A.N. — And here is the next chapter! Enjoy! (Sorry for it being a bit short XD)

Chapter 14: Suspicion

Rico quickly speeds the little cramped car towards Hoboken Zoo. Marissa pays more attention to the small invention she is tinkering with than to the erratic driving of Rico or to Kowalski and Cecelia' discussion about...Actually, she isn't even sure what topic they are on now, but she doesn't care enough to think and listen to what they are saying to find out.

"Attention, men." Skipper then says, looking over the back of his seat at them. "We're approaching Hoboken. If you could 86 the scientific gibber jabber maybe we can have some element of surprise." He says.

The three scientists nod and stop talking. Skipper motions Rico to a secluded spot behind some bushes. He then motions his plan to the penguins, not that Cecelia has much of a clue of what he is motioning. "Comprende?" He then whispers. They all salute and Skipper nods and starts stealthily sliding towards Lulu the chimp's habitat. "Psst. Higher mammal." He says in a hushed whisper.

Lulu glances up from her book. "Oh?" She looks around and sees Skipper. She hops down then from her tire swing and walks over. "Skipper? What are you gents doing here?"

Skipper puts his flipper over her mouth. "Shh! We aren't here." He says with a look. The chimpanzee looks curiously at them and lets them all into her habitat. Skipper glances around. "I need intel. Is Komodo here?"

"Not here, here, by that, of course, he means in his habitat here." Cecelia says.

Lulu looks a bit annoyed at Cecelia's clarification and nods. "I think so, I saw him and a lass talking earlier." She says.

"A lass?" Marissa asks. "A fox?"

"No...No, it was a transfer Komodo dragon like him, I do believe." She says.

Skipper nods some. "Any other suspicious activities?" He asks, with a look for her to hurry up. "I've got two privates missing and he's our top suspect."

"Oh dear...Well, I'm not aware of him doing anything too much more out of the normal, though he spends most of his time in that little cave of his, I think." Lulu says and rubs at her mouth. "I'm sorry, love, but that's all I know."

"Alright." Skipper shortly nods and then waves his flippers. "You haven't seen anything..." He motions and then he and the others slide out again, stealthily towards the Komodo habitat.

Talia smirks and nods towards the desk. "Bottom drawer on the right, mate." She says.

Komodo gives her a suspicious look and goes over to the desk. "If you're lying, this will not be good for you..." He grumbles. He then throws open the desk drawer to have a stapler thrown at his head as the two penguins jump out and try to make a break for it. "GET THEM!"

Butch and Connor nod and take off after them. The privates slide as quickly as they can towards the cave exit. Sarah just rolls her eyes and flips a switch. The door shuts tight in front of the penguins and they slide right into it. "We've got'em!" Butch declares as he and his brother grab the wriggling penguins.

"Get them back in bonds and ready for the chamber." Dr. Komodo nods and snorts. "I tire of their constant interruptions." He waves a claw. His minions nod and take them to another room. Komodo now looks at Talia, still with his untrusting glare. "What's your aim?"

Talia gives an innocent look. "What aim?" She says and bats her blue eyes a bit.

He narrows his eyes. "Why did you help?"

"Maybe you shouldn't judge a book by its cover so much now, mate..." She chuckles and just walks over to the lab. "As I said, my zoo was closed down...I had my own enemies, I got sent here...Hoboken." She says the name with disgust. "You think I really want to be here, Nelson? I've got my own schemes. I don't plan to be here long. Just long enough for my minions to figure out where I am and come collect me." She snorts.

Komodo now raises a brow in curiosity. "Oh? You're a villain?"

Talia shrugs some. "Apparently not as well known of one as I thought..." She mutters.

"I know the feeling." He frowns and then shakes his head some as he was letting himself get sidetracked. "I'll let you stay then, just don't get in my way."

"Fine." She nods.

Nelson nods and walks towards the room he had them put the penguins. Talia curiously follows him and looks around more. "I thought I told you to stay out of my way..." He grumbles, glancing back at her.

Talia looks at him. "I'm not in your way, I'm following you." She shrugs. The scientist just rolls his eyes and continues into the room. He looks at Trixy and Private as they hit their flippers upon the glass container they are in. He looks at how Trixy is obviously shouting something, but she is unable to be heard through the noise canceling glass. He smirks and nods to Sarah. "You know what to do. Start plans 2-7V and 34-8G." He says.

"2-7V and 34-8G?" Talia asks curiously as she looks at the youths.

"Yes." He nods. "2-7V comprises of the deletion of their existences. 34-8G...Well, that's more personal, my plans for world domination." He says.

"Oh...You're one of those villains?" She sighs and sounds a bit annoyed.

He now turns and gives her a look. "What? And you aren't?"

Talia snorts. "You're darn right I'm not, mate." She says. "I've got no interest in ruling the world. Can't your type ever just be evil to be evil?" She sighs. "No, no, it's always the same. Some big competition to be supreme. It gets so boring, mate."

"Boring?" He repeats as if confused. "But think of the possibilities! You could have all of your enemies eliminated! Executed! However you like! You could do what ever you want! Terrorize the populace! Get the credit you deserve for your inventions!" He says. "Get revenge!"

Talia shrugs and looks at her claws. "Yeah, I know...But don't you think it'd get boring quickly?" She looks at him. "Think of it this way, with your enemy out of the way, you have no confrontation. You can only terrorize the populace so long until it gets old and then you'll miss your enemy..." She sighs. "So then you sink so low as to blow up an entire town and create a hero for you to fight..." She rubs her arm and looks away.

"Wait...Wasn't there a movie like that?" Nelson says and looks at her.

"Yes!" She says quickly and then clears her throat. "Like I was saying, mate...It had a point."

Komodo rubs under his chin and then shrugs. "Eh, just another obstacle to overcome when the time comes." He smirks and looks at Sarah. "Start the procedure!"

Sarah nods with a wide grin and raises a lever. Nothing happens.

"I don't think so, Komodo." Then comes a voice as five penguins jump out in battle formation, Skipper still holding the unplugged cord.