking...2...They weren't stopping...3...They have weapons! Why don't they just shoot me, and save me the agony of shooting them...4...5...6...Could I shoot them?...7...Duty Skipper, think of the code...8...If they force me I will shoot...9...10...They stopped. They did as I had told them. Then I marched them back to the HQ, and restrained them as the code described. I had assumed that by taking them in I was saving them. They would have a good reason. A reason, even if it wasn't good. Then the team would go back to normal

Marlene looked at Skipper. She watched as the man, who was the centre of the world to her held back tears. The scars on his back rippled as struggled against his feelings. She placed a paw on him, and he couldn't hold back any more. "It's okay Skipper. It's okay. Look, I know it hurts…" she did her best to comfort the ex-leader.

"No it's not." the penguin snapped, "I have to execute them first thing in the AM. How could you possibly understand how I feel?" Marlene froze. Skipper, however, for once realised just how much his words hurt. "I'm sorry Marlene. I…"

Kaboom! Boom! Bang! Boom! Boom! Boom! Kaboom

The sound came from Joey's habitat. "Prison break," thought Skipper, but who would be crazy enough to try to break the penguins out? They'd have to face Joey, someone even he couldn't beat in single handed combat. He doubted it was any of his team. Something about their attitude told him they wouldn't try to escape. Regardless, rules and regulations... Then there was the explosion. It sounded sloppy. Rico was a perfectionist when it came to his 'kabooms', he wouldn't do something so unprofessional. Skipper stood up and ran towards the kangaroo habitat. Who could be trying to break out the penguins?