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 12
By
Wildgoose
(Red looks into the distance at the dissipating contrail from the weapon he had fired. He grumbles at having missed and instructs the other squirrels about him to prepare to fire again. As those instructions are carried out Red's eyes widen as he spies as many as twenty four similar contrails closing in on his position originating from the distant helicopter.)
Red: (Hustles to a nearby stairwell going down the backside of the building) Keep up the good work, people. Let me know when you're all set. (Red disappears down the stairwell to safety)
Squirrel1: (Looks at the others) What was that all about? (A moment later everyone's attention turns upward as they are knocked to the roof beneath their feet by the exhaust of the rockets passing just overhead.)
(Cut to the vent shafts within the bunker as Sarah leads the others through the cramped space.)
Yoshi: Are we there yet?
Sarah: (Sighs) The answer is the same as the last several times you asked, and it will likely be the same for the foreseeable future until I say otherwise. (Grumbles) Loki, ..is your sister always like this?
Loki: Not really, …but then again we've never been stuck crawling through a ventilation shaft to avoid our deaths before. It gives our situation that unique Die Hard® kind of feel where the guy is in the same position as us and starts complaining while holding a lighter.
Hannibal: I wouldn't label it as exactly that, ...something is missing. (The shaft shutters violently as the sound of a rapid series of explosions echo's past them.) Never mind.
Yoshi: I thought you said Red wouldn't drop any more bombs on us?
Hannibal: I don't think that was in the shaft, …that felt more like the whole complex shook.
Yoshi: I'd ask if Loki had fallen down but he's already in here with us. (Hannibal snickers)
Sarah: He's NOT fat! Now stop with the weight jokes! (Yoshi and Hannibal sit beside themselves for a moment without so much as a word from Loki.)
Hannibal: We know he's not fat, he only has a little bit of pudge about his whole body. To be honest you can barely notice it, …but because we're his siblings we reserve the right to bust on him. It's a family thing.
Sarah: You shouldn't bust on him, …to some animals Loki's appearance is a lot more preferable than that of an over muscled warrior.
Hannibal: (slighted) Over muscled?
Yoshi: (looks back at her brother) She's got you on the over muscled part, ….as far as otters go you're what the humans would call a "Schwarzenegger". Though as far as appearance goes, …I'd have to say to each their own. I think you're down right studly, …but then I'm your sister.
Hannibal: I like to work out okay! It makes me feel good. (Pause) However just out of curiosity, …what about Loki's appearance do you find preferable?
Sarah: ( Takes a look at Loki behind her as he looks towards her with a curious expression) Thin isn't a good thing when you're used to living in the wild, if you have a good amount of meat to you then that means that you eat well. If you eat well then hopefully that means that you'd make sure your family did as well. (Blushes a little) Combine that with his personality attributes and he's likely to make a lucky catch for somebody.
Yoshi: (Chuckles) It sounds like my other brother is lucky not be a squirrel or he'd be a lonely guy for the rest of his life.
Hannibal: I already HAD somebody, …until Red came along. (Long moment of silence) Let's just keep moving.
Yoshi: Hannibal found somebody, Loki finds somebody,…how come nobody's beating down MY door?
Sarah: (Laughs) Intelligent women are intimidating to men. Just give it time, …with your curves to compliment your mind eventually somebody will be brave enough to approach you.
Yoshi: (annoyed) Yea, hopefully before I'm grey.
(Cut to inside the helicopter as it circles widely about the complex)
Digger: Good shooting, Babs.
Skipper: Good enough, anyway. The bunker still took a hit from two of those rockets.
Mel: They're unguided, …she did the best she could mate.
Skipper: (looks about at the others) I know, …I'm sorry. I'm worried about hurting the kids.
Kowalski: There's only one way for us to find out, …it's time to grab the bull by the horns.
Private: Wait a minute, …Hans doesn't have horns.
Babs: Can I see you for a second, Private?
Private: (Sticks his head into the cockpit) Is something wrong?
Babs: (Slaps Private and then gives his a kiss on the cheek) Nothing's wrong, …it was just my turn. (Private backs out while rubbing his cheek)
Nigel: (looks over from the copilot seat) Did I miss something between you two?
Babs: (Scowls) Mind your business if you want to live, Nigel. (Nigel offers a curious expression as he turns back to his work.)
Skipper: (Rolls his eyes having overheard) Anyway, …Kowalski's right. Let's go knock the front door down!
Kowalski: Mel, ..,make sure the GDO is at full power. We want to make sure the area is clear when we enter. (Mel nods and begins to work at his console)
Private: Excuse me Skipper, …but wouldn't that much firepower be overkill?
Skipper: Nonsense, ...you can never have too much firepower when it comes to butt kicking! Now let's get hooked up.
Digger: Right then, Bring us about Babs and target the front entrance minus ten yards. Mel, …make sure the weapons are ready to go. (Everybody grabs onto something as Babs puts the Helicopter into a tight turn and quickly comes around to bear on the target area of the bunker. As she fires, a burst of blue plasma launches forward in the blink of an eye and impacts the bunker leaving a perfectly square shaped hole in the roof of the bunker behind the entrance.)
Skipper: Well I'll be, …that DOES look like a garage door.
Kowalski: (proud) …And it's open! Hence the name.
Skipper: Yea alright, …it wasn't such a bad name after all. Pat yourself on the back already and get it out of your system. (In the background Don operates a lever causing the back hatch to begin to open. From this height everything for miles around can be seen including Red's people scattered across the roof.) Babs, bring us to a hover right over the opening. (Babs repositions the chopper forward until the opening is right beneath the back hatch and Skipper and crew hook up to the winch line two at a time to be lowered into the bunker.)
(Cut to inside the bunker as Kowalski and Private are the last to be lowered in)
Rico: (removes his harness and looks about at the empty hallway.) (Grunts) Hello?
Skipper: That's exactly what I said, …where is everybody?
Kowalski: (Looks about) No unconscious henchmen from the explosion, no greeting party of any kind!
Private: Heck, …not even Hans. This is a bit peculiar, don't you think?
Rico: (grunts) You've really got a knack for describing the obvious, don't you Private.
Private: I suppose, …I'm beginning to think that it's my calling in life. That and getting slapped.
Skipper: (looks about) What is this, …a wild goose chase? (Yells as his voice echoes in the hallway) Curse you Hans, …I want my kids! (A voice echoes back at Skipper from the dimly lit hallway ahead followed by a cold clapping sound.)
Voice: I would love to have my child back as well, Skipper. However that's not going to happen. (Pause) Given that this place has only one way in or out, getting my front door stormed in seemed rather obvious. I hope you don't mind that I pulled back a little so as to avoid any injury.
Kowalski: (Sarcastic) Well gee, ..that voice sounds eerily familiar.
Voice: Well it should, you empty skulled doofus. I pretty much gave you my address and yet it still took you as long as it did to get here to find me. Congratulations on getting here by the way. I must admit, the Danish defense force fell short of expectations. I was certain they'd be able to capture you and bring you my way much sooner. (Hans steps into the light while still clapping)
Skipper: Who exactly are you calling a doofus, Hans. You pull off a stunt like this and then in the end decide to face us alone? Look at the odds man, ..it's four to one. (The sound of a multitude of paws is heard approaching from the hallway behind Hans. A moment later the skitting of crustacean legs is heard in the shadows behind them.)
Kowalski: Uh hold the phone a second, Skipper. Rico, …a flashlight please. (Rico hacks up a flashlight and hands it to Kowalski who begins to shine it all about. In the beam of the flashlight stands a small army of squirrels behind Hans, and then about ten lobsters directly behind the penguins.) Um Skipper, …I think you may have miscalculated those odds just a bit. You probably should have gone to me for a better estimate.
Skipper: I'll note it for future reference, Kowalski. (Pause) Wait, …a better estimate? Wasn't it YOU Kowalski who suggested that Hans was using the Danes because he didn't have many people of his own? (Looks about at the enemies numbers) Way to miss the mark there, Kowalski. (Grumbles) Anyway never mind, …numbers don't matter. We're an elite fighting force, we can take anything that puffin can dish out.
Hans: Your ego is overinflated as usual, Skipper. You haven't changed much since we last met.
Skipper: Don't bore me with your pleasantries, puffin. Let's get down to business; you didn't bring me all this way just to be social. Why did you kidnap my kids? What is it that you're really after, Hans?
Hans: You're life, Skipper. I was thinking about taking it.
Skipper: You're still fuming about Copenhagen, aren't you? I knew it, ..you've really gone off the deep end this time, Hans. I told you last time that I wasn't about to…
Hans: (growls) This has NOTHING to do with Copenhagen, Skipper. Copenhagen is an old can of sardines by comparison. (Huffs) What this is about Skipper, …is VENGANCE! (Points and gestures to the others) GET THEM! (Skipper and crew are rushed on all sides by Hans's forces and immediately have their flippers full. Rico has grabbed Private and is swinging him about like a top to knock down as many adversaries as possible. Kowalski is fending off as many as he can while repeatedly getting jumped only to use his opponent as a weapon against another. At one point he even pulls out his abacus and smashes a squirrel over the head with it. At another point Rico and Private become to dizzy to continue spinning about and stop to regain their bearings. Upon doing so Private suddenly turns away from Rico only to vomit in the face of a lobster who was about to take advantage of the moment. About to be jumped himself, Rico hacks up a Taser and begins to zap any squirrel within reach. While in this frenzy Rico inadvertently zaps Kowalski causing him to twitch about and babble incoherently until he is dog piled by squirrels and goes down.)
Rico: (Grunts) Sorry Kowalski!
Kowalski: (while twitching under a pile of squirrels) I hate you Rico!
Rico: (Turns to Private) Here, take this! (Tosses the Taser to Private who begins to zap anyone within reach. Rico then hacks up a baseball bat after spotting Skipper and Hans in flipper to wing combat and charges at them with some sort of bizarre battle cry that sounded like a goat dying. Rico tackles Hans and is about to deliver a knockout blow with the bat when he is suddenly tackled himself by Heidi causing him to lose the bat. Rico and Heidi wrestle about on the floor swapping punches and kicks. After a few moments they both recover to their feet and their individual battle becomes far more intense with each not only continuing to swap blows but also regurgitate weapons to use on each other. The situation for them now becomes a mobil battle as they wander off down another corridor away from the main fight. Skipper looks about himself while once again engaged with Hans. He witnesses Kowalski, having already succumbed, taking a beating from a number of squirrels. Looking in another direction, Skipper see's Private's Taser run out of juice as he goes down as well while calling out to Skipper. Realizing he is the last penguin visibly standing Skipper does his best to step things up a notch with Hans. Skipper grabs the nearest lobster and throws it in Hans's face and while disoriented Skipper grabs Hans about the midsection, picks him up, and with a mighty yell throws Hans against the nearest wall only to run up and begin to kick him repeatedly as hard as possible while shouting)
Skipper: Where are my Kids, Hans! Tell me! (Kicks Hans some more but is then restrained from behind by a number of squirrels allowing Hans to get up and steady himself and as Skipper struggles.)
Hans: (wipes some blood from his beak and dusts off his feathers a bit) That was good, Skipper. You haven't lost your touch at all. (Takes a moment to catch his breath) That was JUST like Copenhagen. (Chuckles) Memories, right?
Skipper: Make up your mind, Hans. I thought you said that this had nothing to do with Copenhagen.
Hans: This HAS nothing to do with Copenhagen, Skipper. However, this has EVERYTHING to do with Hoboken.
Skipper: That rotting cesspool of a zoo I sent you off to live in when you came looking for absolution?
Hans: So you DO remember it, …and here I'd thought you'd forgotten all about me. (Makes a naughty-naughty gesture with his flipper) That was a very terrible place to have sent ANYONE, Skipper. (Pause as Hans reflects) I honestly can't remember having wet tail so many times in my entire life.
Skipper: You kidnapped my kids because you had to live there for a while? What kind of a sissy are you, why didn't you just man up and do what any other intelligent animal would have done and busted out of there?
Hans: You know what, Skipper? That's a very good idea, and believe me I did try. (Pause) Unfortunately all of that funding that they should have spent on keeping that place clean and up to code was spent on security measures to keep all of the animals in their places. (Sighs and wipes his beak again) I tried for a long time to get out of there, Skipper. (Sighs again) You know what, where are my manners? Allow me to introduce you to my family. (He pulls a picture out from somewhere and shows it to Skipper) This young lady on the left is my mate, Menschen. A very spirited female let me tell you, …and on the right is my daughter Leipschen. A child who could steal your heart just by looking at you.
Skipper: (Skipper struggles for a moment against those restraining him) You were stuck in a cesspool and you decided to start a family? How is any of that MY fault?
Hans: (Sneers) I never chose to start anything but an escape plan, Skipper. I certainly didn't choose to start a family, mother nature in her infinite old age senility sat one on me. The humans in their limited understanding of how nature works decided that it wasn't good for a puffin to be alone so they stuck me with menschen. We practically killed each other at first. Having no place to go to get away from one another it started as constant bickering, we'd fight and she'd bite my feathers out. We'd fight again and I'd smack her head with a brick.
Skipper: Well that explains how she could ever fall in love with you; she has brain damage from all of your fighting.
Hans: (Pauses for a moment and then chuckles) You'd think that, but as a female she was naturally hard headed anyway. The brick had no effect. (Pause) Anyway, …if I might continue. This went on for months, back and forth, to the point where the zookeepers began to separate us. Then the strangest thing happened.
Skipper: Let me guess, …this is the part where mother nature descended her plus size saddle bagged derriere down on you, right?
Hans: You know Skipper, …I'm only tolerating your humor because you're about to meet your end. You know that, don't you?
Skipper: Yea, yea, …about to meet my doom. If I had a nickel for every time I'd heard that over the years….
Hans: Then I'm sure your life would still be worth less than a dollar. Pathetic isn't it?
Skipper: (Pause) Just get to the nitty gritty, man! I have a wife and four kids to get back to.
Hans: (amused) Four? (Snickers) Did Marlene go and cheat on you?
Skipper: What? No she didn't cheat on me, ..the kid is mine!
Hans: Yours…? (Confused) What, …biologically? (Shakes his head to clear it) You know Skipper, if I wasn't about to kill you then I would absolutely LOVE to hear how that came about. (Chuckles) I'm going to assume that you let Kowalski go a little too far this time. However as it stands, I digress. (Pause) The strangest thing happened, …we'd come to hate each other so much that when we were separated we actually missed each other. (Pause) So long story short, hate given no other alternative becomes love and then later comes the offspring. It sounds like you understand the mechanics behind that so I won't go into it.
Skipper: Yea, …with humans it resembles the hokey pokey.
Hans; (Confused) Say what now?
Skipper: Nothing, just a personal flashback. (Sighs) Okay, …so what then? As soon as you got out you were going to send your whole family on some vendetta against me? I knew you couldn't let our rivalry go, …and to think that Marlene thought you were trying to be sincere in…
Hans: (agitated) I would have left you ALONE! (Hans turns and paces away and then back again) I held Leipschen in my wings for the first time and suddenly my eyes were open to a much bigger picture. Life wasn't about you and me, …our fighting meant NOTHING.
Skipper: (callous) Great, you saw the big picture. So what happens next, …it came in color? (Hans scowls and punches Skipper in the abdomen) Oof…
Hans: You wanted to know why I had done all of this, Skipper? Well I'm getting to most tender part. What happened next? (Pause) Hoboken happened next, …in all of its filth. Bacteria, disease, …have you ever watched your own child get sick repeatedly? Having to trust the care of your child to the very humans who were neglecting their duties to provide a clean environment for the animals they watched over. (A tear rolls down his cheek) My little girl died because of Hoboken, she was four months old and they put her in a little wooden box bound for the incinerator. Nobody even told me that she'd died, ..I found her by accident when I managed to find a way out of there and came to retrieve her from the vet. (Punches Skipper in the beak and then grabs him by the throat) Have you ever gone looking for one of your children only to find her dead in a wooden box? Do you have ANY idea what that feels like? (Let's go of Skipper)
Skipper: (gags as Hans lets go) You have my sympathies, Hans. …But I'm still waiting to hear what this all has to do with me?
Hans: What does this have to do with you? (Huffs) YOU stuck me in that hell, and by doing that you stuck HER in that hell. You knew what kind of a zoo you were sending me to, yet you never kept tabs. You didn't care if I lived or died.
Skipper: I certainly never expected you to start a family in a place like that! I sent you there to give you your just deserts, …you got me banished from Denmark. I'm an enemy of the state here because of you. Did you think that I would want to send you to an island resort for my troubles?
Hans: (Amused) Well, it would have been a nice way to bury the hatchet between us.
Skipper: As far as you and Hoboken are concerned, you ended up where you belonged.
Hans: (Grabs Skipper by the throat again) …And what of Liepschen? Did she end up where she belonged as well?
Skipper: (Raspy) None of that is my fault, Hans.
Hans: Not your fault? (Growls as he squeezes harder) You imprisoned me in Hoboken, which means you imprisoned HER as well. You put me in Hoboken and Hoboken took her from me. I'll ask you again, Skipper. Do you have any idea what it's like to lose a child?
Skipper: (raspy) Look Hans, I'll admit something. I don't know what that feels like,…but I do have an idea where you're leading with that so just let me say this. Whatever you're going to do, …don't. It doesn't sound like you've been in your right mind for a long time but it does sound like your beef is with me. So let's keep it that way, …let the kids go.
Hans: (Lets go of Skipper) You're right Skipper, …my beef is with you. …And do you have any idea how I intend to resolve that beef? (Pause) I want you Skipper to share my pain. I want you to know what it's like to discover that one of your children is dead. I want you to look into that lifeless face and realize that everything you've come to hold dear has just been ripped away from you and there's not a thing in this world that you can do about it. The only question left is which one shall it be?
Skipper: If you were really any kind of a parent, Hans. Then I don't see how you could in good conscience bring yourself to use a kid like that to achieve revenge.
Hans: (Sighs, crosses his flippers and turns away for a moment) You know, …the remainder of my family said the same thing to me. (Pause) They were right, but that doesn't mean that someone else won't do it.
Skipper: (Begins to struggle) Hans, …when I get out of this I promise that I'm going to send you to meet your kid directly!
Hans: Promises, promises, Skipper. However, before we get to who is going to die when, I think there is someone else you should speak with. (Hans gestures for the squirrels and lobsters to bring Skipper and his crew to the control center.)
(Cut to another hallway a good distance away from the entrance. Rico and Heidi are still going at it with each getting winded at this point. Both have exhausted any weapons stores that they had and are now fighting solely flipper to wing. Heidi grabs Rico, sticks her foot into his abdomen and rolls backward onto the floor flipping Rico over and against the wall. As Rico recovers he spies Heidi charging at him again and dodges a kick allowing Heidi to put her foot though a wooden door that had been behind him. While she attempts to free herself Rico takes advantage and charges at her sumo style. Upon collision Heidi is freed from the door and they both go tumbling to the floor. As they both struggle to get up Heidi attempts to throw Rico through another wooden door nearby and as she does so Rico grabs hold of her as well and holds on allowing his forward momentum to send the both of them ramming through the door and tumbling down a set of concrete stairs. After both repeatedly hit their heads and other parts of the anatomy on the way down they are both rendered unconscious. Sometime later Rico wakes to a splitting headache. While rubbing his head he looks about to see that he is in some sort of giant pantry with food stores and other supplies loaded onto shelves lining the walls prompting him to attempt to get up and investigate. Before long Rico hears a few moans and groans coming from Heidi as she sits up and begins to look about. Upon seeing Rico she attempts to get up to come after him but instantly becomes dizzy and nauseous falling back down where she started.)
Rico: (grunts) Yea, …that's about what I did too. I guess we're not as hard headed as we thought.
Heidi: (Scowls) Clearly. (Winces in pain as she begins to nurse her other injuries sustained from the fight and then looks over at Rico.) You look about as banged up as I feel. (Lies back down on the floor)
Rico: (grunts) Likewise. (Pauses in thought) Um, …since apparently we're not fighting and appear to be on speaking terms, …should I consider this a truce?
Heidi: Speaking terms, huh? Well call it whatever you want, …I don't think I could get up right now if I wanted to so if the situation isn't likewise for you then I'm at your mercy. It's doubtful giving you the silent treatment or yelling murderous insinuations at you would be of much benefit either. (pause) Granted if I had digits I could think of a few gestures for you.
Rico: (Sarcasm) Oh don't be such a tease. (Winces in pain as he tries to move) Nope, …I'm not going anywhere. (Pause) Talking it is then, so where are we?
Heidi: Just because we're currently in the same boat doesn't mean I'm going to be willing to do anything to help you. Find something else to talk about.
Rico: Uh, …but what if helping me helps you? Like you said, ..we're in the same boat.
Heidi: Ugh, …don't make me think. My skull is splitting as it is. (Pause) Fine, … we're in a food store room. Non-perishables. (Struggles to turn to look up the stairs to the door which has swung shut behind them. From this distance Heidi is able to make out that the handle knob is missing.) Oh great!
Rico: (grunts) What?
Heidi: We're not just immobile, …we're stuck in here. (Gestures up towards the door) We must have busted the door knob when we came crashing through.
Rico: (Lies back down on the floor) Aw man, …you've got to be kidding me!
Heidi: I don't suppose this truce of yours could last long enough for both of us to get out of here?
Rico: That could be a long truce then, …I don't think I'm fit to go anywhere. (Grabs his side in pain as he tries to sit back up)
Heidi: I wasn't about to suggest getting up myself. (Pause as she rubs the side of her head) That is one mean right hook you have.
Rico: (chuckles) That is one hard head you have, ….what are you lining your skull with concrete?
Heidi: No, …just stubbornness. It runs in the family. (Looks back up at the door) You know, …you tossed enough grenades at me to blow a hole in the world. I don't suppose you saved one to blast this door open with?
Rico: (Shakes his head) I don't even have the kitchen sink left.
Heidi: (Does a double take) Oh is THAT what you threw at me back in the hallway. (Chuckles) I was actually worried that you were going to follow it up with a refrigerator or something else kitchen related.
Rico: How about you?
Heidi: (Shakes her head) The Siamese fighting fish was the last that I had.
Rico: I think those things only fight their own kind.
Heidi: I know, …but it was worth a shot.
Rico: Was it a pet?
Heidi: More of a snack, …it belonged to this pyro that works for Hans. I guess it was the one thing he couldn't light on fire.
Rico: He sounds like a wonderful co-worker. (Pause) As long as we're stuck together is there any chance you'd tell me why Hans kidnapped the kids?
Heidi: (Groans) Sure, why not. You know, since we're on speaking terms and everything. (Pause) Geez, ..I make that sound like we're getting back together after breaking up or something. (Shivers) Anyway long story short, …Skipper sent Hans to Hoboken which everybody knows is a disease ridden hell hole. While stuck there, Hans found himself a family and then after repeatedly getting sick Hans's daughter died. Like any grieving parent Hans wants somebody to be held accountable, he doesn't have the means to hold Hoboken accountable so in his anguish he turns to somebody he CAN. Skipper stuck him there in the first place so voila, …he's now to blame for the whole enchilada. He arranged to have the kids grabbed to draw Skipper out of his own element and onto Hans's own turf. Hans was going to kill one of the kids to make Skipper feel his pain.
Rico; What…? (Tries to get up but falls back to the floor in agony)
Heidi: Calm down, they're in no danger. They've escaped. (Rico sighs in relief) Yea, tell me about it. Menschen and I have been trying to dissuade Hans from going through with it since he first grabbed the kids.
Rico: Who?
Heidi: It's another story, …don't worry about it.
Rico: So, …if you're against this whole thing then why are you working for Hans?
Heidi: I don't work for him, …I work with him. There's a difference. (Pause) It's a loyalty thing, …I don't expect you to understand.
Rico: Well, ..whatever. I've got to try to help my guys if I can before Hans does whatever else he's planning. Don't get in my way!
Heidi: (Groans as she tries to get up) I don't think that will be a problem, …I'm too busy being in my own way right now. (Lays back down)
Rico: (Taps the com piece in his ear) Blue squadron, how copy? (Only static is heard) Private, report! (Static again) Anybody? (Static) Great, …the thing must be broken.
Heidi: It must have been all those kicks to the head I gave you.
Rico: (Remembers his courtship with Kitsune) I've been kicked before. (Tries unsuccessfully to get up) It must have been that tumble down the stairs.
Heidi: Well, …I think that caused everything else at least. (Begins to use her wings to probe herself)
Rico: What are you doing?
Heidi: Trying to see the extent of my injuries. I'm feeling pretty far from okay right now. (Looks at Rico and debates internally for a moment) Listen, as long as we have to cooperate to get out of here. Can I assume I can trust you for the time being?
Rico: (Puzzled) Uh, …I guess so?
Heidi: (grumbles) I guess "I guess so" will have to do. I can't sit up enough to look myself over, …I need another pair of eyes. Do you think you can make your way over here? (Rico responds by crawling on his belly across the floor)
Rico: What now?
Heidi: I think I have some broken ribs amongst other things. I need you to take a look and tell me what you see.
Rico: Uh, …I don't think I'd know what I'm doing. I'm not a doctor.
Heidi: I am, …at least as close as an animal can get to being one. When I'm not too busy helping Hans with his personal demons that is. (Pause) Now if you're done worrying about what you can and can't do, I need you to probe between the feathers on my left side chest cavity. Start at my collar and work your way down a rib at a time. I'll tell you which one hurts and you tell me what you see.
Rico: Do you promise you won't try to kill me while I'm distracted?
Heidi: Promise me the same thing and I think we'll be good to go.
Rico: Right then. (He begins to probe about Heidi as instructed.)
Heidi: You know what? I never caught your name.
Rico: I never threw it at you, …I didn't think it was heavy enough. (Heidi laughs and then clutches her side)
Heidi: No jokes, ..it hurts too much! (Rico offers his name) Fine then, I have a question for you Rico. Are probing me or trying to feel me up because it feels like the latter.
Rico: Sorry… (He starts again and after counting off three ribs Heidi screams) I think I've found what we're looking for.
Heidi: Brilliant deduction Dr. Holms, …now tell me what you see. Is the area discolored, swollen, worse?
Rico: Uh, …black and blue.
Heidi: How about swollen?
Rico: I don't think so. What does that mean?
Heidi: Swelling would suggest internal bleeding. I think it's safe to say one or more ribs are broken though, I can expect at least some swelling.
Rico: So what do we do? (Heidi looks at Rico with an amused expression)
(Cut to the blues helicopter as it moves in a standoff orbit about a kilometer out from the bunker)
Don: How long are we supposed to keep flying in circles like this? You'd think we'd have heard something either way from Skipper by now.
Digger: That's a good question, …we never went over what to do if we didn't hear anything from them.
Babs: We certainly can't fly around forever.
Digger: Agreed. (Sighs) Mel, …any new threats?
Mel: No, …it looks like whoever shot at us earlier got the message. (Pause) Should we break radio silence?
Digger: We'll wait a few more ticks. If we haven't heard anything by then we'll have to find a shady spot to land and power down.
Nigel: We're just going to leave them in there?
Digger: No, …but we can't just start blasting the place without knowing where they are inside either. (Sighs) If we have to land then we'll keep our ears open for the slightest peep from them. If we can get a radio fix then you bet your bum we're going in after them. (Pause) After all, rescue is what we do right? (The crew waits as much as ten more minutes and then retreats another five kilometers before landing in a small field to power down and wait further.)
(Cut to the entrance of the Bunker as Red and his crew from the roof make their way in and around the rubble that fell from the ceiling when the penguins blasted their way in.)
Red: (best little girl impression) They're here….. (Chuckles as he looks about) Hans must have handled himself better than I thought he would. (Looks to the other squirrels) One thing is for certain, …the presence of the penguins is sure to draw those pups out of hiding assuming I didn't get them with my other endeavors. (Pause) Now let's see, …if Hans does have the penguins then no doubt he would have taken them to make a little video chat. (Pause) Does anyone care to place a wager on who is going to be more surprised? (None of the squirrels respond) Seriously, …nobody? (Pause) Come on, …I'll let whoever gets it right go without a hitch. (Nobody responds) You guys know me too well to be any fun, …that just sucks. (Pause) All right, …let's just go find them then.
Chapter 13 coming soon…
Comments and suggestions are always welcome.