Sierra: Hello again guys...thanks for the reviews, keep them coming! I want to know what you want to happen in the story. ^^

Disclaimer: I don't own The Penguins of Madagascar

Atop the ice floe of the penguins' HQ, Syza stood in front of the team, unmoving, as if waiting for a command to be given.

"Syza," Kowalski began. "Why don't we show the others your fighting skills?"

Syza brought its lifeless eyes to Kowalski. "Yes, master."

Kowalski began to explain each and every move Syza was programmed to do while it demonstrated behind him. "Roundhouse kick." Less than a second after the words left Kowalski's mouth, Syza's foot sliced through the air with a swift sshht. Kowalski continued. "Axe kick." Syza brought its foot down hard, slamming into the ground without even flinching. After about ten other demonstrations, Skipper had seen enough.

"I'm amazed with her skill, I really am," he said. "but I'd like to see her in combat."

"Aha," Kowalski smiled. "A challenger for Syza?"

"Sure, I'll take her on," Skipper stepped forward.

Syza's gaze rested on the leader penguin. "Challenge accepted." The two assumed a fighting stance. Syza waited. "You make the first move…" the robot took a pause to identify him, "Skipper."

With this, Skipper lunged at Syza. Amazingly, it had leapt out of the way quite swiftly, coming back at Skipper with a forceful punch. Skipper moved out of the way just in time, staggering to his feet, and then the two were face to face, throwing out their strongest moves. Every time Skipper tried to attack, Syza dodged and lashed out at him with such precision and accuracy, it was almost breathtaking. Skipper fought hard, surprised, careful about every little thing he did. Syza was good! Kowalski had really done well this time. With an addition like this to the team -

Then he was struck by the same powerful roundhouse kick Syza had first demonstrated. Skipper fell back to the ground, the wind suddenly knocked out of him, as Kowalski yelled for Syza to stop. "Enough!"

Syza assumed her normal position, calm and collected.

"Skipper, are you alright?" Kowalski asked, helping him up.

"I'm fine," Skipper said, brushing the dust off of himself. "That Syza can really fight." He seemed more amazed than angry.

"Yeah, it's -" Kowalski was interrupted.

"Thank you." Syza said.

Kowalski continued. "...specifically programmed to learn from its opponents." he then turned to Syza. "Syza, take Skipper down to the HQ to get some rest."

"Really Kowalski? You don't have to," Skipper said.

"I insist. Besides, you'll get to see Syza when it isn't trying to kill you." He chuckled. "I can take care of training today. Is that alright?"

Skipper did want to train with his comrades, but his desire to learn more about the curious Syza got the better of him. "Alright."

Skipper examined Syza closely as he was being served fish coffee. The android was actually very lifelike; about as tall as Rico, pretty thin, nice curvature…the only thing robotic about it was those metallic eyes. Then Skipper's eyes rested on her right flipper, noticing an odd symbol that looked like a lightning bolt through two little squares.

"So uh, Syza," he said, struggling to start a conversation. Could you really have one, with Syza being a robot and all?

"What's with that mark on your arm?"

Syza's cold eyes flickered to it. "Master put it there as a symbol that I am his creation."

Skipper nodded, trying to think of something else to say. When silence had swept over the two for an awkward moment, it was Syza who spoke.

"I apologize for defeating you earlier," it said in its calm tone. "I was only showing you the fighting techniques Master programmed in me."

Skipper snorted. "I wouldn't say 'defeat'."

"Why not?" Syza titled its head.

"Well, because, I let you win, so technically I wasn't defeated."

Syza pondered this for a moment. When she saw Skipper's smile, her eyes narrowed. "Oh," she said, nodding slowly and understanding Skipper's playfulness.

Skipper gave out a laugh. Then the silence returned.

An unusual thought crossed Skipper's mind.

"Syza…" he began. "can you…feel?"

"Feel?"

"Emotions. Like happy, or sad…"

Syza stared blankly at him for a moment, then said, "If I can, I haven't yet."