A/N: Oh, for the foreign language in the last chapter, Rico's is Spanish and Kowalski's is Polski. Welcome back to another chapter of TLB!

Disclaimer: I don't own PoM.


The Last Bow

Chapter 1


New York City, present...

The sky is dark, clouds cover the earlier clear sky and chilly wind blows harshly. Private has been lying on his bunk for hours. The H.Q. is usually filled with arguments, mainly about Kowalski's inventions that are just waiting to make a mess, but now it's as quiet as a grave. No one was there except Private. "Where have they gone to now?" Private whispered.

Private turned at the calendar on the wall. It was April. Private smiled. One more month to go, Private.

Suddenly the hatch opens and three penguins jumps in. Private quickly pretends to sleep while the three waddle toward the table and sit down. Private can hear papers slammed to the table, and peeked a bit from his blanket. "I can't believe those 'young' agents. We've been playing the game for years. I thought they respect us. Those lily livers! I mean, look at Nana! She's old but she's the wisest MIX leader I've ever known."

Kowalski turns at Rico who shrugged before let out a sigh. "Yes, your grandmother is a wise leader," Kowalski scratches the back of his neck, collecting courage to continue. "Though she's actually 103 years old."

"Well, I know she's old, but what's important is what's inside her! Those 'young' agents have no rights to talk behind our back."

Kowalski is tired. Skipper was complaining and cursing during the whole journey back to the zoo, and apparently he's still not going to stop. "But Skipper, we're already in this game for too long. Don't you think they're right?" Skipper glares at Kowalski in disbelief, though Kowalski can sense some part of his leader agreeing on that.

"What do you mean, soldier?!"

"I mean we should consider it! Don't you think it's the perfect time to step out of the game? And we all know this day would come. Nana's ready, Private's ready, and we're ready. We've been preparing for this. It's time to step back." Skipper sighed in tiredness and waddles to his bunk. Private could tell that Skipper is sad and frustrated and mostly stubborn. But why? What is this game they're talking about?

"¿Qué debemos hacer, Kowalski?" Rico whispered.

Kowalski shrugged, definitely too tired for another conversation. "Nie wiem."

"We're done talking tonight," Skipper said. "Lights out." Private, noticing that it's done for tonight, drifted off to sleep. Kowalski and Rico follow their leader's order and heads to their own bunk. Before finally closing their eyes, Kowalski and Rico hear Skipper whispered, "Someone's listening. And like I said, this game isn't over."

Nigel sipped his warm tea. The weather is getting warmer, but London will always have some back up chilly winds. Fire is steadily burning the piles of wood like symphony and the scent of papers filled up Nigel's study. Nigel laughed. He had felt this kind of atmosphere more than a thousand times but he feels like something is missing.

Nigel closed the tiny red book he was reading and turned at a frame on his table. It's a picture of him and his sister, Gabriella. He remembers the tiny penguin that had always been cheerful in her whole life. The kind and patient sister, who was raped a few years back. And as the result, Nigel now has a cute nephew who will be a great leader like his step father had. Nigel frowns at the memory of Sam Fisher. He's the leader of Military Intelligence Section Penguin before Nigel and he died on a mission.

Nigel had trusted an agent of MIP to train his nephew and it broke his heart everytime the little boy asks for his father. Sam's not Private's real father but Private couldn't have a better one than him. "And he won't," Nigel said to himself.

The door of his study suddenly opens and his secretary, Lucy, came in. "Sir, Agent B is here."

"Send him in." A cute white rabbit hops in to the study and saluted to Nigel. His eyes are red as blood but his fur is sparkling like blue lights.

"Welcome back, Agent B. How was your mission?"

"It was mad, but every sweat is totally worth it, Sir." The rabbit gives him a flash disk, making Nigel smirks.

But Agent B is a weird one. So just to make sure, "Every intel is in here?"

"Yes, Sir." Agent B was sure that the plan will work, but something caught his eyes; a red book on Nigel's table.

"Perfect. Now you won't have a chance, Jack, because this flash disk will be the perfect knife to stab you and your two circus friends."

Private turns to see if there's anyone around, but the park is deserted. He took a frame from his bag and put it under a tree, then sits in front of it. "How are you? It's been a lot of exercises lately, but yesterday I got a whole day off and I remember that today is the day. You will be surprised to see how much Skipper turns grumpy at the lemur lately. It's almost like he will go mad!"

The wind blows a chilly sensation to Private but he keeps staring at the frame. Besides, soldiers are strong. And he won't look weak in front of his father.

"If you can hear me, please help me. You know what will come this May but I don't know if I'm going to choose Mother or my teammates. Uncle Nigel would know what to do. I really miss them, but somehow I don't have the gut to leave the zoo. Am I afraid?" Private sighed.

For awhile, Private only stare at the picture. He and his father don't have many resemblance, but Private loved him dearly.

"Everytime I was going to step forward away from the zoo, I feel like I have to let something crumble before getting another. I don't want anything to crumble. Skippah said I have to listen to my instinct but I just know that this tingling feeling is warning me of something."

"You got to give before you get, young Private."

"Oh, hi Skippah. Just talking to my father like usual." Now Skipper remembers what date it is.

April 26th

It was just a usual retrieval mission. A file was stolen from Sam Fisher, leader of Military Intelligence Section Penguin, or MIP. Skipper, Kowalski, and Rico were coming with Sam on the mission, but the file is only a wedding album and birth certificate of Sam's step son. The mission was going well, until Private's-

"Skippah? Hello?" Private shook his shoulders but he still won't respond. "Skippah!" the yell succeeded in waking the leader. Skipper woke up from his flashback and shook his head.

"Nothing, young Private. Now how about we grab some snow cones and start Operation: Mock Julien?"

"Aye, Skippah." Private took the frame and starts waddling beside Skipper to the park. "Happy Birthday, Father." Skipper heard his comrade's whisper, but keeps waddling.

Sometimes he felt guilty about it.


"Stanley! Get my glasses! These boys want to use their make ups for the ballet class!" Nana shouted to her butler, Stanley. He's only a few weeks older than his master, but sometimes he felt way younger than her. And he secretly hates her. First, because she keeps asking for ridiculous things. Second, almost every one of her guests went crazy after talking to her and somehow it's his job to help them recover from the craziness. Third, he's stuck in this job.

Rico is banging his head numerous times on the corner while Kowalski remains on his seat, banging his clipboard to his forehead. Skipper sent them back to MIX headquarters to confirm the location of the evidences of this case, and the old lady in particular still wouldn't budge since an hour ago.

Kowalski is sitting on the chair in front of Nana's work desk, facing her with red eyes, constantly yawning over lack of sleep, jet lag, and the endless tiredness that came everytime he talks to Nana. "How many times do I have to tell you that we're not having any ballet class?!"

"No, Kowalski dear. This building doesn't have any wallet valet. How many money are we talking about, though?"

Kowalski groaned and slapped his face before grabbing Nana's shoulder and yelled, "Nana, we need confirmation about the location of the evidences!" only to be punched in the face.

"Stop it, Kawasaki. I'm knitting a hat here!" Nana yelled back, then grabbing an unfinished hat out of nowhere.

Kowalski only stares at the lady for a moment, before bracing himself to say, "Isn't that dental floss you're using?" there, he said it.

"Oh, silly Kawasaki. Of course the toilet flush is working perfectly! But I won't go there just yet. Last night's special is chili and you don't want to know how long Stanley has been there. Phee-yoo!" Stanley raised his head at the mention of his name, only to see Kowalski, for the second time, rise from the chair and grabs the lady's shoulders.

"Old lady, Skipper needs the location of the evidences NOW!" Nana flinched at Kowalski's girly shriek, before finally say something that actually made sense.

"Then why didn't you tell me earlier, you knucklehead?!"

Kowalski let go of his grip, then starts banging his head to the table. "I've been trying to tell you that for an hour, lady!"

He didn't notice sooner that Nana had turned on her computer and was already typing. But he gaped when he does. "Opening our radar system. We already have intel of the whereabouts of the evidences but our spies hasn't give any confirmation about it. But we could track the flash disk with our radar system. Agent Kugy Marcel had it for a while but it was stolen when it was sent to H.Q. Luckily she installed a tracking device on it. I assume you know her?"

By the end of her sentences, Kowalski was still gaping and staring with wide eyes, but quickly responds to her question. "Yes. She hit me once with her missile prototype. So what do you got?" Nana turns back at her monitor, Kowalski joins by her side.

"Apparently, the flash disk is in 51°30′26″N 0°7′39″W, safe and sound. At least for 'their' side."

"It's in London?" Kowalski asked.

Rico stops banging his head, then turns to face Kowalski and Nana by the desk. "London?" Rico joined. He joined them and stood next to Kowalski. Nana nodded, confirming.

"In Thames, to be precise. The underwater MIP H.Q. If it's already about Sam Fisher it would only be in the flippers of one penguin." Kowalski and Rico looked at each other before finally nodding in agreement.

"Nigel."

"We need to inform Skipper. Thank you, Madam." Kowalski and Rico saluted at Nana and walk toward the door. But a voice stopped them.

"I wouldn't go back to Big Apple if I were you." Kowalski and Rico turned around to find one of their comrades standing in the doorstep of Nana's study on the left side of the room with both hands on her hips. If it wasn't because of the glasses, pink ribbon and the not-squeaky voice, they would've mistaken her as Mort.

"Why not, Agent Marcel?" Kowalski asked in a mocking tone.

Kowalski and Kugy always try to outsmart each other everytime they met, and MIX agents wouldn't be surprised if the arguments end up with them blowing stuffs.

And somehow most of the geniuses in the organization always has a name that started with the letter 'K'.

The mouse lemur walks towards the two penguins but stopped between them and Nana's table. "I wouldn't go there. No, not when Nigel had prepared an army to get you. This case is a serious family business for him, and I'm sure he wants Private to be a part of it. It would be dangerous if the boy knows." Kowalski and Rico looked at each other with a hint of worries in their faces, silently wishing that if everything went wrong, at least Private would be safe.

"I also find the person who stole the flash disk. Agent B stole the flash disk from me and has given it to Nigel," Kugy continued.

"So what's your suggestion, Kugy?" Nana recognized Kowalski's tone as 'what-do-you-know-miss-i-know-everything' tone and sighed, mouthing 'this is ain't gonna work' to Stanley from her desk. But she wouldn't bother to prevent the argument, so she propped her head to her hands and decided to watch.

Kugy's hands are now on her back, and she walks slowly towards the two-definitely-taller agents. "I suggest you shouldn't be there for long. Leave. Use the turbo jet to get back to New York, grab Skipper and Private, and then fly directly to London. Sneak to MIP headquarter, steal the flash disk, and get out. Stealth mode. Capisce?"

Kowalski folded his arms, seeing that he still has an opening. "And what if Nigel already opens the files in the flash disk?"

Kugy thinks for a while and then come up with an idea. "Don't worry. The flash disk is safely protected by codes that MIP tech agents don't understand. As far as I know, MIP only knows the three criminals in the flash disk as Jack, McGregor, and Hal. They have no intel about the real identity of the criminals but if they cracked the code, we'll be doomed. And another bad luck is that the creator of everything inside it decided to trap us by putting photos and informations of MIX new headquarters."

"You opened it once. Why didn't you just destroy the flash disk and keep us all from wasting our energy? And don't say for mission archieves because you could always make a copy first," said Kowalski. He was grinning already.

"Yeah!" followed Rico. He wouldn't mind not finishing one complicated mission.

Kugy felt hesitant as she was about to open her mouth. She looks over her shoulder and saw Nana nodding – it's an official approval. "Fine," she whispered as her gaze returns to Kowalski and Rico. "The flash disk is some sort of a bomb."

Rico's getting confused. "Kaboom?"

"Yes. It is protected by some kind of software that could change innocent computer techs into bombs. The trigger is any way of attempt to destroy and copy the content. That flash disk is our only way to proove who's the real bad guy. And Nigel will be angry if he know who killed his brother in law." Kowalski and Rico gulped while Nana's still listening carefully. "Which is why we need to act fast. Your top task of the mission is to retrieve the three items containing evidences of the crimes, so you need to take off for Big Apple as soon as possible. Agent B had probably told Nigel that I have cracked the code before and they will be looking for me. But I will try my best to give you time, because they would after me first."

Nana stood from her chair. "Well then Kugy, bring your mother Margaret and sister Ruby to Section R823 Operatives in Moscow Zoo. Buy some times for Unit Z13. The longer they search for you, the farther Unit Z13 can escape. Kawasaki, Rico, get the jet and fly to Central Park Zoo. Initiating Operation: Last Bow!"

"I told you, my name is Kowalski!"

Nana rolled her eyes. "What a mouthful name."

"But you said it right when you were talking about that wallet valet!"

"No I didn't. And that kind of jibber jabber is what gets you the nickname, Kawasaki. Now leave! Stanley! Get me a latex bath!"

"Shall I add paper soaps too, Madam?" Stanley offered. Nana didn't decline it.

Nana went outside her office, while Stanley prepares her 'bath', leaving Kowalski and Rico giving Kugy questioning looks. "What? She once had a jet fuel bath," Kugy said.


Denmark is quite sunny today, but not for Hans. Although the sun shines brightly, cold winds won't just leave Denmark. It was only after his third attempt that he could escape from Hoboken, but where he stands doesn't really add up to the victorious escape. He stood in a less-crowded park, staring at a tombstone.

"They always accuse me for your death. But I swear on my both flippers that although we disagreed, you two are my best chums! You know I'm innocent. You know and he knows! They banned me and I just can't take it anymore! I just want to be with you guys."

"That is a saddening confession, Hans." The puffin turned around. He knows perfectly who it is.

"Victor."

"Actually your confession is so saddening that you should be ashamed of yourself. You're pathetic, Hans! Villains don't whine!"

"Just get to the point and tell me what you want!"

"I'm here, because you owe me."

"I am not in the mood of paying my thanks to you. And besides, what you did to help me didn't last long." Hans walks past him but before he can walk further, Victor grabs him by the neck and pushes him to the tree. Hans winced as Victor strangles him more. But soon the puffin is surprised, because Victor dropped him and let him breathe again. Odd, Victor isn't the kind of person to give mercy.

"I will be embarrassed if I were you. You're a pathetic and you just don't deserve to die in my torturous flippers."

Hans didn't respond. He keeps sucking more oxygen and tries to look calm as Victor glared more viciously at him. His words were sharp as blades, and his glares are as poisonous as venom.

"I want your services. I have fishes to catch and I would like you to lead my search army."

"Who're the lucky fishes you're hunting?" Victor smiled, knowing that Hans will consider his offer.

"Murderers. Jack, McGregor, and Hal."

"Why would a vicious murderer like you want to hunt for murderers? Trying to keep your records unbreakable?" Victor laughed, and Hans just realized that Victor is cornering him more.

"Because they're murderers with my genes. In easy talk, they're like my sons. They would be dangerous for me because they would hunt for me as well."

"So you're afraid?"

"Anticipating, for the precise. They might as well get themselves in danger. I need to keep them safe but then finish them off. I need something that they have. And that thing is the key to be the commander of thousands of highly skilled army!"

Hans were terribly confused why Victor wants to do such thing but let it pass. "If you mean those three circus guys, I heard no one knows who they really are."

"Exactly. I know who they are but I will need some bait to get them to me. And the baits are the evidence of their crimes and mine."

"So what's your plan? Get the evidences before them?"

"No. Let's just sit and watch the fight for those items and see who wins. The winner will be caught and used as bait. So, do you accept?" Hans was about to say no when he saw a glimpse of Victor's agents behind the trees and Hans knows that if he declines, he would be dead too. So that left one more option.

"I accept."


A/N: Okay that's for now. This is probably the longest chapter so far. Review?

Thanks for reading!