Author's note: I apologise, the next few chapters might be a bit boring. I've got another dose of writer's block and feel a bit like Kowalski. But I hope you all enjoy nonetheless!
"So, what are you going to do with me? You can't keep me under your foot forever," Kowalski spat, still held to the ground by Skipper's brute force.
Skipper didn't say a word. He knew that if he got Kowalski riled up again there was sure to be another fist fight, and Kowalski had no chance at beating Skipper at his own game. He just needed to think, needed to come up with a way to get Kowalski to see sense. Kowalski was in far too deep, hypnotized by fantasy and false hope.
"Please, Skipper. He's not just someone in trouble. He's my friend."
Skipper forced his foot down harder, then lifted it off from Kowalski's pounding head. Kowalski felt relief before Skipper pulled Kowalski to his feet and forced his head to the wall, his flipper still twisted awkwardly behind his back.
"We will negotiate. But you raise one more flipper in my direction, you'll be dismissed and classed as enemy personnel along with Blowhole."
Kowalski tried to nod but his head was held too tight. Instead he groaned out an agreement and Skipper released him.
Kowalski fell to his knees as his aching flipper fell forwards. He held it to his chest and bit back the pain in his body as he stood again and turned to face Skipper. But Skipper was already making his way back to the table in the middle of the room. Private and Rico also made their way over to the table, sitting down, wanting to listen to the conversations and negotiations. Kowalski followed up a moment later, sitting on the side of the table Private made himself comfortable at. He looked down, unable to meet Skipper's eyes because of the treasonous actions he let his body perform.
Skipper placed his flippers together and rested them on the tip of his beak, staring Kowalski down with a look of disgust.
"Now," Skipper started. "You do this under my conditions. I've been out of the picture for far too long. Blowhole has to stay secured 24/7, I want him in chains. We will set up my own set of cameras so I can monitor you and Blowhole at all times. You will not be allowed there alone. Either I, Private or Rico will accompany you."
Kowalski bit back a growl. There had been times Skipper had let his paranoia rule his life and he certainly had good reason to let it reign right now, but Skipper no longer trusted Kowalski. Cameras, chains, extra eyes. Even when things were finally over, Kowalski may never be fully trusted ever again.
"Sir, we can't put Blowhole in chains. He wouldn't harm anyone as he is. He's safe enough locked where he is at the moment. I don't know how he'll react to being chained up."
Skipper raised a brow and crossed his flippers. He had said the word negotiate, and that meant Kowalski could spit back his own ideas, even if Skipper didn't like them.
"He gets chained when you bring his brain back then."
Kowalski nodded. That sounded fair enough. Then he twiddled his flippers on the table before looking up.
"And Doris is there with me all the time. I'm never alone there."
"And who's side is she on?"
Kowalski shook his head, pushing down his anger once again.
"There are no sides, Skipper. We're all fighting together. And anyway, Blowhole, being the way he is... I can't say he'll act the same to any one of you as he does to me and Doris. We're his friends. He knows us fondly. Any of you coming with me could spell disaster. I'll set up as many cameras and listening bugs as you like. 10 in each room. Just please, I beg you let me help him."
Skipper closed his eyes, pondering all of this over in his head. There had never been a situation like this ever before. Nothing came close. Not even all of the near death experiences he had had with Manfredi and Johnson. It was tough, but he was going to have to trust his second in command. That's why he was second in command, because he was the next best thing below Skipper.
"And what will happen when all of this is over? He's back to his normal self in his lair of evil weapons with his army of lobsters? He still has this virus locked away safely, with a key he made."
Kowalski shook his head and sighed deeply.
"Skipper, I doubt he'll ever want to raise a flipper against the humans again. He's already seen the error of his ways. And in any case, he owes me his life. He'll want to be loyal to me."
"What don't you understand about the fact that he's a villain?"
"What don't you understand about the fact that he's my friend? Surely some of that rubbish Private watches on TV has taught you something?"
Private smiled suddenly and bounced in his seat.
"Oh! Friendship is strong enough to warm a cold heart. Friendship is forgiveness and forgiveness means accepting someone for being sorry. It takes a dark and gloomy place to see the light and beauty of something."
"Alright, Private. My point is sufficient enough without the speeches to go with it."
Skipper didn't look like he wanted to back down on his points. His mind was straight forward, like a stone wall. A villain wanted blood and to listen to the cries of his enemies as he slept. But Kowalski saw things in a different light. A villain may want blood shed, they may want to invoke suffering, but all the violence only masks deeper problems. Blowhole was scared, betrayed, stolen. There are plenty of things wrong with the world but like Private had said, it takes the darkness to see the light.
"My plan right now is to gather things I may need. We have to come up with a new plan. Figure out how to bring his memories forward."
Private wiggled again, the boy was full of ideas and wanted badly to pitch them and help Kowalski.
"Skipper lost his memory once! Can he help?"
Skipper looked up from his slouch, the kind of slouch that said 'I don't want to be here anymore, no one's listening to me'.
Kowalski thought for a moment, then shook his head.
"No, this is different. Skipper had amnesia, it's like Blowhole's had a... factory reset."
Private nodded, then looked down. But Kowalski made sure he knew his efforts were welcome with a warm pat on the back.
Skipper sat up, his eyes resting on Kowalski.
"I want my cameras and I want you to report back in 2 days. Is that enough time?" Skipper asked, getting up and not waiting for an answer since he meant it as more of an order and a non negotiable term.
Kowalski nodded and sprang up himself.
"Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir."
Skipper sighed as he stared out of the round window, at the dark blue water of their habitat.
Kowalski looked to the ground, rubbed his flippers together and then looked up to Skipper.
"I can't believe I've let you sucker me into something dangerous again. You take me for a fool, Kowalski," Skipper said as he turned his head and his eyes pierced through Kowalski's soul.
"I don't, Sir. I think very highly of you."
"I don't think so highly of you anymore. You continue your plans and you'll no longer be my lieutenant."
Kowalski stared, unbelieving. After all the years of service, all the years of danger, missions and just brotherly fun. Was it all over?
"You're dismissing me?" He asked in a quiet voice.
"Yes. I'm taking your rank away, your power. You have to be held accountable for your actions. You attacked me and your aiding a villain."
Kowalski hung his head. This was it. Everything he didn't want to happen had happened. He had lost a dear friend, his rank, his brothers, his girlfriend. There really wasn't any space left to sink further. He had hit rock bottom.
"I understand, Sir. And I'm sorry."
"Sorry doesn't work. Treason like this would usually be straight up banishment. Or the gun. But you're my brother."
Skipper sighed, shook his head and softened his scowl.
"But now you understand? You still think I'm stupid? Under my command, the penguin authority, you can not help him. I've just given you the power to help him. You don't belong to me anymore, you're a free man."
Kowalski lifted his head. There was not one neuron in his body that wanted Skipper to feel like an idiot, like he was being played. Kowalski deserved this, and he deserved to be kicked from the team.
But Skipper was right, Skipper was smart. He was now a free penguin who could go his own way, shape his life indefinitely and save Blowhole from himself. Perhaps Skipper was capable of complex thought after all. Kowalski could have shed a tear.
"I still stand by what I said before. You're the best commanding officer I could have asked for."
Skipper took a moment to ponder that thought, then turned back to the window with a small, pained smile on his face.
"The praise is appreciated. But I wont lean. I have to protect me and my men. You have your own mission now. Prove me wrong. I'm counting on you."