Tiny Tyrants

Part 4

Skipper: There must be a lair around here. Those trapdoors had to lead somewhere. Trapdoors…trapdoors. I might have an idea where. (Skipper tobogganed down the hallway and stopped in front of Sheldon's locker.) It must be in here.

(Skipper tries the latch, but it is sealed. Next to it is a little box. Sheldon was mad enough to put a code in there on the first day of hatchling school.)

Skipper: It could be anything. How can I ever find the password? How?

(The Sheldon's head appeared on the screen, looking as maniacal and mad as Kowalski doing fractions.) Sheldon: So you've come to rescue your friends. Good luck trying, pen-gu-in. They will be locked up forever, and when I have my revenge, you will all be my slaves. You will never guess my entry word is. It starts with a t and ends with an rapdoor. Bwahahahhaha! (screen blips away)

Skipper: That was easy. Trapdoor.

(The locker opens. Inside is total darkness except for, yes, another trapdoor, leading down underground to the secret lair.)

Password machine: Password.

Skipper: Trapdoor.

Password machine: Accepted.

(Skipper rode the lazy river of a trapdoor all the way down and plopped on a mattress below. He was here now.

Kowalski: Skipper! Over here!

(Skipper turns around, but can't see anyone.) Skipper: Kowalski? Speak up.

Kowalski: I'm right in front of you.

Skipper: Yeah, I see bottles. Are you inside one?

Kowalski: Yes.

Skipper: The pop bottle or orange carton?

Kowalski: The carton.

Skipper: That fiend. (Picks up the carton and….Kowalski is tiny. He starts laughing)

Kowalski: This is no time for jokes. I'm so small a pizza roll can eat me!

Skipper: I know. It is just so hard to take you seriously when your voice is so tiny. You're killing me. Just look at you.

Kowalski: Just find us already. The others are around here too.

Skipper: Whatever you say, mini Kowalski.

(There is a slight problem though. There are bottles everywhere, covering the whole floor. There were thousands, each holding lifeforms no bigger than fun size. Skipper starts by picking up Kowalski and kicking over a bunch of bottles, waiting for a screaming sound that would indicate someone was in it. Where were the other pizza rolls?)

Sheldon: BWAHAHAHAHA!

Skipper(eyes narrowing): So we meet again.

Sheldon: Oh yes. You can plan on that. It has only been…since lunch right? You will never find your friends now. In one minute this place will self destruct, and they will be bye-bye forever.

Skipper: Bye bye?

Sheldon(nodding evilly): Let's keep this conversation G rated. See you later. Or not. Don't forget your pizza rolls. (Floats up away through the ceiling.)

Booming voice: THIS LAIR WILL NOW BLOW UP MASSIVELY IN 59 SECONDS.

Kowalski: Come on.

(Skipper giggles)

Kowalski: And stop laughing. I know I'm small.

(The lair starts shaking and Skipper is looking everywhere. Time is ticking, and there are still so many bottles to check. The search is hopeless.)

Kowalski: Quick. To the computer. It might have something. While I was…QUIT LAUGHING! …in the carton I built a heat-seeking device. If I can plug it into the hard drive of this computer, I might be able to detect where the rest of the team is.

Skipper: I don't know what that means, but I don't care.

Booming voice: 33 SECONDS BEFORE A RIDICULOUSLY ACCURATE EXPLOSION HAPPENS IN WHICH THE PIZZA ROLLS WON'T SURVIVE.

(Tiny bite-size Kowalski starts jumping around on the keyboard and loving the large fire-hose wires around in the computer, shuffling back and forth like an ant attacking a rice krispie. Soon it is complete.)

(Computer beeps.) Password?

Kowalski: Oh no. We will never make it back in time now.

Skipper: Trapdoor?

(Beep)

Kowalski: Die?

Skipper: Candy canes? Mashed potatoes. Motor oil. Cards.

Kowalski: I know. It must be a word Sheldon thinks we won't guess. It needs to be a word we can never mispronounce, and the one word Sheldon can't say right. That is…If I catch you laughing one more time!...

Skipper: Pen-g-ins!

(Override accepted. Heat blinkers are shown in various spots in the room. Skipper runs around, swimming through bottles and picked up a little Julien, an adorable Rico, a bite size Private, and a miniscule Mort. All the tinies are safe, but they only have 9 seconds now before self destruct.)

Skipper: Rico, surprise me.

(Rico hacks up a bomb, and the penguins are blown away out through the exit in a cloud of smoke. They land safely in the cafeteria, and the ground explodes below them.)

Skipper: We did it. I have a feeling that won't be the last of Dr. Blowhole, but for now we can bask in our victory.

Rico: Yipeee!

Private: There is only one question left.

Skipper: Would you look cuter with a bow tie or a ribbon?

Private: No! I didn't think of this. We are still 3 inches tall.

Skipper: Right. And I'm a newt.