Chapter.6

Skipper climbed out of the hatch, running to where he think he heard the scream, not stopping for anyone, he was breathing really heavilly thinking to himself "it couldn't be, it couldn't be" over and over in his head. Skipper stopped when he saw a group of animals gathered around. hand on chest trying to regain control of his breathing, just staring at the crowd hoping that it just wasnt true.

Slowly Skipper started moving towards the crowd, feeling scared about what he might find. Skipper started shaking as he moved closer blocking out the whole world and trying to keep himself calm. He was brought out of his thoughts when he was met with Marlene who had a sad look on her face "Skipper" she gasped. "Marlene" he said "what happened", "Skipper" Marlene sighed again. She jumped in the way as Skipper tried to move forward "Skipper don't". He pushed passed her making his way through the crowd as Marlene shouted following close behind "Skipper DON'T!".

It was to late as Skipper got to the front and he just stared at the horrid sight in front of him as tears began to make their way down his face. Kowalski was lying on the floor his feathers were singed and his flippers were badly burned with blood trickling on the floor and his beak had turned almost completely black.

Flashback

Kowalski saw julien trying and failing to get power working "see what i mean" as Maurice said to Kowalski "ill take a look." As they approached julien he turned with a smile waving "oh hello smarty pants penguin" he turned to Maurice angrily "Maurice where have you been." julien asked "uh" he thought "nowhere" laughing nervously. "look Kowalski is here to help us. Julien lightened up "oh goody you get my blendy thingy working again and fix all this mess" Kowalski sighed moving to get everything in the right place but julien had done so much damage that the plugs were throwing sparks everywhere and when he tried to put a plug in the right place he got heavily electrocuted as he screamed in pain and collapsed on the floor with a thud as he fell unconcious.

End Flashback

Skipper moved towards Kowalski's lifeless body and kneeled down next to him lifting his head into his lap, he placed his flipper under his kneck to try and feel a pulse when he let out a violent cough "Skipper is that you" it was barely audible "yeah im here". Kowalski's breathing became shallower and he said "Skipper, please do something for me" he whispered" "anything" Skipper replied "please..please take care of the others, make sure that they are happy and they have the life they deserve" more tears came down as skipper listened "Kowalski don't talk like that, we can help you" Skipper begged. "just tell me what to do" Kowalski couldn't breath "there is no time for me" tear running down his face "Promise me" he begged "please" he was beginning to sob as did Skipper "I promise". "Private looks to you as a father, please take good care of him and watch over Rico and Marlene" He gasped "I love you all". Kowalski said as he closed his eyes and his muscles relaxed as he fell limp in Skippers flippers.

Skipper started sobbing as he began to gently shake Kowalski in hope to try and wake him up "Kowalski" he asid "Kowalski, Kowalski please, wake up". he whispered. Marlene saw the whole thing and walked over to Skipper "Skipper" she whispered as she kneeled down next to him and placed a hand on Skippers shoulder "Skipper" she whispered. "Hes gone" he said looking down at the body in his flippers. Skipper turned to look at Marlene and repeated it again slightly louder "Kowalskis gone" he said as the damn broke and he collapsed onto Marlene and just cried. Marlene wrapped her arms around him soothingly rubbing his back and just let him cry. "it's okay Skipper" she whispered trying to keep herself under control "it's gonna be okay" as her voice was beginning to break.

A few minutes had passed, Skipper had calmed down a bit so Marlene helped Skipper up of the floor and walked him home "come on, ill take you to my place so you can get cleaned up" .

HQ Rico and Private

Three hours later Private had switched the TV off and was ready for bed, he looked around the room noticing that the HQ was very quiet "thats strange, where is everyone" he asked himself. He noticed Rico was already in his bunk snoring very loudly. he looked at the clock it was ten o clock. Private looked around to find no sign of Kowalski or Skipper.

Private turned around when he heard the door open and in walked Marlene. Private smiled "oh hello Marlene" he said in his happy cheery self "Don't suppose you have seen Kowalski or Skipper have you" He noticed Marlene look down to the floor at the mention of Kowalskis name. "Marlene" he said "Marlene whats wrong".

Rico woke up as he heard the commotion and walked up to Private when he saw Marlene rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. "Skipper is at my place" Marlene said "can we sit down, I have something to tell you". Private and Rico looked at each other worried. they each took a seat. Marlene took a deep breath. "it...it's Kowalski" she said trying to compose herself. "Kowalski" Private had a look of sadness on his face as he realised what Marlene was trying to say and Rico just sat there. she was about to speak again when Private held up a flipper to stop her as he started to cry "Marlene, please don't". he cried. "Marlene started to cry too as she said "Kowalskis dead". Private lost all colour in his face as he tried to control his breathing, Rico caught him before he collapsed to the floor and lost it. Rico pulled him close, rocking him back and forth to calm him down and Private just curled up in his flippers and he just cried. Rico looked toward Marlene and noticed that she was cying too and held out his other flipper for her to join the embrace as they all comforted each other.

Private cried himself to sleep that night so Rico lifted him up and put him in his bunk, covering him with his blanket and putting his toy lunacorn with him. Rico went back over to Marlene who was sat on the couch he whispered sitting down next to her "re ou okay". She looked at him wiping her face "okay I guess, im worried about Skipper" putting a flipper around her and pulling her into a hug. "i walk ou home" she nodded. Rico made sure Private was okay before leaving the HQ.

Marlenes Habitat

Marlene and Rico were just outside her habitat when Rico was about to head home, when they heard an ear piercing scream. when they both ran in and saw Skipper quickly sit up in his bed in a cold sweat, a tear stricken face and breathing very heavily. They ran over to him and sat down in front of him to try and get him to focus. "Skipper, calm down it was a dream"he stopped "it was a dream" she repeated in a more soothing tone pulling him close. Rico left to go and check on Private. "Skipper move over" he didn't question her as he moved over and she jumped in beside him. Pulling him in close again "Go to sleep Skipper, Go to sleep." They both felt strangely safe in eachothers embrace as their eyelids felt heavy and they both fell asleep. Yet they didn't know that there was worse to come.