Private gasped when the evil man grabbed his flipper tight, practically making it go red. Immediately, all three penguins who were watching got ready to fight, in case he threatened to seriously harm the boy at all.
The dad noticed and, with one slick movement, had a knife pressed against Private's neck. He had his arm wrapped around the same place, keeping a Private from backing up and running away.
All the penguin stared in shock. They were tied. The evil mans message was clear : take one step towards us, and I won't be afraid to use this.
"So... This is my boy, eh James? I thought I raised you better than to lie... Actions like that should be...punished." Ben said, dragging out every word, slicing through Private.
Private was nearly choking, so it sounded raspy when he begged "No...please, I'm sorry dad."
"Dad?" Ben raised an eyebrow and pressed the knife closer to Private's neck. The cold surface sent shivers down Private's spine.
"S-sorry... Sir!" Private gulped, his voice trembling wildly as he went back to fix his mistake.
Skipper decided he had had enough when Private said "sir." No one deserved that, especially not young, innocent Private.
"Go men!" In a split second, Kowalski, Rico and Skipper all jumped at the man. Rico took one arm, and Kowalski took the other, forcing them to both sides of him in an airplane position. The motion jerked the mans flipper, and the knife flew out and hit the concrete island with a bang. He groaned in frustration.
Skipper ran over to where Private was leaning over, breathing hard. There was a small track of blood dripping down his chest from the sharp knife, but nothing too serious.
"Are you okay ?" Skipper questioned, putting a flipper on the boys back. Private nodded and wiped his beak, smiling weakly.
Suddenly, Ben saw his chance. James was right in front of him, and he had his hands restrained, not his legs...
Kowalski realized what was happening a moment too late. Ben brought up his leg, and Kowalski cried "Priva-!"
Ben kicked Private in the stomach. There was a loud *CRACK* and Private went stumbling back. He leaned over, coughing up so much blood, it made Skipper wince. He looked back at Ben and growled "You'll pay for that."
"Oh, I don't think so Skippah."
Skipper stared in shock. "How do you know my name?"
"I've been keeping an eye on this place for months. Kowalski, Rico!" He cried, forcing his arms together. Kowalski and Rico, who were still restraining him, got dragged along. They hit head with a loud *CRACK*
Skipper stared in shock. Kowalski groaned and raised a flipper groggily, to let Skipper to know he was okay.
He looked back at Private, who was leaning over. He had one flipper on the ground to support himself, while he continued coughing. He had obviously gotten some damage to the windpipe.
Skipper turned back to Ben and narrowed his eyes. "You don't mess with my team, buddy." His flippers clenched.
"Ha, Mr. Flat head mad much? It's actually kinda cute, with the look on your face!" That was it. Skipper charged at the man, but before he had a chance to react, Ben grabbed his flipper and flipped him. He gasped as his head hit the ground hard, and Ben just laughed.
"Now, for the main course..." Ben laughed and lumbered over the Private slowly. He picked up the knife and shined it on his body, somehow not drawing any blood.
"And you... My boys... So many names. James, Mr. Tux and now this?! Why would you change so much? Almost like your ashamed..."
Private let out a pained gasped when Ben put his foot on Privates chest, pushing down on his broken ribs. Ben put all his body weight on it, forcing Private to struggle to breath, taking in slow, shallow breaths.
"You... poisoned all of them.." He struggled out between breaths. Ben just laughed.
"Ah, but that's the thing. I love you, son! You poison yourself!" Skipper rolled on his stomach to see what was going on, and gasped in horror. Ben raised the knife over Private's head, ready to strike. He let his hand drop, and...
"NO!" Skipper leaped forward and knocked over Ben. The impact forced Ben to drop the knife anyway, and Privates bloodcurdling scream filled the air.
Skipper spun around to find it had went into Privates flipper. It was pinning him down so he couldn't get up.
Kowalski and Rico, who were finally coming too again, saw Private and immediately rushed over to him. He took the knife out slowly, and ordered Rico to go down to the lab and get bandages. Rico did as he was told, and brought up a few, swallowing the rest for future notice.
Skipper angrily turned towards Ben, who was holding his head and glaring at him.
"Lets dance, flathead."
"Lets, egghead."
Immediately, Ben threw himself at Skipper, who quickly side stepped the attack. He punched the man in the nose, but he grabbed Skippers feet and flipped him on his back.
Skipper and Ben groaned in unison. But Ben got too sooner. He flipped backwards, clearing the railings that surrounded the habitat and landing perfectly on the bench back.
He took out a knife and started shining it with a cloth, then cooed out "Oh, James , remember DeathBlade? So many fun memories..."
Private cringed at the name, and hot tears started running down running down his face, either from the painful memories or the painful flipper. Unexpectedly, he grabbed onto Kowalski's feather and pulled himself closer to the scientist, crying uncontrollably into his chest. Kowalski put his flippers around the boy in a tight hug, and Rico patted the boys back reassuringly. Private felt safer with the two near him, like the warm body heat enclosed around him was a force field.
Skipper angrily turned back to Ben. "Stop torturing him and GET OUT."
"If you say so... I suppose." He back flipped off the bench, and was gone.
Skipper watched where he had been sitting for a few moments, then pulled his gaze back to Private, who had pulled away from Kowalski and was wiping a few tears away from his eyes.
"Are you alright, young Private?"
"Yes, Skippah. Thank you."
"Well you made history today."
Private looked at him with a confused scribbled across his face.
"Penguins can't cry." Skipper said smiling.
Private laughed, and was silent for a few minutes while Kowalski continued to look him over.
"I'm sorry guys."
Everyone stared at Private for his sudden outburst.
"Sorry for what, soldier?"
"If it weren't for me, you guys wouldn't have to deal with Ben. You wouldn't have to get hurt or put up for me 'cause I'm weak and..." Private trailer off.
Skipper stared at him for a long time. He didn't know what to say. Finally, he answered. "Your not weak. And don't feel bad. Your part of the team, Private. And when you came, the team became more of a brotherhood, a family than a team. So don't feel bad. Because we're behind you, 100%, and if he comes back, I'll... WE'LL protect you at all costs. Right boys?" Skipper said, kneeling down next to Private.
"Right, Skipper."
"Ye huh ye huh!"
Private was, once again, close to tears. But not because it hurt, because his heart was welling up from happiness. "Thanks guys. I love you like brothers." Private answered, fighting tears. To everyone's surprise, it was Kowalski who broke out first. Everyone stared at his.
"What?! It's touching!" He cried, and everyone, including Private, laughed.
Suddenly, Private jumped up. He ribs made a cracking noise, and he winced, but did his best to ignore the pain.
"Kowalski, the knife! Give me the knife!" Kowalski looked confused, but handed it over to Private at his order.
Private inspected it, and then nodded. "Come on." He said quickly, hoped on the railing and used it to boost him off
The confused penguins followed, all a bit concerned that Private shouldn't be doing this with his health.
"Private... Wait up!" Kowalski shouted as they belly slid, but Private was out of site.
Too all of their horror, there was a loud *BANG*
They all slid around the corner to find Private, sprawled on the ground, holding his flipper to his head. There was a pole in front of him, one that Alice must have put in last night, because it wasn't there yesterday.
"That's new..." Private groaned. Suddenly, his flipper shot up,still holding the knife. "Rico, can you get this into the park? Or anywhere out of the zoo."
Rico took the knife and chucked it over the wall. As soon as the knife hit the ground with a thud, there was a loud banging noise and a lot of smoke.
The knife was a bomb, and the bomb had exploded.
Skipper's mouth hung open with shock. "How...Did you know?"
SUPER LONG CHAPTER SO I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT! REVIEW! SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG I WAS ON VACATION!
