Chapter 2 – Stalker's mask
A/N: Hey guys, the second chapter is here.
Enjoy!
With every step, Skipper walked further from his home. And with it too, he felt guiltier about it. Why does he have to leave everyone and everything he cherishes behind? He got tired of running away from the organization, tired of keeping secrets from his friends and most of all tired of changing his identity despite the fact that he doesn't even remember his true one. Skipper was his name here. Lee was his name in his organization days, but his original name is lost. And now he must leave for everyone's sake and safety to who knows where.
He was so oblivious; he didn't see the tree in his way until he crashed into it. "Ouch" he jerked his head and stared above. He was familiar with the tree. It was Fred's home. The strange and a bit moronic squirrel who lives in Central Park. This was the tree but where's the rodent.
The avian commando detected movement in the bushes. He got into battle stance. He was expecting someone from the organization, but he returned to normal stance when he realized it was Fred.
"Hello" Fred greeted and raised an eye brow. "Hey, aren't there like four of you penguins, because I'm sure to see four penguins before. Yeah it's definitely four"
Fred was obviously not the sharpest tool in the shed and it's better to not start an intellectual conversation with him. Skipper sighed.
"I am leaving them" the former commander answered.
"Leaving to where?" Fred replied.
"I don't know"
Then it started.
"Then why leaving, if you don't know?" Fred argued.
"I don't know YET!" Exclaimed with annoyance.
"Okay, did you found out now?" he asked with his usual lazy look. Skipper eye rose "No!"
"How about….now?"
"No!"
"What about now?"
"NO!" Skipper's eyes twitched and cut the squirrel off before driving him nuts. "Will you listen? I left them okay? And now I need some time to think about where I should go. And until then I need a place to stay, so would you mind if I stayed here with you. Just for tonight, whaddya say?" the penguin placed his flippers on his hips and waited for an answer.
As for Fred he didn't mind "Weeell, okay" he added "But first I need to get these acorns stored in my house, it's for the winter….hy-hybir….heyrrr…" he became frustrated "Oh STUPID WORD I CAN'T REMEMBER!" he growled.
What Fred was trying to say is Winter Hibernation. It's a common and widespread survival strategy that most known wild mammals use to survive the dramatic change in weather in the winter. Skipper did recall hearing Kowalski say that they collect food and fatten themselves up to spend the next few months asleep.
The commando bird thought it would be fair to help the furry rodent with the food collecting since he will let him stay in his house for the night "Hey Fred, need a hand?" Skipper offered. Fred turned to him with a polite smile "Oh no thanks, my four paws are enough. And besides, where would you get me a hand? I thought you birds have wings or maybe those flappy thingies. And I'm not even sure what exactly would I do with a hand" he replied. Skipper face-flipped himself "I meant would-you- like- me- to-help- you!" The flat-headed bird was a few inches away from snapping on him.
"Oh, okay" he chirped and soon the gathering quest began. The two animals gathered acorns from all over the park. Actually it wasn't that hard since the nuts kept falling from the brown-leafed trees. They were done in no time and after storing them in Fred's hole, the rodent let the penguin stay in his house which was a hole in tree and the funny thing that it had a basement.
Once they were inside Fred offered Skipper one of his nuts "Acorn?" Skipper politely turned it down "No thanks, my furry mammal friend" But in true Fred wasn't giving him an acorn "No I was just asking you if this is an acorn, because I sometimes get confused between an acorn and a pine cone. So I'm asking you if you see this as an acorn"
Skipper's beak fell. Note to self: If you ever met anyone from the organization, punch them in the face!
Skipper sat down and got comfortable and watched the brown furry rodent fill his mouth with nuts. He wondered how his troop is doing without him. Despite his decision of making Kowalski the leader, he knew his teammate quite well. True he is smart and confident and all, but he panics easily and his inventions always end up terrifying the zoo or whip every living in a five miles blast.
Sighing.
Meanwhile
Marlene rushed to the penguin habitat to see if it's true, if Skipper is really gone. When she entered HQ, she saw three commando penguins crying and sobbing all over the place "Skipper, why…w-why did you have to go!" Kowalski whined.
They were having an emotional break-down and not even Marlene reacted that way. She cleared her throat to alert them of her presence. The three soldiers paused and glared back to her. They panicked and whipped away their tears and lined up "Hey, Marlene. How long have you been here, exactly?" the scientist asked with a nervous look. Paws on her hips she answered "For far too long" she had a blank expression on her face. The trio was embarrassed. "Well it's generally known that expressing your feelings is the best way to react to a situation!" the scientist claimed.
The otter rolled her eyes "Whatever. Now listen, I found a letter in my habitat that says that Skipper had left us….is that true?" she asked with watery eyes. The team of three didn't know how explain it to her. Private was the one to start "Well yes…he did and without even telling us why" Private whimpered.
The otter was speechless "That's…that's just, he's a…argh" she pulled herself together "H-How could he be so…heartless. Does he really think it's that easy! To leaves us behind without explaining why!" she clutched her paws and steam on.
"Well, I guess there is only one thing left to do…" Kowalski said with a frown. He rushed to his lab. Noises of crashing and smashing were heard. He soon burst out of his lab with a commander cap on his "To welcome your new leader! That's right BABY! Commander Kowalski is at your service!" he exclaimed. Everyone paused and stared blankly.
"Seriously…?"
"What too soon?" It was the strategist dream to lead the penguin squad. "Yup" assured Rico. Marlene boiled and walked ominously to the newly leader with a murderous look. The scientist swallowed. "I can't believe you! Skipper is missing and all what you think about is leadership, Kowalski!?" golden met blue gaze as she held him from the chest. "Well…I.." he lost the words and glared to his two comrades, hoping for some back up here, but they stood and watched "Sorry…" Private whispered.
Then the otter's expression changed from mad to calm and a bit sly "Ya know what? You will lead this team Kowalski" she said with sly smile. Kowalski lighten up "Really!?" asked hopefully.
"Yes, you will. You will lead this team to FIND Skipper and BRING him back to the zoo!" she growled. Kowalski stumbled "Well, I…I of course. Yes mam" he waddled in front of the animals and stood proudly "Commence operation: Find the Skipper!" the newly leader exclaimed. The squad saluted and followed his lead outside.
They split into two search parties: Kowalski and Rico searched the habitats while Private and Marlene looked in Alice's office for any clues. They finally met up but clueless about their friend's whereabouts.
"Maybe he's in the park. If we hurried, we might catch up with him" suggested Private. Kowalski gave a command "To the park, Asap"
When they arrived, the park was quiet. Quiet in the creepiest possible way. The team got each other. They were sure that someone was watching them. The tension rising. Fur and feathers stood straight. "Um…guys, I think it will be better to…high tail out of HERE!" she freaked out and ran back to the zoo but froze when she saw a penguin figure standing not far away in front of her. "Skipper…?" she muttered.
No reply
They grew suspicious. The otter slowly pulled back and stood next to the trio. "Identify yourself!" the leader demanded.
Still no reply
The figures finally respond and walked slowly to them. They gasped. The penguin's entire body was clad in black and his black mask had big white glowing eyes. The team got into fight stance. The silent foe made sound of smirk and charged at them.
Back to Skipper, he was sitting and thinking his next step. He pulled something out of the sack. It was a golden locket. Some many memories came back to haunt him. A memory of his long lost friend Jake flashed back.
The penguin with bitter black glasses gave him the locket "If you ever met them again in the future, they'll try everything to bring you back or kill you if it must. So don't be afraid, the answer is within your flippers" he said and left. Skipper opened the locket and saw a golden symbol of a twin penguin heads (Look up to the story picture above)
Skipper looked serious and held the locket tight "Jake, thanks to you. I have the answer. I won't run, never again. It's time for the Penguin Brotherhood to rise again!" he exclaimed. Then Fred popped out of nowhere "Oh my name's not Jake, its Fred" he exclaimed.
Skipper yelped "Wha-you….I argh I wasn't talking to you I was talking to…" he gave in "Oh never mind. Anyway thanks for the hospitality, but now I have to go back to the zoo" he saluted and jumped for the exit. Leaving Fred paused "We have a zoo?"
In the meantime, the trio of penguins was getting a rough beating. Their silent attacker was fast, strong and ruthless. Kowalski was sent flying into a tree. He was hurt and unable to move. He saw Rico switching kicks and punches with the enemy. The maniac was about to do a low kick his leader taught him but to his surprise his attacker did it on him. He was sent flying and landed near the frightened otter "Rico!"
Then they heard a cry. They gasped when they saw the Private locked from the neck by the assassin. The little guy struggled to break free but there was no use. He felt his enemy pressing harder and harder on his neck.
"Private!" Marlene cried.
"Let him go you fiend!" Kowalski demanded but the mysterious enemy resumed choking him. It was hopeless. They thought it will be the end. Until a familiar voice shouted.
"Let him go, Stalker!"
Their gaze followed the voice and saw a flat-headed penguin standing not far from them.
"Skipper you came back!" the newly leader exclaimed.
The bossy penguin smirked "Let him go, I'm the one you want" he said. The Stalker released the kid and turned to the captain. They both got into battle stance and charged at each other. To everyone's surprise, the two were using the same fighting style and the same techniques. The stalker threw a punch and Skipper blocked it. Then he swift kicked him. Sending him flying backward. He landed on his feet and stood calm. He pulled something out of his belt pouch and threw it to the commando bird. Skipper grabbed it and watched as the Stalker threw a smoke bomb. Blue clouds of smoke blocked the view for a while and soon disappeared along with black silent enemy.
Skipper examined the item. It was his Stalker badge which is black with the silver winged penguin arch symbol. He hid it when his friends came to check on him. "Skippah, are you hurt?" asked little Private. Skipper grinned. "It will take more than that to get your leader hurt, young Private"
The animals lighten up or at least three of them by the news "So you're not leaving then?" the otter questioned. The flat-headed turned to her "Of course not, this whole thing was all a part of a…drill" he lied. Blank faces glared at him.
"A drill!"
Later that evening, the four penguins were back to HQ. Skipper and his men sat around the dining table. He told them what they will hear is tippy-top classified and no one should know about. The three penguins got nervous. It was the first time their leader tells them about one of his secret. Private was excited "Is it about you and Denmark, Skippah?" Private asked hopefully while Skipper shook his head "It told you many times Private. That's between me and the Demes"
He took a deep breath and began "All right boys, listen carefully because I ain't saying it twice. Long ago, I was a member in a secret organization called 'The Black Wings' they lived in hidden and went on secret missions to look for something not even I know for sure what it was, but a friend of mine from there told me it ain't pleasant. Once I found out, me and he ran off separated but never me again. But he knew that they will not rest until they get us so, he gave me this" he showed them the locket and opened it to reveal the golden symbol of the twin penguin heads.
"He told me it will be the answer to my problem and the solution to stop those dark souls from getting their flippers on the secret item. We must reform the legendary Penguin Brotherhood!"
The three penguins gasped "Did you say th-the penguin Brotherhood?" Kowalski stumbled "But it's just a story for baby hatchlings, Skipper we can't-"Skipper face-slapped him "Oh yes we can and we will. We'll search high and low in every corner of this big-wide world for the worthy penguins to join us on our greatest challenge yet. Stopping the Black Wings"
A/N: Now that was epic. The next chapters will contain some characters you'll recognize and some OCs that I own. Stay tuned.
