"This is not right, Skipper," Kowalski fretted, fidgeting compulsively.
"Wha' 'ot right?" Rico queried.
"There is a body, in the back of the car," Kowalski elaborated, "a dead body. What if we get pulled over?"
"Then we call Jones," Skipper replied matter of fact-ly.
"…it isn't even our car..." the scientist continued, not satisfied with the answer. Suddenly he turned to his leader, a look of annoyance replacing his anxiety, "Will you stop humming that tune?!"
"You sent me on the date," Skipper turned the wheel of the station wagon, turning off the main road, and as he did so increasing the volume of his humming, for the specific purpose of annoying his second in command. He could always claim he was doing it to keep him focused on something other than the gruesome turn the mission had taken.
"Where 'e goin'?" Rico asked, noticing the deviation from the accepted route, "Private alre' dropped Ma'lene."
"I think she deserves an explanation for this evening's escapades, at least before she considers reporting us to the police."
"… So after all of that, we realised a sodium chloride and water solution could deactivate the whole thing," Kowalski chortled contentedly as they walked towards the apartment, "And after all that time we spent trying to get the catalyst inhibitor into the system, which was kind of impossible in hindsight as, like you said, project S.T.A.N.K. had the best anti tamper system I'd ever seen, even after sitting in the basement almost thirty years…"
"Kowalski, you do realise nobody is listening." Skipper moaned.
"I will stop talking about what you call 'boring sciency stuff' the moment you stop humming that tune."
"Then we're gonna be hating each other a long time," Skipper replied sarcastically over Rico's exasperated sighs, and resuming his humming.
"Wha' can oo both shu' up?" Rico complained.
"Don't complain to me," The leader replied with false innocence, "all Kowalski has to do is stop talking, apologise for being so incredibly annoying, and…"
"…Let go of me!" a voice he recognised as Marlene's shouted. Immediately Skipper took off running in the direction of the cry, panic overriding his caution.
"The boss wants to know what you was doin' breakin' in with Skipper." Another voice asked.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Skipper rounded the corner into an ally outside the back of Marlene's apartment,
arriving just in time to watch her throw a lobster who'd previously held her arms behind her into a wall, finish him off with a kick to the face, then grab a gun from her bag, now which was now free of the unconscious lobster's grasp, and point it at the remaining lobster. Immediately he ran off, Marlene firing two shots after him, both of which missed, "How did I get myself into this?" Skipper heard her mutter as she lowered the gun.
Skipper stepped out of the shadows, approaching Marlene. Hearing footsteps behind her she whirled around, gun in hand, and Skipper only managed to avoid being shot by wrenching it from her grip, and to the surprise of the rest of the team, pinning her by the offending hand to a nearby wall.
"Skip…Tony?" She gasped, recognising him.
"You know my name," Skipper commented dryly, the suspicions that had arisen with her knowledge of fighting technique strengthened, "What else do you know?"
"What are you talking about? I heard someone call you that." Marlene denied, struggling against his grip.
"My team wouldn't be sloppy enough to call me by a code name in front of a civilian," Skipper replied coldly. What was it he'd always told Manfredi? Never trust a dame. Nine times out of ten, they're an enemy agent, "Now, who are you working for?"
"No one," Marlene replied, the fear apparent on her face. She was no professional, even if someone had taught her a move or two, "I was just… curious."
"I doubt it," Skipper tightened his grip on her wrist, making her wince. He didn't even blink; he was too heartbroken to care. Still, maybe it was for the best, he rationalised. It was the cleanest way for what he had hoped wasn't becoming a relationship, to end, "I'll repeat the question: who are you working for?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." She breathed, her eyes darting about the area, checking they were alone, though this examination didn't seem to be conclusive to her.
"I'm very open minded."
"You won't believe me."
"Stop stalling," Skipper growled, twisting his grip further, making Marlene let out a low moan of pain. He looked away from those warm brown eyes, so full of guilt. Guilt? Well, those types would try anything, he was told.
"Peter Kowalski."
Skipper's grip released, and he turned away from the girl. It wasn't good to let a captive know their last comment had caught you off balance.
"You're right, I don't believe you." He replied after a few seconds, "Go back up to your apartment. In fifteen minutes you will be taken by another team for more extensive interrogation."
"What if I just run the minute you…?"
"You won't get far," Skipper stated coldly. He could tell Marlene wouldn't run. If she was working for some major player, she probably wouldn't get time to. Still, that very thought made him want to turn back, and make sure she was handed over, but he had more important things to attend to.
"Interstin' 'esign." Rico commented, eyeing the confiscated weapon as Skipper handed it to him.
"'s yours." Skipper muttered, not bothering to look up.
"Indeed, Rico," Kowalski examined the weapon, "it seems to be made of various cannibalised parts. Wait a minute… there's some initials…" Suddenly the scientist's face paled, "Skipper, you'd better take a look at this."
Skipper accepted the revolver, looking up for the first time since he'd questioned Marlene. However, arguably, he was faced with an even greater shock.
"How did she get this?" Skipper asked tersely.
"It's yours, right?" Kowalski confirmed tentatively.
"Yeah, I haven't seen it in six years," skipper replied, "It could be a forgery, but…"
"Are you sure she was lying about…?"
"He wouldn't be so sloppy," Skipper snapped, "the target's obviously trying to put me off my game, using what they think is my weakness. With the influence Barry's supposed to have, I wouldn't put it past him not to try to sabotage our mission."
"Why'd you have to bring it with us, Rico?!" Kowalski exclaimed, then, after further analysis of the situation, continued, "Why am I even carrying it?!"
"Ooo picked I' up," Rico smirked.
"You are sick." Kowalski grumbled, handing Rico the body bag, shivering in disgust as soon as it was free of his charge.
"Skippah, what's in the bag?" Private asked. The four were waiting in a conference room, awaiting Barry's reception of the body.
"Need to know Private," Skipper replied.
"Are you alright Skippah…?" Private was perplexed by Skipper's behaviour, so much so he'd been watching his behaviour intently since he returned from the mission.
"So you actually did it," Barry stated, entering the room, "you certainly took long enough."
"There were complications," Skipper replied, "the point is, we're done."
"Well, show me the proof." Barry stated, obviously half hoping the team was lying.
"tha' why we brough' it." Rico whispered, elbowing the scientist.
"Alright," Skipper replied, "Private, look away…"
"Stop!" Kowalski interrupted, "How do you know you won't just take credit and leave us out? Sorry, but we'll only deal with the boss himself, not some mid-level…"
"I don't care who gets to see the body first," Skipper countered, shooting Kowalski a warning look, "And if you don't mind, I'd like to be paid."
"What were you thinking Skipper?!" Kowalski exclaimed as soon as they were out of the room, "We could have gotten strait to the top!"
"I'm not brainless, Kowalski!" retorted Skipper.
"Could 'a fooled me!"
"You're not in charge anymore, and if you remember correctly, when you were, you got yourself caught." Skipper snapped, an adequate comeback to which Kowalski couldn't find. Private and Rico, standing several feet behind, watched them warily, but kept out of the way.
For several minutes nothing was done to break the silence.
"If there's something you know about this mission that you're not saying, I'll respect your privacy," Kowalski spoke in a more balanced tone, though there was still a slight tremor to his voice.
"Thanks." Skipper replied. As Kowalski looked across at his long-time friend, he could see he was exhausted, both physically, and emotionally. It was evident in the slump of his solders and the slight scuff of his feet as they dragged along the floor before he saw fit to lift them up.
"However," Kowalski continued sternly, "if your silence gets all or one of us killed I will regret the day I ever pulled you out from under that tank, and make sure you know it."
"I think it was the other way around." Skipper replied, trying not to smile. There was no way he was letting the scientist win. Kowalski smirked. Skipper never could help correcting him.
"Then I'll make you regret the day you ever pulled me out from under the aforesaid vehicle, if you want to be particular about the facts."