Disclaimer: Penguins of Madagascar is the property of Nickelodeon, DreamWorks, and any other of their related affiliates. This fiction was created for the purpose of being creative and having fun. No money or other form of profit was made as a result of the stories creation.

Paternity Pursuit

chapter 2

By

Wildgoose

(The scene comes in focusing on the upper most branches of a tree in NY central park. Through a set of makeshift night vision goggles smoke can be seen billowing from a location in the center of the zoo. Outside of the zoo there are an abundance of emergency vehicles with lights flashing and related workers coming in and out of the zoo. The time is two a.m.)

Skipper: Status report, Kowalski.

Kowalski: (continues to look through the makeshift night vision goggles) Good news and bad news, …and then there's more bad news Skipper.

Skipper: Well, don't sugar coat it soldier. Let's hear the bad first.

Kowalski: The building housing the vet's office and the security monitoring station are a total loss. It's been reduced to a pile of smoldering ashes.

Skipper: All right, ..what's the good news then?

Kowalski: It looks like the fire has been extinguished, ..they're just hosing down any hot spots. Also, the fact that the security station was lost gives our ruse a better chance of succeeding.

Private: What about the zoo keeper? Doesn't anyone care about him?

Kowalski: (coarsely) Of coarse, …I was going to get to that if you hadn't interrupted me. That was the more bad news. He was taken away by ambulance, …apparently still unconscious. The injuries Rico gave him must have been far more serious than we'd thought.

Private: I think you may have done the job just a little too well, Rico. (Rico shrugs with indifference.) I don't feel right about this, Skipper.

Skipper: What 's the problem, Private. Okay, Rico went a little overboard but he still got the job done. Collateral damage private, that's all.

Private: The night time zookeeper is our friend. Without him we're stuck in our habitats twenty four seven, …like animals. No recon, …no special ops, …no more delivered Chinese food. I don't think I can take it, ..Skipper.

Kowalski: We all feel the same way Private, but it was necessary for our plan to work.

Private: What IS the plan?

Skipper: We had to create a subterfuge for us to be able to slip away for an undisclosed amount of time. The fire just happened to play into it by accident. We beat the zookeeper up to make it look like he was jumped and then made it look like we had been abducted. In the end we'll find a way for the humans to "recover" us and everybody will end up back in their place at the zoo. (turns to look at Kowalski) Who did you pass the buck to by the way?

Kowalski: I blamed the whole thing on the Fanatical Animal Rights Team. A fictional group, mind you.

Marlene: Wait, ….wait just a second. You blamed the fire, the zoo keeper, and our alleged abduction on a fictional animal rights group called F.A.R.T? (Private and Rico snicker)

Skipper: It stinks, I know but…. (private and Rico snicker some more.) What? (Private and Rico try to put on straight faces.)

Marlene: The whole thing seems kind of hazy to me.

Private: (snickers along with Rico.) Must have been an S.B.D.

Marlene: (Rolls her eyes and smacks both of them three stooges style.) Enough with the jokes, we get it. (looks back at Skipper) Now where was I, ..oh yea. Don't you think the humans will see right through that? I'm pretty sure they'll check and find out that there's no such group.

Kowalski: New groups of every kind pop up every day, Marlene. With any luck they'll just think that this is just another brand new one.

Marlene: And you don't think that the zoo keeper won't be just a little peeved that he was used and abused as a distraction?

Private: That's what I was worried about. I like him, Skipper. What do we do if he leaves because of what we did?

Skipper: Look, …I don't like doing what we did any more than you do but it was necessary. In the absolute worst case scenario we bug out from the zoo and take Marlene and her family with us, living on our own for a while if necessary. (turns to Marlene) Now we're putting everything on the line to help you find some answers Marlene, ….do you want to find a dad for your pups or not?

Marlene: (looks back toward the zoo for a moment and then turns back to look into Skippers stern eyes.) I do.

Private: (looks back and forth between them and then speaks jokingly) That sounded kind of weird the way you said that, Marlene. You didn't just agree to marry him did you? (Without even looking Skipper slapped private and waddled away toward Kowalski to take a look at things for himself.)

Skipper: (quietly) Options Kowalski.

Kowalski: This one's going to take some time to plan, Skipper. We've never taken on a mission this risky before.

Skipper: We've been to P.A. before, ..why is this different?

Kowalski: There's a lot more at stake this time. Faking our abduction means that law enforcement will be looking for us. Frankly, facing Dr. Blowhole may end up seeming like child's play compared to this.

Skipper: We don't know how long we'll be gone from the zoo, …and the zookeeper wasn't about to look the other way on this one. We did what was necessary.

Kowalski: Zoo's do this kind of thing to their animals all of the time, Skipper. Marlene would have been okay not knowing who her pups came from.

Skipper: (looks the other way ) Would she, Kowalski?

Kowalski: (raises an eyebrow) Skipper?

Skipper: I was used as a genetic contributor myself once, …at our last zoo before we took a detour to Madagascar. I felt too humiliated to say anything to anybody, to be used like that. (long pause) I can tell you, …it's not okay. Somewhere out there Kowalski, …I have one or more little penguins wondering who their dad is or where he is or why he's not there with them. (Looks sad) It's not okay, ..Kowalski.

Kowalski: (looks wierded out) Wow um, ….okay. That was probably a little more information than was actually necessary but thank you for sharing. (shrugs) Um, …I had no idea, Skipper. I'm sorry.

Skipper: No need soldier, …just keep it on the QT. I don't want people to know I have an emotional soft side, ..it's bad for the image.

Kowalski: Understood. (salutes) I'll let you know as soon as I have options for you. (Skipper nods and waddles back to the group. After a long period of thought Kowalski suddenly jumps down from the tree a branch at a time and heads off into the park.)

(Cut to inside New York General Hospital. After several hours in the E.R. The zookeeper has been admitted and moved to a quiet room. A doctor is currently evaluating him as Alice sneaks into the room to visit but is noticed by the doctor when the hinges on the door squeak for an instant.)

Doctor: (stoic expression) Excuse me, ..who are you?

Alice: I'm Alice,.. the head zookeeper over at Central Park, ..I'm his supervisor. (The Dr. looks her over for a long moment trying to get a read on her.) Take a picture weirdo, …it'll last longer. (The doctor ignores her comment)

Doctor: Don't stay too long, …during these hours we normally only let immediate family in.

Alice: Not to worry doc., as far as I know any family this guy had is dead. Unless you want to let the zoo animals in here I think you're safe. (The doctor shakes his head no without turning to look at Alice.)

Doctor: (finishes his evaluation and then pulls over a nearby chair, reverses it and then straddles it to face Alice.) He's attached to them is he?

Alice: (Laughs) Why else would anybody tend a zoo at night. (The doctor shrugs. And a long awkward silence ensues before Alice finally breaks it.) So can you tell me what's going on or what?

Doctor: Can I see some I.D. ? (Alice rolls her eyes and pulls her work badge off of her shirt and then grabs her license out of her wallet and hands them to the doctor for inspection. A moment later he hands them back. ) He was beaten up pretty bad.

Alice: You needed twelve years of medical school to tell me something I could have told you?

Doctor: (smugly adjusts his glasses) There's a difference, …I get paid a kings ransom to tell you something you could have told me. That's what twelve years of medical school gets me. So how much do YOU make? (Alice smirks and concedes) But that aside, …I meant that this was no ordinary beating.

Alice: Come again?

Doctor: (smirks) No thanks, …I'm married.

Alice: (confused) Huh..?

Doctor: (rolls his eyes) Never mind. I meant that this was a hit. Whoever did this knew exactly how and where to hit him so that he would be crippled but not killed. There's no question, this was a professional job. (Long pause.) So what did the cops say?

Alice: They think it was some bizarre animal rights group.

Doctor: I didn't know animal rights groups were into hiring pro's to get their point across. (beat) Or that they had the resources for it. (long pause) You said he was attached to the animals?

Alice: I guess you could say that, why?

Doctor: He's incoherent when he's conscious but he babbles something about penguins and a pregnant otter. Does that mean anything to you?

Alice: Those were the animals that were stolen from the zoo.

Doctor: If those were the animals he was most attached to then that might explain why they were the ones taken and no others but that doesn't explain putting a hit on the guy. (scratches his forehead and sighs heavily) This is just too weird.

Alice: (crosses her arms over her chest) You know Doc, you seem to know an awful lot about criminology for a doctor.

Doctor: Former NCIS, I've always been a doctor as well but after the service I figured I'd stick with this. There's more money in medicine than in putting lowlifes away.

Alice: What a real patriot you are. ( looks at the zookeeper with tired eyes, a tiny almost unnoticeable tear forms at the corner of one eye as she smacks the night zookeepers leg.) Dumb goofball, …you tried to stop them didn't you. You're life's not worth anything to you?

Doctor: (looks amused in the sudden change in topic.) I don't think that was the case here. (walks over to the bed and points out the injuries.) There are no defensive wounds whatsoever and no signs of a struggle. He was taken by surprise, dragged a short distance by the shoulders and then robbed.

Alice: (looks confused) How can you tell if he was robbed?

Doctor: (chuckles in amusement) All cash was removed from his wallet, the cards weren't touched, and an I.O.U was left in place of the cash written in crayon and child like handwriting. These guys are creative and have a sense of humor. (Alice stares at him with suspicious curiosity.) I found the wallet when we removed his uniform. The police are on their way over to pick it up and check it out.

Alice: ( shakes her head to dismiss any notions she had and yawns pointing to the night time zoo keeper.) He's going to live though, right?

Doctor: He'll recover, …we have to keep him for a while for observation though. Concussions can be pretty nasty and he's got a doozy. (Alice turns to leave) How long have you been together?

Alice: Whoa, …what? (does a 180 and almost looses her footing.) Look Doc., I don't date co workers.

Doctor: I thought you were his supervisor.

Alice: Wha…I am.

Doctor: You're sure about that? The way you acted earlier I suspected otherwise.

Alice: And what exactly is that supposed to mean?

Doctor: With work related injuries it's the corporate big wigs that show up at these hours, ..usually to dot the I's, cross the T's, and see if there's any way to get out of paying anything. Those guys were in hours ago, ..so what's your story? The security station didn't call ahead to get consent before sending you up which means you snuck in risking arrest just to see this guy and you've changed your relationship with the patient from being a supervisor to co-worker to supervisor again.

Alice: Look you quack, .,..(grits her teeth and then says nothing. The doctor shrugs and leans over the desk by the bed and picks up the phone.) What are you doing?

Doctor: Calling security, what's it look like? You're trespassing and you've misrepresented yourself.

Alice: Wait…. (face turns red in worry) Look , ..I just came to visit the guy. I work with him for god's sake.

Doctor: Visiting hours start at nine in the morning, ..you should have come then. (Holds the phone a little closer to his ear and begins to dial numbers.)

Alice: (breaks) Alright, I like the guy. Is that a crime? I'll be pushing forty in a couple of years and it's not easy to find a guy who understands me. Are you happy now Captain America?

Doctor: (smiles) As it happens he's my favorite character. (pause) So he doesn't know?

Alice: Of coarse not, …I've got about ten years on him. (The doctor shakes his head)

Doctor: Tsk..tsk. (as a voice comes over the phone) Hi,..I'd like to place an order for room two hundred three. The patient has a guest who may be staying for a while and could probably use something to eat. (Alice looks appalled) Chicken salad sound good to you? (looks at Alice's face and smiles evilly) Yea, …go with that then. And some decaf, …she doesn't need to be awake all night. Thanks. (hangs up the phone.) What, ..I figured since I dialed the wrong number I might as well order something. (Alice lets her mouth hang open as the doctor gets up and walks out of the room.) I'll let the nurse know you'll be staying.

Alice: (finally regains the strength to say something) WEIRDO!

Doctor: (Voice fading down the hall in response) I've got tenure, …I can be like that.

(The scene cuts back to the Tree in Central park. Kowalski is seen climbing back up to the high branch where the others have been sleeping all night. As he settles down to try and catch some sleep himself skipper pops an eye open.)

Skipper: So where were you all night, Kowalski?

Kowalski: Gathering intel, Skipper. An OP like this takes careful planning.

Skipper: Good work, What have you got?

Kowalski: (opens a plastic bag he was carrying) Easy open cans of sardines, …we can't risk our lives on an empty stomach.

Skipper: I like the way you think. Now what about that intel you went out for.

Kowalski: Oh, …right. (Pulls a map, a chart, and the schedules of various mass transit systems out from somewhere on his person.) It's not going to be easy, Skipper. To get to the Philadelphia zoo and back in the shortest time and risk we'll need to take the subway to the airport and find either a plane or a chopper that's flight plan will take us as close as possible to the Philly zoo, then we insert to the objective via air drop. We'll need to construct parachutes.

Skipper: Why can't we just do the soda bottle and wooden wings routine.

Kowalski: ( Points to a chart he made up.) For us the thrust to weight ratio would be adequate but for Marlene with her extra baggage it would require substantially more pop. Not to mention the duration of propellants is minimal compared to distance traveled.

Skipper: What?

Kowalski: We'd end up playing air frogger all the way to Philadelphia, not to mention the whole trip would be high profile and most certainly would gain attention.

Skipper: Right then, ..so when do we leave. (Kowalski continues to lay out the details of his plan as the others begin to wake up and pay attention to what is going on.)

(The scene cuts back to the central park zoo the following night, ..everything is quiet now. The fire is long since out and all of the equipment has left. The Zoo has opened and closed as usual with exception that patrons were restricted from approaching the section of the zoo where the fire took place. There have been throughout the day news crews from the various TV stations reporting on the happenings in recent days with emphasis being placed in the mystery animal rights group that allegedly abducted the animals and accosted the night time zoo keeper. Now that the zoo is closed for the day the other zookeepers tend to the animals and then go about their other business. Aside from that nothing else happens, …no animals leave their habitats. No one sounds the all clear, ..the animals are all stuck in their habitats by the replacement over night zoo keeper, a temp brought in from another zoo, as he checks on the animals regularly and keeps tabs from a new make shift security station that can monitor all of the cameras. The silence is eventually broken by a shrill scream coming from the lemur habitat.)

Julian: MY BOUNCY THING, …NO! They have taken it, …those horrible letches. The new zoo keeper has stolen my bouncy thing.

Morrise: Your highness, …we already know he took it. It was removed earlier today because it was blocking the cameras view of our habitat.

Julian: But he TOOK it,…my favorite thing in the whole world.

Morrise: Your highness, …it's not..

Julian: He TOOK it. Don't you understand. (Morrise sighs)

Morrise: Look at it this way, you've still got your letche….

Julian: He took those too, …said they go bad to easily and for that reason were bad for me. (gets louder) How can something that the king is loving be bad for him? (numerous animal voices echo through the zoo from their pens stating their own protests. The scene cuts to Joey's habitat)

Joey: (As his hay is tossed out to him) What's this, …only half a bale? Joey always gets a whole bale, mate. (As the zookeeper retreats through the access door) I'm talking to you dingo, ..are you listening to me? (looks about in irritation) Hey, …where's my apples? I always get apples before down time. (he tries to jump out of his habitat but when his paws touch the railing at the top he receives an electric shock and is knocked to the ground.) Mark my words, Mate. You're making Joey Angry, …and you won't like me when I'm angry. (1)

(Similar occurrences are happening with all of the other animals raising tensions over the radical changes brought about by the new zoo keeper.)

1. Sincere apologies to all marvel comics fans with special homage to the incredible hulk but the slight adaptation to the quote just seemed to fit the immediate purpose in the scene.

Chapter three coming soon…..

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