Skipper's POV:

It's been three months since Rico was killed. I was ready to lock Kowalski up and throw away the key, but Private had other ideas.

Today the new recruits are coming. I hear a knock at the door. They're here.

I open the door too find two penguins- one a little shorter then Rico and the other a little taller then myself.

The tall one's name is Gabriel, and the shorter one is William. I introduce them to my men.

"This is Private," I say. "He's my second in command and official captain of special operations."

William, who doesn't talk much, nods and smiles at Private. Gabriel shakes his flipper.

Then we turn to Kowalski, who is currently staring into blank space with his tongue hanging out of his mouth.

"This is Kowalski." I say. "He is a world class psychopath and loves to vomit up handy objects. Don't believe me? Rico, candy!"

Kowalski vomits up a bag of candy, then swallows it. William's eyes turn wide, while Gabriel seems a tad disgusted.

Yep. I switched Rico's dead brain with Kowalski's live one, which died in Rico's body. Don't ask how or why Rico's brain was still alive, but we have Rico back, and that's all I care about.

Then I see Gabriel eying Kowalski's old inventions, which are now squished into one corner. I don't know what half of them do, and I'd rather not have another head or get shrunk.

"How good are you with a notepad, Gabe?" I ask.

"I can draw a pretty fine rabbit and do some long division." Gabriel says.

I hand him Kowalski's old notepad. There's still a faded doodle of a penguin on it, possibly of Kowalski himself, though it looks more like Rico. I can't help but wondering what went through his sick mind as he drew this. Was he plotting the murder right there on the page? If had been quicker to figure it out, could I have saved lives? I don't know.

And Gabe is looking at his new notepad and I give him a crayon. And he starts drawing.

As for William, I notice him talking with Private. He seems like the caring type, perfect for Medic.

Whether Kowalski murdered Rico or not, whether it was me or Private or someone else who was killed, no matter how you look at it, the team will go on.

Fin

***

Yay, I'm done! I hope the ending was fulfilling. I felt it was a little strange that the put Rico's brain in Kowalski's body, but that's probably just me.

Till next time,

~Lukos