The sun was beginning to set in the west and as night time approaches, we were preparing to begin our journey to Central Park Zoo and start investigating the disappearances. But before we even left, we were given classified photos and descriptions detailing each missing zoo resident in order to know their background better. We started packing in food supplies for the trip, just in case we get hungry. For our travel transportation, we sport our jetpack backpacks for our journey to the zoo. We're also armed with a multitude of weapons like the freeze ray so we can protect ourselves from enemies, and in case those weapons are destroyed, our excellent fighting abilities and combat skills is an advantage. We doubled checked everything we needed before heading out, and at exactly 1800 hours (that's 6:00 P.M.), we left and flew off to Central Park Zoo. Our journey took us about an hour to reach the place and when we arrived at the entrance of the site, we were alarmed at its appearance. The once hard and concrete structures of the habitat and buildings were now worn out and were starting to fall apart. The slight breeze caused the dead leaves to lazily skip along the quiet, unforgiving ground, hardly making a sound; the old unused creaking doors added an eerie vibe to the surrounding. A warm fog was beginning to descend, hiding almost everything in sight, and silence filled the place as there was not a single soul within plain sight. These and more indescribable shocking scenes are now remnants of the once majestic zoo. In other words, it was abandoned and avoided.
While entering through the clock tower entrance, we noticed a sign board displayed near the entrance. Sergeant Leon then took out our flashlights and as we approached to read the displayed information, we were completely alarmed to find out that the zoo is scheduled for a demolition exactly one month later, from today. We quickly realized there was no time to waste and we only had one to month to gather as much evidence and information as possible before the contractors come and destroy what's left of the zoo, so that they can replace it and build a business centre instead. Moments after we reached the empty crossroads of the zoo, we decided it was better to split up in order to cover more ground. As agreed, I went to the penguin's lair while Leon examined the otter's habitat.
To my dismay, the fishbowl entrance leading to the lair was sealed up tight, so as to keep off any unauthorized personnel, and as a penguin myself, I have a close affinity with Skipper and his team. Because like them, I also have a secret entrance back home in the Bronx Zoo, the only difference is that my secret entrance is located underwater, which makes it even harder for individuals, like cats who hate water, have access to my home. After minutes of struggling to open their fishbowl entrance, I decided to use a satchel charge and place it near the fishbowl structure. I was careful to use only a small detonating device such as the satchel and not a hand grenade so as not to completely destroy their home. I immediately hid before the satchel had exploded, and it was not a pretty sight to see someone like me blow up the penguin's entrance just like that. But I had no choice, I just had to blow up their entrance to finish my mission and if I want to give them justice, then I had to do it in order to find clues and really understand what happened to them.
I went down the hatch using the ladder provided, and what I saw when my feet touched the cold hard ground was complete and total darkness, no light had penetrated each of the dark corners of the room, it's as if the sun had set and never came back. The only thing that guided me as I made my way around the HQ was my flashlight, without it I wouldn't be able to see the lighted path. The first thing that I searched for after entering was the penguin's individual bunk, I started from the top bunk down to the lowest bunk; I checked their beds especially under their pillows, and I know for a fact from experience that the best kept secrets are almost always hidden under the pillow. I kept sneezing while searching because of the cobwebs and dust particles that almost clogged my nostrils. Unfortunately for me, I found nothing that was linked to their disappearances, however, when I checked under the pillow of Skipper's bunk, I found a small picture of an otter, she was pretty though, but not my type of girl. I found out that her name is Marlene the Otter; she lives nearby in the otter habitat, one of the places my partner Leon is currently at, and she is also one of missing residents. After checking the bunks, I unsuccessfully searched the remaining places only to find out that there was no clue, nada, zilch. I was about to declare this mission as failed when I stumbled upon a videotape, I played the device on the penguin's DVD player. The video then showed Skipper talking. From his expression, I can tell that he was very serious, as if about to warn the viewer of the impending danger that I'm about to face. Skipper had said:
"Hello this is Skipper, as you all know my teammates including the rest of the zoo animals had been brainwashed by Dr. Blowhole, he's using not only the Central Park Zoo animals, but any animal within his reach, so as to rebel against the humans and take them out, so he can take over the world and become Supreme Leader. Fortunately for me I escaped and avoided being caught, I was outnumbered by my opponents. So whoever watches this tape, I beg of you, please save the world, you may be the only one who can stop Blowhole in his tracks. I'm gonna end this conversation quickly because I'm being hunted by the animals. This is Skipper, over and out."
And just like that, the video ends. And after hearing Skipper's last message, I feel like I was revived. For a second there, I almost lost hope when I found no clue linked to the disappearances but when I watched the tape, It felt like I was given encouragement through Skipper's words and I realized that giving up is never an option that I should use. I was given a mission to save the world from the plans of the evil Dr. Blowhole. But, just as I was celebrating my newfound discovery, a scream echoed from outside of the HQ, I realized that the scream was coming from my companion Leon and I immediately radioed him using the walkie talkie. But alas, there was no response from him, so I quickly slid out of the HQ in order to help him; but though wherever I searched, he was gone. I then came near a bench and found his flashlight and walkie talkie lying on the ground. Someone or something had kidnapped him, just like it did with all its residents.
Then my senses told me that whatever kidnapped Leon is still here and now it's after me, so I came prepared for battle. Unfortunately for me, the figure was moving too fast, and I can only catch a glimpse of its shadow. No matter how hard I try to fight it, the figure just kept coming. It was about pounce me behind my back, but before it could succeed, I quickly sensed it was behind me and I waited for the right moment to use the roundhouse kick to send it flying against the wall. Finally the unknown figure had been defeated and I picked up the flashlight to reveal who my attacker was, but again the figure stayed out of sight. At first I thought it wanted another round of butt kicking, so I challenged it to show its face, then the figure stepped out of the darkness, and to my surprise, the figure was none other than Skipper himself. I was ecstatic and the same time confused to see Skipper still alive. I wanted to ask him so many questions, but that all went away when I told him don't mean any harm, I just wan't to talk. He then approached me and covered my beak to prevent me speaking; legally I complied with his action as he led me to an underground sewer where he has been living since Dr. Blowhole kidnapped all of his friends. I then apologized to Skipper for roundhouse kick earlier; he goes on to say it's alright with him as I was just trying to defend myself.
To pass the time and to state my business why I came to the zoo in the first place, I told him that me and my partner Leon, who disappeared earlier, had been sent here to investigate your disappearances. It was then that he told me, that he tried to save Leon earlier but failed and he thought that I was the one responsible for kidnapping him, which explains why he tried to attack me earlier. I then ask him about the video earlier, he then reveals that Dr. Blowhole is not the only cause of these attacks. He has more associates or should I say evil friends helping him to carry out his evil plan, they are actually scattered around the world, planning to hypnotize every animal in the world. And for the first time, he finally admits that Dr. Blowhole has defeated him and without his team to assist him anymore, he's powerless. But I don't agree on what he just said and I convinced him that it's not over. As long as I am here were not giving up and I plan to team up with Skipper to save the world. I sure said profound words to Skipper, after that heartfelt speech I just did, he then gave me smile on his face, a smile that was full of hope. Now filled with hope and the determination save the world, Skipper finally agrees to let me help him save the world. He then tells me that before we can save the world, there must be reinforcements; we must first save all of his teammates that were brainwashed by Dr. Blowhole. Skipper shows me a map of the world and points out with his flipper that one of his teammates, Private, has been assigned in Japan by Dr. Blowhole to guard a top-secret project to rule the world. But before we leave, I disappointingly told him that almost the gadgets that I brought is with the kidnapped Leon, and the only gadgets in my flipper right now are the smoke bomb, hand grenade, and the jetpack backpack which I used earlier. As usual as he was always prepared, he told me not to worry, as he had his own stash of gadgets that he kept, just in case of an emergency. After grabbing all the necessary gadgets and the food that we need, we were ready to set sail half way across the world.
With time running out fast and the zoo about to be demolished next month, we had to act fast or face the consequences. We left the abandoned Central Park Zoo and flew off in the air with our jetpack backpacks to the land of the rising sun, Japan. It's a trip with the promise of mystery, ruthless villains, danger and hazards, and a journey that will take us on globe-trotting escapade around the world. The adventure has only begun.
Rundown of what happens in this chapter:
1. Corporal Douglas leaves the Bronx Zoo together with Sergeant Leon and travels to the deserted Central Park Zoo.
2. They arrive at the zoo and split up in order to cover up more ground
3. Douglas goes to the penguins former lair while Leon is sent to the otter's habitat
4. Douglas find a videotape and plays it, revealing a message
5. A cry is heard from the otter's habitat and Leon unexpectedly disappears
6. Douglas is ambushed by an unknown figure
7. A fight ensues between Douglas and the unknown figure
8. The figure reveals himself to be Skipper who is still alive
9. Skipper reveals Dr. Blowholes plan to Douglas
10. Douglas and Skipper leave the Central Park Zoo and travel to Japan to save the other zoo animals from the evil Dr. Blowhole
Hope you had fun reading, if you have any suggestions to make it interesting, just write them in the review. :)