Chapter 53: Charley Oscar
The penguins had just finished an early morning exercise routine, and were back in the HQ. They were getting bored with the lack of missions, but the city, in both animal and human worlds, had been oddly quiet. But the downtime did give them time to do other things. Kowalski had more uninterrupted lab time, Private was finally caught up on the Lunacorns, and Rico was able to style Miss Perky's hair and refill his gullet with various weaponry.
Skipper sat at the table, sipping on some coffee and flipping through old mission files. He figured that with the extra time, he could review their high and low points in previous missions to perfect their strategies.
When Isobel dropped in, they slowly began to move away from their tasks.
"What's up, doll?" Skipper asked as he looked up from the files.
"I visited my father this morning." Isobel said as she sat beside Skipper.
Private walked up to the table. "You don't look too happy though."
"I've learned many things today." Isobel explained. "All of this time, thinking I was a peasant living a life of royalty, when I am a princess."
Now the penguins were really interested. Even Kowalski peeked out of his lab. He wiped his flippers on a cloth and joined everyone at the table.
"'Rincess Iz?" Rico asked.
Isobel sat up a bit. "It's funny, I've been called that my whole life and I did not like it, because I thought I was something different."
"This is a silly question, considering how you've lived," Private began, "But do you feel like a princess now?"
Isobel shook her head. "No. And please do not think that you have to treat me any different now. I am still your friend."
Skipper loved her humbleness. He knew that many others would suddenly feel entitled when they got news like that.
Everyone nodded, and Private smiled. "We're glad we have you."
"Why did your father just now tell you about this?" Kowalski asked.
"I had a dream about Talamaru." Isobel said. "And it troubled me, so I went to him to ask about it. And it was then that he decided I had been away from home long enough to know."
Skipper thought for a moment. "Do you still want to go back to Tali?"
"Of course," Isobel brought her gaze back to him. "They are my people. My father said they were disheartened to see me go, so perhaps a reunion will lift their spirits."
Private nodded. "I think they would love to see you again. You're their princess after all."
Isobel smiled at that. "I suppose so."
Kowalski began flipping through his notebook. "I'm all for this journey, Skipper. But how do we intend on getting there exactly?"
Skipper took a final swig of his coffee. "Remember, 'Walski, I mentioned the heli."
Kowalski gave him a quizzical look. "Could we really?"
Isobel's ears perked up. "You have a helicopter?"
Skipper nodded proudly. "The Charley Oscar. She's beautiful!"
Kowalski guffawed. "Skipper! The Charley needs a tremendous amount of work. The windshield is split in half, there's a crack in the fuel tank, the propeller is thrashed -"
Skipper cut him off. "Admire her scars, 'Walski. It's material, we can fix it."
Kowalski sighed grumpily. "It will take at least three to four months."
Skipper's eyes went wide. "Thirty-four months?"
Kowalski put down his notebook. "No, three TO four months."
Skipper gave a sharp nod. "How does April sound, Isobel?"
Isobel swished her tail. "Perfect. Springtime in Talamaru is beautiful."
Private clapped his flippers together. "I can't wait!"
"So where is this Charley?" Isobel asked.
"Below, in the lair." Skipper got down from his chair. "Come on, we'll show you."
Kowalski gasped. "But I thought outside eyes were strictly forbidden!"
Skipper smirked as he began walking to a corner of the room. "We're about to take this lady back to her home and potentially live there. I'd say she's not classified as 'outside' anymore."
"Besides, she did show us Atlantis." Private piped up. "The most secret place in the world!"
Kowalski could not argue with that.
Skipper moved a plaque from the wall, and a number pad slid out. He quickly punched in a six-digit code, and across the room, their bunks slid out. The penguins waddled over there and Isobel followed. A narrow hatch was revealed.
"Everybody move." Skipper ordered.
Private went down first, followed by Isobel, and then Kowalski and Rico.
Skipper looked around suspiciously before going down as well.
