I would advice to read 'King Julien is a girl's best friend' to understand this story completely.

Chapter 8-

With three of the penguins reunited, Skipper piloted his injured soldiers back to New York. As they returned to the zoo, the leader carried Rico over one shoulder whilst supporting Private as he limped. It was still dark and the zoo animals were in deep slumber. However, as they passed the otter habitat in order to get to their HQ, Marlene awoke.

"Hey guys, what you up to...WOAH! What happened to them?!"

"Can't talk right now Marlene, Rico needs instant medical attention" Skipper replied, continuing to march to the HQ. Blood dripped onto the path from Rico, whose face was drained pale and his tongue hung from his open beak as his head flopped.

"I've got some bandages if you need it?" she called after him. Skipper had disappearing around the corner without an answer. Private turned to the otter.

"That would be very kind Marlene" he smiled.

Private and Marlene joined Skipper in Kowalski's lab. He had the medic kit open and Rico was laid lifeless on the desk. Skipper had some thread in the needle, which he weaved in and out of Rico's flesh in order to stitch the open wound shut. With it closed, he used a cloth to wipe away the blood that stained Rico's feathers. Marlene handed Skipper the bandages, who then used it to wrap around Rico's side to protect the wound.

"Is he going to be alright?" Private whimpered, peeking over Skipper's shoulder.

"The wound should heal now and it shouldn't bleed anymore" the leader explained, "And I'm no Kowalski but I'd say that, though he's suffering from blood loss, the bleeding has saved his life".

"How so?" Marlene asked, unaware of what actually occurred.

"All the bleeding has bled out the poison, so he should be alright, as long as we can get him connected to a drip asap" Skipper continued.

"The hospital, they're always doing blood donations and stuff there" Private inputted, "We should go on a mission to grab a bag".

"No, you're staying here, your in no fit condition for a mission. You can stay and keep Rico conscious, Marlene and I will go and get the blood" Skipper demanded, shaking his head at the little penguin. With a sigh, Private agreed. "Are you up for it Marlene?"

"If it's what's needed to save Rico, count me in!"


The dark room suddenly brightened, blinding Kowalski with the harsh light. Blowhole's presence sent a chill up his spine as he strained his eyes to see.

"Are you in the right mind to do some science, pen-GU-in? I know how you love science, Kowalski" he grinned maliciously, driving forward towards the taller penguin who remained unresponsive. "Do you want to help me with my invention?"

"Why would I help you?!" Kowalski snapped, glaring at the villain.

"Well, I was plotting your death until I realised that I may need your scientific knowledge".

"If I'm not mistaken, your quite the inventor yourself".

"Indeed, I come up with the plans, my minions build it for me".

"So why am I needed?" Kowalski persisted.

"Because this invention is to kill your leader!" Dr Blowhole bellowed, "You know Skipper, tell me his weaknesses, the things I can use against him that'll lead him to his doom!"

"Why would I tell you?!"

"Well, I've been informed that Private and Rico have already been hit, therefore dead. Skipper, however, is still alive and is probably already on his way to your rescue. Come on Kowalski, you're friends with Skipper, would you rather a quick death or extensive torturing, like you're experiencing".

"I'm not going to be apart of Skipper's death, besides aren't you plotting the end of the world?" Kowalski complained.

"Yes, but if Skipper isn't killed now, he'll try and stop me"

"And no doubt succeed..."

"The point is, I need you to think of what would be Skipper's worst nightmare"

"I'll never tell you!" Kowalski exclaimed, remaining loyal.

"Oh, I don't need you to tell me. Remember when I injected you with that liquid? That's for mind control. I merely need you to think of what would kill Skipper and you shall become it" Blowhole grinned evilly.

"What?!"

"Kowalski, you are my weapon!"


At the hospital, Skipper and Marlene scaled the building to get to an open window. They leapt inside and pressed their backs against the wall. Skipper peered around the corner, looking for a way to get into the blood bank room. He noticed a receptionist at a desk, that was placed in between two door ways. The leader indicated instructions to the otter, before sliding on his belly to the desk side. Marlene scurried along the floor, following Skipper's lead. In suspicion, the receptionist stood up from her chair and glanced around the room. Skipper and Marlene quickly sneaked into one of the door ways, which lead to a corridor. They peaked into each room down the corridor, searching for the blood bank.

"Skipper" Marlene whispered, waving her arms to get the penguin's attention. He slid on his belly to where Marlene was stood. She climbed up on to his shoulder's and pulled down the handle. "It's locked..."

Suddenly, the double doors at the other end of the corridor swung open and a nurse walked in, pushing along a metallic trolley. Skipper and Marlene hid in the door frame, which had enough room off the corridor for them to stand unseen. As the nurse passed, Skipper karate slapped the key chain, snapping it and allowing the bunch of keys to fall into Marlene's paws. The nurse stopped and turned to see a penguin and an otter holding her keys. She widened her eyes in horror.

"You didn't see anything..." Skipper assured. The nurse nodded with a gulp, backing away with shaky legs, abandoning the trolley.

"Skipper, she's going to go and tell someone!" Marlene panicked.

"No time to knock her out, just get this door open so I can get back to my men" he ordered, allowing Marlene to clamber back onto his shoulders. She unlocked the door, pushing it open and entering with Skipper.

"Umm, Skipper, since when is there different types of blood?" Marlene gasped, looking up at the many rows of shelves.

"It doesn't matter, just grab one!" Skipper demanded. Marlene grabbed a bag of blood and scampered into the corridor, where Skipper was stood. Nurses and doctors fled to the scene, surrounding from both sides of the corridor. "Quick Marlene! The window!".

They dashed to the open window in front of them, avoiding the grasps of the medics. Skipper landed first and then caught Marlene in his flippers.


When they returned to HQ, where Marlene and Skipper found Private in tears, resting himself over Rico's body.

"Private? What's wrong?" Skipper asked, with a raised brow. Private turned his head to face Skipper, his eyes twitching with tears.

"Rico...Rico is dead..." the young penguin whimpered, bursting into tears. Marlene and Skipper looked at eachother. The otter dashed forward and hugged Private to comfort him. Skipper marched to Rico's body. He grabbed the bag of blood and inserted a tube into Rico's flipper to transfer the blood into his blood stream. Rico wasn't completely dead, but he was close to it. Every now and then he would struggle for his breath, breathing infrequently. With the drip attached to his team mate, Skipper stepped back.

"There's nothing more we can do. Not until he's regained consciousness when he's got enough blood".

"What about Kowalski?" Private sniffed, wiping his eyes and extracting from the hug.

"Oh yes, where's Kowalski?!" Marlene suddenly gasped.

"Your staying here" Skipper ordered, ignoring Marlene, "You can look after Rico, I'll go get him".

"No way! I can help!" Private protested.

"Not with a limp you can't"

"You can't go alone, like you say yourself, the penguin credo..."

"No dice Private, I'm not having you tag along when you're injured. Besides, I'll keep in contact, and you can let me know when Rico's awake".

"Erm..Where are you going?" Marlene asked, still unaware of what was happening.

"Truthfully, I don't know yet," Skipper explained, rummaging through a pile of Kowalski's inventions and pulling out a tracking device, "But I'll know in a second!"