OK... not kidding. I want some reviews and I want them NOW!!!! (sorry to be such a brat. I just can't believe that as of this moment, there's only 3.) Once again, thanks to Monsy38 for helping me out!

Skipper sat atop the concrete island, waiting for his cue to bring himself into the drama being staged that night. To pass the time, he'd brought the team's chess set and was playing against himself. All he needed to do was checkmate the queen and the game was over. But, he decided to make things interesting; he took one of his imaginary opponent's castles and took his own knight out.

At the same time, a horrific scream filled Skipper's ears. He'd heard that scream before… during Operation: Yellow-Jacket. Kowalski had been testing his pain-eliminating helmet, which had failed…

Skipper glanced down at the chessboard. Apparently, the little stone figure wasn't Skipper's only 'knight' to be taken tonight.

Probably breaking some rules, but not caring anymore, he moved a bishop and took the opponent's queen.

"Checkmate." he whispered. He got up, and started towards Marlene's home. Now, not only two knights, but two queens would lose now.

He felt numb. No thought crossed his mind, and he registered no emotion except a slight surprise that he was actually going through with this. He walked, unseen and unheard, across the path. He deftly jumped over the fence and water to the entrance. He walked inside.

As Skipper gazed upon Marlene's sleeping figure, he sensed another emotion flit across his mind: gladness. He was glad he'd already decided not to shed her blood - even with that terrible snoring, she was so beautiful. She had almost ten candles burning; he blew out four of them.

"Put out the light," he said with the fourth candle extinguished, then turning back to Marlene, "then put out the light." (1)

Skipper couldn't help himself. Such a soft, sensual loveliness she emitted, what with the diminished candlelight and asleep on her bed - he gently pressed his beak to Marlene's lips. She stirred after he pulled away, and her eyes fluttered open.

"Wh-who's there…" she said groggily, slowly sitting up. She met Skipper's eyes.

"Oh… I suppose you've come to apologize." It was not a question.

"Not exactly." Skipper replied, gripping her forearm a little too tightly.

Marlene looked into his eyes and was frightened. The normally smug, soft blues had been replaced with what looked like two cold, black stones.

"What's going on?" she said. "Skipper, you're scaring me!"

"I know what you and Kowalski have been doing." he said calmly.

"Huh?"

"The queen and the knight chase each other across the board and try to hide in the castle, but in the end, only the best player can win. And you, Marlene, have lost."

"Kowalski? Oh!" she exclaimed, finally understanding what he had been thinking this whole time. "Skipper, it's not like that -"

"I know it is!" he shouted, shaking her roughly.

"NO!" she screamed, getting off the bed with some difficulty. "It ISN'T! Just ASK the guy, he'll tell you the truth!"

Skipper half-smiled. She hadn't heard the scream, with her sonorous snoring.

"Numero Uno, I heard Kowalski say you love him."

Marlene's mouth fell open. "But-"

"Numero dos," he continued, "Kowalski… well, let's just say - you'll be seeing him again very shortly."

Marlene froze. She realized what he meant, and a tear rolled down her furry cheek. She shook her head, getting back her focus, and fought Skipper's deadly embrace.

"NO - Let me go!" she yelled, struggling with all her might.

But Skipper, obviously, was stronger. He threw her back onto the bed and picked up one of her decorative throw pillows. The pillow came close to her face, and she frantically pushed it away.

"Kill me tomorrow; let me live tonight!" she cried.

"Nay, if you strive -" he started.

But half an hour!" Marlene had so many people to say good-bye to: Julien, Maurice, Mort, the chimps, Private and Rico, and Kowalski, oh, Kowalski…

But Skipper would not relent. "Being done, there is no pause."

"But while I say one prayer!" Marlene pleaded.

"It is too late!" (2) He pressed harder. Much, much too hard - with a burst of hot pain on Marlene's part and a deafening CRACK, the bones in Marlene's arm snapped from the pressure. Marlene screamed. Skipper cringed - she was hurting. He hadn't meant to do that!

He didn't want revenge anymore. He just wanted to put her out of her pain.

Skipper pressed the pillow to her face.

…

Five minutes earlier…

Amy, Rico, and Private sat at the table in the HQ, oblivious to the chaos that ensued around them that moment. Private worried aloud about his absent friends.

"I've never seen Skippah so worked up." he said. Rico nodded in agreement. Private continued, "Maybe it was that necklace that made him mad-"

"Necklace?" Amy said, snapping to attention. "What necklace?"

"K'walski found a strawberry-shaped necklace under his pillow a few days ago, that's when all of this really started…"

Strawberry necklace. Marlene's necklace.

Why, oh why had Amy given that to Ian?

Amy had known Ian quite long enough to quickly piece together what had happened.

Skipper was going to Marlene's. That's what he had said… now, Amy knew, Marlene was in great danger.

She ran to the back door, and swung it open. Marlene's and Skipper's voices echoed through the sewer. She saw traces of blood in the rank water.

Amy ran though, hoping, praying she wasn't already too late.

…

Skipper held the pillow against Marlene's face. Her struggling became weaker by the second, as her arm burned with pain and she tried to breathe.

The manhole on the floor flew up and almost hit the ceiling, and Amy jumped through. She saw Skipper, totally focused on cutting off the otter's airway."NO!" she yelled, and ran herself right into Skipper's body, knocking them both to the floor.

Private and Rico busted through as well, and held Skipper back as Marlene gasped for air.

At that moment, Kowalski, supported by Maurice and Mort and accompanied by Julien and Ian, burst inside.

Marlene looked up, clutching her arm.

"Kowalski?!" she and Skipper said, stunned that he was alive. Skipper glanced over at Ian.

Ian was angry about the fact that Marlene was still breathing, but that anger was soon replaced by… yes. Fear. Fear of the almost murderous look on Amy's face.

"Ay merda!" he cursed.

(1) Act V, Scene II, line 7 (The most famous line in Othello's most well-known soliloquy)

(2) Act V, Scene II, lines 83-88

Also: ay merda - oh sh!t