Ch.2: Trial and Error

Skipper pretty much distanced himself away from the team once they arrived back at thier habitat, sipping a cup of good fish coffee. Rico and Kolwaski were doing various things, trying to distract themselves from this vital clue to Skipper's past, but Private couldn't stop thinking about it.

No one on the team liked to think that thier leader was capable of doing something so horrible to another animal. But if what Wrath said was true, and Skipper did kill his father, where would that leave the team?

Skipper put down his cup and sighed. Today just wasn't his day. He could already feel the tension growing between him and his team. Their friendship was hanging by a thread, and if Skipper didn't tell the truth, he had a feeling that thread would snap.

Unexpectingly, King Julien decided to pop in right at that moment, shattering the silence. The silver lemur held a scroll in hand. Unrolling the scroll he said...

"Hear ye, Hear ye. Skipper has been called to court on the count for the murder of Lord Red Claw, with me, the honorable and handsome King Julien persiding,"

"I did not murder Red Claw," said Skipper.

"We'll see about that" said King Julien " tomorrow at court, around noon, see ya later,"

As King Julien left Rico, Kolwaski, and Private's gaze all turned on Skipper.

"Why don't you trust us with the truth Skipper?" asked Private.

"Because Private" said Skipper " there's a rule that they teach at the Penguin Academy that even you don't know about. Failure leads to disgrace, and those who disgrace the Penguin Academy are erased from exsistance,"

"What do you mean?" asked Kolwaski.

" It was my first misson Kolwaski" said Skipper " my first misson, and I failed. There would be no second chance if I ever failed again. I would be...dead,"

Rico gasped in horror.

"But, but" said Private " they can't really do that...can they?"

"They can and they will" said Skipper " I messed up big time when working for Red Claw, I won't let that happen again. If only I wasn't bound by my oath, then I could tell Wrath the whole story,"

"Kolwaski?" said Private, glancing hopefully at the tall penguin.

"Hmm" said Kolwaski, writing in his notepad " what if your oath was broken by another oath?"

"What are you getting at Kolwaski?" said Skipper.

"In court you have to take an oath swearing to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth" said Kolwaski " in other words, you are not allowed to lie. Therefore reasonably breaking your oath and making you able to tell Wrath and the rest of us the true story behind Red Claw's murder,"

"That might actually work" said Skipper " no one at the Academy can blame me for that. I must warn you though, that this part of my past is kept secret for a reason, some details maybe to horrible for you digest,"

"We can handle it Skipper" said Private " trust us,"

"Yeah" said Rico, in his mutilated tounge " we're friends,"

"Exactly," said Kolwaski, standing up.

Skipper smiled at his team. Nowhere else on Earth could he have found a more wonderful group of comrades fighting by his side. The reassurance of his friends put Skipper's mind more at ease, deflating the nightmares that came to him that night.


Next morning, the court began as scheduled, in King Julien's habitat. Wrath stood on the accusing side, while Skipper sat on the defendant side. Bert the elephant was acting as the baliff, while King Julien took a seat in the judge's throne.

Maurice sat to the left of King Julien with a typewriter perched before him. The rest of the animals were either part of the jury or just stood around and watched.

"Alright let's get this started" said King Julien " Wrath, if you would please step forward and present your case,"

"With great honor Your Majesty" said Wrath with a bow " my Honor, the penguin you see before you is responsible for the most henious of crimes; Murder! If you permit me, I will tell you and this court the whole story of how this came to be,"

"Ooo" said King Julien " I love stories. Please tell me,"

Sporting a fanged grin Wrath began his tale.