3 – Rescue Party

˝I knew you would betray us! I knew it!˝ shouted Skipper at the closing door. Those words echoed in the small room for quite some time. The penguins watched as their newest team member left them behind. They weren't as angry or sad, as they were disappointed.

It didn't take long for the lobsters to sound an alarm. They came to the prisoner room first. They searched the place but obviously found nothing so they soon left. The birds began wishing for the reptile to get caught, but it didn't look likely to happen.

You give someone, who screwed up his life, another chance at it, and he throws it away just like that. Maybe, who we really are, can't be changed. What if evil is located in the DNA, or maybe it's the reptilia class, maybe they're all just plain evil.

The alarm continued going of every two second for hours until it eventually stopped. The penguins raised their heads, waiting for someone to bring the monitor back through the door, but no one came. Loud banging was heard once again, but this time it seemed to be coming from all directions.

˝What's that?˝ asked the frightened private. ˝That would be our host, it seems as though he has quite the temper,˝ explained Kowalski. Skipper sighed, ˝Let's at least try to get some shut-eye boys. Maybe we'll come up with something in the morning.˝ The remaining birds nodded, agreeing with their leader. They couldn't really sleep, hanging from the wall like that, but they tried anyway.

Meanwhile at the central park zoo, Marlene was sweeping the floor in her cave. ˝Hmm, that's strange, they said they'd be home by now,˝ she shrugged it off, ˝Oh well, I'm sure they can take care of themselves.˝ The little otter finished the chore and put away the broom before going to bed.

The shroud of darkness was once again lowered on this part of the planet. The day walkers were already asleep and creatures of the night came out of their hiding place. At the Bronx zoo, something was moving through the night. It didn't need to hide, his black scales did the job for him. The creature was perfectly camouflaged in the darkness. He set his eyes on the only enclosure with the lights still on. He approached the wall and easily scaled it.

There were three different animals sitting around a small table on the other side. There was a flying fox (Acerodon jubatus), a roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) and a genet (Genetta genetta). They were playing some sort of card game. You couldn't tell which one, but the creature knew it was 54-card tarot.

The genet was the one currently shuffling and he accidentally dropped a card. He turned it around, reveling the number eight major Arcana. ˝Hmm, the strength, what were the odds?˝ asked the bird. ˝1 against 54, like you didn't know that,˝ replied the bat. ˝Too bad he isn't here, I hate playing in threes,˝ added the genet.

˝Well, maybe he is here,˝ the three animals looked up, and down from the wall jumped the creature and as slowly made its way into the lit area, the animals saw, that it was the water monitor Alexander. ˝What's the matter, you look like you've seen a ghost?˝ The trio slowly stood up and walked over to their visitor. They each gave the reptile a man hug, as described in the Bro Code.

After that was done, ˝Sorry about that, but we didn't expect to ever see you again,˝ explained the roadrunner. ˝Yeah, not since… you know,˝ added the genet. ˝Yes, yes, I know, but I'm not here for a visit.˝ The bat groaned, ˝Aw crap, you're on the lamb, aren't you.˝ The lizard raised an eyebrow, ˝No, actually I came here because I need your help. And you know you owe me.˝

Back at Coney Island, a few hours of not sleeping later, a lobster entered the room. *Gasp* ˝Are you the good guy henchmen on the opposite team who thinks the boss's crazy and has come to free us?˝ asked Kowalski with a hopeful voice. ˝This isn't a movie soldier, those things don't happen here.˝ The crustacean watched the argument that developed between the flat-headed and the tall bird and shrugged it off.

He pulled out syringes from behind his back and began injecting the bird from left to right. Caught up in his argument, the captain didn't even notice the yelps of the first two penguins, but when his adversary in the "debate" was interrupted, he finally took a look.

His eyes widened and his pupils shrank. ˝N-N-NEEDLE!˝ screamed the leader and began struggling. He was swinging in all directions, but it was all in vain. The dreaded contraption was coming ever closer. His flippers and ankles began hurting from the chafing caused by the shackles. A few drops of blood appeared before he finally stopped. He closed his eyes, awaiting the inevitable.

The pain of the needle isn't really the problem with Trypanophobia. It's more about the individual and how much he convinces himself it's going to hurt…, besides phobias are irrational and have deep roots. They aren't easily overcome. Skipper felt his strength fading. He didn't bother with trying to fight it, he just let the drug take over. The unconscious birds were quickly carried away by more lobsters and brought to a different, bigger room.

˝It's your fault we've been stuck here a day longer!˝ yelled a deep voice somewhere. Due to the, stress-induced, accelerated heartbeat, Skipper was first to wake up and was also the currently only bird awake. He quickly moved his flippers, but once again had to realize, that he was restrained. He cursed himself for not waking up faster.

He took a look around the new room he was in. 'Well, at least the lighting's better,' he continued looking around. It was a vast hall, there appeared to be three entrances and three other large doors. They were marked with numbers from two to four. 'Probably chrome claws,' he thought. Someone then started approaching him. He quickly recognized the animal by his deep voice. ˝Sorry for the overdose back there, but it's hard to find good henchmen these days, when your only choices are between bad and worse.˝ The captain looked up to see the mountain, that was the Jackhammer.

˝I wouldn't know. I only work and train with my team. Hiring some poor suckers for the enemies to kill would be a waste of money,˝ replied Skipper. ˝I agree, nothing beats the satisfaction of accomplishing things yourself, but where are my manners. Would you like something to drink?˝ Skipper just glared.

˝Oh, so you're the stubborn kind, well let me make you a deal, but let's first wait for your friends to wake up, so I won't have to repeat myself.˝ Skipper nodded and watched as his team mates regained their consciousness and overcame the initial confusion. ˝Where in the known universe are we?˝ asked the groaning lieutenant.

˝Good, now let's begin,˝ said the elephant seal and gained the full attention of the birds. ˝My employer, who I'm certain you're all familiar with, told me to make you the following offer, you tell me where the monitor is and I'll set you free.˝ Skipper glared at the mammal, ˝How's about a counter offer, you let me go and I help you track the guy down.˝ The seal gave it a thought before responding. ˝So you're saying that you don't know where he is?˝ The captain slowly shook his head.

˝That's too bad. I mean, look at this place, motion-detecting laser cannons, an army of lobsters, chrome claws and of course yours truly ,˝ he said and the cracked his neck. ˝I'm almost tempted to let you flightless freaks go and see if you'll make it,˝ he added. Skipper formed a confident smile, ˝Maybe you should,˝ he suggested. The seal lowered his head down to the penguin's, ˝I do hope you somehow manage to escape, 'cause then I'll be able to go jackhammer on your tail feathers.˝

An explosion went off somewhere that shook the entire room. ˝What was that?˝ asked the seal. One of the henchmen came over to him, ˝Sir, someone seems to have infiltrated the base,˝ reported the lobsters. ˝Who! I demand to know!˝ The crustacean shrugged, ˝We don't know. All the cameras went offline at the same time and the defense systems have been shut down.˝ The seal raised its body and slammed down onto the tiny lobster. He crushed the little guy, in his furry, into nothing but red pulp.

Then something resembling footsteps began echoing in the hallways. It sounded really big and was closing in on one of the locked entrances. The seal looked in that direction, ˝Cover that door!˝ he ordered and about thirty lobsters went over. He was the biggest and the baddest. The heavyweight champion of the ocean, but for the first time in his life he thought that he might have found his match. The steps stopped right in front at the door and everyone waited for what was coming next.

There were three loud bangs on the door. Each left a noticeable dent in the ten inch barrier, separating them from whatever was on the other side. ˝Stand still and don't break formation!˝ ordered the seal. The lobsters were scared to the exoskeleton, but waited anyway. They knew that anything this monster would do, still wouldn't be half as bad as what Jackhammer would do to them.

They carefully watched the door, when suddenly an explosion went off above the crustaceans. They looked up and the last sight they got to see, was an airshaft racing at them with an acceleration of 9.81 meters per second squared. The airshaft crushed the "welcoming committee" beneath its weight. The Jackhammer's jaw dropped and one of his eyes started twitching.

But before anyone could say anything, another explosion went off. It took out a portion of a wall and raised a lot of dust. The elephant seal watched the smoke clearing, new lobsters were coming from other parts of the base and the penguins were still just hung around the place. The crustaceans took on their battle stances. Jackhammer stayed in the back as the dust slowly began settling.

˝Sorry I had to keep you waiting, but I just had to make a quick stop, to pick up some friends, on my way,˝ said a voice from the dust cloud. The penguins immediately recognized it as Alexander's. He was the first one visible, the water monitor everyone was looking for. He stood there with his signature evil smile and with his arms crossed. Everyone in the room shot glare at him.

More dust settled, revealing other animals behind him. On his right, the greater roadrunner, on his left, the common genet, and above him, the giant golden-crowned flying fox. The reptile raised his arms in awe and took a deep breath.

Skipper, meet my team,˝ began Alexander.

Was it obvious, or unexpected… depends on you, but he was a soldier first, before he was a convict, don't forget.

R&R