The boys had the rest of the morning to do whatever they pleased so Private naturally found himself watching the Lunacorns while Skipper and Rico played another game of checkers. Skipper wasn't getting any better at the game and after every second go he huffed in annoyance at his losing streaks.
Kowalski sat at the table with Skipper and Rico, a cup of coffee in his flipper as he tried to ignore the buzz in the back of his head. He tried to focus on his coffee, looking into the mug and making out shapes and pictures in the milk froth but nothing he could do would take his mind away from the constant static in his brain. Did Blowhole know how infuriating the sound was? Did he purposely do this so Kowalski would have no choice and want to talk to Blowhole so the buzzing would stop? The dolphin was slowly training the bird, but Kowalski fought back as hard as he could. He just needed to do something active that would take his mind away from his mind.
He was suddenly distracted as a wild and flashy commercial filled the TV screen. It was a commercial for this bag of candy, all artificial colours and flavourings, probably made in a radioactive factory, but the kids just loved them. Didn't the zoo sell those in the many vending machines around the place? Would be an excuse to get up and distract himself.
Hopping down from his seat at the table he waddled over to Private.
"Private, come with me to the vending machine."
Private turned and smiled sweetly.
"You want sweets, Kowalski? I don't think I've seen you eat a sweet other than peanut butter winkies and they're out of commission."
Private had a point but Kowalski didn't need to explain why he wanted candy did he? Had the hierarchy difference been implemented so hard that he needed to explain why he wanted candy? Apparently so because Skipper turned around unexpectedly too.
"Yeah, I thought you said candy was just a capitalist's way of controlling children legally."
Kowalski cursed Skipper on the inside. He always remembers the stuff he doesn't want him to remember.
"I want to perform some experiments," Kowalski said, less sure of himself.
"On sweets?" Private asked with a raised brow.
"Yes, well, the packaging always has a suggestion on serving sizes but those are catered towards humans. Private, remember that one time you ate so many gummy fish you started hallucinating the state of Kansas?"
Private's sweet face turned cold as he recalled the bad times. Shuddering, he shook his head trying not to remember.
"No, I don't want to remember."
"I want to put different candies to the test to figure out penguin serving sizes," Kowalski bluffed.
This time Skipper raised a brow.
"Just seems like a waste of time. Let the Private eat as many gummy fish as he wants and record the breaking point he starts to go crazy."
Kowalski shook his head and sighed. Of course none of the others could see from his point of view because they were all stupid and lacked the analytic brain he was so lucky to be in possession of.
"Excuse me then," Kowalski said as he headed for the ladder. Perhaps he could find distractions elsewhere.
Kowalski excused himself and hopped up onto the habitat island. Closing the fish bowl hatch, he let out an exacerbated sigh. He was beginning to miss the intellectual conversations he had with Blowhole and they had only been apart less than a day.
"I can not believe I'm falling for this."
Kowalski couldn't fall for the dolphins fake charm and charismatic personality. It would only be a matter of time before Kowalski trusted Blowhole with something important for the dolphin to then turn it against him. He couldn't. But the stupid buzzing just would not relent!
Kowalski huffed as he slid his way across the zoo, avoiding people and their screaming devil spawns, until he found a bench in the shade to sit under by the zoo guest toilets.
"Alright bottle brain, what do you want?" Kowalski growled at his leg.
"How did you know I was waiting to talk to you?" His leg replied.
"Because when active your implant creates the worst electrical sound discharge that makes me want to rip my own brain out. It's infuriating. So when you're waiting to talk to me please, please turn the communication channel off."
Blowhole chuckled as if he was oblivious to the pain he had being putting Kowalski through. And Kowalski was reminded again just why he could never trust the dolphin, Kowalski's pain was pleasant to the dolphin.
"Anyway, what did you want? You're starting to appear desperate now," Kowalski smirked.
There was silence on the line for a moment before Blowhole spoke up again.
"I just needed you to grab me something. You have a date with Doris tonight and your meet up point hasn't changed, it's still in my dock."
Kowalski face flippered. He had completely forgotten about his date with Doris. She would have been completely infuriated if Kowalski had blown her off a second time. But it wasn't his fault, he had a lot on his plate.
"I saw that, did you forget?" Blowhole chuckled.
Kowalski snarled and shook his head.
"No, I'm just displeased that I have to see you again," Kowalski lied.
Blowhole giggled and retorted again.
"I thought things were going well yesterday, anyway, I need you to grab me some organic carbon. That lab in Brooklyn should have some. Doesn't matter what kind, fat, sugar, protein, any, either, or. Give it to me before your date."
Kowalski sighed deeply and buried his face in his flippers.
"Can't you just make your own?" Kowalski asked in a muffled voice.
This time, there was no laughter and a sudden shift in tone vibrated through Kowalski.
"You signed a contract to be my henchman. Now be a good henchman and get me what I want or you know what'll happen."
Kowalski stayed unfazed. He supposed it couldn't hurt to throw some supplies the dolphins way as long he was passing through. As painful as it was to be reminded of Blowhole while meeting for a date with Doris.
"Alright fine. Just a reminder that I hate you and wish you all the worst."
"Likewise, Kowalski," Blowhole chuckled.
That was that. He was almost 100% sure Blowhole only wanted this errand ran so that he would be thinking of him instead of Doris just to mess with Kowalski's brain and make him feel like even more of a double crossing traitor. Blowhole was evil through and through and no one could deny that fact.
He was smart though and Kowalski had identified that fact, which meant he could also play around it. Blowhole wanted Kowalski to think of him and mess with his brain. Well, it was working because that's all Kowalski could think about. His guilt was slowly killing him. He just needed to survive a little longer, forget about Blowhole and focus on Doris and making it up to his team by kissing the ground they walked on. He just had to remember through all of this that he wasn't the villain, he was the victim.