Chapter 11 Remake
Well, here comes the trial. Prepare yourselves for Hazel's backstory!
Skipper sat down at the large desk, with a wig on his head and a gavel in his hand. He called up his first speaker. "Rico, please step forward." Skipper then held out a large book, which read Encyclopedia of Fish on the cover. "Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"
"Yep."
"Alright. What would you like to say as defense attorney?"
"Ehhhhh... Nuhtn!" Rico then returned to his seat.
After exchanging a few bewildered looks with the others, Skipper had his conclusion, "Looks like she's guilty. Case closed."
From the witness chair, Private spoke up, "Skippah, might I be the defense attorney?"
"Fiiine..." groaned Skipper, pulling out his Fish Encyclopedia once again.
After Private had been sworn in, he turned to face his colleagues.
"We are here this morning to determine the fate of our friend, Hazel."
"Friend, Private?" Asked Kowalski from his seat.
"Yes, friend. May I continue?" Skipper nodded his head in consent, and Private continued, "We all know what happened, but I'd like to hear both sides of the story, from the prosecution and the defense. Kowalski, will you please step forward?"
After he had taken the oath and sat on the witness stand, Private asked, "So, please tell us all what happened at Hans's lair."
Kowalski groaned, but began his tale, "Skipper, Rico, and I were fighting Hans, and frankly, we were losing. I thought it would be the end of us, until Hazel arrived. She had been nothing but nice to us up to that point, so naturally I assumed she was there to help us. Obviously, she wasn't. She knocked out Rico and revealed to us all that she was working with Hans. After further fighting, she had knocked out both Private and Skipper. Then she and Hans approached me with a large, lethal looking gun. They said they were going to kill me, but at the last moment Hazel turned the gun on Hans and shot him."
"Well, thank you Kowalski. You may return to your seat. Hazel?"
She slowly moved to the witness chair and took the oath on the encyclopedia. Then she turned to face Private, who was ready with a question.
"Please tell us, from your perspective, what happened at Hans's lair?"
"Just at the lair? Kowalski said exactly what happened, I... I did everything he said I did. Yes, I did it. I killed Hans..."
"Oh. Well, um..." Stammered Private.
"If you want an explanation, I need to start back a little further. Would you like me to start from the beginning? It doesn't change the facts... But it might help you understand."
"Oh, yes please."
"Well, you should take a seat, this'll take a while."
-BEGIN FLASHBACK-
I woke up that morning to a bright, sunshiny day, just like any other morning. I lived at the Beardsley Zoo, in Connecticut, at the time, with my Mother, brother, and two sisters. My brother's name is Tommy, and my sisters' names are Meg and Jessie. They're twins. Anyway, that day started off normally. The humans came to visit the zoo, and we waddled around playfully for a few hours until it was time for lunch.
After the zoo keeper had thrown us our fish, another human entered our habitat carrying a large wire crate. We weren't suspicious, since the people at Beardsley keep close tabs on our health, and we were often taken in for examination. So, when the man waved for all of us to get in the crate, we did, without a fight. This is where things started to go wrong.
First of all, instead of taking us to the vet's office, he put us in the back of the zoo van. We hadn't heard anything about transfer, so this was a little suspicious.
Then, he sent the other zookeeper to the far side of the zoo, obviously just as a diversion. Once again, suspicious.
But what finally convinced us of trouble was this. A figure in a dark trench coat and hat walked out from behind a building, handed something to the zookeeper, and got into the drivers seat. When he turned around to look at our cage, we could tell that he wasn't a person at all, but some sort of strange reptile or bug. He took off the coat and we could see that he was bright red, and he had a companion.
At this point, we were terrified. We tried to talk to the freaks, but they didn't respond. They just started the vehicle and started driving. We looked out the window, one last time. This was the last I ever saw of my home.
After an hour or so of driving, the van stopped, and the red freaks got out and came around to the back to look at us.
"What do you want from us?" Asked my mother.
"It's nothing personal, you see. The boss just wants four penguins and... Wait. Hold up here, Lou, they's five of them penguins here."
"Dat ain't my problem Vernie. Just get rid of one of 'em."
"Get rid of one? Excuse me!" Shouted my mother. "What is going on here!"
"Like I said, the boss wants four penguins." Vernie then turned back to his colleague. "I say we get rid of the one with the weird eyes."
Now I could tell they were talking about me, I've always got attention for my eyes. So, I tried to be brave. I ran and hid behind my mother.
"Sure. Doesn't make a difference to me." He then opened the top of the cage and reached one large claw towards me. If we had been braver, we would have fought our way out then and there. Unfortunately, we were almost paralyzed with fear, and so no one did anything to stop him as he grabbed me.
Before I knew what was going on, I was flying through the air, until all of a sudden I landed with a splash in salty water. I swam to the surface, and searched for the shore or my family or the two freaky red guys, but there was no one to be found.
"Where'd they go... And where am I? What's going on!?" I thought to myself.
After a few moments of sheer panic, I swam back to land and searched frantically for any signs of where they had gone. After a while of searching, I gave up. It was a lost cause, they had obviously left. I haven't seen them since. I don't know... I don't even know if they're still alive.
After I had given up my search, I couldn't think of anything else to do, besides just standing in my own pool of sadness. I was planning on standing there until I fell over and died, but I heard a noise behind me.
"Who's there!" I shouted, turning around. I was prepared for the fight of my life, but standing before me was only a small version of the red reptile guys, probably a child. "Oh. Who are you?"
"Good question. Who are you?" She replied.
"Hazel. Where am I?"
"Coney Island. I'm Susan."
"Have you seen my family?" I asked, pleadingly.
"Four penguins?"
"Yes, yes! Have you seen them?"
"No. But the boss has been asking for four penguins for weeks."
"Oh." I responded, dejectedly. "What does this boss want them for?"
"Well, he has these enemies, four penguin commandos, and he needs penguins to test his inventions on."
"Oh God... Will he kill them?"
"Not on purpose. Don't worry, the Doctor's test penguins normally last almost a year. They've got a while to live, maybe they'll even make it out alive! Well, no. That won't happen."
"That's reassuring." I replied sarcastically. "I just... What am I supposed to do now... How can I help them...? Poor Tommy, he's just a kid!" At this point I was talking to myself, I had forgotten Susan standing right behind me.
"You can't help them, lady. My suggestion, go out, get a life, and forget about them."
"You heartless witch. They're my family!" I shouted, growing angry. I began studying the freak, trying to decide if I could beat her in a fight.
"Alright, alright. At least get yourself some help. But don't tell anyone I said that..." She stopped talking and looked off into the distance. "You better go, lobster training begins at 5."
I turned around to see hundreds of the red reptiles marching towards me. After one last look at the girl who had "helped" me, I ran off, to some unknown destination, looking for help.
After a few weeks of searching, I somehow found myself in the Hoboken Zoo. I hadn't eaten or slept much in this time, so as soon as I had made it through the zoo gates, I collapsed, exhausted. The last thing I saw before passing out was a black and white figure flying towards me.
I woke up in a cave, with a kind-looking opossum standing over me.
"Where am I...?" I asked.
She answered me cheerily, saying, "Welcome to the Hoboken Zoo, Puffin Exhibit. I'm glad to see you're finally awake. Oh, I'm Ma! What's your name?"
"Um, I'm Hazel..."
"Well hello Hazel. What brings you here, anyway?"
"I'm... I'm looking for someone to help me. My family... They were captured, and... and I need help saving them."
"Well now honey, that sounds mighty dangerous. I think I know just the guy to help you!" She then turned to the doorway and shouted, "Hans! Get in here."
The black and white figure I had seen earlier flew in through the doorway and landed beside me. This was Hans.
"Vat do you vant, Ma?" He asked, annoyed.
"I want you to help this little darling. Her family was captured."
"Awe, Ma, do I have to?"
The opossum looked at Hans and started chocking. After a moment she turned blue and fell to the ground, twitching. She looked like she was about to die!
"No, no, I'm sorry! I'll help her!"
All at once Ma jumped back to her feet, seemingly fine once again. "Good." Then she turned around and left.
"Alright, tell me vat happened."
So, I told him everything. The whole story I've told you. And when I had finished, he sat there thinking for a while, and then seemed to come up with a plan.
"Well, I think I know what happened to them. Dey were captured by Dr. Mammal Fish. Some call him Dr. Blowhole. I vill help you get dem back."
"Oh, thank you so much, Hans. You have no idea how..."
"Wait." Interrupted Hans. "First, you must help me."
"But... My family needs me Now..."
"You vill do this, or get no help at all. You decide." Said Hans with a smirk.
"Alright. Just tell me what I have to do."
Hans smiled. "Dis is more like it. You see, these Four Penguin Commandoes, de enemies of de mammal fish? Ja, dey are my enemies, too. You help me get dem, and I'll help you with Blowhole. De best part is, if de penguins are gone, he won't need your family. We shouldn't have to fight him and his lobsters at all! Is that a deal?"
"Deal."
So we made a plan. I was to go to the Central Park Zoo, and assimilate myself into your group. When the time was right, Hans would lure you all to his lair, where we would "incapacitate your group." I convinced him that we could do this by killing only one of the four of you. Then, after we had made the plan, he started training me.
He taught me everything he knew about you, (which wasn't much) and how to act without raising suspicions. This part was easy, I just had to act natural. And of course, he taught me how to fight.
Throughout the weeks of training, Hans got more and more excited. Apparently I was a fast learner, and he said I fought well. He got really confident that we would beat "those penguins." I think that's when he started changing. It was gradual, but it was there. By the time I left to come here, Hans was a whole different person. ...Er, bird. Eviler, and ready for revenge. You mentioned that he was acting more vicious and evil than normal, well, that's why. He was just drunk on his power and excitement.
Finally, we decided that I was ready, and I took a bus to this zoo. You all know what happened then. I came here, and I made up a whole backstory, and prepared myself for your downfall. But... I guess I made friends with you all... Which kind of messed that up... Hans and I stayed in contact, but that was minimal, we didn't want to blow my cover.
After I had been here for about a week, I realized that I was not going to be able to kill any one of you. I didn't tell Hans, of course, but I tried to make plans for getting out if this situation. Of course, I have never been much of a strategist... And it wasn't until only a few days ago when I thought of my plan.
Anyway, yesterday morning, I contacted Hans. It seems so long ago now, I can't believe that was just a little more than 24 hours ago... Well, he kidnapped Private, and you all rushed away to his lair. I followed, slowly, still thinking about my plan.
By the time I got there you all looked pretty beaten up. The plan was to knock out three of you and then kill the last one. Well, I had a gun with knock out darts, and I know from experience that those aren't painful at all, so I wasn't worried about knocking out three of you.
When I first got there I noticed Rico was trapped under a rock. I helped him out from under that, but then Hans gave me the signal, and so I apologized and shot Rico.
You three made it hard for me though, and Private made it a lot worse by escaping from the cage. I don't know why Hans used that volley of arrows against you, that was just cruel. We finally shot Private and Skipper, but I guess the worst was yet to come.
As I said, Hans and I decided to kill only one of you. The reason I chose you, Kowalski, was that... Well... I don't really know.
Anyway, um, yea. So, uh,Hans and I got out his big, "lethal gun," as he called it. I had asked before hand if he would let me shoot you, and he had agreed. So really, Kowalski, you weren't in much danger. I was never going to shoot you. I know I acted all tough... But I wouldn't hurt you.
So, what finally happened was this. Hans handed me the gun, then we approached Kowalski. I acted like I was going to shoot Kowalski, but in the end, I turned and shot Hans. That wasn't my original plan, but after all that had happened... I panicked. I couldn't risk him getting suspicious and pulling another gun on any one of you. So I killed him. After that I bandaged you all up and brought you back here. And, well, here we are.
-END FLASHBACK-
"I guess that's it." Finished Hazel, looking at the ground. "The story of why I murdered the Dane."
Private continued to sit in go chair, lost in thought, until Skipper cleared his throat and waved his flipper in front of his face.
"Oh, sorry. Thank you Hazel. I have no more questions."
"Kowalski, would you like to question the defendant?" Asked Skipper.
"Yes. I have a few questions, actually..." He got up and walked towards Hazel. "Why didn't you just help us, back there in Hans's lair? You didn't have to go through Hans's whole scheme. It would have been five to one, we would have won for sure."
"Kowalski, I did have to go through his whole scheme. He had that entire place booby trapped, with stuff worse than just that volley of arrows. He thought things were going his way the whole time, so he didn't use them. But if I would have helped you, he could have killed us all with a push of a button."
"Oh..." Kowalski thought for a moment, then asked his next question. "Well, if you knew the lair was booby trapped, why did you let the whole thing happen in the first place? You could have stopped it."
Kowalski stood there with a smirk, waiting for Hazel's answer. He thought he had outsmarted her this time, but he was wrong.
"Well, Hans would have kidnapped Private with or without my help. It didn't matter, so I decided to go with it, for the same reason as my last answer. And besides, I thought if I killed Hans, which I did, then maybe you guys would help me, instead of him... I mean, he may be dead, but Blowhole still has my family. I will do anything to save them, and I did what I thought I had to do."
Kowalski responded mercilessly, "You aren't getting any help from us, not after what you've done."
Hazel looked at Kowalski with wet eyes, but before she could say anything, Skipper spoke.
"Hold on now, that isn't your call, Kowalski. That's my call, I'm the judge. Private, read me my options."
Private looked down at his clipboard, which was covered in hasty sketches. "Well, eithah she's guilty, or not guilty. Sentence for guilty- banishment from the zoo. And if she's not guilty, we help her save her family."
"Thank you Private. Does anyone have any final words?"
"I do." Said Kowalski. Private groaned from his seat. "Quiet, Private. Now, Skipper, I would like to point out the fact that Hazel here has crafted a very nice story, and I'm sure it's true... For the most part. Nevertheless, you must keep in mind that she tricked us about her intents, purposes, and identity for over two months, conspired with our enemy, then Killed Him, and caused physical injuries to each of us. I think you know what to say."
Skipper looked at him for a minute, then down at the desk, carefully avoiding making eye contact as he said, "Hazel, I pronounce you- guilty of all charges, and I hereby banish you from this zoo. You may pack your belongings, but you must be gone by the time the zoo opens tomorrow morning."
Hazel looked down at the floor, closing her eyes. Private waddled up to he and patted her back, but there was nothing he could say. After a moment she got up and went to gather her meager belongings, followed closely by Private.
"What have I done..." Mumbled Skipper to himself.
"The right thing, sir." Answered Kowalski from behind him.
The next morning they were standing at the zoo gates, escorting the "prisoner" away. At the gate, she turned to the others to say goodbye.
"Will you please help me? I can't save them on my own." She pleaded, one last time.
Kowalski was the only one able to speak. "No. Goodbye, Hazel."
"Please?" She begged, almost in tears. "I killed a man for you. I saved your life, and in the process I earned myself a one way ticket to hell. Please!"
But Kowalski said nothing.
She looked into his eyes for a long moment, searching for some part of the Kowalski she knew and loved. But she couldn't find even a trace, that part of him was long gone. So, she turned around and left.
Jason Bills excitedly pulled his mother through the zoo gates, speeding towards the penguin habitat. For over 2 months now he had been pleading with her, begging to be taken to the zoo again. He wanted to visit the penguins. Finally, on this warm late-spring day, Mrs. Bills had gotten permission from her boss to have the afternoon off, and she had driven Jason all the way across town to see these flightless birds once again.
"...and they flip into the air! Like a summersault! And they waddle! And dance!" Jason had been excitedly telling his mom the story for the entire ride, eagerly anticipating the adorable antics.
As they neared the penguin exhibit, they saw the daily crowd was already forming. Jason pushed his way to the front, pulling his mother behind him.
"Mom! See! See them! Hey, look! That one smiled at me last time. This is so exciting! See them!" As they continued to wait, the crowd grew a little frustrated, which grew into a lot of frustration quite quickly. The penguins had not yet moved. "Mom! Why aren't they doing anything?" Whined Jason.
"I don't know, honey..." She sighed. "He was so looking forward to this..." She thought. She looked closer, trying to guess if they would move anytime soon. She began to notice what she hadn't seen before. Several of the penguins had various bandages covering their bodies, and they all had strange, empty looks in their eyes. They seemed to stare off into space, through the crowd.
"Maybe we should go visit the other habitats." She suggested, softly. Jason nodded and dejectedly followed his mom back through the crowd and over to the rhino exhibit.
As her son gradually cheered up as they toured the rest of the zoo, Mrs. Bills thought about those penguins. "I just wonder what happened to them..." In fact, this was what was on many people's minds as they left the zoo that evening. A few animal lovers wondered if they could help them somehow. But of course they couldn't. No one can bring back what is past.
This chapter had several changes as well.
During Hazel's flashback, the opossum referred to as "Ma" is from the episode "Smotherly Love."
And another thing- the questions Kowalski asked Hazel were mostly for you, the readers, because I thought those might be questions you all would want answered. :)
Last thing- I introduced Hazel's 4 family members here. If you are interested, you can go to my bio and see I have posted quick summaries about all of my OC's. (Age, name, appearance, etc.) It'll be right at the top, you won't have to scroll through any stuff you don't care about. So please check that out! :)
