Sorry, guys, for the long wait. Terribly sorry. The next update will be much faster, I promise, seeing as I've gotten my computer back. : ) Anyway, here you go!

"How can that be?" exclaimed Kowalski. "If you're alive, it means that you've been missing for over five years!"

Billy rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Yeah, well, that's a long story to tell."

Private frowned. "But I thought Nathan said you were dead?"

Billy shrugged. "I thought he was dead, so …. it must have gone both ways."

Skipper shook his head. "What I wonder is how you came here of all places?"

The other penguin gave him a lopsided smile. "I just tried to stay out of human sight and somehow I found my way here. You can't imagine how relieved I am to meet NPTA agents instead of the civilians."

"But why did you attack us?" questioned Private.

Rico nodded vigorously. "Yeah, why?"

Billy smiled awkwardly. "Speaking about that, I'm sorry I jumped on you all –especially you, Kowalski. I guess after such a long time of constantly having to defend myself, I automatically attacked on an impulse."

Leo raised his brows. "This is certainly an interesting turn of events."

Skipper chuckled softly. "Greatest understatement of the year."

Billy looked at them inquisitively. "You guys talk about Nat as if you knew him personally. Have you met him?"

Skipper smiled knowingly. "He spent some time with us for a while when somebody nearly got us killed."

The team all glanced at Leo accusingly. The NPTA leader raised his flippers up in defense. "Hey, my associates told me that it would be a good idea, all right? Most of the other teams took it fairly well. I wasn't sure what to do with you all."

Billy frowned. "Wait a minute. I'm still confused here." He looked at Leo. "Who exactly are you?"

Leo smiled. "What you know as 'the Lion.'"

Billy's eyes widened. "Oh, so you're the actual-" he trailed off.

Skipper laughed at the penguin's expression. "Believe me. We felt the same way when we first found out."

Getting over the shock, Billy shook his head. "I'll wrap my head around that later." He smiled and looked around eagerly. "So where's Nathan?"

Kowalski shrugged. "Ever since he left, we haven't heard from him."

Private returned Billy's smile. "But he said we would meet again."

They turned to Leo, who smiled sadly. "Actually, that's the reason I came to talk to you all in the first place."

Skipper frowned, confused. "What do you mean? Has something happened?"

Private spoke up. "Nathan is all right, isn't he?"

Leo shook his head. "I'm sorry to say that I don't know."

"What do you mean?" said Billy.

"He usually sends us a status report every week, but it's been awhile since the last update. I fear that he might have been captured."