Disclaimer: Penguins of Madagascar and all related characters are the property of Nickelodeon, DreamWorks, and any or all related affiliates. Characters of my own creation are my property and may not be used by others without express permission. This fiction was created for the purpose of having fun and being creative, no money is being made in any way from its creation and posting.
Hell Hath No Fury
Chapter 11
By
Wildgoose
(The metallic screech of a deadbolt is heard seconds before a door is thrust open piercing the darkness within the room with light from the hallway. A moment later a single light bulb hanging from the ceiling is switched on to reveal a one eyed squirrel and several other squirrels of various fur shades behind him. The one eyed squirrel looks about at the empty room and growls a bit.)
Red: I guess Blowhole wasn't kidding about the penguins passing down their ability to escape. (Glances over at the vent in the wall to see the grate lying on the floor and the duct itself wide open.) So, …the game's afoot is it? (Turns to the other squirrels) Post a guard in every hallway, …they'll pop out somewhere. (Some of the squirrels leave to carry out the order)
Squirrel: You don't think that they'll try to get out of the complex?
Red: (Annoyed) Well of course they'll TRY to get out, …but at the end of it all the shaft turns straight up for fifteen feet through the ceiling to a capped intake pipe. They'll have no choice but to find another way out. (Pause with a sinister snicker) Which means we can have a little fun with them until they do. (He gestures for the other squirrels to watch the vent until he gets back and leaves the room. A short time later Red returns with a tank strapped to his back and a long barreled gun attachment. He kneels down in front of the vent.) (Loudly with voice echoing down the shaft) I know you're in there, …come out now and I promise I won't hurt you. (Turns to the squirrels) You know, if I were Pinocchio somebody in China would have tripped over my nose by now. (Waits a moment and hears no response from the shaft) So be it then. (He ignites the tip of the gun attachment and directs it into the shaft) Does anybody in there need a light? (Red squeezes the trigger and sends an inferno rolling down the vent shaft as far as fifty feet and then lets up. Red then comes to his feet and directs the others to seal the room after they leave.) Well, …I'm going to go wait for your dad so feel free to come on out of there at any time. Other squirrels will be standing by to assist in your departure from this world. (Turns and leaves along with the others)
(Cut to somewhere inside the vent shafts as Sarah and the pups crawl along in single file with the only illumination coming from the occasional vent grate that they pass over.)
Yoshi: Sarah, …do you actually know where we're going?
Sarah: I'm not exactly accustomed to crawling about in vent shafts so I'm kind of winging this, …give me a little credit. However I do believe I have an idea where we are, Heidi's quarters should be around the next corner. Hopefully she's not in there.
Hannibal: Why are we going there?
Sarah: You need your weapons back, don't you?
Hannibal: Like a fish needs water, …lead on then. (Moments later they round a corner and come to a grate looking down into Heidi's quarters)
Sarah: It looks like we're in luck, …I don't see her.
Loki: Do we really need to avoid her? From what we've seen it seems like she's on our side.
Sarah: We don't really have a clue WHAT'S going on with whom, do you really want to take the chance of being wrong?
Loki: Point taken. (Sarah pops open the grate and they all climb down one at a time. Sarah Immediately goes to a closet and opens it to show not only Hannibal's weapons but that Heidi has an assortment of her own.)
Hannibal: (As he retrieves his own weapons and positions them on his body) Whoa, …this Heidi has some seriously nice hardware. (He recovers the pack of assorted gear that they had brought with them from home and hands it to Yoshi who straps the pack onto her back.) I had no idea that she studied martial arts.
Yoshi: Maybe she doesn't, …let's hope that it's just a collection and get moving.
Loki: Maybe we should take some of this stuff, …it might come in handy.
Hannibal: Do you know how to use any of it? (Loki shakes his head) With our luck you might end up helping the bad guys out by injuring yourself or getting us killed.
Loki: (Looks hurt) Come on, …I'm just trying to help.
Hannibal: I know, …but leave the fighting to me. I at least know what I'm doing; your job is to make sure your sister and your girl get the heck out of here in one piece. (Looks Loki in the eye) I'm counting on you, brother.
Yoshi: (Insulted) Um, …hello! I'm the smart one, remember?
Hannibal: You're great at making plans, Yoshi. However to carry them out in a situation like this requires craft, deceit, and guile. Things that our appropriately named sibling has in spades. (Pause) Loki, …listen to Yoshi's plans and follow them. She's been working on it since we got here so it's got to be golden. (Yoshi blushes a little) Yoshi, if Loki suggests that he has an idea on how to make your plan work then at least hear him out. If nothing else it should be interesting.
Sarah: It doesn't sound like you plan on coming with us, …what are you up to? (Pause) You're not going to go do something stupid are you?
Hannibal: I have different plans, …I have a score to settle with Red.
Sarah: That's crazy! (Looks at Loki) Loki, tell your brother he's embarking on a fool's errand.
Loki: I agree with Sarah, …this is a bad idea Hannibal. For everybody's sakes, …don't go. (Pause) This Red is an absolute nut job, …I've seen it firsthand. (Brings his tail about for everyone to see) Do you see this? That crack pot set me on fire for fun!
Sarah: He torched my forest and likely killed everyone I held dear for the same reason.
Hannibal: (Looks thoughtful for a moment) You have my sympathies, …but he killed someone I loved as well and I can't let it slide. Forgive me for borrowing a movie quote to make my point but "at the end of this day, one shall stand, one shall fall." (Pause) I assure you that I don't plan on it being me.
Sarah: You really think you can beat that psycho?
Hannibal: I've been trained by the best there is in the traditions of the samurai.
Sarah: (Defeated tone) When you try to take him down, …be sure to destroy his remote control. He can torch any forest in the world with it. If you can do that then perhaps his support will fall away and you'll have a chance.
Hannibal: That was kind of part of my plan anyway, …but thanks for the heads up. (Sarah approaches Hannibal and carefully removes one of his swords from its scabbard and looks it over a few times) You're as good as you say with this? (Hannibal nods) Should you defeat him, …run him through for me as well. Preferably as painfully as possible. (Pause) I'd like my soul to know peace as well.
Hannibal: I'll do my best to accommodate on one condition. (Sarah sighs and gestures the go ahead) I just need to know so I can sleep at night, …back in the closet. Did you and Loki…? (Makes gestures to imply highly personal activities)
Sarah: (Looks at Loki and they both begin to laugh) How easy do you think I am? He's cute and I definitely like him, ..but I've only known the guy for about a week. (Pause) We could hear your comments through the door and Loki suggested that we use what we heard to have some fun with you.
Loki: We ruffed up each other's fur to make it look convincing and put on an act when we came out. (Snickers) The look on your faces was priceless.
Sarah: I have to admit, …it was rather fun. (Looks at Loki) That's an important quality for a guy to have.
Yoshi: (Blown away) Wait, …so if nothing happened then you're still not convinced about Loki's preferences?
Sarah: (Smiles suggestively) Oh, …I'm convinced.
Yoshi: (Odd expression) …And I'm confused.
Sarah: Look, ..nothing HAPPENED in the way that you guys were thinking but I will say this. You're brother has some magic paws when It comes to ruffling up a girls fur. (Yoshi and Hannibal exchange glances)
Hannibal: I think I'm going to be sick with that thought.
Yoshi: (Amused) You be sick, …I'm curious. (Points at Sarah) When we get out of here I want details! (Sighs and shakes her head) I don't believe this, …my pudgy brother is a sex machine.
Hannibal: Life's cruel isn't it?
(Cut to the roof of the complex where Red is getting set up to wait for Skipper's arrival. In the background other squirrels are assembling a piece of equipment with Russian lettering on it.)
Squirrel: Boss, ..where exactly did you get a shoulder fired missile from? The black market? (Red shakes his head) …Ebay®? (Red shakes his head yet again) Well, …what then? Is there some online outlet store called villains R us or something?
Red: Craig's list®. (Red pauses in thought with wonder of the pups progress as the others continue to work in the background. Then he turns to look at the vent intake pipe.) You know, …I wonder if those otters have any idea what it's like to have their eardrums shatter. (Red looks about as the others shrug) Well, …they say that experience is the best teacher so let's bring school into session shall we? (Reaches into a nearby box on the roof and pulls out a grenade. He then walks over to the ventilation pipe extending upward from the roof and with a heavy kick he knocks the cap off with the clang of aluminum as it hits the roof. Red then pulls the pin on the grenade and drops it down the vent pipe and retreats to a safe distance. Seconds later an explosion reverberates through the pipe sending a burst of flame and smoke several feet into the air. After this, Red dusts his paws off to suggest a job well done.) …And knowing is half the battle! Class dismissed… (Red looks at the other squirrels who stare at him and then he makes a gesture for them to get back to work. Once he is convinced that they will continue working he walks toward the far said of the roof and begins staring at the horizon looking for any aircraft. Once far enough the away the squirrels begin to converse very quietly as they work.)
Squirrel1: I was in the operations center when Red was talking on the radio. This blowhole guy is scared to death of one of the penguins that's supposed to be coming to rescue those otters.
Squirrel2: Are you sure?
Squirrel1: As much as I can be from just overhearing.
Squirrel3: (sighs) If this penguin is as good as he sounds then we might stand a chance of getting out of here if we can keep from getting slaughtered ourselves.
Squirrel4: Is there anything we can do to help things along?
Squirrel1: (shakes her head) Not as long as Red has that remote, …the moment he thinks we're going to try something there's a special code he can enter which will set off the charges in every forest around the world. We'd ALL lose…
Squirrel4: How do you know?
Squirrel1: He threatened me with it once when he thought I was trying to poison him.
Squirrel2: (Smirks) Where you? (Squirrel1 smirks back but their conversation is silenced when Red begins to walk back toward them. They speak again when walks back to the other side of the roof)
Squirrel1: If this penguin can secure our families safety and get us home I'll find a way to have his baby, I swear. (The others look at her with disgust)
(Snap to Heidi's quarters as the pups are preparing to re-enter the vent shaft. An explosion echo's loudly through the vent causing everything in the room to shake and its four occupants to tumble to the floor.)
Yoshi: What the heck was THAT?
Hannibal: Something exploded in the vent shaft.
Yoshi: Really Hannibal, ..what was your first clue? (Pause) I meant what exploded and why?
Sarah: It would have to be Red, …he must know we're in the vents. (Pause) I don't suggest taking them anymore.
Loki: Well we can't just walk through the hallways and say hi to everybody. (Pause) Unless we do something extremely cliché and pretend to be Sarah's prisoners as she walks us down the halls. (Gestures to Heidi's weapons closet)
Hannibal: I think that would work for a whole five seconds before somebody questioned where we were being taken and why. Or worse, …we run into Hans.
Loki: Or Red. (Hannibal shakes his head)
Hannibal: I don't think so. He couldn't just toss an explosive into the vent shaft without blowing himself up too; it wouldn't travel far enough away from him to insure his safety. (Looks up at the vents) He must have DROPPED it in from somewhere. (Pause in thought) He must be on the roof.
Yoshi: (Ticked off) Well that puts a damper in our escape plans because that's where we were heading to try to get out of here.
Loki: So what do we do?
Hannibal: Sarah, …is there an exit to this place besides the front door? (Sarah shakes her head. Hannibal begins to look about the room in frustration.) I don't believe this, …who designs a structure with only one way in or out? (Everybody shrugs) Sarah, can you get us to the exit in this place through the vents? (Sarah thinks for a moment and then nods)
Loki: Wait, ..we can't go back into that shaft with Red dropping bombs down on us.
Yoshi: Maybe he's done with that. (Pause) He's on the roof which must mean that he's probably waiting for dad so he can't just drop stuff on us all day.
Loki: (chuckles) Dad's coming! (Bumps fists with Hannibal)
Sarah: (feeling left out holds her fist out) Hey, …I'm getting out of here too.
Loki: Sorry, …that gesture is a guy thing. (Smiles) For you I've got the magic paws… (Holds his paws up and wiggles his digits drawing a look of interest from Sarah)
Hannibal: NO! (Pushes Loki away from Sarah) We don't want to see that, Loki. Now put the magic paws away before I get sick.
Loki: (flutters his eyebrows at Sarah) To be continued…
Hannibal: So anyway, …the vents are still the best way to go for now so let's get moving.
Sarah: So you're coming with us after all?
Hannibal: The exit is the only way to get to the roof right now. So for the time being yes, …once we're out you guys go for cover. (Grits his teeth) Red is mine!
(Cut to The NY apartment. It is late at night and after having arranged the newly delivered flowers in some vases Kitsune and Ming take positions in the living room for Ming to begin her meditation and for Kitsune to keep watch. Ming closes her eyes and begins her breathing exercises when she suddenly pops her eyes open again at the sound of a picture frame on the nearby coffee table beginning to rattle. Shortly following the entire room begins a light side to side shaking that lasts a good twenty seconds or so before subsiding. Ming begins to look about the room in fear only to discover that Kitsune is still sitting on the couch looking unphased.)
Ming: (slight panic) What was THAT?
Kitsune: (Writes) What was what?
Ming: (Bated breath) The, ….the whole room just started shaking! (Looks about some more) Was this place built properly? It's not going to come down on top of us is it? (Begins to whimper) I, …I want to get out of here Mrs. Kitsune. I'm scared…
Kitsune: (gets up off the couch and picks Ming up to hold her close and then writes) There is nothing to fear, …it felt like a small earthquake. They happen almost everywhere from time to time.
Ming: They've happened to you before? (Kitsune nods)
Kitsune: (Writes) My home land sits on a seismically and volcanically active area of the world. We get earthquakes there all of the time. Some of them are pretty big, …those are the ones you need to worry about. (Pause) What we just felt was nothing comparably.
Ming: Will we feel any more of them?
Kitsune: Only time will tell, ..but if we do it's likely they will be smaller than the first one. Humans refer to the smaller ones as aftershocks.
Ming: (looks down and then back up at Kitsune) I'm still scared, …I can't help it.
Kitsune: (Smiles and then writes) It's alright, …I'm here for you. (Kitsune while still holding Ming begins to slowly walk about the room while lightly whistling a tune that she usually reserved for Keiko. After a while Ming begins to feel more relaxed and lays her head down against Kitsune's shoulder.)
Ming: You must be a good mom, Mrs. Kitsune. You're good at this sort of thing.
Kitsune: (writes) Are you ready to go back to your meditation?
Ming: Can I stay here for a little longer? I like this tune.
Kitsune: (writes) I think you like my comfortable shoulder better. (Sighs) Very well… (The scene fades to about ten minutes later as Kitsune Kicks Ming off of her shoulder citing that there was work to be done. Ming complies with light protest and sets herself up to meditate again. Before long she finds herself testing her abilities by connecting to those she knew by calling upon memories she had of them. At one point Ming recalled a young human woman who had tossed her a fish some weeks earlier at the zoo and she suddenly found herself connected to the woman while she was engaged in highly intimate acts with her mate. The sights made Ming want to cover her eyes and ears as well as the words that could be heard being called out by the woman made Ming want to run away and hide. Ming covered her head with her paws and began to think out loud.)
Ming: Eww, …this is so nasty! I've got to get out of here, ….other people! I have to think of someone else… (Before Ming can change the connection the POV of the woman changes to look at a mirror on top of a nearby dresser giving Ming full view of what was transpiring) OH MY GOD! I'm not old enough for this yet! (Ming did her best to concentrate as the sensations she was picking up from the woman were at times almost overwhelming. (After a few moments Ming is able to turn it off as Kitsune had shown her and she stands there in the dark void panting and trying to regain her composure. She hears the ghostly sound of the speak and spell as Kitsune inquires as to what had happened.) I'd prefer not to talk about it until I'm at least two if you don't mind. (Pause) For now though I feel the need for what I think the humans call a cigarette. (The sound of the speak and spell scolds her as Kitsune declines the request.) It was a joke! I'll fill you in someday, I promise. (Pause) Probably after my mother is dead though, …I don't think she could take hearing about this. (After a few more moments Ming tries to think of her siblings and finds herself connected with Hannibal.)
(Cut to inside of the blues helicopter shortly after they have gotten into the air after refueling.)
Skipper: All right people, ..this one is for all the marbles.
Private: What marbles, …we're in a helicopter. They'd have gone rolling all over the place. (Skipper wipes his face with his flipper and sighs. Before he can say anything Nigel gets up from his co-pilot seat and comes towards the back.)
Nigel: No worries, …I've got it this time! (Slaps Private very hard prompting everyone to stare at him) What? It was my turn! (Everyone exchanges glances with each other as Nigel heads back to his seat)
Kowalski: I um, …I suppose he has a point there. We HAVE been hogging the slapping lately.
Skipper: (groans) Fine, …I'm sure we're all mature enough to share around here.
Private: (looks about nervously) I think I'll keep my mouth shut for a while.
Skipper: You'll do no such thing, Private. I won't have anybody complaining to me that they didn't get their turn. Now man up! (Pause) Now like I was saying, …everybody remember the plan. Once we're in range we blast open the front door and tear that place a new butt hole until we find the kids.
Babs: I don't think you were ever clear on exactly what kind of air support you were looking for.
Skipper: It will be whatever we call up to you for, ..so keep the channel open.
Digger: If we're to loiter until you call for us then you'd better not take to bloody long or we're going to have to refuel again. As it stands, I think whomever you lifted that card from is going to ream you for what you put on it already.
Skipper: We'll worry about that when we get back, …my kids are worth whatever Kitsune cares to dish out at me.
Toby: Do you really think this Hans will roll over so easily? I mean you don't REALLY expect to just walk in the front door.
Skipper: I expect that Hans will throw everything he's got at us but in the end he'll find out that he messed with the wrong penguin's family.
Digger: Right then, …let's get set up people. Don, Toby, get Skipper and his guys geared up and ready to go over the side. Mel, arm weapons and be prepared to respond at a moment's notice. (Pause) Skipper, …if something should happen to you I want you to know I'm going to move in on your mate. Anybody who can put up with you must be a real prize. (Skipper does a double take and offers up a death stare. After a moment Digger cracks a smile.) I'm just jerking you mate, …be safe and come back to us with those kids. (Skipper grumbles and looks away)
(Cut to the control center in Hans's bunker. A squirrel monitoring the radar calls out)
Squirrel: That helicopter is back sir, …I think it's the penguins again.
Hans: (grumbles) Is he actually coming this way this time or is he going to take another detour?
Squirrel: It looks like they're on a straight line coarse coming right at us from the north.
Hans: We're SURE this time? (The squirrel nods) It's about time. (Hans picks up a hand held radio and calls Red. The scene snaps to Red as he sits in a folding beach chair with his eye patch draped over his good eye to block out the sun revealing the closed up scar from where his other eye used to be. Upon hearing the radio Red repositions the patch back over his bad eye and picks up the radio.)
Red: Go ahead…
Hans: Skipper is finally coming, ...get your people ready to give a warm reception.
Red: (Stretches and grunts) Have no fear Hans, …Russian hospitality is world renowned.
Hans: That's exactly what I was counting on. (Pause) Now what about that other dirty little deed?
Red: (grumbles) I'm still working on it.
Hans: What do you mean you're still working on it?
Red: They've managed to escape for now, …but I will track them down.
Hans: Well whatever, …worry about Skipper for now. I want him! (Pause) Hans out… (Red puts down his radio and gets up from his chair looking over at the squirrels that were with him and have been standing around since completing their work on the hardware.)
Red: Wow, …you guys look like you've gotten some sun. (Chuckles) Skipper is coming, ..let's get to work. (The squirrels begin to reposition the weapon according to Red's instruction and the scene snaps to inside the blues helicopter)
Babs: (looks over at Nigel) Take the stick for a spell, would you? I've got to get up for a few. (Nigel nods and takes the controls before Babs gets up and heads for the rear of the craft.) Private, …have you got a minute? (Private looks confused for a moment before following Babs to the rear of the chopper)
Private: If you're waiting for your turn to slap me you're going to have to wait a bit. I haven't said anything to warrant it yet.
Babs: (Leaning up against the back hatch) Relax, …I'm not looking to hit you. (Pause) Not yet… (Pause) I just wanted a moment to talk to you before the dung hits the fan about here.
Private: Really? Talk about what?
Babs: (shrugs) Look I'm not good at being all girly and sentimental so give me some space here. (Pause) You guys are getting ready to rush headfirst into trouble and I just wanted the chance to say take care of yourself, …and watch your backside and so forth. (Pause) You know, …just in case.
Private: Just in case, …we don't get the chance to speak again?
Babs: (Shrugs) That's a rosier way of putting it.
Private: (smiles) Worried for me already, are we?
Babs: Like I said, …I'm not good at this sort of thing.
Private: I wouldn't worry, …it looks like you're doing a dandy job as it is. (Babs offers a smile and the looks about to make sure no one is watching before giving Private a hug. A moment later Digger calls for Babs to get back up front.)
Babs: (Rushes forward and jumps back into her seat) What's the problem?
Mel: (Speaks into the com) My threat indicator is going berserk, ..it looks like somebodies got us painted.
Digger: What direction?
Mel: Twelve O'clock low, three kilometers out. (Begins to strap on his harness)
Digger: (watching Mel) Good call, …everybody strap in! (A moment later as everyone is following orders a claxon sounds on Mel's console accompanied by a repeated feminine computer voice saying "missile, missile,…missile, missile… Up front Babs and Nigel's eyes have gone wide as a white contrail arks up from the ground towards them and they both freeze in fright. The moment is broken as Skipper dives into the cockpit and shoves the stick forward.)
Skipper: What are you doing woman, Dive for the deck! (The craft begins to pitch nose to the ground and descends rapidly) Kowalski! (Kowalski is already in Mel's space grabbing the controls)
Kowalski: For God's sake man, FLARES!
Mel: You never told me anything about flares!
Kowalski: Well is NOW good enough for you? (Outside of the craft a fantail of white hot flairs is dispensed behind the helicopter as it dives for the ground. The decoys are successful as the missile streaks past above and behind them. Skipper then slaps Babs)
Skipper: Snap out of it and pull up! (Babs comes out of her fright and pulls back on the stick while pushing max throttle and pitch on the rotors. The scrape of tree branches are heard against the underside of the hull for an instant just before the helicopter begins to gain altitude. Babs alters course and begins to head away from their destination.)
Babs: Nigel, …take the controls! (Once he has them she lets go and allows her flippers to tremble)
Skipper: Are you alright, soldier?
Babs: I need a minute… (Pause) I can't stop shaking…
Skipper: You're alright, ..it'll pass. (Pause) Never been shot at before?
Babs: Shot at yes, by small caliber stuff. (Pause) I've never stared death in the face though… (Pause) I saw my life pass before my eyes, …it was short and it sucked.
Skipper: It always does… (Babs flippers begin to calm and she takes the controls from Nigel who reacts the same way.)
Babs: Why the heck are you so calm? Have you been shot at before?
Skipper: Lady, I eat death for breakfast with a side of fish and fire it back out into the toilet before lunch. It's just something experience teaches you to get used to.
Babs; So you have been shot at?
Skipper: (Parts some of the feathers on his chest to show a healed wound) I've been shot! I promise you it wasn't fun, …but it's all part of the job. (Looks back at the others) Is everybody else okay? (They all nod) Then let's get back into this fight before they have a chance to reload. Kowalski, report!
Kowalski: All systems are still good, but let's hope that Hans doesn't have another one of those.
Skipper: Why?
Kowalski: Because we're all out of flares and upon impact we'll tumble from the sky in a flame broiled agonizing death accompanied by the aroma of aviation fuel, machine parts and burnt feathers and flesh. …And that would be BEFORE we actually hit the ground at terminal velocity.
Skipper: Okay, …important intel there. Something we'd definitely like to avoid today,thanks Kowalski!
Skipper: My pleasure, Skipper.
Skipper: Babs, …bring us about and drop to map of the earth. With any luck they can't aim that low. (Babs redirects the craft and descends to just above the trees as they head back to the bunker.) Mel, …prepare to put some hurt down on that bunker. But first, ..let's shake up the roof a bit so they can't fire again.
Private: But we can't hit the roof directly, …we could bring it down in the pups.
Skipper: We're not going to. (Pause) Babs, …how well can you aim those rocket pods?
Babs: They're just point and shoot weapons.
Mel: They're unguided so it would be like a shot gun blast, …the closer we are the tighter the pattern will be.
Skipper: It will have to do, ..when I give the word I want Babs to try to put them down just over the roof of that bunker into the terrain beyond it. That should keep Hans's people ducking long enough to get in close and blast open the door. Once we're in we'll have our hands full so keep the channel clear. (A few more minutes pass by before Mel confirms that they are within firing range)
Mel: The pods are ready!
Skipper: Give them both barrels, Babs! (With a deep breath Babs squeezes the trigger. Cut to outside the chopper as the rocket pods erupt sending scores of unguided rockets streaming out ahead to their target.)
Chapter 12 coming soon…
Comments and suggestions are always welcome.