Chapter 4

Thank you thank you thank you! Okay. To the story!

The bell had just struck noon, and Kowalski, Rico, and Private were huddled in the middle of their concrete ice floe.

"Where did Skippah go?" Asked Private worriedly. "Do you think the curse came back? Or what if he was captured? Or what if he was turned into a fish!" At this Rico started looking suspiciously at the fish he was holding. After a moments debate, he ate it anyway. Private continued, "Or maybe it was a badger! Or..."

Kowalski slapped him and cut him off. "Or what if he just left and he'll be right back. You know, like he does all the time."

Private answered ashamedly, "Oh right... But doesn't he normally tell us when he's leaving?"

"Yeees... But he doesn't have to. He's Skipper."

"But..."

Kowalski glared at him, "No buts. He'll be back. For now, operation cute and cuddly is a go!"

"You can't make operations. That's Skippah's job." Said Private sourly.

"Yeah." Agreed Rico from the sidelines, where he had been scrutinizing another fish.

Kowalski mocked them in a high pitched voice with a fake British accent, "That's Skippah's job..." He then returned to his normal voice. "Fine. Just wave to the people."

Several hours later, the penguins were still waving, and Skipper still had not returned. Alice was shepherding the zoo guests out the gate, and the evening light was casting an orangey glow over the zoo.

Throughout the afternoon, Private had become increasingly worried about his leader, and even Kowalski had to admit that his extended absence was a bit unusual. So, that evening after Alice had left, they left the habitat in search of the commander.

Their first stop was the park. They split up to look for clues. Within minutes Private ran across Fred.

"Ello, Fred!" He said cheerfully.

"Um, hi." Answered the squirrel.

"So, uh, have you seen Skippah?"

"Skipper? Um... No."

"Have you seen any penguins?"

"Yeah!"

"Besides me."

"Oh. Uh, no."

"Well, alright. You're useless. Cheerio!"

"I'm actually more of a Wheaties kind of guy."

Private ignored him and waddled away.

Rico had also found something. He was standing by the pond, staring into the water as if his life depended on it. Private saw this and waddled over.

"Did you find a clue?" He asked cheerily.

"Nooo..." As they spoke, a butterfly net flew out of Rico's mouth and landed in the water.

Private jumped back in shock, "What was that?!"

Rico pulled the net out of the water by the handle. "Fish." He explained, pointing to the net, which was full of wriggling fish.

"Rico! We're looking for clues! Not dinner!"

"Oh." Rico swallowed the net dejectedly, fish and all. They then waddled off to look for Kowalski.

On the other side of the park, Kowalski was interrogating a supposed witness. Rico and Private found him moments later. They were shocked to find him interrogating a short, fluffy cat.

"Where were you at 1200 this morning?" Asked Kowalski harshly. The cat was about to answer when Private rushed in.

"Kowalski, you have to leave this kitty alone. He's so cute! And fluffy!"

He then hugged the cat with all his might, only letting go when he heard the cat speak.

"Let go of me!" He shouted. "I am not cute or fluffy."

Three pairs of blue eyes simply stared at him in shock.

"What? Do I have something in my fur?" The cat licked his paw and then swiped it across his face. The penguin's beaks only dropped open wider.

Private finally spoke for them, "Skippah...?"

Kowalski shook his head and stepped in, "How could this be Skipper? That's highly illogical."

"Okay, well how do you explain the fact that he sounds just like him?"

"Obviously, he has stolen Skipper's voice."

"Oh, right, because that's Completely logical."

The cat cut in, "Kowalski, it's me! Skipper! Are you daft, man? The Private's right."

"Maybe some sort of mind swapping device..." Commented Kowalski in a shushed voice.

Skipper mocked him, "Maybe some sort of DARLA'S CURSE!"

"There's no such thing as magic." Scoffed Kowalski. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we are looking for a Penguin." He abruptly turned on his heel and walked away.

Private and Rico turned to Skipper, silently asking what they should do. Skipper saw this and answered the unasked question, "Oh, go on with him. I'll be fine. Who knows, I might be back at midnight."

Private's face lit up as if he had just gotten a brilliant idea. "That's it! Midnight! Meet us by the zoo gates at 2355, and you'll turn back into a penguin right before our eyes! That'll convince Kowalski!"

"Private, I hate to say this, but that just might work... Not that I really care if Kowalski's convinced or not, I mean, he'll just start geeking out about science and whatnot. But maybe he will find a cure with those smart pants of his."

A few hours later, Skipper, still in cat form, was standing by the zoo gates, waiting for his team. The clock read 11:55. Skipper started pacing, getting worried. 56. 57.

Finally Private ran out the zoo gates. "He's coming..." He panted, before plopping to the ground.

Kowalski burst out the gate a moment later. He poked Private triumphantly and said, "You're it!" He then looked up and noticed Skipper. "Oh, you again. Private, lets head back to our habitat."

Skipper glanced at the clock. 11:59. "Just, uh, stay out here a minute. You know, enjoy the park."

"Your obviously fake casual attitude is quite suspicious." Commented Kowalski, as he turned to walk away once more.

The clock started to chime 12, and both Skipper and Private shouted, "Kowalski!"

He turned around once more and gasped at the sight in front of him. The cat was transforming before his very eyes in a burst of green light. He stared, shocked, until it was over and Skipper stood in front of him.

The leader smirked at Kowalski's befuddled expression. "See. I told ya. Now, Kowalski, options."

And that concludes chapter four. Thank you for reading and reviewing and I love you all! So, you know what to do! (I'll give you a hint- it starts with an R and ends with EVIEW!)