"When's the antidote going to be ready, K'walski?" Private asked, poking his head into the lab.

"Oh, the antidote!" Kowalski exclaimed, "I completely forgot about that. I was working on the Rico Interpreter."

"The Rico Interpreter?"

"You know, so Rico can finally be an opera singer."

"Oh yes, though I'm not sure we'd like what Rico would have to say." Private replied. After all, if Rico's actions were any indicator of his language… Well, he'd be slapped a lot for using 'angry words' in front of the Private, "Anyway, whenever the antidote's ready…"

"About that, I'll need the Anti-Party-er, and well, skipper has it," Kowalski replied, "I asked him for it, and well, he said it was still safer if he kept it. Would you mind asking him?"

"Does Skipper know the Anti-Party-er is essential to the antidote?"
"No more than you did forty seconds ago." Kowalski replied.

"Did Skipper give it to you?" Kowalski asked as the younger bird returned.

"'fraid not," Private replied, empty winged, "He says if it ever got into the wrong hands, hinting at yours and Ringtail's, the results wouldn't be good."

"Very funny." Kowalski commented dryly.

"He really did say that," Private replied, regretting his truthfulness as he realised he may have hurt the scientist's feelings.

"Lieutenant?" the two penguins immediately shot to their feet at the sound of the voice.

"Good morning sir." The two replied in unison.

"Cut the flattery," Skipper barked, "Alright, at ease soldiers," The two penguins relaxed, but not too much, "You are dismissed, Private. Now, lieutenant?" the younger penguin left the lab, giving Kowalski a pitying look.

"Yes sir?"

"How do you repair a PIR?"

"A passive infra-red sensor?"

"A Portable Invisibility Ray. How do you fix a damaged control chip?" Kowalski was surprised Skipper even knew what a Portable Invisibility Ray was, never mind the basics of how one worked.

"If you want I can replace…"

"If you can tell me how and give me a replacement that will suffice." Skipper replied curtly. Kowalski slapped himself; this had to be some kind of bizarre dream. How did Skipper even get an invisibility ray? Kowalski looked at the shelves stocked with inventions behind him. No, all of his were there.

"Am I boring you, lieutenant?"

"No sir." Kowalski's wing glided across his workspace until he found the desired part, "Just slide connect this to the…"

"It's an A155." Skipper replied.

"An A155?!" Kowalski could barely believe what he was hearing. They were practically antiques. Nobody used them. He'd had one, but he'd cannibalised it for parts.

"Yes Lieutenant. Would you like me to describe it for you?"

"No… it's just, I don't have a replacement part. I used the control chip for the Anti-Party-er," Kowalski replied, "If you want, I can take a look at it and see what I can improvise."

"I'll check the farm. The Blue Hen might have one."

"The Blue Hen!? She'll…"

"I am perfectly capable of taking a small chip." Skipper marched out of the HQ.


Marlene swam laps across the pool, paying no attention to what she was doing, her mind elsewhere. Swimming often helped her to relax, though she doubted that even Private would have any comforting effect on her. It had started again. Skipper was, as Kowalski put it 'not himself'. Again. She wasn't sure what was worse: when he outright ignored her for days on end and she would wish for nothing more than for him to simply talk to her, or when he did speak to her, and would say something that would make her wish he'd never said anything. Private had told her repeatedly, this wasn't Skipper talking, but what if it was? Kowalski had explained that Skipper was simply devoid of emotions, but she had seen the concern on his face.

"Skipper?" She looked up at the penguin passing the habitat.

"Ma'am?" He replied formally.

"It's a lovely day today, isn't it?" Marlene knew Skipper, even in his normal state, was no fan of small talk, but she just wanted to talk to him. To have his attention.

"Yes. It is."

"So… how are things at the HQ?"

"Not quite up to standard."

"No?"

"No."

"Um…" Marlene struggled for something to talk about.

"Is there something you would like to ask, ma'am?" he asked, indicating that his time was not to be wasted.

"Oh yes, the entrance to the sewer, I think it wasn't sealed when Kowalski and Rico took the wreckage of that, what was it, a rocket boat? Anyway, could you check it?"

"Alright, but I caution you that next time, all security matters must be dealt with first." Skipper climbed over the fence and into the habitat. He inspected the manhole, "It looks like it is welded shut, ma'am."

"Skipper…?" Marlene had had enough of this. She knew somewhere, no matter how buried away, skipper still cared. Maybe she didn't need those crazy potions and gadgets. Maybe…

"Ma'am?!" Skipper exclaimed as Marlene threw herself at the penguin, kissing him on the beak. Finally, he pushed her away, though instead of the lecture about wasting time she was expecting, he looked around cautiously, making sure they were alone, "I'm sorry Marlene, but I'm working on something," he looked down at his feet.

"I don't understand…"

"You don't need to." skipper gave her one last smile, before climbing over the railing. Immediately, all traces of any effect the conversation had on him disappeared, and resumed his course.


The penguin trudged through the empty station, its graffiti covered walls and 1940s décor a perfectionist interior decorator's nightmare. He slid under the disused turnstiles and climbed the steps where Blowhole was waiting.

"What are you doing here?" Blowhole asked the penguin.

"I followed the instructions," The penguin replied, "But something went wrong…"

"The confession makes no difference."

"They won't trace this back to me?" The shorter conspirator asked nervously.

"No they won't. Why would they?"

"Well, doesn't the confession take them one step closer to what's really going on?"

"No, it's actually better for us. They think the case is closed now, and won't look any further."

"Oh. Alright."

"I've got another meeting in a couple of minutes. Next time, don't contact me about something so trivial." The penguin turned back to the station, returning to the tunnels.