"I wish I could make that silly penguin thinking higher of me," Julien says once he's at his hiding spot. It happens to be located in Fred's tree. Julien recalls when he got Fred and Savio mixed up - it's no wonder Skipper thinks little of him.

Fred replies, "He's a stubborn one. Yeah. Wait who are we talking about?"

Julien turns to Fred. "Of course I am meaning Ski - what the hecks are you wearing?"

"Oh this?" Fred touches the bright red eye mask on his face. "Just getting a few extra acorns doing jobs for the other guy with the mask. He's got a striped tail like you - are you cousins? Anyway, he said I need to wear this, it's kind of itchy though."

Julien processes that. "You mean Archie that deceitful raccoon? Tch, No, we are not being related."

Fred doesn't pay him much mind. He's staring at the wall. "So, why do you want Rico to think you high? Do you think it can make you float?"

Julien sighs. He knows he's not the brightest bulb, but Fred is more dense than Julien thought possible. He could hold a more scintillating conversation with Rico. Which, speaking of him.

"Not Rico, he is the one making stuff explode and vomiting! I want Skipper to like me, the bossy one, the leader? Flat head? Ring a bell?"

"Oh. I thought you two hated each other, I mean, you're always fighting," Fred muses. "Maybe it's a love-hate sort of thing I guess."

Julien buries his nose back in the pages of the comic he brought. He doubts Fred is going to have any helpful advice. He should've stayed at the zoo and asked Maurice. He doesn't know yet the depth of feelings that Julien has for Skipper, though.

He'd probably tell Julien to forget about it. That Skipper will never like him that way. He's probably right. He could ruin the tenuous friendship bond they've been building too. Julien strokes the comic page. He takes a moment to admire Golden Lynx's superhero outfit, including its most important piece - his identity concealing gold mask.

Julien freezes.

"Can I borrow your mask?"

When night falls on the zoo, Julien enacts his plan.

"You are looking sleepy."

Maurice stops dancing and stares at him in shock. People are looking at him like he's grown a second head too much lately.

"Uh - yeah, a little -"

"Do not be understating it Maurice! The party is ending now, you can go get the sleepies."

"Uh. Thanks King Julien!"

Mort says, "I like sleeping!"

Julien hears him mutter to Mort, "I wonder what's the catch? We'll have to do something awful tomorrow no doubt."

He says only for himself to hear, "Silly Momo. How dare he think I am not caring about his restings."

He lays on the bouncy with them and pretends to sleep. When their breathing grows slower he sits up. He carefully pokes Maurice.

"No mama… I don't want more pie…"

He pokes Mort too. He giggles and rolls over. Julien rubs his hands together. He pulls out his penguin mask and Fred's red mask from his temporary hiding place in the habitat. He also pulls out a red cape, he found it in lost and found and cut it so that it was small enough for him to wear.

Julien tries to remember how the penguins are doing things. He must secure the perimeter! He begins a walk around the zoo, keeping his eyes and ears alert for trouble.

"Oh, help!"

The first cry of need! He has no superpowers, but he is able to leap across the zoo by the trees and poles with his natural agility. He arrives at Marlene's in good time.

"When my ears pick on trouble, I'm here on the double," Julien proclaims. Marlene narrows her eyes, expression pulling in confusion.

"Huh?"

"You cried for da help?"

"Right… usually the penguins… nevermind. All the water in my habitat is gone! I just wanted to go for a late night swim, you know. I had this dream… it was really weird…"

Julien almost asks about the dream, his curiosity nearly getting the better of him. He has to stay focused, though it's difficult and sometimes annoying.

"Did you see any sign of the water thief?"

"You know… you sound kind of familiar. Do I know you?"

Julien clears his throat. He should lower his voice a bit, like Wombatman of Marsutham City. "I am certain to not know what you mean, stranger."

"Well, ok. I'm Marlene, I guess. I didn't see or hear anything… why on Earth would anyone want to take my water?"

Julien rubs his jaw.

Marlene offers, "Y'know what, I just thought of this! Maybe it's something to do with the pipes?"

"You should leave the detective work to me, citizen," Julien argues. "But… I suppose it's worth a quick look."

As a matter of fact, the hose connected to the pipes has a clog. Some of the pipes are stuffed and spraying water all around.

"Sabotage!"

"Yeah - or, a simple mistake, maybe?"

Julien examines the hose. Marlene joins him. She says, "Wow, no way we're getting that knot out with this big clog in the way."

"I can solve that - with my special powers!"

"Oh yeah, and what would those powers be," Marlene deadpans.

"Dance!" He leaps on top of the clog and pushes it through the hose with his dance steps, Marlene watching in awe.

"Alright, I'll admit - I'm a little impressed."

With teamwork, they're able to fix the pipes and free the hose from its tangle. Marlene grabs his hand and shakes it. "Thank you so much Mr. uh -"

"You can call me the Masked Booty!" He turns to display his concealed bottom.

"Huh. That's a little… unusual, but sure why not. Nice mask."

His ear perks as he hears another shout. "Who coulda done this?"

"I must be going now!"

His next destination is the gorilla habitat. However, halfway there, four penguins appear from the shadows and surround him. He stiffens, not willing to risk any sudden movements.

"Hold it right there!"

Julien raises his hands and looks around. "You are telling me to hold what now?"

"Who are you and what do you think you're doing? I know you answered Marlene's call of distress - our job, by the way!"

"Easy dere, good citizen! Not to fear, I mean no harm - only justice I swear!"

Kowalski contends, "I don't think swear is supposed to rhyme with -"

Skipper advances, and he pushes his beak against Julien's penguin mask. "Who are you? I mean it… you better explain yourself."

"Mr. Handsomest commander penguin, it is not my intention to trample on your placings."

"Then put away your silly costume and go back to your normal life," Skipper says. "I won't be responsible for some idiot getting himself hurt. Leave it to the professionals."

Even when he doesn't know it's Julien, he doesn't believe in him. It stings, like a wasp scored a bullseye on his heart. He clenches his hands into fists.

"No."

"What?" Skipper asks his team, "Did I hear that right?"

"Yes sir."

"It was loud and clear, Skipper."

"Uh-huh!"

Julien elaborates, "Betting I can prove myself to you! If I fail in the helpings with problems or stoppings of crime, I will quit."

"Let's make this more specific - you have a week trial. If - due to your own incompetence - someone is left unsatisfied, or a miscreant gets away with a crime - you immediately quit, and you reveal your identity to us. Otherwise you could just change your mask and name…"

These are lofty terms Skipper has laid before him. However, he's more determined that ever. He wants so badly to show Skipper he is dead wrong.

"Fine. But if I am succeeding in this week - you let me cooperate with your team efforts," Julien suggests. "So there can be no stepping on the toes."

"Fine."