The next day came after a night of tossing and turning in Kowalski's bunk. Visions of Blowhole in trouble, Doris crying over the body of her dead brother, and it was all Kowalski's fault. He couldn't save him, he couldn't save anyone. He was just a smart arse and he could never actually save the day by himself. He didn't want to let anyone down, especially not the siblings he'd gotten to know so well.
Breakfast wasn't enjoyed. Kowalski ate for the sole purpose of getting nutrients into his body so he could work for the next eternity. He did give himself a half hour to just breathe.
He sat at the table in the main room of the HQ with Private and Rico staring over him and making small talk. They could both see how tired Kowalski was but that didn't necessarily make Kowalski feel better.
"Kowalski? Usually senseless mercy is my thing. Didn't you say Blowhole kidnapped you, blackmailed you and put some death contraption in your leg?"
Kowalski sighed, his head lay on the table as he tried to clear his mind and be peaceful.
"Yes, Private. Your point?"
"Well, why do you want to help him so much? Skipper's off his rockers mad with you. Is Blowhole worth it?"
Kowalski shot his head up in a defensive instant.
"Yes. He may have been cunning in the first week or so but I got to know him. I guess that's where things went wrong, morally. We're not much different and seeing things from his perspective really does give you insight. I've come to see now that he's not so much the villain but in his life, he's the victim."
Skipper did another round of the HQ looking for bugs planted by the dolphin after Kowalski had told him exactly how Blowhole had managed to call on him so many times.
"If you ask me, it's because he's Doris' brother. If he was just any other girl's brother then Kowalski wouldn't care."
Kowalski scoured at Skipper and shook his head.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Skipper turned his head from his perch on top of the TV, checking behind it for a hidden camera or microphone.
"We all know how obsessed you are with Doris. If you can't have her then why not take the next closest thing? Her brother."
Kowalski felt a sudden rush of heat climb up his face. He was almost certain he knew what Skipper was implying and it didn't sound right coming from his beak and it only made him feel more confused when he remembered Blowhole had said the exact same thing not too long ago.
Private cocked an innocent brow and turned to Skipper with a puzzled face.
"But Blowhole's a male."
"Kowalski broke the species barrier, what's so different about the gender barrier?"
Kowalski slammed his flippers down on the table, a trait he hadn't realised he had picked up from Blowhole, but it certainly did serve useful in getting the pair to shut up.
"Do not degrade me! I want to save a life. What's so wrong about that?!"
The pair went silent. Kowalski had his points and Skipper had his. Both of which held logic and truths that neither wanted to accept the opposing. But Kowalski had had enough of this already. He was beginning to remeber why he liked it with Blowhole so much. Because he was understood, accepted and appreciated, most of the time anyway.
"I'm heading off again. Don't know when I'll be back. Hopefully it'll be with good news."
Skipper slid down from on top of the TV and stopped Kowalski in his tracks as he waddled over to his lab. He placed gentle flippers atop Kowalski's shoulders and stared into his eyes.
"I'm proud, Kowalski. Proud you value lives even of your enemies. Just... don't get your hopes too high. I know what it's like to lose someone so if you expect it then it won't hit as hard."
Kowalski cocked a brow but kept an angry expression on his face as he flicked Skipper's flippers away.
"Thanks, Sir, but that's the worst advice I've ever heard."
Heading into his lab, he collected a vast quantity of equipment and PPE that he needed. Wearing the lobsters things was a little weird, as some of the items fell weird on Kowalski's body and he just wanted to feel as comfortable as he possibly could.
The journey was the same as ever. Filled with worry and feelings of dread. He began to think as though he had started to associate the journey with these feelings and no matter what mood he left the HQ in he would always feel the same on the train.
He hopped off the train at his stop and made his way to the dock where Blowhole's lair was. He didn't wait this time for someone to come get him and just made his way down to the underwater entrance. That was the level Blowhole worked on anyway.
He made his way inside and found the same corridor he knew from every other time he had been there. Only this time there was an open door. It was Blowhole's office. He waddled his way over and stood in the doorway peering in. Blowhole was sat at the desk, typing away at the keyboard, completely immersed in whatever he was doing. At least, until he caught sight of something in the corner of his eye.
"Oh, Kowalski. Stupid bird, you startled me," Blowhole said as he placed a flipper on his chest, steadying his heart.
Kowalski tried not to laugh as the dolphin jumped but let out a small snicker before he calmed his face again.
"Status. Update me."
"All lobsters are notified and working. Red One is leading a team of investigators to backtrack security footage so we can figure out when and how this happened. I've been working with the virus. Obviously I've not gotten leeway with it... How did Skipper take the development?"
Kowalski stood for a moment in silence. He didn't want to think about Skipper or anyone else. And anyway, Blowhole probably listened in on all of their conversations and knew exactly what Skipper had said anyway.
"You keeping yourself in good spirits?" Kowalski asked, avoiding Blowhole's last question.
All this did though, was slightly irk the dolphin, as he rolled his eye and shook his head.
"As much as I can in my situation. I have a favour to ask you."
Kowalski cocked a brow and hopped up into the dolphin's desk.
"What's that?"
"Please go find Doris. I need you to tell her what's going on."
"I'd think she'd prefer to hear it from you."
Blowhole looked down.
"I know, but in hard situations like this you have to think logically. I love her too much to let her get infected and hurt too."
Kowalski frowned and looked down too. In the moment of silence all that he could think about was just how devastated Doris was going to be. What could Kowalski even say to her? How could he soften the blow? There was no easy way around telling someone their brother had a disease that was going to put them in the ground. Would she even listen to what he needed to tell her anyway? She was mad at them both.
"I can tell you where to find her. She doesn't travel around too much. In fact, her and mom tend to stick close to where I lay down the fort."
Kowalski nodded but didn't say a word. He was still mulling over everything in his head. Words Skipper had spoken. Words Blowhole had spoken. They all meshed together in his mind into a wall he could not overcome.
Blowhole gave a long sigh. A strange sigh which was more or less just an elongated outward breath from his blowhole. Then, to Kowalski's complete surprise, he smirked. It was the same smirk he sported throughout the beginnings of his adventures here at the lair. Cunning yet somewhat inviting.
"Want to have some fun today?" He asked.
Kowalski slowly shook his head in confusion.
"We should really get to work on the virus."
Blowhole rolled his eye.
"I've been working on it most of the night, I want some time to wind down."
Kowalski took a second then nodded.
"Alright, what did you have in mind?"
"Did we ever finish our game of Monopoly?"
Kowalski outwardly chuckled and shook his head.
"I am not playing Monopoly with you ever again."