Chapter Five
Taunting and Baiting
The penguins were watching Shirtless Ninja Wrestling on the TV one day when the program was interrupted by a transmission coming from Dr. Blowhole's lair.
"So...Skipper my old foe, have you eaten any good pizzas with anchovies lately?" Dr. Blowhole taunted Skipper.
"No why do you ask? Wait a minute that was you?! You monster!" Skipper cried out.
"Thank you, I try my best but if you ever want to retrieve those precious anchovies, than come to the co-ordinates I've attached at the end of this video. Come ALONE.
If you bring anyone with you, well... let's just say me and the boys will be having an all you can eat anchovy buffet." Dr. Blowhole threatened and finished off the video by eating an anchovy and cackling maniacally. A set of co-ordinates flashed on the screen.
Kowalski quickly scribbled them on his the paper on his clipboard.
"Oh and did I mention I had a guest with me?" Dr. Blowhole inquired
"No." Skipper replied to the TV screen, wondering why the dolphin had asked this question.
The video than panned across the lair and revealed Kowalski bound by ropes and sitting against a wooden crate.
"The question is... is he the real Kowalski; the faithful soldier who stood by your side all these years, or is he merely a clone with Kowalski's memories? You'll just have to come and find out. Can you afford NOT to come?" Dr. Blowhole lured Skipper and the transmission faded to black.
"Kowalski, we need to talk... in your lab." Skipper alluded.
"OK Skipper, but I'm telling you. I'M the real Kowalski." Kowalski's clone insisted.
"Maybe he's brainwashed you into believing that or maybe you ARE the real Kowalski, but until then I can't trust you until we enter your lab." Skipper told Kowalski's clone.
The two penguins waddled over to the laboratory, they opened the door, entered the room and then slammed the door.
Kowalski's clone's scream reverberated across the entire head quarters.
"Gosh! How can hurting Kowalski help Skipper know if he's a clone or not?" Private disconcertingly asked.
Rico chuckled and then nudged Private with his flipper, "Heh...heh, you know*?"
"Oh, right."
Skipper and Kowalski's clone then left the laboratory and closed the door.
Kowalski's clone was rubbing the left side of his chest.
"You can clone practically anything in a penguin, but you can't clone their tattoos. OK Rico you're in charge, no offense Kowalski's clone, but I can't trust you.
Whatever you do... don't let the lemurs enter our headquarters...Oh yeah and don't follow me. Good luck." Skipper wished them luck, ripped the page with the co-ordinates from Kowalski's clipboard.
Skipper then climbed up the ladder and set off towards Hoboken.
"This is my fault... and now Skipper and Kowalski are in trouble. Kowalski would be ashamed of me." Kowalski's clone sobbed.
"Don't feel guilty Kowalski's clone, you may have made a mistake, but Kowalski could never be ashamed of you, he's too kind and... well too proud to be ashamed of himself.
Don't blame yourself, it was Dr. Blowhole who did this, not you." Private patted Kowalski's clone on the back.
"Kowalski and I are lucky to have a penguin like you on the team Private." Kowalski's clone remarked, making Private smile.
Hi guys, thanks again for reading and reviewing my story. The next chapter will be the final one, so please stay tuned.
*Please refer to my story "POM: Kowalski's secret tattoo." if you want to read about the story behind Kowalski's tattoo.