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 21
By
Wildgoose
(The Hallway is quiet with the exception of a few squirrels standing outside of a door as Skipper approaches. He looks them in the eye to inquire as to any news and when they reply that they have none Skipper gestures for them to move out of the way. The demand receives a nonverbal reply as the squirrels move closer together in preparation to repel Skipper.)
Skipper: (fatigued look in his eyes) It's already been a bad day soldiers, let's not do this. (Pause) I just want to see my son.
Squirrel1: We understand sir, …however Heidi is not finished. She has instructed us to convey her word to you that she will talk to you in detail when she comes out.
Skipper: That's not going to wash gentleman!
Squirrel1: It will have to; any problems you cause will only serve to impede your son's chances. (A look of anger builds on Skipper's face only to have it fade away with a defeated sigh. Skipper waddles to the wall across from the squirrels and sits down on the concrete resting his head against the wall. Before long fatigue overwhelms him as a result of a long and complicated day and he drifts off to sleep without ever realizing it.)
(Cut to the control room, the multitude of squirrels move about the room in a muted celebration. Celebration in that the world has been saved and that they have been freed from Red's control, muted in that in spite of this Christmas appears to have been destroyed. Amidst the crowd Sarah has managed to make her way to Loki and offer up a stiff hug and a kiss, Yoshi is frequently greeted with fist bumps and the occasional salute. Eventually Yoshi is approached by Beowulf.)
Beowulf: Orders?
Yoshi: Give me a report.
Beowulf: These consoles have lost Blowhole's signal to his heat emitters but the last readout seems to suggest that they were shutting down. We still can't access them to gain any further information.
Yoshi: It figures, …we'll have to gather information some other way. (Pause) Find a way to get the news on that monitor, if those things were shutting down it would probably be all over the air my now. (Beowulf nods and goes to talk to Gadget. Moments later the news appears on the monitor and sure enough there is good news to be found.)
Beowulf: Any other orders?
Yoshi: Yea, …go home. You're all free now; you have no need to stay here.
Beowulf: (Smiles) You needn't tell us THAT, …we've figured it out for ourselves. However as long as we're all still here, some of the others have gone to see what food stores are left in this place and we're going to throw ourselves a little victory party topside, …bonfire and all.
Yoshi: Are you going to do a Star wars® motif and use Red's head as a drum?
Beowulf: (Entertains the idea for a moment) Hey, …that actually sounds kind of…(Long pause) Nah, …it's creepy is what it sounds.
Yoshi: So if you guys understand that you're free then why are you asking for orders?
Beowulf: Commitment, …we intend to make sure that everybody leaves this place and that will take an organized effort. So until you guys leave, …the chain of command will be maintained.
Yoshi: Very well then, ….when possible please go check on my brother and see if there is anything that either he or Heidi needs. (Beowulf smirks and offers a salute before turning to carry out the order. Yoshi makes her way over to the penguins to find that Kowalski is still working on gaining access to the computer itself.) What are you doing, Kowalski? The heat devices have been shut down, there's no need to hack the system anymore.
Kowalski: Oh I know, ….but SOMEBODY has his photo memorabilia stored in this God forsaken unit and eagerly wants it back.
Hans: HEY, …it's all I have left of her okay? Now if you'll excuse me, as long as you're working on that I'm going to entertain the hope that Blowhole froze to death when the North Pole sank. (Hans waddles a short distance away and watches as Rico has returned to cooking what is left of the lobsters.)
Rico: (Sees Hans approach and makes an offer) Tail or claws?
Hans: (Thinks for a moment) What the heck, …they deserve it and as a sea bird crustaceans are a part of my diet. Give me a tail, please. (Rico offers up a cooked lobster tail that has been cracked open already and then takes one himself as they both have a seat on the floor together to enjoy the spoils of their victory. Sometime later Kowalski calls over to Hans to let him know that he has hacked the computer and moments later Hans is at the console showing off pictures of his family.)
(Cut to the hallway hours later as Skipper wakes from his unscheduled snooze and as he rubs the sleep from his eyes he notices Heidi sitting against the wall across from him taking a nap herself.)
Skipper: You've got to be kidding me. (Skipper gets up to wake her and press for information when Toby comes out of the room after hearing his voice and stops him)
Toby: Don't, ..she's earned it. (He gestures for Skipper to follow him into the room to see Hannibal.) I don't know how he's managed to remain asleep through all of that, we didn't have any general anesthetics available.
Skipper: How did he do?
Toby: On the whole I'd say he's been through hell and back, …we almost lost him but Heidi managed to bring him back. (Skipper's face drops) The girl knows her stuff, that's for sure.
Skipper: (Voice flutters) Uh…will he be okay?
Toby: (Sighs) Most of him anyway, …the kid ended up losing a kidney because of extensive damage to the organ. Lucky for him he had two, aside from that he's going to need a lot of rest. (Pause) We got word from the others over the com a while back; they got a hold of a ship that helped us out earlier. I'll explain later, anyway they have a medical facility and are standing by to help us. We just have to get to them.
Skipper: Now that sounds like a plan, let's get moving!
Toby: Hold that thought, Skipper! Your son is resting for now and the less we move him the better, besides it's been a long day so let others get their rest as well. I'll give a call to Digger and apprise him of the situation. So why don't you just sit with Hannibal and let him know you're here for him, Don and I will be in and out of here checking on him until Heidi gets up. (Skipper finds something to sit on as Toby leaves the room. And begins to look Hannibal over making note of the shaved area and stitched wound on his abdomen)
Skipper: (looks about to make sure he is in the room alone) Now uh, …you make sure you heal quickly soldier! We need you back at home, you're one of our best butt kickers…and to be honest my life would be empty without you. (Stern tone of voice) You can't just patch up a hole in the heart with mortar and concrete you know. (Pause) Otherwise we'd just call Gus and move on with life, but that's NOT the way it works okay? (Thoughtful pause) Besides, …if I didn't bring you home with me can you imagine how your mother would react? You know how emotional females can be, she'd start with the crying, then she'd blame me, then she'd cry some more, then I'm sure there'd be some choking involved. I mean you can't have a full on blow out without choking the crap out of somebody who you mistakenly believe desperately deserves it, right? (Pause) …But um, anyway long story short, life would be miserable without you. (Pause) There, …I said it. I'm going to stop there now; mush just isn't what I do. It's a guy thing, you understand. Besides, …if you can hear me I don't want anything I say coming back to haunt me later in front of the family or the guys. I mean, can you imagine how that would look with everybody mocking my emotional state? So um, …this is all on the QT understood? (Pause) Lie there and breathe if you understand….
(Cut to Florida as Steve and Nicketti watch on one of the monitors in the blues HQ as a news reporter covering the polar crisis from a helicopter continues the story on the hoop of heat.)
Reporter: This is Chuck Charles reporting to you live from an Alaskan National Guard Helicopter as we fly above the Northern Polar Ice cap. As you can see below me the hoop of heat devices that caused so much worry over the past twenty four hours seem to have shut themselves down just as mysteriously as when they first came on line. No one yet knows where these strange devices came from or who built them but one thing is for certain, the United Nations does not intend to take any chances as we have received word that plans for military action to destroy the devices are well under way. (Pause) On an equally mysterious note given that I am currently above the northern polar area, Military aircraft patrolling the area from both the US as well as the Soviet Republic claimed to have detected and intercepted an aircraft leaving the area. When questioned on what they saw the pilots claimed to have seen a man on a flying Harley Davidson® chopper style motorcycle dressed like Santa Clause on a bad day accompanied by multiple reindeer that also appeared to be flying. (Pause) Both pilots are currently undergoing screening for illegal substances as well as psychiatric evaluation. (Pause) This is Chuck Charles reporting from above the Arctic Circle, and I'm cold.
(The scene snaps to Steve and Nicketti as the both have a laugh over the report.)
Nicketti: (Still laughing lightly) Now there's a unique mental image.
Steve: I'm sure somebody will try to capitalize on it and we'll see Christmas themed inflatables of that image by the time the season rolls around. (Sighs) So now that the one headache is out of the way, let's see if we can get an update from the penguins, no doubt command will want a situation report on that weapon they found any time now. After that we can head on over to check up on Hannibal's girl again. We'll need to figure out what's going to become of her once the others are back. (Nicketti offers a nod and then moves to get on the shortwave.)
Nicketti: I would assume that she would become a ward of some wildlife refuge somewhere.
Steve: All things being equal, I would agree with you. However things are not equal, we didn't just go through an otternapping and a world crisis just to forget about her in a wildlife refuge. I'm sure Hannibal might have something to say about that after all he's been through.
Nicketti: So what do you have in mind then?
Steve: I dunno, ….but I'm sure I'll figure it out. One thing is certain though, as long as that otter is down here that vet is going to be hitting me up for regular donations. (Pause) …And the zoo isn't about to take in any more otters, I've been thwarting attempts to transfer the pups to other zoos as it is. (Grumbles) I may just have to take her in or something.
Nicketti: (Smiles) It sucks being a nice guy sometimes doesn't it?
Steve: Sometimes, but usually just when it looks like I'm about to finish dead last then life pulls over and waits for me to catch up.
Nicketti: (Chuckles) What's that supposed to mean?
Steve: Just that when it comes to losers, life has its favorites. Just look at Charlie Brown®.
Nicketti: (Smirks) You're no loser, Steve.
Steve: Then why do I keep letting a bunch of zoo animals abuse the heck out of me and drag me into ridiculous situations like this one?
Nicketti: What can I say; nice guys are often gluttons for punishment. (Steve offers up a crude gesture prompting Nicketti to get back to the shortwave with an evil smirk on her face.) Hey, ..don't tempt me now.
(Cut to Han's bunker, Hannibal has since been loaded onto a stretcher obtained from the blue's helicopter and is being secured into it by Don and Toby. Yoshi and Loki are busy paling around with the squirrels and while all of this is going on Hans who has been standing quietly by up until now notices that Heidi is packing up all of her gear.)
Hans: (Waddles quickly over to Heidi) Where do you think YOU are going?
Heidi: (Gestures to the penguins) With them, ….that kid is under my care brother and whatever ship they're all going to I doubt they'll have an animal doctor on board. He needs me…
Hans: But…, I thought that you would be coming back with ME. You'd never actually met Leipschen, so I figured you would at least want to meet your new nephew and I'm sure Menschen would love to have you over.
Heidi: Listen to you all of a sudden Mr. family man now that there's no more revenge plot. (Pause as Hans looks away with a hurt expression) Sorry, …I didn't mean to rub salt into the wound. Look I'm sure Maine is wonderful this time of year Hans, …but I'll be by to see you all soon enough after my work is done. (Pause) In the meantime, count your blessing that the penguins aren't going to turn on you. You DID kidnap those kids with the intention of killing them.
Hans: (Looks away for a moment) I have no doubt that it will come back to haunt me at some point. I still can't believe I let that dolphin get away with what he did, ….I couldn't possibly have been more naive.
Heidi: He didn't get away with everything; your own conscience prevented you from doing what you originally wanted with those kids.
Hans: It came close though, …if Red actually had half a brain he might have actually found them.
Heidi: No matter, it still didn't happen. (Heidi gestures for some of the squirrels to take her bags to the helicopter as Toby and Don lift the stretcher and begin to head out with the penguins and other otters following close behind.)
Skipper: (Looks behind him to see that Hans is remaining behind) Hey puffin, try to keep up! If you think we're going to let you out of our sight then you're nuts.
Hans: (Grumbles) While I may be deserving Skipper, I'm NOT going back to that cesspool of a zoo. Not again… (Skipper gestures to the squirrels in the room to escort Hans out with them but to his annoyance nobody moves.)
Squirrel: We don't take orders from you, ..sorry.
Skipper: (Grumbles) Oh for fish sake! (Skipper calls Yoshi into the room.) Yoshi, how about you share the reins for a while. These squirrels won't move when I talk to them.
Yoshi: (Smirks) I don't know dad, …I'm starting to like having my own army. (Skipper glares at her for an instant) Oh fine. (Yoshi looks at the squirrels) Help my dad out guys. (At that, several squirrels move to take hold of Hans.)
Skipper: You're going to make a great commanding officer, Yoshi. I can see it already. (Pause as he turns back to Hans) Anyway, nobody said anything about Hoboken, …your just not staying here. If memory serves, the Danes hate you too.
Hans: (Nods in agreement) That's why I stayed in this bunker the whole time, …if they'd known I was here…
Skipper: Like I said, ….so move it. We'll work a few things out on the way. (Hans looks bemused as the squirrels escort him out with the others.)
(Cut to much later as the air boss aboard the Dwight D. Eisenhower looks out of the control tower windows to observe a small helicopter on approach for a landing. Many others are doing the same thing as the helicopter touches down.)
Air boss: (To the mini boss) You know, when I'd heard what that tanker pilot had reported about this chopper I thought he's been working just a little too hard lately. (Sighs) Now that I'm confronted with the fact that he wasn't out of his mind I guess I'll have to take back that shore leave I promised him. (He goes back to looking out the window as the animals begin to disembark from the helicopter with stretcher in hand. Ships medical personnel stand nearby unsure what to do with themselves as they had only been told that there was an incoming medical emergency. They watch as the menagerie of animals moves past them and through the hatch of the weather deck to the inside of the ship where they are guided to an area designated for them by the ships captain. The air boss turns to face the ship's captain who has also been on hand to see the landing.) Is this for REAL? Where do penguins learn how to operate military hardware, where did they get that thing from in the first place, and to top that all off at what point did the US military actually start recruiting animals for military service?
Captain: I'm almost as in the dark about all of this as you are, the only things I can tell you is that they report to an obscure branch of the military that employs animal special forces and we are to treat them as fellow servicemen regardless of species. They're not your run of the mill dumb animals that's for sure.
Air boss: With respect captain, may I inquire as to how far up the chain of command that intel came from?
Captain: (Looks annoyed that the question was even asked but under the circumstances let it slide.) VERY far up, and another FYI for you is that this whole matter is top secret which means as far as anyone else is concerned it didn't happen. Is that understood? (The air boss nods. A moment later the XO enters the room and offers a salute after which the captain walks off deck with him to talk in private.) What news?
XO: The animals are situated in the converted storage room as ordered and provisions are being brought to them as we speak.
Captain: Good, anything else?
XO: Yes sir, one of the birds is requesting that it be allowed to use our medical facility to treat its patient.
Captain: (Studies the XO for a few minutes) How does a sea bird request something? …And what do you mean its patient?
XO: They appear to have text to speech translators with them, …and apparently one of the birds claims to be a physician…of sorts. (Long silent pause) We were informed prior to arrival that they had a man down.
Captain: At that time we thought the man down was a MAN! Our doctor isn't going to let animals use his facilities, what person in his right mind would? (The XO shrugs)
XO: It won't be treating a human, …so if something goes wrong it's not like we'd have to explain it to anyone.
Captain: If those in command know those animals are here then I think we'd have to answer to SOMEBODY. (Heavy sigh) I guess we don't have much choice though, …nobody onboard knows a darned thing about animals. (Silent pause) Give the bird what it wants, but make sure it's a small confined area not the whole sick bay. We still have our own people to worry about. (Pause) And keep surveillance on it too, if this is for real then I'd like to be able to see it for myself.
XO: Aye sir. (The XO salutes, turns, and leaves the area)
(Cut to the storage room that is the animals new quarters for the duration of their stay aboard ship. Hans has maintained a distance away from all of the other animals and has not said a word since arriving. Eventually he is approached by Yoshi.)
Hans: I imagine you have some horrible things you'd like to say to me. I certainly don't expect forgiveness.
Yoshi: (Thinks about Hans's comment for a moment and then sighs) What was she like?
Hans: What?
Yoshi: I want to understand you a little better; it would certainly help to put things into perspective.
Hans: You mean you want to understand your enemy better, your father has been teaching you some valuable lessons.
Yoshi: He HAS been teaching me valuable lessons, but I mean I want to understand YOU. Why you did what you did, ….SO what was she like?
Hans: (Studies her for a long moment) She was the light of my life, the pinnacle that helped me to choose a new direction if you will.
Yoshi: So…no longer the bad guy my dad told us about?
Hans: I never WANTED to be the bad guy, it was just what I had going for me and a puffin has to make a living somehow. (Silent pause) When she came into my life all of that suddenly became meaningless, I felt like the Grinch whose heart had grown outside of the box or something. (Pause) From the moment she came into my life all I could think about was getting my family out of Hoboken so that we could find someplace right for us and just be happy. I wouldn't have cared if I never saw your father again.
Yoshi: Right, …but what was SHE like?
Hans: (Studies Yoshi for a moment) Cheerful when she wasn't sick, …she kept trying to fly for the first time even though the zoo routinely clipped her wings. (Smiles) …But she wouldn't give up! (Long pause) When she died, I thought that filthy zoo had finally taken her and I couldn't take it.
Yoshi: …And since my dad put you in Hoboken then he was the closest set of shoulders you could sit the blame on. Exactly what Blowhole wanted I guess. (Pause) I heard that you recently had another one, congratulations! What did you name him?
Hans: No name yet, we'll work on it when I get home. If I get there, …I'm not sure what your father has in store for me.
Yoshi: I wouldn't worry, …being a parent himself I think he can probably put himself in your webbed feet. Dad probably would have lost his mind too I think.
Hans: (Studies Yoshi for a moment) You know, …you're pretty cool headed about all of this considering that you were kidnapped and almost killed in a misguided plot of vengeance.
Yoshi: (Shrugs) …But it was misguided and it didn't come to fruition. (Smirks) I've learned a lot from my dad's lessons, …but more so from his mistakes. Paranoia will only get you so far in a tactical situation, to best understand an adversary you need to take step back to try to see the whole picture. Hannibal on the other hand may not find it so easy to get this close to you without wanting to harm you. He's a level headed guy and all but like you said before, you kidnapped us and you were also allied with the guy who may or may not have killed his girl.
Hans: I'm not sure what you mean by that, Red seemed pretty sure of what he'd done in Florida.
Yoshi: Eh, …it's highly personal so you'll have to excuse me if I don't elaborate. Just do your best to steer clear of him for the rest of your life. (Pause) Anyway about your son, I have a name suggestion if you want to hear it… (Hans rolls his eyes at the sudden shift of subject)
(Snap to the penguins in the room as they converse about the events that have transpired during the day.)
Private: (With Rico sobbing as a result of the topic) I just can't believe Blowhole managed to destroy the North Pole, do you know what that means? No more Santa, no more Kidsmas…
Skipper: I understand how you feel, Private. However, just because the North Pole is gone doesn't mean that life is over. Kidsmas will live on in spirit; we'll make sure of that.
Private: Are you saying that we're going to carry on the torch so to speak and deliver toys to children around the world ourselves?
Skipper: (Recalls their encounter with Santa on their last detour to Madagascar) Hmm, …we HAVE done it before. Kowalski, crunch some numbers on that scenario! (Kowalski begins to work a calculator that he'd found earlier.)
Kowalski: I'm afraid not, Skipper. The last time we had the benefit of Santa's sleigh, magic sack, and that sparkly dust that made us fly. Not to mention that sack had already been pre-loaded with toys made by an army of elf's with absolutely nothing better to do with their time than making toys. (Pause) I'm afraid without any of those things the task would be impossible.
Skipper: Well, …it was worth a shot I suppose. We'll just have to bring joy to all the kids in just our own little corner of the world, Private.
Kowalski: There is another thought, …what happened to Dr. Blowhole? He is an aquatic mammal after all, …is it possible he could have endured the freezing temperatures once the workshop fell through the ice and made his escape?
Skipper: It was part of his plan all along to sink the North Pole so it's safe to assume that he had an escape of some kind planned. With that in mind I'd say it's a sure bet that he's out there somewhere gentleman. The only question is where? (Skipper glances over at Rico who has managed to compose himself)
Rico: (Grunts) What, …I dunno!
Skipper: Well come on people, somebody has to have some sort of an idea! Use your imaginations, …where could that bottlenose possibly turn up next? (Everyone exchanges inquisitive glances)
(Snap to an unknown island location as an achy Dr. Blowhole wakes to find himself floating in an above ground swimming pool.)
Blowhole: (Rubs the bruises on his face and begins to look around. The landscape outside of the pool is just littered with what looks like piles and piles of old toys. Blowhole swims to the edge of the pool to get a better look.) Ugh, …where the heck am I? (To his surprise he hears a response)
Voice: Where all toys go when they're not wanted, … so what's your story?
Blowhole: (Looks around) What, …who said that?
Voice: I did. (Pause as Blowhole looks about) Down here! (Blowhole looks down to about five feet away from the pool to discover a little bath toy boat that seems to be talking to him.)
Blowhole: (Groans) Oh great, I must have a concussion. I'm hallucinating! (Closes his eyes) There's no place like home!
Toy boat: This is your home now.
Blowhole: (Grumbles) And where is HERE?
Toy boat: Why the island of misfit toys of course! Where all of the recalled, unpopular, or obsolete before their time toys go to live out the rest of their days.
Blowhole: You're joking, right? (No response) Wonderful, …so how did I get here?
Toy boat: Santa dropped you off, ….literally in fact. He didn't even stop, heck he didn't even LAND, ….you must have been REALLY unpopular.
Blowhole: (Smirks as he recalls his plan almost succeeding) You have NO idea. (Pause) However I intend for my stay here to be as short as possible, …just show me to the ocean and I'll be on my way.
Toy boat: Oh I can't do THAT, …nobody leaves the island. It's surrounded by the seas of space and time. Only Cornelius the timekeeper whale and Santa himself can come and go.
Blowhole: (Grumbles in frustration as he tries to lift himself higher at the edge of the pool and is unable to see or even hear the shore anywhere nearby) That's just GREAT, ...I'm marooned on an island full of possessed unwanted toys that isn't even on any map. (Pause) Wait, …if things here are unwanted or defective then what's wrong with this pool I'm in?
Toy boat: It has a heater that frequently malfunctions and brings the water to a boil.
Blowhole: You're joking right?
Toy boat: You keep asking me that, why?
Blowhole: (Sighs in defeat) Never mind! (Pause as he gestures for the toy to continue) So you were saying?
Toy boat: …It was somebodies attempt at a cheap hot tub.
Blowhole: Oh WONDERFUL, so it's just a matter of time before I'm boiled to death. (Pause) I'll tell you, Santa just isn't the jolly old fat guy that everybody thinks he is! (Pause) ….So what's wrong with YOU then? I don't see any defects.
Toy boat: (Depressed tone) My plastic parts were made out of improperly mixed chemicals, I'm a children's bath toy that bursts into flames on contact with water.
Blowhole: Really? (Tests that by splashing water from the pool onto the boat and sure enough it erupts in flames) Wow, the humans really DO know how to have fun in the tub. …But enough of this idiocy, I need to get back to my life. My revenges aren't going to take care of themselves you know. (Blowhole's eyes widen as he hears a click in the background, as he turns his head he notices the little light on the pool heater has come on.) Uh oh…!
(Cut to the ship as a number of crewmen have gathered outside of a hatch leading into the area of sickbay that was designated for Heidi to work in. Inside Heidi can be seen tending to Hannibal, checking his vitals, his wounds, changing an IV bag, as well as administering medications. As the men continue to observe another crewman comes walking by holding his hand in a number of cloths to absorb bleeding.)
Man1: Hey Gibson, what gives?
Gibson: Eh, I sliced my hand working on an engine fan blade on the hangar deck. I'm told the Doc. moved down the hall a little bit so I'm going to get this looked at. (He starts to continue down the hall)
Man1: Wait, ..come back here! (Points into the room) Have you heard anything about this? (Gibson takes a look)
Gibson: Only rumors,…why?
Man1: This bird is supposed to be some kind of M.D. , we've been watching it for a while now. It's crazy what this thing can do!
Gibson: (Looks at Heidi again) Terrific, let me go get fixed up and I'll join you.
Man1: No, wait. (Pause) Let the bird take a look at you.
Gibson: (odd expression) Have you been smoking something? I need real medical attention, (Gestures to Heidi) not whatever THAT is.
Man1: No wait, seriously! Word has it the thing performed surgery on that other animal; it knows what it's doing.
Gibson: So I'll inform Dr. Doolittle, I'm sure he'll be thrilled to hear about it. (Pause) Look, …I'm not letting an animal take a look at me.
Man1: Dude, …fifty bucks? (Gibson studies the man for a moment)
Gibson: You guys must really have nothing better to do with your time right now. I have to get going…
Man1: Come on, ..we want to see it work. A hundred? (Gibson shakes his head and turns away again. As he does so others in the group begin to cough up.) How about two? (Gibson turns to face them) Cash, …right now? (The man holds up the money and Gibson slowly reaches out to take it.)
Gibson: Hey man, if this thing cripples me then I'm coming after all of y'all. (He turns and takes a breath as he enters the room. Once inside he stops to take a look at Heidi who has now directed her attention towards him.) Um listen, …Doc? I uh, …I've got a minor injury here that could use some attention.
Heidi: (Stares at him for a moment and then rolls her eyes before making use of the qwerty board to translate. All conversation from her at this point uses this device.) Your own doctor has temporarily moved down the hall, I'm sure he will be happy to assist you.
Gibson: (Looks surprised to hear the text to speech) Oh yea, …I um, I know about that it's just that he's usually busy and this is pretty small potatoes. I didn't want to bug the guy and have something like this documented against my safety record and all.
Heidi: So you're looking for something off the books as it were? (Smirks as she leans a little to get a better look at those watching from the hatch) Give me a cut.
Gibson: Say what now?
Heidi: I'm not an idiot, those numskulls out there paid you to come in here didn't they? (Gibson looks speechless for a moment) Look I'll treat you but understand this from my perspective, medicines and supplies cost money and without either one I can't help those in need. So give me a cut and you can claim it on your taxes as a donation to a wildlife charity or something.
Gibson: Man, …this needs to be on funniest videos or something. An animal wringing money out of a person, …what has this world come to? (Gibson hands over fifty dollars which Heidi puts away somewhere on her person and then gestures to a nearby table which she flies over to and waits for Gibson to sit down. A short time later she has cleaned the wound and is working to stitch it up.) This is incredible, where does a bird learn to do this stuff?
Heidi: (Sighs) Only humans assume that animals are mindless, if we commit ourselves to the task we can learn anything you can. (She finishes with the stitches and then administers an antibiotic shot followed by care instructions before sending Gibson on his way. Once he passes through the hatch he finds that his shipmates have gone and only the ships XO stands there now.)
XO: (Looks at Gibson crossly before looking the hand over) Have our Dr. give that a once over. (He gestures for Gibson to get moving and then looks in at Heidi who has gone back to tending to Hannibal)
(Cut to the penguin habitat back in NY, the mood there is lightened as Ming brought word to the others that Skipper and company were on their way home. Marlene has even stopped fretting as much but still manages to probe Ming for more information every now and again. Kitsune arrives shortly after the zoo's closing to resume instructing Ming as promised now that the crisis was over)
Kitsune: (As she stands at the habitat fence facing Ming) (Writes) I was surprised that you contacted me, I'd thought you found this too difficult.
Ming: I think I want to give it another try now that there's less to worry about, I may have just been overwhelmed what with everything that was being expected of me all of a sudden. (Pause) Can we start from the beginning though, you know fresh?
Kitsune: (nods and then writes) I will accommodate your request if you accommodate mine.
Ming: (Curious) Sure, what is it?
Kitsune: (Writes) The next time to wish to contact me, do it by conventional means. I'm sure any of the others would be able to help you. (Ming looks hurt for a moment) I mean no insult; it's just that hearing your voice pop up inside my own head to ask me a question creeps me out a little. (Ming smirks and then hops the fence to begin taking instruction from Kitsune.)
Chapter 22 coming soon.
Comments and suggestions are always welcome.