Disclaimer: Penguins of Madagascar and all related characters are the property of Nickelodeon, DreamWorks, and any or all related affiliates. Characters of my own creation are my property and may not be used by others without express permission. This fiction was created for the purpose of having fun and being creative, no money is being made in any way from its creation and posting.
Hell Hath No Fury
Chapter 5
By
Wildgoose
(The scene is a foggy outcropping on the side of a mountain overlooking several Japanese villages far below, in the background behind the jagged edges of a glacier encroach around the outcropping as a steady breeze blows past. A young adult otter stands alone in wait for a significant amount of time before finally being joined by an emperor penguin.)
Hannibal: (surprised) Oh thank God, …I was worried that this wouldn't work. I've been waiting for so long…
Kitsune: (Low smooth voice with heavy Japanese accent) …But I'm here now, and I'm impressed. You achieved this without instruction.
Hannibal: You can talk? (Kitsune smirks)
Kitsune: You have much to learn still, …our minds are connected beyond the physical body. What you hear is the inner voice, ..the real me.
Hannibal: (surprise) …And the real you is still a penguin! (Pause) Does the zookeeper know? (Kitsune smiles and nods)
Kitsune: Only my body has changed, …who I am inside remains the same and always will.
Hannibal: Doesn't that freak him out even a little?
Kitsune: (makes a so-so gesture and smiles affectionately) He loves me for who I am, …but he still has difficulty displaying affection when he sees me like this. (Pause with a shrug) It's understandable,… and he's working on it.(Looks about in silence for a moment) What is the reason you have called upon me?
Hannibal: (face takes a sober look) My siblings and I are in serious trouble, Sensei. I need your advice. (Kitsune makes a gesture for him to continue) We've been captured by a psychotic adversary who intends to cause our deaths by a slow and painful means.
Kitsune: (eyes widen and then scowl with concern) Where are you?
Hannibal: I don't know, …we've been tied up, blindfolded half the time, and confined to a closed room with no windows.
Kitsune: (closes her eyes for a moment and sighs in agitation) What are your advantages?
Hannibal: (Sighs heavily) There's a squirrel who has shown us a single act of compassion, …because of her there is the possibility to free ourselves but we'd need to know where we are for the others to attempt escape.
Kitsune: (scowls again) The others, ...but not you? (Looks at Hannibal more closely) There is a weight on your shoulders,…why?
Hannibal: (looks away for a moment before answering) One of our captors is responsible for death of someone I loved.
Kitsune: The female you snuck away to check on? (Looks amused) Steve told me of that. Did you secretly have a mate that you've kept from the others?
Hannibal: (blushes) Um, ….no, …no we weren't mates. (Shrugs) Maybe down the road a bit who knows what could have happened. I mean there was definite potential, ..we both saw it.
Kitsune: (face looks sober) You seek revenge then for her death? (Sighs) That is a heavy burden for one so young. (Looks deep in thought for a moment) There is a saying about those who go looking for blood.
Hannibal: What's the saying?
Kitsune: They find it. (Pause) Do not allow anger to blind and consume you as it did me for some time. I was fortunate to come across someone who cared enough to risk understanding me, …but fortune does not fall on everyone. (Sighs) I would not tell you to quell your need for vengeance, …such actions only serve to feed the flames until they grow into something terrible. If you truly seek justice, ...be patient. Do not allow your actions to be ruled by rage, …take your time and think the matter through stepping back to see the bigger picture, …believe it or not there are times where vengeance just is not worth the cost. See to the needs of your family first, they supersede anything else. (Looks away for a moment) Do not fear, …Steve has already sent your father and the others after you. However I will do what I can to speed them along, until they arrive do what you can to stay safe and protect your siblings. (Looks away and stomps her foot with anger)
Hannibal: Sensei?
Kitsune: I don't like the idea of sitting at home with the ability to do nothing. (Looks down and away) As my student your safety was my responsibility, ….I blame only myself. I should have been the one to go searching for you.
Hannibal: I don't think it would have made much difference, …we were captured before you would have gotten there.
Kitsune: It makes a world of difference. (Smiles weakly) You are more than just a student to me.
Hannibal: (looks uneasy) Um …yea, listen I mean no insult sensei but I'm really, kind of, not into penguins.
Kitsune: (looks confused for a moment and then grins at the same moment she swats Hannibal in the head with her flipper) I meant you're like family to me.
Hannibal: OH, …oh okay. Um wow, talk about embarrassing. (Chuckles) To think the girls accused me of having a squeeze on YOU. (Chuckles some more as Kitsune places her flippers on her hips in disbelief and then decides to have fun with him)
Kitsune: (Does a suggestive thing with her eyes) You know, …you're not exactly UGLY…
Hannibal: (stunned) Oh wow, ….that's a serious switch for you. (Feeling awkward he returns to the previous subject) Sensei, what if the worst should happen before dad can rescue us?
Kitsune: (scowls angrily and speaks with a grumble in her voice) Then I'll give your captors a war they won't believe.
Hannibal: (smiles slightly in consolation) I will do what I can sensei, …but is there anything else I can do? What other advice can you give me?
Kitsune: (points to behind Hannibal) Listen to your shadow, …it seems to know what you do. You may be able to consolidate your efforts. (Hannibal looks behind him into the fog. There in the mists is the shadow of another animal, but its form is not recognizable.)
Hannibal: (raised voice) Who are you? (No answer comes and when Hannibal turns to speak to Kitsune again he finds that she has gone.) (Sighs) I swear she's just too good at doing that… (Looks back at the shadow in the fog) Listen to my shadow, …wonderful advice sensei. Could you be any more cryptic? (The scene blurs and comes back into focus in a dimly lit room as Hannibal picks his head up and opens his eyes looking about the room. In the background the sounds of the others working on the ropes that bind them can be heard) I think I liked the mountain top better...
(Cut to a Veterinarian's office in Florida as Steve and Nicketti enter through the door and approach the receptionist requesting to see the Vet in charge. After some time waiting the vet comes out to greet them and escorts them to the recovery area in the back of the building. Once there, amongst other exotic animals that had been brought in, lays a female otter in a specialized cage made of clear plexiglass, and hooked up to all manner of monitoring equipment. The cage is closed and the environment controlled to limit the possibility of further infection.)
Steve: (Looks at the otter for several moments and then turns to the vet) She doesn't look so good.
Vet: She looks better than she did when she was brought in, …but the otter is still very weak. (Sighs) It's a miracle she's made it this far.
Nicketti: Will the otter make it? (The vet makes a so-so gesture)
Vet: She's fighting an infection due to the extensive burns, she's suffered smoke inhalation, and if she does make it there will be a lot of scarring. I don't know if the fur will grow back. (Shrugs and then hesitates a moment before speaking) I hate to be callous but as a vet I at least need to suggest the option of putting her down. It would be the humane thing to do, ..save her the suffering. (Steve looks distant for a moment)
Steve: What are the animal's odds?
Vet: (looks thoughtful) Um, …I'd say maybe forty percent she survives.
Steve: Do what you can to improve those odds.
Vet: Sir, …(sighs as she chooses her words) I know as a zookeeper you love animals, …so do I. Which is why I'm kicking myself for saying this, …but she's not a human. She's an animal, …people just won't pay what all this will cost just to save any animal.
Steve: (grumbles) Look lady, what was the point of becoming a vet if you don't care enough to want to save your patients no matter what? (Receives a heavy slap across the face)
Vet: (puts a finger in Steve's face) I love every animal that comes in here, ..don't you ever tell me otherwise. (Pause) …And every one of them means the world to me… (Crosses her arms about her chest and looks away) …But like I said before, people just don't want to shell out the cash to help the animals they bring me, ..I can't pay for it all myself and the township will only shell out so much per animal to help me. (Long hesitant pause) Sometimes, ….sometimes that's just the only option available.
Steve: (Smirks) Nobody said you had to pay for anything yourself, (sighs) …so hypothetically, if the otter makes it what kind of figures are we looking at? Ballpark…
Vet: (surprised) Um, …with the treatment THIS animal needs? (Sighs and grumbles with a huff as she crunches numbers in her head finishes with a defeated tone) Worst case, …you could be looking at twenty grand.
Steve: (Without hesitation) Done, …do you need a deposit? (The vet looks at him like his head rolled off of his shoulders and onto the floor.)
Vet: (slowly nods with voice turning upbeat) That,… would really help. (Steve walks over to the receptionist and with the vets assistance they come up with the work that's been done so far and payment is made. After this the vet comes back around the counter to show a printed breakdown of possible future costs. After a few moments the vet looks at Steve and twirls a lock of hair with her finger in thought) I… don't suppose you'd care to help any of the other animals that were dropped at my door? My people do put in some volunteer time when they can but medicine and supplies still cost.
Steve: (looks at her and sighs in defeat) I'll arrange a donation. (The vet smiles as Steve walks to meet Nicketti near the door)
Vet: (calls after him) HEY! (Steve turns) Sorry about the slap, ..I guess I got a little worked up. I hate having to recommend the last option and I can get a little emotional about it.
Steve: No problem. (He begins to head towards the door again but is called after once more)
Vet: Listen, …I get done at seven, …maybe we could meet for a drink? (Steve holds up one hand for her to see and plays with his wedding band. Then turns to head out the door.) (Sighs) Why are the good ones ALWAYS taken? (The receptionist chuckles in the background) (Snap to outside in the parking lot)
Nicketti: (almost singing) You made a friend… (Pause as Steve doesn't respond) I was shocked when you didn't respond after she hit you, ...I would have punched her in the face.
Steve: (chuckles) If anything it made me homesick. (Nicketti looks at him strangely unsure where to go with that so she changes the subject) So Mr. Moneybags, …did you get rich since high school? (Steve shrugs)
Steve: I was involved in a bad accident and saw a huge settlement.
Nicketti: (laughs) Rushing to save your penguin love, ..I remember hearing about that. Except the settlement part anyway. (Steve stares at her in disbelief) Oh don't look so surprised, …everybody in command knows about that. It was a major fairytale story, …DreamWorks® couldn't have come up with anything better. (Chuckles) Admittedly I didn't believe it at first until I saw the before and after pictures of the penguins and otter you filed. (Steve groans) So what's she like? (Pause) …and does she have a brother who'd make an equally handsome human? (Steve looks stunned and speechless for several moments. A beeping noise comes from Steve's pocket and as he pulls his cell phone out he notices a text from Kitsune and the scene fades out)
(Cut to the aft deck of a coast guard cutter steaming parallel to the coast of Denmark fifty miles out. The ship's captain looks out through the windows of the bridge as the small helicopter lifts off of the deck despite the cold sweeping rain and heads east with the captain still watching until they have disappeared from view into the rains. Snap to inside the MH-53 as the penguins go about their business. Babs is in control of the craft with Nigel in the other seat, Mel is at his station watching his screens. In the background the NY crew reviews the plan of action)
Skipper: Okay, …based on the information that we have combined with any intel the ship's captain was able to get for us Hans is likely holed up in an antiquated bunker outside of a town called Legoland. It's a number of miles inland so the blues are going to land us maybe a mile inside of the Danish shore to avoid detection. From there we hoof it any way we can until we reach our objective. Is that understood gentleman?
Private: Why don't the blues simply fly us to this bunker and save us the time?
Kowalski: Two reasons, Private. One, ..because we're expected Hans will likely have some sort of early warning system to detect our approach from the air, and two if we fly in then the Dane's will know we're here, and even though Skipper won't divulge exactly WHY, knowledge of his presence will surely bring the Dane's wrath down upon us and at this point we could really do without substantial delays.
Skipper: So now that we've broken things down for Private, …as I was saying. While we make our way to the objective the blues will be standing by as cavalry in case we get into something we can't handle on our own.
Kowalski: (scoffs) Like that'll happen.
Rico: (regurgitates a bazooka and laughs psychotically) Kaboom!
Nigel: Do you guys really think you're odds of success are that good?
Kowalski: I would give us a better than average chance of pulling off our objectives without so much as a single problem.
Skipper: Excellent Kowalski, …give me a number!
Kowalski: Fifty two percent.
Skipper: (Looks at Digger) …And those my friends are odds we can work with. (Glances at Kowalski) Show me your math later… (Digger looks back and forth between the two before making his way over to Skipper to give him a stiff pat and rub on the back)
Digger: Have no fear guys, …we've got your backsides just in case that nasty forty eight percent rears its ugly head. Kowalski, …make sure our guy is familiar with everything you've done to this craft. I don't want him trying to figure out your mess while in the heat of things.
Kowalski: (rolls his eyes) Oh please, …a hatchling could figure it out.
Digger: I guess that's why you're always worried about your kid showing you up all of the time. Are you sure any of it will work? I don't want to give the order to fire and have this bird start shooting linkin' logs. The enemy could wind up asking us over for a play date or something. (Kowalski grumbles and begins to go over Mel's console with him)
(Cut to Kowalski Jr.'s room late at night, As Jr. converses with Astrid the door slowly creaks open in the background with a shadowy figure peering through with caution. Aware he's being watched Jr. stops talking and turns his attention to the door.)
Jr.: You've got to be kidding, …I haven't heard anything yet Marlene! The shortwave has been unusually quiet lately. (Jr. walks over to the door and pulls it open allowing Ming to fall to the floor.) Oh, …it's you. (Smiles) Nothing interesting is going on in here, Ming. We're just talking… (Pause) So since when did you become a peeping tom?
Ming: (nervous) Oh I um, ….I wasn't, you know, trying to spy on you or anything. (Pause) I just wanted to talk. (Pause) I um, …I need your help.
Jr.: Yea well, ..office hours are nine to five to you'll have to make an appointment and come back tomorrow. (Astrid slaps his shoulder)
Astrid: Be nice, …it's difficult for her to approach people. (Turns to Ming) What's wrong?
Ming: I, …I don't know. I have bad dreams.
Astrid: What kind of bad dreams? What are they about?
Ming: (looks down) The other pups, …something bad is happening, …I feel it. (Pause) I see them, …when I dream. (A tear rolls down her cheek) Someone is hurting them…
Jr.: (trying to be sympathetic) They're just dreams, Astrid. Everybody has them now and again. (Ming shakes her head)
Ming: It's more, …in my dreams when they hurt, …so do I. (Pause as she looks up at Jr.) I don't want to hurt anymore. (Another tear rolls down her cheek)
Astrid: Don't cry, ..we'll try to help. (Looks at Jr.) Right?
Jr.: (Shrugs) Why not, …I'm always up for a new project. (He begins routing through the scattered parts and equipment in his room.) I'm no Freud but I can take the technological approach.
Ming: What are you doing?
Jr.: I'm sticking my tail feathers in the air waiting for lightning to strike. (Silent Pause while still looking about) That was sarcasm, Ming. It's okay to comment either way. (Silent pause broken with a sigh from Jr.) I'm looking for parts to build something, ..what's it look like? (Pause) My dad had a device he invented called the helmet; it read your thoughts and turned them into kinetic action potential. (Astrid gives a clueless expression) The thing worked but it had problems and my dad stored it, ..and then I lifted it for my own purposes. Unfortunately pretty much everything that comes in this room gets lost in some kind of void for a while. (Smiles) I have theories about that; one of them involves a miniature NJ parallelogram existing in my room.
Astrid: Don't you mean Bermuda triangle?
Jr.: Similar superstition but different regions. (Pause) Besides, …the NJ one fits the dynamics of my room better. (He finds the helmet buried under some other parts on a shelf and the scene fades to a few hours later. The helmet has been completely rebuilt and hooked up to a monitor which Ming stares at as Astrid places the helmet on Ming's head.)
Ming: What will this do?
Jr.: (chuckles) Not what it was originally built for, …but for the thing to work you're going to have to stand on your head, split the atom between your toes, and flatulate the star spangled banner. (Silent pause) Oh come on, …some of this stuff is GOLD! (Groans as Ming begins to look nervous and Jr. let's out a sigh) Okay not really, I completely rebuilt the thing so that all it will do is monitor brain waves and display them on the screen while creating a printout on this printer next to it so we can have an idea of what's going on when you dream. Maybe we can get figure out what's in your head.
Astrid: (enthused) Will we get to see the dreams on the monitor?
Jr.: Um, …no. That would really, REALLY be cool though. (Pause) It just monitors and records brainwaves so we can interpret them while she dreams.
Ming: I have to go to sleep? I don't want to dream, ..what if something bad happens again?
Jr.: They're only dreams, Ming. …And your siblings are safe, ….nobody handles himself better than Hannibal and he's got Yoshi for a cool head. (Pause) Oh and Loki's along to keep their spirits up. (Chuckles) Besides, Skipper and the guys went to go bring them back so think about it. They couldn't be any safer.
Astrid: (soothing tone) Don't worry, …if it looks like there might be trouble we'll wake you. (Looks into Ming's eyes to gain trust) Nobody is here to hurt you. (Ming reluctantly nods and Jr. hits the button to make his bed fold out. Ming takes a comfortable spot and given the late hour soon falls asleep. Jr. and Astrid take seats near the monitor to keep an eye out. Astrid takes Jr. by the bill and looks into his eyes.) She's trusting us, Jr. That's a big step for her. (Pause) …And that bed pops out just a little conveniently doesn't it?
Jr.: (Smiles and takes Astrid by the flipper to pull her close) I won't let anybody down, …I may not be the most sociable person in the world but I'm not a complete jerk either. (Pause) …And you're right, …it is convenient, but not for the conclusions you might be jumping to. (Winks)
Astrid: (chuckles) Thanks for that. (Pause) So do you actually know anything about brain patterns?
Jr.: (Looks slightly conflicted) Some, …I read anything I can get my flippers on. That includes online college papers and other material that I haven't read before. You'd be surprised what you can learn, …if my dad would just open his mind a little maybe he wouldn't feel threatened by me all the stinking time.
Astrid: The older you get the harder that becomes I guess. (Looks at the wavy lines on the screen) So what are we seeing so far?
Jr.: I THINK she's in stage two sleep already, …that was quick. She must have been trying to keep herself awake for as long as she could. (Pause) Anyway, the mind fluctuates between stages one and four throughout sleep so she could start dreaming at any time.
(Snap to Denmark at about the same time, Loki despite the others having fallen asleep has continued working on his ropes in any way he could and finally has freed himself. He looks about the room for a way out, After confirming that the door is locked from the outside Loki begins work on a vent grate near the floor that looks like it might just large enough for him to fit through. Once he has the grate off Loki whispers to the others despite their slumber.)
Loki: (whisper) I'm going to scout around and see if I can find the way out, …I'll be back for you as soon as I can. (Grumbles) Hopefully I can be good for something more than just jokes and pranks for a change. (Loki disappears through the vent and the scene fades to sometime later as Loki clumsily falls through a vent in the ceiling elsewhere in the complex landing directly on top of a female squirrel.) Ow, …my back! (Mumbles) I seriously have to lose a few pounds! (The squirrel recognizes him and quickly tosses him off of her jumping to her feet)
Squirrel: You idiot, what are you doing here? Do you have any idea what Red will do to you if you're caught?
Loki: What? (Recognizes her voice) Oh it's you, …I thought I was in trouble for a moment there. (Pause) What am I doing? I'm trying to escape, …I assume that's why you loosened our ropes.
Squirrel: I loosened the ropes so you could get the heck out of here without implicating me or any of the others not so you could take a tour through the ventilation system. Which it appears you're doing!
Loki: I'm trying thank you very much, …but this place is a maze. What have you been doing lately that's been useful?
Squirrel: Trying to keep Red busy so he won't feel the need to have somebody come check on you, …he's getting impatient with Hans. Red wants to hurry up and kill you, …he's bored. Hans wants to wait until your father gets here so he can watch you suffer.
Loki: Why, what's this all about? (Pause) Why are you helping us? I thought you were afraid he'd burn your forest or something.
Squirrel: Have you ever heard the saying that goes "the only thing evil needs to triumph is for good people to do nothing" ? Besides, …I hate this psycho. It's bad enough he kills us from afar, its worse to watch him do it up close. (Sighs) Look I've been listening, …I think this Hans person blames your father for the death of his offspring. I don't know, …that's just a guess from what I could piece together. (Pause with a defeated tone) He's going to get to my forest sooner or later, …I can feel it. Somebody has to stop him.
Loki: Somebody like you, …maybe take him down a notch at a time?
Squirrel: Not me, …maybe if your dad shows up with enough help. Hans seems certain he's coming for you. (Shakes her head) I'm weak, …I'm not a fighter. Red keeps me around to do errands for him, ...and he makes suggestions about personal assistance. (Shudders) Fortunately he's never done more than just suggest.
Loki: Um, …gross. That is if I read that correctly. (Awkward pause) Wait, …did you say earlier that my dad killed somebodies kids? My dad doesn't kill people, …especially kids! (The two are suddenly grabbed from behind and shoved into a nearby utility closet with the door closing behind them sealing them in darkness. Loki's voice pierces the darkness.) Things just go from bad to worse, don't they?(Pause) You know any time I've ever pictured myself locked in a dark closet with a girl I always imagined it as part of some game. (Pause) So is this a first for you too? (A loud slap is heard)
(The scene snaps back to NY at almost the same instant. Some of the lines on the monitor have begun to jump as well as additional lines appearing.)
Jr.: Whoa!
Astrid: What's going on?
Jr.: I don't know, …her heart rate jumped. (Points to the screen) She's definitely dreaming, ….and I have no idea what these other lines are. They could be thought patterns but they don't match Ming's.
Astrid: This is getting a little freaky, …maybe we should go get the other penguins.
Jr.: Not yet, …I don't think she's in any danger. Let's see where this goes. (Astrid looks at Jr. with hesitation but reluctantly agrees)
(Snap back to Denmark some time later as the door to the utility closet opens once more to reveal Red with several of Blowhole's lobsters behind him. The lobsters move in and tie up the two.)
Red: So what do we have here? (Looks back and forth between Loki and the Squirrel finally settling on Loki) Now YOU should have still been tied up, …how ever did you get free? (Looks back to the squirrel and sniffs the air) I smell treachery, …(Pulls a large keypad remote out from somewhere) …But not to worry, …I have ways to deal with that. (Smiles evilly) The boys here said you expressed concern for your forest. Which forest IS yours, …I burn so many I can't keep track. (Begins to punch numbers into the keypad but then pauses and hits clear) Hmm, …I think maybe not. What is there to enjoy if I can't see the fruits of my own labor. (Gestures to one of the lobsters) Take her to my quarters, …I will deal with her shortly myself. (The squirrel is taken away leaving only Loki) You and your siblings have become quite a bother to me, …I really don't like taking prisoners. It seems so purposeless, …if ones goal is to kill then why not be done with it. (Pause) Yet I'm forced to wait, …wait for your father and then I shall be forced to wait yet again so that Hans's well laid plan may unfold according to grand design. (Groans)I grow tired of waiting, ….so here's what I propose. While we wait for your eventual death, ….who's to say we can't have a little fun. So let's have some fun shall we? (Playfully) I'm going to ask a question, …and I want YOU to answer. What happens next will depend on that answer. Do we have an understanding? (Loki looks at him for a moment and then nods) Good! (Pulls a can of lighter fluid from somewhere) Now, …how did you get free? Did Sarah help you? (Loki looks down and away)
Loki: (voice flutters) Um, …I freed myself….
Red: (looks enthused) A lie, ….I guess I get to enjoy myself after all. (Begins to spray lighter fluid on Loki's tail as he looks on nervously) (Calmly) Now I don't want you kicking yourself later, …for the record I lied too, I was going to do this either way. (Begins to laugh as he pulls out a zippo lighter from somewhere and the scene snaps back to NY as Jr.'s equipment goes berserk and Ming leaps out of bed screaming her head off.)
Ming: (screaming at the top of her lungs) I'm on fire! (Grabs at her tail and tries anything to put it out) It hurts! It hurts! (Astrid and Jr. both wrap their arms about Ming to calm her down)
Astrid: Wake up, Ming! You're okay, you're not on fire!
Jr.: Ming, you're safe at home! It's okay! (They begin to rock Ming in their arms as she sobs)
Astrid: I think it's time we got the others. (Jr. nods prompting to Astrid to leave the room)
Jr.: (Sighs in disbelief as Ming continues to sob) What's going on with you? (The scene fades to sometime later as the other penguins as well as Marlene are in Jr.'s quarters gathered around Ming.)
Erin: So WHAT happened?
Jr.: It was bizarre, …the needles just exploded across the screen and Ming jumped five feet into the air screaming that she was on fire. (Pulls the printout from the printer and shows the record to the others.)
Pepper: Ming, …what were you dreaming about? Why were you on fire?
Ming: It wasn't me, …but I could feel it as if it were.
Marlene: (takes a seat nervously on Jr.'s bed) This is creepy… (Nervous pause) I, …I had no idea your dreams had gotten so bad, Ming. (Looks down with tears falling to the floor) I'm so sorry sweetie….
Erin: Jr., have you been able to make heads or tails of this readout? (Jr. makes a so-so gesture)
Jr.: (points to the printout) In the beginning everything looked good, (points to another spot) Here is where she started to dream, (points to another spot) …And soon after these extra sets of lines showed up. They look like thought patterns but they don't match Ming's. (Points to a different set of lines) These are Ming's, …so what are those? (Erin studies the printout with almost everyone looking over her shoulders. Marlene is the only one not looking, …she simply moves closer to Ming and holds her close while looking in a funk)
Syron: The question stands, Erin. Any ideas?
Erin: They're somebody else's that much is certain.
Marlene: Wha, …I don't get it. Like an alternate personality? What are you saying, …you're not saying she's crazy are you?
Erin: Um, …not crazy. I'm going to disregard the possibility of a split personality and I'm going to go out on a limb here and say she's psychic.
Ming: (Scared tone of voice) I AM crazy?
Elisa: Dios Mia, …she said psychic sweetie. Like those hotlines humans throw their money away on. Actually I think the weather channel® consults them too.
Ming: …But, …I don't KNOW the future.
Pepper: Well that's a shame, …I was going to go out and buy some lottery tickets. (Muffled laughter comes from the group)
Syron: So let's cut the crap here, …what ARE we talking about?
Erin: I don't know for sure, …I'm just guessing. …I THINK that when Ming sleeps she's able to connect with other people. (Turns to Ming) It IS just when you sleep right, …this hasn't happened while you're awake? (Ming shakes her head)
Marlene: Wha, …I mean are you certain? That can't be, …psychics are just urban legends. (Erin shrugs) How can this be?
Erin: All evidence to the contrary, …and your guess is as good as mine. I mean she IS the product of a magically humanized otter and penguin who were switched back by said magic just before the birth. Hypothetically with all of the genetic conversion going on anything could happen because of that.
Meg: Alright, how about we shove the debate on folklore aside for now. (Pause) Ming, …do you remember anything from your dream?(Ming nods)
Ming: It was like I was looking through somebody else's eyes, …I was trying to escape and then I fell. (Pause) Somebody helped me up, …and we were talking.
Erin: Were any names mentioned? (Ming nods)
Ming: Red, Hans, Sarah, …and I heard a joke about being locked in a dark closet with a girl but I didn't get it.
Marlene: (face pales) Oh god, ….I know who Hans is. (Everybody turns to Marlene)
Syron: Please continue…
Marlene: Hans is a puffin, …he and Skipper have some bad history together. Something about Denmark… (Pause) The only Red I know of is some wacked out old fart of a penguin who was obsessed with a red squirrel. (Attention turns back to Ming)
Syron: Is there anything else, Ming? What happened with the fire?
Ming: (tears up) Somebody was mad at me, …there was some kind of liquid being poured on me, …and then a lighter…(Begins to cry) It hurt so bad! (Marlene holds Ming tight and rocks her back and forth to comfort her. Marlene begins to cry a little…)
Marlene: You mentioned Hans, … it's your father isn't it…? He's the one you're linked with? (Ming shakes her head)
Ming: It's one of my siblings, mom. They're in trouble. (Pause) Don't make me do that again, mom. (Sobs) Please, …I don't want to sleep anymore!
Syron: Don't jump to conclusions, Marlene. We don't know WHAT'S really going on. If she IS linked to one of them it could just be that THEY'RE the ones having the bad dreams and they're just being shared.
Marlene: I hope you're right. (Sniffles a bit) We can't just sit here and let her suffer, …what do we do?
Syron: I don't know, …right now we just watch her. (Pause) Meg, ..get on the shortwave and try to raise Skipper. Let's try to confirm that the pups are safe and that this is really just the mother of all nightmares for…SOMEBODY.
Meg: I'll get on it!
Ming: I don't want to sleep….
Elisa: We understand sweetie, ….but if it does happen we'll be here for you.
Erin: Just make sure you tell us anything you can remember about your dreams.
Syron: (sighs) Okay, everybody else out. (Gestures for them to leave the room) Erin, ..you and Jr. are my go to people, …keep an eye on Ming and find me some answers. Just in case, if those kids ARE in trouble we need to figure something out fast. (Syron leaves and Marlene comes back into the room)
Marlene: (Kisses Ming on the forehead and begins to cry) Tell me my family is okay sweetie, …please? (Marlene leaves and Erin turns to Jr.)
Erin: Welcome to the team, Jr. This looks like it could be a LONG night.
(The scene fades out as they begin to hook Ming back up to the helmet)
Chapter six coming soon….
Comments and suggestions are always welcome.