Disclaimers: I do not own The Penguins of Madagascar
Author's Notes: Alright everyone sorry for the long silence but here we are again with another existing chapter of Penguins of Madagascar: The Misery of Open Faced Sandwiches! Please enjoy!
(Back with Red One AKA Fred…)
Thanks to the subs sonic propulsion capabilities, Dr. Blowhole's submarine had made it to the harbor of the Copenhagen Port by night fall. Fred the lobster scurried along the dark lit alley ways as fast as his many legs would carry him. His destination was that of the United Puffin Federation headquarters which was located directly beneath the Copenhagen Capital building. He knew that in order for his boss to stay in the shadows then he would have to do the same.
Which meant he would have to recruit the UPF in his efforts to intercept the briefcase before Northwind could retrieve it. Again he knew Dr. Blowhole would not like him placing the fate of the mission in the hands of a third party, especially one as two faced as the UPF, but he had little choice. Nothing happened in Denmark without those puffins knowing every detail, so if he wanted success it was best to work with them rather than against them.
He entered the UPF HQ through a secret entrance at the back of the capital building and was greeted by a puffin receptionist, who sat at an ivory desk all business like. She didn't even offer a smile. "Name?" She asked.
"Red One." Fred answered using his boss's nickname for him as his cover.
"Do you have an appointment?" She asked in a tone that said she knew for a fact he did not have any appointment at all.
"No, but I have some important information to share with you agency about a certain bunny with sensitive information in your city." Fred answered.
The receptionist, Malila as her name tag read looked thoughtful. "Is this bunny an employee of yours?"
"No, he stole information for my boss, and fled to your…fine country…" Fred answered.
"I see." Malila looked thoughtful. "I will let the board of Directors know you are in." She handed him a button pin of sorts. "This is your voice communicator..." She explained. "You'll need it to communicate with the human members of the board."
"Human?" Fred was stunned. He knew from rumors of course that the Danish government worked hand and hand with the UPF, but that was just rumors. Just like rumors of the Northwind working with the United States government was just that…rumors. No one ever confirmed or denied human involvement in any of the animal agencies around the world.
So he was taking aback by the downright admission of the fact given to him with such ease. Not to mention there was also Dr. Blowhole's hatred for humans to be considered. He might not be happy to hear that Fred had chosen to cooperate with the very source of his master's rage. Still, little could be done about it now, besides there was no avoiding the puffins, trying to work around them would only make his job all the more difficult.
After Malila had whispered something into her microphone headset, she motioned for Fred to take a seat in the waiting area.
Fred obliged and sat quietly, it wasn't a long wait, soon a powerful looking puffin strolled into the lobby and gestured his way. "Red One I presume?"
Fred nodded and joined the man.
"I am Larsen." The Puffin spoke. "I am the head director of the UPF and a member board of directors for all of Denmark." He informed his guest. "Now I understand you are aware of a certain bunny problem that we have."
"Yes." Fred answered. "It was never my Employer's intention to get your government involved in our affairs." Fred explained as Larsen started leading Fred down the hall, no doubt to speak with the rest of the board of directives. "The bunny is a rogue agent of an international organization known as…"
"Northwind." Larsen cut in. "Yes we know, we have an agent escorting an American freelancer to the bunny in question as we speak."
Fred looks visibly nervous, but decides to skip the run around story, it's obvious that the UPF knew about everything already, including the briefcase and the information it withheld. "Look I need to retrieve the information Agent Marshal brought with him before the American spy."
The puffin had escorted him into a large conference room where large screens surrounded him. The screens housed darken silhouette of who he could only guess were the other members of the board of directors.
"And why should we assist you?" one silhouette asked, hearing his words as he entered. The silhouette was strikingly human like is shape and appearance. Though thanks to the pin Fred wear he understood the speaker perfectly. "Denmark as you know are known allies of the Americans, not to mention we have already assured our cooperation with Northwind what is stopping us from imprisoning you in a fish tank and serving you with our dinner?"
Fred gulped, but stood his ground, he knew any agency could be bought, all he needed was the right form of payment. Luckily he already had the perfect payment in mind. "Information." He answered. "Within that briefcase is the name of every known and unknown Agent of Northwind; including their current location. Now I know you have Allies in America, but Northwind is an international Agency and I am sure there is at least one agent in that brief case that represents a country you would love to keep tabs on."
Larsen smiled. "I like this guy, he's smart."
"Indeed, as you have already pointed out we are interested in said briefcase for the exact reason you have mentioned." The human silhouette confirmed.
"If we allow you to steal the briefcase away from the American it will allow us to look completely innocent of the crime." Larsen suggested hopefully.
"I'm afraid my employer wishes to remain anonymous." Fred reported. "If I am caught, or let alone seen it could compromise that."
"This does complicate things." Larsen looks troubled.
"Is there no one who can retrieve the case for you?" Fred asked hopefully.
"No unlike Northwind we do not trust freelancers to do our work for us. And from the reports given by our agent on the field the American is a patriot through and through, he will not help your cause." Another silhouette spoke, this one looked to be a puffin as well. It was hard to tell.
"Perhaps there is a way we can all get what we want." Larsen look thoughtful. "Hans is known for his success in similar delicate matters."
Silence filled the room at the mention of the Puffin Agent's name. Hans was known for his unorthodox methods. He was a loose cannon who had no problem in jeopardizing his fellow puffin agents in order to complete a mission. It was one of the reasons why he worked alone, that and the Puffin was known to go rogue whenever he saw fit. However, since doing so usually worked out for the UPF in the end he was always pardoned of any wrong doings he was accused of.
"And if he fails?" The human silhouette asked.
"Hans has never let us down before." Larsen spoke, defending his agent.
"That is not what I asked." The silhouette snapped.
"I know." Larsen sighed.
"Perhaps it is time we let him go." A third silhouette spoke up, this one had a human build as well, but the voice was female.
"And what? Use him as a scapegoat?" Larsen looked troubled. "Do you really think we can afford to turn him into an enemy?"
"We need that information Larsen, and if Hans must be sacrificed in order for us to obtain it then so be it."
Larsen looks troubled, but nods his agreement after all the board has spoken. He may be the Head of the UPF and a member of the board. But the Danes were the ones who made all the decisions for every aspect of the country; including the agency that no one was supposed to know existed. So the human Danish members of the board were the only ones with opinions that mattered. "I will let Hans know that he is to double cross the American once the information is retrieved." He answered solemnly. Loose cannon or not Hans was still a good agent and it pained him that the board was willing to sell out one of their own for the "Greater Good." As they would no doubt call it.
"And if the American is able to report Hans' treachery to his country?" the first human silhouette asked fearfully.
"It doesn't matter even if he somehow manages to survive by then we will have reported to our Allies that Hans had gone rogue." The Puffin silhouette answered. "Of course since he does it often it will easily be believed. Then we will have every agent in the Denmark after him, there will be no place for him to hide."
So either way Hans was going down for this, again Larsen feels conflicted, but what could he possibly do? Orders were orders after all.
"In exchange for our cooperation you will give us a copy of the contents of the briefcase." The first human silhouette spoke once more. "Do we have a deal Red One?"
Fred smiled, of course he had no plans of sharing anything at all, but only because he knew a set up when he saw one. If this agency was willing to sell out one of their own for this information who knows what they would do to him. "Of course."
"Very good, Larsen do show him out would you?" The human silhouette said, sounding pleased. "And contact Hans while you're at it."
Larsen's jaw visibly tightened. The human had forgotten to address him properly…again! Still he nodded and escorted Fred out as he reached for a communicator. He dials Hans and pauses.
"E'llow?" Hans Danish accent is low.
"The American is still with you, yes?" Larsen asked lowly.
"Yeh, I thought I'd keep tabs on him." Hans' voice is low, as if he is making sure someone doesn't hear him. "I thought we could use whatever is in that briefcase."
Larsen sighed, of course Hans was already doing exactly what the board wanted him too. Hans was so predictable and reckless, maybe the board was right to get rid of him after all. Best to do it now on their terms then to have him double cross the UPF later on.
"We have new intel. Apparently the case holds the identities of every Northwind agent as well as their location." Larsen revealed to him.
"I knew it was worth keeping tabs on." Hans sounds rather proud of himself. "I have built some trust with the Agent Skipper…" he began. "Perhaps-"
"No you are to get rid of him as soon as he leads you to the briefcase." Larsen ordered bluntly.
There is a long pause, and then a heavy sigh as if Hans doesn't like the order at all. "Very…well…are you sure…it's just …He is a very capable agent…the Americans are not ones to be messed with."
"He's a penguin how capable can he be?" Larsen snapped. "Look I don't want any excuses do your job agent!" Larsen hung up then.
"Penguin?" Fred was floored and rightfully so. "The Americans sent a Penguin to Northwind's aid?"
"Yes apparently Northwind's Alpha team think very highly of him and arranged for him to work with us to correct the entire matter." Larsen reported.
Fred's eyes narrowed. Northwind's Alpha team! Their mole was one that team, which meant she knew who the freelancer was this entire time and failed to mention it. "You wouldn't happen to catch the penguin's name by any chance…would you?"
Larsen stopped a moment, thinking. "Ah yes uh I think Hans used the name….Skipper."
Fred nodded, reaching for his phone as he saw his own way out of the building. "That's all I needed to know."
-To Be Continued
End Notes: So this chapter was supposed to explain why Hans is on the run from the Danes when he first shows up in Penguins of Madagascar. They pretty much let Hans take the fall for everything that transpires. This chapter also explains why humans from the Episode Skipper Makes Perfect are aware that penguins are more capable then they appear. Having humans directly involved in the UPF was the only way this would make sense.
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