For the rest of the afternoon Skipper and company spent lounging, complete with sunscreen and each with their own sets of shades, basking in the warm sun. Everything just seemed at peace and the penguins were very much relaxed and enjoying this free time. Suddenly, Marlene came bounding up and hopped over the fence to meet them.

"Hey, guys," she smiled.

"'Ello, Marlene," waved back Private.

"You guys taking today off?"

"Indeed," replied Kowalski.

"Yup," nodded Skipper as he stretched. "Way off."

Marlene smiled, "Well that's good to hear. 'Cause usually you guys are always working, so it's actually a nice change."

"Oh no, not now, Marlene," frowned Skipper.

"What?"

"Don't think I don't know what's going to happen next."

Marlene shook her head, "Yeah, I don't."

"You're going to start pointing out how we're always on duty and show less gratitude about our hard work keeping this zoo safe from diabolical schemes."

"Excuse me?" she put her paws on her hips. "I don't show less gratitude. All I'm saying is that you guys overwork all the time and that you guys should kick back on more days."

"And she's off, ladies and gentlemen," said Skipper while folding his flippers.

"What? It's not a bad thing, it's a compliment. Maybe if you spent less time working and being paranoid about everything it wouldn't bug you so much when I say these are some rare occasions when I see you guys lounging."

Skipper removed his shades and got up from his chair and approached the otter, "Look, I'm only going to say this for the last time; we're an elite force. Doesn't that already explain everything to you why we do what we do? We take our duties with pride, so I think a little gratitude for our support of the safety of this zoo would be greatly appreciated."

"See? This is exactly what I was talking about, you take things too seriously. Now you're just getting worked up over a simple compliment."

"No, I'm getting worked up over that tone you're giving."

"What tone?"

"That one, that sarcastic tone. All I'm asking is for a little appreciation, but you're just giving sass and sarcasm."

"I am not! I do appreciate all the hard work you do for our helpless little zoo that is under zookeepers' supervision and with a police station and an animal control nearby."

"See? There you go again."

"What?"

Private raised his shades with a frown at the sight of the two arguing. It wasn't unusual that the two would butt heads, but he couldn't shake the feeling that maybe something was off today.

"Don't you think we ought to do something?" he whispered to Kowalski.

"Just ignore them, Private," Kowalski simply said without turning his head. "They'll tire themselves out eventually."

Private looked back at Rico but he had been snoring noisily the whole time. Private looked back and continued to watch them like if it was a tennis match. Words were thrown back and forth, back and forth. But even with the passage of time, it didn't look like they were even about to slow down. This wasn't unusual either, but Private couldn't help but feel that something was out of place.

"I'm just saying what kind of elite force, out of all places would end up in the Central Park zoo, if you're supposedly a high-ranked team?" Marlene pointed out.

"So what are you trying to say? You don't want us around anymore?" Skipper raised a brow.

"I've just always wondered why a weird group of penguins like you guys would wind up here in the first place."

"Well if we're not around, who do you think is going to stop the lemurs from throwing ridiculous, late night noise-making, or keep the sewage rats in their place, or stop lab experiments from going wrong, huh? You?"

"Okay, now you've crossed the line! And by the way, the only lab experiments that go wrong are all yours!"

"Alright! Now you've crossed the line!" He snapped.

"Well you crossed the line first!" She exclaimed angrily.

"Doesn't matter, 'cause the main point here in this presentation is you!"

"What? Don't turn this on me!"

Private began to feel more and more uneasy as the argument progressed. He really didn't like to see two individuals fight, let alone Skipper and Marlene. Suddenly an idea popped into his head as he hopped off the lounge chair.

"Hey, how about some lovely cups of smoothie to make you guys relax?" Private suggested happily.

"It was you who started all this in the first place," Skipper shot at Marlene.

"What?" retorted Marlene. "Whoa, whoa, I did not start this. You were the one who got mad over a compliment I gave, remember?"

"Okay, so I'll go get some," Private smiled nervously and quickly waddled away back inside the HQ.

He quickly climbed down the ladder and rushed over to the cupboard to pull out a blender to start whipping up some of those smoothies. He really believed that after they had some of his smoothies, everything would come back down and they could enjoy the rest of their day in peace. Once he had it set on the table, he waddled over the fridge to pull out two fish and several ice cubes. He felt fortunate that he got the last of the fish before Rico, or this wouldn't be possible. Private waddled back to the blender, stuffed the items inside, and pushed a button that quickly and efficiently shred the fish and ice. He opened up the blender and stuck his flipper inside and had a sample of the smoothie. Private noisily sipped it and judged the flavor in his head.

"It's rather plain," he concluded sadly. "I know!"

He waddled back into the fridge and began to scan his eyes throughout the fridge until he laid his eyes on a glass bottle at the back of the fridge and pulled it out.

"Mm-mm!" he smiled at it. "Soy sauce always goes well with fish!"

He waddled over to the blender and poured a good amount of it inside. Then he pushed the button to let it mix in there nice and easy. He watched it twirl and mix, but he couldn't help but notice the sauce looked a little different today. Boy did today seem peculiar!

"Much better!" he exclaimed happily as he stopped the blender and looked for cups to pour it all in.

When he did he couldn't help but feel a pleasant aroma coming from the smoothies. It relaxed him as he sniffed it in. These smoothies look so good; it's bound to settle their dispute! He thought happily as he smiled at it. Suddenly he could feel his thirst working up inside. He stuck his flipper in one of the cups and shrugged at the thought of just a simple taste. He licked his beak as he opened wide… his beak was already watering from the thought of that sweet, succulent taste…

"Oh, dear!" he exclaimed. "I'm keeping them too long!"

He quickly wiped his flipper, picked up the cups, and quickly waddled back up to the surface.

* * *

"I'm saying no!" shouted Marlene.

"And I'm saying yes," Skipper growled.

"No way!"

"Yes way!"

"What?"

"I'm back!" Private happily and hurriedly waddled over to them until- OOF!

Private slipped and the cups went flying! Private watched helplessly as the drinks flew to air and were falling for a landing. Kowalski removed his shades at the sight as the smoothies hovered down. Rico however, continued sleeping. Out of reflex, Marlene stuck out her paw to try to catch one, but unfortunately she missed and the smoothie splattered all over her head! Skipper then spotted the second cup and attempted the same move. He quickly grabbed hold of the cup successfully and then turned to his right and caught the flying liquid inside. Private put his flipper over his beak at Marlene.

"I'm really sorry," apologized Private sadly.

Marlene tried to wipe the smoothie off her face as Skipper began to gloat behind her back.

"You see, Marlene," he chuckled. "I told you can be on guard and unwind a bit. It's all about balance, right?"

Marlene growled as she wiped the last of the smoothie off her. Private frowned at her angry look. What had he done? All he wanted was to make peace between the two of them, and now they were going to argue even more!

"You have to be… the BIGGEST JERK!" she snapped through grinding teeth. Skipper cocked a brow. "I hope you're happy, mister!"

"Oh yeah, more than satisfied, Marlene," he teased.

"Ugh!"

Skipper chuckled, "What can I say?"

Then he lifted the cup to his beak and quickly gulped some of it in. Then- Cha Ching! It happened quickly and without warning. It was bye-bye Skipper for him then. Suddenly the lead penguin choked on the smoothie and began to cough. Marlene smirked at the sight.

"Ha! How do you feel now, Mr. Elite?" she laughed.

Skipper shook his head and looked at Marlene and blinked. There was something off about her all of a sudden… something striking.

"I feel…" he began. "Light-headed."

"Ha!" teased Marlene. "Serves you right!"

Skipper blinked a couple more times… before he smiled and his eyes drooped. But Marlene was too angry and began to gloat at him to notice this.

"That's because you can't find a balance!" she pointed out.

"No I can't," he replied dreamily.

"Right! Wait… huh? Did you just agree with me?"

Kowalski perked up at what he just heard. Private got up and cocked his head to one side. Rico kept sleeping.

"Yep," continued Skipper. "I can never find a balance at all when I think about you."

Marlene's eyes darted side to side in curiosity, Kowalski gasped and Private just put his flippers on his beak and looked on wide-eyed. Rico kept sleeping.

"Um… uh, okay," stammered Marlene. "Was that supposed to be an insult? 'Cause I don't think you said it quite right."

"Insult?" Skipper gasped. "Why would I want to insult a pretty dame? That'd be ungentlemanly of me. I know better than that."

Kowalski and Private gasped even louder! Suddenly Rico sat up in alarm! What?!

"Um… are you okay?" Marlene waved her paw in front of his face. "Maybe the smoothie went to your head or something?"

"Never better, Marlene," then he approached her and flipped his flipper along his head as if he was fixing hair in place. "Just the very sound of your voice makes everything around me better. And your face just illuminates even the shadows the sun misses."

Gasp, gasp, gasp! The team couldn't believe their ears as they stood up in worry as if they were under attack! Rico was already beginning to feel sick! Even Marlene's mouth swung open and her eyes widened! There was something definitely wrong here.

"Um, okay… uh… thanks?" she smiled nervously and began to step back. But as she did, Skipper approached closer too! "Um… yeah, so uh… I guess maybe we did go off the deep end. Hehe…"

"Oh, not at all," replied Skipper sweetly.

"Uh huh, yeah…. Well I guess maybe you should get back to that day off, y'know? Get some sun, sit back, don't push yourself too hard…"

Skipper smirked and leaned closer, "Maybe you could help me with that?"

"I'd rather not. Besides, I'm, uh… late for an appointment… with uh… someone… okay, gotta go."

With that, she took off. She didn't want to stick around for anymore of that. That was a scary strategy he pulled! It worked, but she was a little angry she gave in to it quickly. Oh, well, she'll have to wait until Skipper cools down later on.

Skipper sighed dreamily, and his team was just confused to see this side of Skipper! Since when? Why now? Why her? What was even going on??? Kowalski approached him cautiously.

"Uh, Skipper?" he asked. "Was that some sort of strategy to, um, make her leave?"

"Make her leave?" Skipper turned around to him. "Now why would I want to do that?"

Rico and Private looked at each other and then back at Skipper.

"Um, well, just a second ago you were pretty cranky so I assumed-"

"Ah, Kowalski, you think too much," he patted his shoulder. "Now men, enjoy the rest of this fine afternoon. For who knows when the next will come, right? We need to keep sharp."

"Um, right, Skipper," Kowalski nodded and smiled nervously.

With that Skipper waddled back down to HQ, leaving the dumbstruck team to their thoughts.

"Uh, Kowalski?" began Private. "Is he alright?"

"That remains uncertain, Private," he shook his head. "He seems calm, but he doesn't seem to be his normal self."

Rico shook his head and grunted. He pulled out a paper bag and threw up in it. After all, he was mushy talk sensitive.