Just as Skipper slowly places his left foot forward in front of the other, his sensitive ears picked up a small but faint voice echoing in the hallway around him.
The penguin looks over his shoulders and glanced at his mysterious caller. But to his disadvantage, Skipper could not see who this was and it was thus that he positioned himself in a fighting stance, ready to take on his foe and forcing this encounter to end up in a rather hopeless predicament.
The leader penguin really didn't want to know who this was or its intentions, so he challenged his foe to draw himself out before things really start to turn ugly.
"I don't know who or what you are, but whoever you are, you better show yourself before I'm forced to launch my penguin moves on you, capiche" said Skipper, trying to warn his foe.
"Stand down soldier, it's just me your ol' friend Buck" said the penguin as he slowly limps toward Skipper. The penguin gives a sigh of relief to see a familiar face in his midst, but also becomes suspicious that Buck is without his three companions.
In actuality Skipper was unaware that his companion is really a counterpart to the real Buck still joining Kowalski in action inside the elevator and still ascending to the top.
Buck Rockgut moans, groans and writhes in pain before finally collapsing to the ground unconscious.
"Buck!" said Skipper in a worried tone before sliding on his belly to aid the injured penguin.
Without haste he immediately approaches his friend and helps the injured Buck, giving him some support. Somehow he injured his leg and his right flipper during a battle but leader penguin tells him that everything will fine. For sure, much like one of his missing soldiers, Skipper was against the idea of mushy stuff; he resisted the image of letting Buck rest under his flipper and slipping his wing across the injured penguin pulling in close to him.
But he soon realized that to defeat Blowhole he would need all the help he can, gather any ally he could find and form a team, temporarily of course. That is until he can find his other three teammates—Private, Rico and Kowalski. Besides if he left Buck on the side of the hallway, it would violate the penguin code, which is ignoring attention to an injured soldier.
"Ow, ow, I'll be fine soldier, don't worry 'bout me, I have been through this kind of situation before, now let go of me soldier, I can walk on my own" said Buck, still struggling to free himself from Skipper's tight grasp.
But Skipper retaliated towards Buck's harsh words and insists on helping him on their brief travel on foot.
"No can do Buck, you know your injured and you need medical help, of course Kowalski is still missing, but still it's my job to keep you safe from danger. Besides if something else happens to you, I'd be held responsible, we go together no matter what." said Skipper
Having no other choice and without any time to waste, Buck legally complies with the leader penguin's words and placed himself under Skipper's care. Though it wasn't an easy task because the penguin kept slumping on the floor over and over again, yet he tried his best to overcome the unbearable pain and to get back on up on his feet.
As they reached the side of the corridor, Skipper slowly took out a deep breath before confronting the veteran penguin the whereabouts of his three missing companions. He was already becoming anxious to get a response from his friend.
"Buck I might have to ask you a very important question, how did you end being alone, and what happened to Stacy, Becky and Leonard" said Skipper in a calming tone, hopeful to find out what happened to them.
"Err, Umm, I was trying to protect them when suddenly someone or something knocked me out unconscious, which explains the bruises on my body. When I woke up, I realized that they were gone and I was left alone in the dust" explained Buck
"Alright I believe you, for now. But I'll keep an eye out on you" said Skipper
"Oh you won't be keeping an eye once I'm through with you ha-ha" whispered Buck to himself
"What was that?" asked Skipper. He looked over his shoulders, as if hearing a glimpse of what Buck just said,
"Err, umm, nothing, nothing at all" replied Buck
Without any further ado the two birds continued on towards the emanating light flashing before their eyes. They kept going until they reached a room that said "TOP SECRET ROOM FOR ONLY AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL. ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK."
One of the penguins disadvantage is that they could not read, fortunately for them the nuclear symbol was clear enough to tell them that the room is full of danger. They opened the door and found themselves walking down a flight of stairs to a darkened room.
"Hey there's no light down here, could you find help me find a light switch Buck" pleaded Skipper. "Buck? Buck where are you?"
But alas there was no response from Buck; it's as if he disappeared from sight.
The silent vibe plus the dimness filling the whole room meant that Skipper was in for an ambush of his life.
"This is almost never a good sign" said Skipper as he positions himself into his fighting stance.
The impostor Buck pulls a light switch that light up the whole room, and what Skipper first notices is that he already surrounded by lobster warriors.
Earning his raging paranoia reputation Skipper had already expected these lobsters to appear right before his eyes.
"Well well well look what we have here, lobster warriors. I knew Dr. Blowhole would set this trap. Get ready for an ambush Buck, they've surrounded us"
"Correction they've surrounded you, not me Skipper" replied the Impostor Buck
"What are you talking about Buck?" said Skipper before turning to Buck who was crossing his flippers. Skipper's gasped and his eyes widened. The devious grin was all it took for Skipper to figure out that there was a traitor in his midst.
"That smug grin, don't tell me you're in cahoots with these lobsters"
It was the one thing Skipper didn't expect to happen to him, his own idol Buck Rockgut whom he thought was on the side of justice is actually working undercover for Dr. Blowhole. He just needed to gain Skipper's trust. At least that's what Skipper thinks.
The scene ends with Skipper in his fighting stance ready to fight off his foes including the traitor Buck.
"This is the last stand" said Skipper as he jumps in mid-air and thus ending the scene.
Meanwhile the real Buck is still riding an elevator together with Kowalski. He gives a final piece of advice before they reach the top.
"Those ninjas are very tricky, we don't know when they will come, so always be on your guard soldier" warned Buck
"I'll remember to keep that in mind, and scientifically speaking ninjas are known for having precise, accurate and stealthy movements. The main functions of a ninja include espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat in certain situations. Those guys we fought earlier were no joke." said Kowalski, showing off his intelligence to a rather amused penguin.
"Hmm, impressive" said Buck before giving Kowalski a smack on the head using his flipper.
"Ow, what was that for?" remarked Kowalski, not being able to comprehend the reason why Buck had tried to smack him in the head.
He stares Kowalski right in the eye while giving a stern look telling him that's exactly the kind of attitude that could have killed him earlier, if it hadn't been for Buck who warned him.
"Snap out of it soldier, you think this is some kind of a talk show? Well you're wrong. We're in a battle here, and the rule says its standard procedure to turn off your think melon while in battle, got it soldier?" said Buck and he stares motionless at the penguin, aiming to get a response from the strategist.
"Err, umm, sorry 'bout that, it's just that I can't resist not having to voice my opinions" clamoured Kowalski, annoyed the fact that Buck doesn't want him to speak.
"Opinions? More like facts soldier, don't play coy with me" said Buck in a calm voice.
He then explains to Kowalski the reason why he opposes that kind of attitude, as if to make him understand better.
"Listen, I know you're smart I get that and you want to voice out what you know. But what if we were actually under attack, would you still use you intelligence against your opponent? And if so how effective is it? Is it still worth using it? Think about that soldier"
Kowalski stares blankly into space and ponders for awhile without saying a word. He knew that Buck was right all long. There was no way he could use his intelligence to beat his opponents, he knew he had to make a tough choice sooner or later, it was then this realization came to him. "I concur Buck, I realized now that everything has its place and time. And in this case, we apply more of our survival instincts and less of vocal instincts, am I right?" asked Kowalski
"Affirmative, you're catching on fast soldier, now come on, let's take on that puffin" said Buck
At last they arrive to the top and the duo then dash off through the darkened hallway. They open several doors hoping to find an exit, Kowalski opens the last door and without realizing they had entered in an Anechoic Chamber. What they don't realize is that it is actually a trap set up by Hans the Puffin to lure Kowalski and Buck to their doom. He sends Private to finish off the job.
"What is this room, enlighten me soldier, where are we?" asked Buck to Kowalski, giving him permission to explain their current location.
"Apparently our current location leads us to an Anechoic Chamber" replied Kowalski
"Anechoic what?"
"Anechoic Chamber, it is a room designed to stop reflections of either sound or electromagnetic waves. They are also insulated from exterior sources of noise. The combination of both these aspects means that they simulate a quiet open-space of infinite dimension, which is useful when exterior influences would otherwise give false results" said Kowalski, giving a detailed description of the room.
"Whoa, whoa soldier, when I said explain I didn't mean that. Now could you explain it in a way that I could understand it" said Buck, not being able to comprehend what the strategist had said
Kowalski let out a sigh before explaining it in a simpler manner.
"It's a room designed to block sounds and electromagnetic waves, which means no sound nor the use of magnet can ever penetrate this room" said Kowalski
"Did I forget to mention the longer we stay here, the more radiation it will reflect on our bodies" said Kowalski
"Nice, now that's better soldier, now come on, let's get out here before something else happens"
Few moments later, Private arrives at the entrance of door. Kowalski sees Private and becomes elated when he sees him.
"Private is that you, I-I can't believe this, Its really you, now come on let's get out of here and find Skipper and Rico" said Kowalki tugging Private's flipper.
"No you won't Kowalski, you won't be going anywhere because both of you will be staying here until you live no more" said Private in a hypnotized tone.
"What, Private how could you say that. What happened to the once sweet and innocent penguin that I used to know" said Kowalski as his regular voice turns into a squeamish tone.
"No that part of me is gone, I'm a new Private now and there's nothing you can do to change that"
Buck tells Kowalski that Private is not himself at all because of the hypnotic bracelet attached to his feet, controlling the young penguin's actions. But Kowalski is too distracted to listen because he is deeply hurt by the harsh words uttered by Private.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back" said Private as he grabs Kowalski and hurls him to the side of the wall. Private slams and locks the door behind trapping Kowalski and Buck inside.
Kowalski slams his face into the transparent glass window pleading Private to let them out of the Anechoic Chamber. However the youngest penguin refuses to do so.
"Private I know you're in there, you can fight and free yourself from Dr. Blowhole's control, I know you're strong, please fight it" pleaded Kowalski, hoping Private would change his mind. To his dismay, the Anechoic Chamber was sound-proof and Kowalski's efforts to help Private were futile.
"All Hail Dr. Blowhole" said Private, chanting the evil dolphin's name then leaves.
"We need to get out of here fast, we don't have much time' said Buck
"Why Private why" said Kowalski slamming the walls with his flipper, still not getting over the fact about what Private had said earlier.
"Kowalski this is no time for moping, we need a plan"
"Sorry to tell you this Buck but the walls are made of hardened steel and the only way we can get out of here alive is if someone uses some sort of laser to get us out of here" replied Kowalski
"Then do something about it soldier, you're the smart one" said Buck
"Oh what's the use, why should I do something when one of my teammates left me here; it's not worth living anymore" said Kowalski, having lost the will to use his brain and to attempt escape.
In the meantime Dr. Blowhole contacted Hans and asks him about the escaped prisoners including Skipper and company. He rejected the idea that Skipper should have already been exterminated back in the sewers so that he can no longer roam around the secret underground lair still fighting to get his friends back.
"Hans, I've been informed that the prisoners have escaped, and what's worse is that my flightless foe is still alive. I've given you direct orders to exterminate them and yet you failed me" said Dr. Blowhole through a live video feed.
"Don't worry sire, I've already sent Darla and Private to take care of that, Skipper will never know what hit him" scoffs Hans the Puffin
"Well for your sake I hope so, do whatever you can to destroy that peng-u-in. Blowhole, over and out" said Blowhole menacingly then signs off from a live video feed.
The last scene features Douglas piloting the robot that exploded earlier and remodelling it, he's about ready to infiltrate the secret underground lair. This penguin may be the only hope left for Skipper and the others.
"Alright I'm ready for some action, wait for me Skipper, I'm coming to help you, this battle has just begun"
To be continued...