8 – The Never-ending Gender Rivalry

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Marlene finished cleaning up her cave. The others had just left her behind after they found out she was still zoo-bound. She let out a sigh and leaned the otter-sized broom against the cave wall. She left her home and stepped out into the sunlight. It felt nice, the sun's warmth against her fur, she smiled, but her expression didn't stay like that, it was transformed back into a frown after once again remembering the recent event.

She walked over to the grass in her enclosure and made it around to the back, where the wall was much lower. She could've gotten over it anywhere, but with the mood, that she was in, she couldn't bring herself to it.

With her head looking down to the ground beneath her, she walked towards the northern outer wall. She scaled it and once on top she looked out into the park. She stretched out one of her paws, reaching past the zoo's boundaries.

The fur on the appendage ruffled up and sharp claws shot out of her fingertips. She quickly pulled it back and cradled the paw. It was scary, the thought of not being able to control oneself… perhaps it was how Alexander was feeling right now.

Underneath the not so shifting (artificial) ice, Kowalski was just finished preparing everything for the girls. ˝The one four phenylene diamine and terephthaloyl chloride polyamide, will provide mobility as well as protection with its para-aramid properties.˝

˝Huh?˝ all the girls asked simultaneously.

˝*Groan* The Kevlar bodysuit will allow you to move as you normally do and protect you from any lethal blows,˝ the scientist once again explained.

˝Yeah, not to mention we totally look hot in them,˝ pointed out Stacy, striking a modeling pose and was soon joined by her twin. As Kowalski observed them he had to admit, he could've made the black skintight suits slightly bigger, but they did emphasize the curves more this way.

˝Ahem, I will also require you to carry these around with you at all time,˝ he took a small metal briefcase, which he opened for them. Inside were four syringes, ˝They contain an industrial strength antibiotic. In case of a bite from the monitor-˝

˝Please refer to him as Alexander. He's still our friend,˝ demanded Iris.

˝Right, in case of a bite from Alexander, you will have to inject yourself with one of these, directly into the heart, so it can get around the body as fast as possible. My analysis of the swabs have shown several bacteria, which could cause a lot of damage if not treated quickly,˝ each of the females took a syringe, ˝you will find a specifically designed container on the right sides of your belts.˝

They found it and put them away. ˝And now for the weapons,˝ the raven turned her head away at sound of the penguin, she couldn't even imagine hurting the water monitor.

˝No thanks,˝ Sienna said, ˝I'll go with what nature gave me.˝ She raised her paws and revealed he formerly concealed claws.

˝That won't work, he will regenerate from any wound, unless mortal. What you need is to either contain him or slow him down,˝ Kowalski took another briefcase from the table and opened it. Inside were two wrist mountable devices. He handed one to each of the badgers.

˝Becky, yours contains ammonium chloride, and Stacy, you have barium hydroxide octa-hydrate. Individually, the two crystals don't do anything, but when mixed, they produce an extreme endothermic reaction, which drops the temperature well below the freezing point of water.˝

˝Okay, THANKS!˝ they both said at the same time.

Kowalski smiled and then turned to Sienna and Iris, ˝Once slowed down, you two will knock him out with tranquilizer darts.˝ He handed each of them a small dart-gun. Armed and ready, they all left the HQ and joined up with Private and Rico who were patiently waiting at the zoo gates.

The moment the mohawk wielding bird spotted his feline girlfriend, his beak dropped and he began panting like a dog, or perhaps a wolf, considering the fact, that he howled afterwards. He received a slap to the back of the head, surprisingly, by Private.

˝Wow, that felt good, no wonder you guys do it all the time,˝ Private said. Standing at the gates, the chubby penguin just had to ask, ˝Kowalski, what are we waiting for?˝

˝Skipper, he said he had to say goodbye to Marlene before we leave.˝

˝Wait, does that mean – we're waiting for him – why don't WE just go – and you can check your portion of the park later,˝ suggested the alternating badger sisters.

˝NO! The orders are clear, wait for the captain,˝ Kowalski replied.

˝What's the matter, afraid a girl will show you up?˝ Sienna asked with a smirk.

˝Absolutely not! I just think, that we should-˝

˝Come on girls, let's go!˝ Iris ordered and flew, just few feet above the ground, so the rest of the team could follow her.

˝No wait!˝ the genius bird pointlessly called, but they were either out of hearing range or didn't want to listen. Either way, this meant, ˝*Sigh*, I'm in so much trouble.˝

Meanwhile, on the northern wall, Marlene sat, still looking at the endless plains of grass, ˝I thought I'd find you here,˝ she turned to find the lead penguin approaching.

˝Skipper, it's you. Shouldn't you be out there searching for Alexander?˝

˝They're waiting for me at the gates. Besides, I couldn't just leave without saying goodbye to my favorite girl.˝

Marlene smirked, ˝And just how many are there?˝ she asked, joking of course.

˝I only need the one,˝ he waddled over to her and sat beside her. He wrapped his flipper around her waist and she leaned her head on his shoulder, presuming, that he has them. The two sat there in silence, for several minutes.

˝I'm sorry, that the drug didn't work,˝ the otter said.

Skipper turned towards her and grabbed her by the shoulders. He looked her straight in the eyes, ˝Listen carefully to what I have to say; it's not your fault, you hear me? Do not blame yourself.˝ The penguin then gave her a kiss, which only lasted a few seconds, ˝I have to get going or they'll leave without me.˝

He got up and waddled away, leaving the otter, at least a little bit more cheerful, than she was before. She smiled watching him leave, despite the fact, that it meant she would be alone at the zoo with no one to talk to. The loud lemur music suddenly filled the air and she grabbed her ears due to the volume, ˝Well, no one NORMAL to talk to.˝

Skipper headed towards the zoo exit and spotted his team. Kowalski seemed on edge, like he was trying to hide from something, and seeing, that the girls were nowhere in sight, he quickly deducted the reasons for his behavior. ˝Where is team Double X?˝

Kowalski gulped, nervously before answering, ˝Well I think we can hardly call them that anymore. They've substituted their leader and besides, Iris is a bird, just like us, that means she doesn't have two X gender chromosomes, she has a W and Z,˝ he finished with a grin, but struck Skipper's cast-iron glare.

˝Private!˝ the leader called and the chubby bird followed suit, giving his taller teammate a slap.

The genius bird rubbed his cheek and then went with the truth, ˝They ran off before you arrived, I couldn't reason with them. They think this is a game.˝

˝That's exactly WHY I didn't want them out there, but at least Marlene's safe.˝

˝EY!˝ squawked Rico, angrily.

˝Don't worry, I'm sure your girlfriend's going to be okay to. Kowalski, is there any way we can contact them?˝ Skipper asked.

˝Yes, I forgot to mention to them that there are Bluetooth earphones in the containers on the left side of their belts. Let's hope they find them.˝

˝I'm sure they will Kowalski, as long as they're under the leadership of a responsible military trained soldier, they have my full trust,˝ Skipper proudly proclaimed.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the park, the view closes in on flower, a white powder is seen falling on it, and after a second long pause, a seemingly identical powder continues, soon, drops of a white liquid form on parts of the flower and it slowly withers. The view then backs up, revealing the two badgers playing with the devices they were trusted with.

˝Aw, that's so sad,˝ Becky said.

˝Yeah, why'd you have to kill the flower?˝ Stacy asked.

And just as an argument was about to break out, Iris jumped in, ˝GIRLS!˝ she got their immediate attention, ˝Stop playing around! We have more important matters to attend to,˝ the two nodded in agreement, ˝Good, now tell me is my eyeliner running? Because I think it is.˝ Sienna watched the three from the back and just slowly shook her head.

Back in the zoo, ˝Yup, my full trust,˝ Skipper repeated, ˝Now come on, we have some catching up to do.˝

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