Skipper's Skipper

Warning: Rating and Genre may vary in this chapter. Please enjoy.

Chapter 11

Once they were both inside of the hole, the commander began scanning the area, but it was too pitch black to

see anything. Not even the white of their feathers stood out. Skipper felt around, pulled out a flashlight from

behind his back, and pressed the button on it to turn it on, thus lighting the tunnel. Now that the place was

well lit, Commander Warship could see that the tunnel was much shorter than he was, meaning that both he

and Skipper would both have to army crawl. Skipper began crawling first, leading the way with his flashlight.

The commander followed closely behind, trying to keep up with Skipper. While they were crawling, about half

way into the tunnel, the bulb in the flashlight Skipper was holding burned out, leaving the two penguins

stranded and blind.

" Great," Skipper said sarcastically, bumping his head at the top of the tunnel, then rubbing it with his flipper. "

I knew I should've changed that bulb before I left."

The commander sighed, " Looks like we have to rely on Option B to get us out of this one."

" Our gut instincts," Skipper stated questionably.

" Our gut instincts," Commander Warship replied, as he and Skipper began using their instincts to guide them

out of the tunnel. Once they reached the end of the tunnel, the two penguins began hearing Tank bark out

orders. The two quickly raced to the opening of the tunnel, which was right behind Private's first prize that

Tank did not even know about, and pushed it open like it was a door. Then they both raced up the ladder,

which led to the fishbowl entrance, and slightly poked their heads out to see what he was doing.

" Pick up the pace, you slackers," Tank growled. The three penguins were running as fast as they could,

panting with dry mouths and clouded heads. Suddenly, one of the penguins wheezed and collapsed hard

onto the ground. It was Private, the smallest and youngest of the group. Skipper and Commander Warship

both gasped silently. The other two penguins, Rico and Kowalski, looked over their shoulders, while they were

running, gasped loudly, and went to go help out their friend, but were quickly halted. " What do you two think

you're doing," Tank snapped. " Keep going! And Private? Enough lolly gagging! Now get your sorry self up off

of the ground and kick your tail into high gear, before I triple the entire team's training exercises!" Private did

not move a muscle. He could barely even breathe. Skipper watched in shock, eyes almost watering, " Oh. No."

He lowered his head, trying to look away. Commander Warship starred at Tank, eyes lit to a raging fire. Never

in his whole life had he ever seen such a horrific display by one of his fellow soldiers.

" Come on, Private," Tank shouted more in a louder tone. Private still did not respond. Kowalski and Rico,

who were ignoring Tank's orders to keep running, remained by Private. Tank bellowed once more, but silence

soon filled the air. Kowalski grabbed one of Private's flippers and tested his pulse. It was extremely high.

" We need to get him to the infirmary," Kowalski concluded. " And soon."

Tank stood puzzled. " What," he screamed. " Unacceptable! He'll be fine in a few seconds! Just you wait! My

program hasn't failed anyone, yet!" A few seconds passed by and Private was still lying on the ground. All of

the penguins, except for Tank, looked at Private with concerned, tearful expressions.

" That's it," Kowalski shouted impatiently. " He's going to the infirmary and that's that!"

" I don't think so," Tank argued. " I'm putting both you and Rico on strict orders not to take Private to the

infirmary!"

" But if we don't take him to the infirmary now, his chances of surviving might become slim," Kowalski said in a

concerned tone. Rico stood by Kowalski and nodded his head sadly at Tank. " Sure he might have some

problems afterwards," Kowalski continued. " But it's better to have him alive than dead. Right?"

Tank stood, flippers crossed and with a glare on his face, " My answer, to you, is still negative!"

Meanwhile, at the fish bowl entrance, Commander Warship became even more appalled by Tank's careless

actions. He hastily climbed out of the entrance and marched up to Tank. Skipper began following behind him,

wanting to tackle Tank, but changed his mind, and went to go check on Private. Stopping behind Tank,

Commander Warship made a saltshaker fist with his flipper and coughed into it. Tank turned around quickly.

The bottom of his beak dropped onto the platform. " Commander…Warship," he said nervously starring at the

commander. " What are you doing here?"

" I was about to ask you the same question," Commander Warship replied back. " What in Cod's name are

you doing to these, soldiers? I didn't authorize any of this."

" Oh," Tank scratched the top of his helmet. " I was showing them what it would be like if all they did was

hardcore training all the time. Isn't that right, soldiers?" The other penguins, including Skipper, glared at Tank,

then resumed watching Private. His condition was getting worse. Together, the three penguins picked him up

and began carrying him to the infirmary, not even paying attention to Tank's and Commander Warship's

conversation. Shortly before they left, Skipper had Kowalski pull out a note pad, write down a note stating

where they were going and what happened, and gave it to Phil and Mason, who were "talking" in the monkey

cages. Right after they left, Commander Warship continued analyzing Tank.

" What you call hardcore training is nothing but a complete mayhem and a death causing action," Commander

Warship retorted.

" But, Sir," Tank stuttered, trying to think of lies. " It was just a practice simulation. It's not like I was really

going to make them do this sort of training everyday. I let them have breaks whenever they needed it. I also

allowed them to have water, food, whatever. You name it."

The commander scanned Tank's face. He could tell that half of it was beginning to twitch. " You're lying,"

Commander Warship grumbled.

" What," Tank's eyes shifted. " I'm not lying! I'm telling you the truth!"

The commander glared at Tank. " No, you're not. And from the display of responsibility that you've shown me

today, I'm afraid I'm going to have to relieve you from General and all other military services."

" What," Tank screamed. " You can't relieve me! I'm irreplaceable! I'm the ultimate G.I. Joe!"

" Not anymore," Commander Warship scoffed. " Besides, I have someone better in mind that can replace you

easily. Someone who has actually demonstrated responsibility for their team."

" Really," Tank raised an eyebrow. " Who?"

" I'm afraid that's classified," Commander Warship responded. " Now move out of here, before I have to get

ugly."

Tank glared at Commander Warship, stormed out of the penguin habitat, and muttered under his breath. " Oh,

I'll show you ugly, all right. Just wait and see. I will be waiting and you will be crawling back to me for mercy."

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Looks like Tank has finally gotten what he deserved from years ago. Anyway, coming up in Chapter 12. Private is at the infirmary, leaving the other penguins worried sick. Please stay tuned.P.S.: There is no pairing in this story. Maybe a little Skipper/Marlene later on, but that's about it. I'm still deciding whether or not to add it.