Chapter 2

Cover Of The Shadow

It wasn't normal or something which they could ignore. Everybody realized that something was going on. The sky was covered by the dark clouds for about two weeks, there were no sunbeams, but it wasn't the strangest. Something was wrong with the clouds, they weren't like the normal rainy or stormy clouds. Evil was lurking in them. Sometimes a lightening went through the sky, making the view like from a thriller scene. Animals weren't calm, humans worried about it. They also knew that something was wrong. Scientists tried to explain it, but none of their methods worked.

The weather wasn't like that only in New York city. Over the whole country a sense of horror was raising. People didn't want to go outside, all the streets were deserted. Everywhere even on the day it was gloomy.

But they were the only ones who knew that the scientists couldn't explain it, nobody could. Because it wasn't even anything wrong in the space, nor apocalyptic scientists' predictions, it was something more… The evil was penetrating into the world, the evil stronger than the one before. It was going out from its shakedown… from the roots of the evil. The shadow was covering the sky and waiting for a good moment to attack…

It was a cold evening and it started to rain and also storm. The lightnings were louder than the ones on the storms before. Penguins and Katherine were sitting in a quiet HQ, Kowalski was playing chess with Private and Rico was brushing his doll's hair. Skipper and Katherine were sitting far from them at the table. Katherine was a penguin with the golden-brown hair pulled back into a high ponytail with a black bow. She raised her golden eyes with the dense eyelashes from a piece of paper which was lying on the table.

"Why we?" Katherine asked.

"I have no idea. But you know that it must be checked" Skipper said, they were bending over a letter lying on the table.

"I'll go Skipper"

"No way, Katherine, you should stay with them…"

"Skipper, just look where this mission is" Katherine said. She was right, the military wanted one of them to join a world's mission, probably the most important mission which has ever taken place. It was obvious that sooner or later it'll happen. They just couldn't ignore the shadow.

"Katherine, how are you going to tell them? I can't let you go there alone, Denmark always will be the most dangerous place" Skipper said and pointed at Kowalski, Private and Rico, they didn't suspect anything. She smiled.

"But you're with them and they're safe. This is this, what makes me strong. Just don't worry about me"

"You can't ask me, us, for it because you know we will worry, but… please think about it"

"I made a decision. It's on my plan, we'll check the most suspicious places and then take an action"

"So, is it including Blowhole?"

"I think so. Xin-Jin's military is the best from the all ones, you don't have to worry" she looked again at the three penguins "We must talk to them, now"

"What about Private?"

"It will be better if he doesn't know it. I'll try to come back quickly and he'll not notice it. Don't make him more worrying, the actual situation is enough"

They stood up from the table. Kowalski and Private almost finished the game. Rico was looking with excited at their last moves.

"Oh, I almost win!" Kowalski said when Private moved his Knight and won.

"Checkmate, Kowalski" Private said. Skipper, Katherine and Rico applauded.

"Well, congratulations, Private" Kowalski said.

"Kowalski, Rico, can we talk with you?"

"Oh, of course" Kowalski said and stood up.

"What about me?" Private asked with a hope.

"Go sleep, it's late"

"Oh, ok…" Private said and walked a little resentful to his bunk. Skipper and Katherine went to Kowalski's lab, Kowalski and Rico followed them. They stood around a table, on which Skipper laid the letter.

"What's this?" Kowalski asked.

"Read it"

Kowalski took the letter and started reading, his face was changing by every word on that piece of paper. When he finished reading he slowly put the letter back on the table and looked at Skipper and Katherine with the fear on his face.

"You aren't going to leave us, are you?" he asked.

"Kowalski… I have to go" Katherine said.

"No, you can't go alone. What about you, Skipper? Are you going too?"

"No, he isn't" Katherine said before Skipper could answer.

"Ok, to make sure, you'll be back after checking Denmark?"

"I promise"

"What if you'll… not return? Katherine, it's too dangerous"

"And what do you suggest? Of course it's in Denmark, but don't forget, that I and Skipper are ones of the best soldiers from Xin-Jin's military, he trusts us" Katherine said a little louder. They tried to be quieter to don't wake up Private. But he didn't give up as easily. Private slowly and silently leaned against the door to hear the conversation.

"So, when are you leaving?" Kowalski asked.

"It would be better if I leave soon, maybe tomorrow"

"Be careful, please"

"I can't promise it to you, I don't want to lie to you…"

"What about Private?"

"I'm not going to tell him, it'll be better"

"Okay. What's the military's plan?"

"Well, they didn't want to tell much if someone would catch this letter, but there will be few teams. Each of the teams will go on a designated night to Denmark. But I don't know how, it's classified for now" Katherine said.

"But if it's a secret mission, why so many teams are going?" Skipper asked.

"Skipper, we both know that only half or even less of the teams will stay alive"

Private heard sigh and their steps, he didn't want to listen to it any longer, he ran to his bunk and lay on a stomach with a face in his flippers. They went out of the lab to a little dark HQ, the storm already ended and there was the worrying silence. Rico spat out few candles and laid them on the table. They saw Private in his bunk, Katherine and Skipper walked to him.

"Private, are you ok?" she asked in a soft voice. Private raised his head from his flippers with the tears. They knew that he must have heard their conversation. Private looked at her and Skipper with the pleading eyes. Katherine sat on the edge of his bunk and stroked his head.

"Y-you're leaving, a-aren't you?" he said.

"I have to"

"Skippah, don't let her, please" Private said.

"Private… I-I can't do anything…" Skipper said.

"I must go, think about the mysterious weather, what if it's Blowhole? I know you want to end this darkness hours too" Katherine said and smiled to him "Before I leave, I want to see your smile"

Private finally calmed down and smiled back.

"You have the same smile as your mother, goodnight" Katherine said and gave Skipper the well-known look. She stood up and Skipper went to Private.

Katherine went out of the HQ, the sky didn't change, it was still dark, gloomy and with the shadowy clouds, even the moonlight couldn't get through the cover of the darkness. She took the deep breath, the air wasn't fresh like always after the storms and rains. She looked up at the scary night.

"What's happening with the world?" she asked herself, she had to go as soon as she could, and waiting will not change anything. Skipper went out of the HQ and stood next to her.

"You're leaving now, aren't you?" he asked. Katherine nodded and sighed.

"Is he alright?"

"Yes, I calmed him down, he's with Kowalski and Rico now"

"I miss her, Skipper" she said looking at the black sky.

"Me too, we all. Karen would know what to do now" Skipper said. Karen was Katherine's sister and Private's mother, she died when Private was one day after his hatch. She saved him from Blowhole, Skipper and Katherine were too late to save her. (story: Truth Of The Unforgotten Past). Then Kowalski and Rico went out of the HQ.

"You're going now, right?" Kowalski asked. Katherine nodded.

"Bye bye" Rico said sadly, she hugged him and Rico went with Skipper to the HQ to give Kowalski and Katherine privacy.

"Be careful, if it's Blowhole's next evil plan, it'll be deathly"

"I will Kowalski" she nodded, Kowalski hugged her. (They're a couple from story: True Feelings ;)).

"Goodbye, Kowalski and promise you'll not do something dangerous" she said and smiled to him, Kowalski sadly smiled back and nodded. Skipper, Rico and Private went back outside "I love you all"

"We love you too" Private said and they hugged for the last time, then Katherine turned and jumped out of the penguins' habitat.

"Don't you go to bid farewell with Marlene?"

"Um, no. Don't initiate her into it" Katherine said.

"What should we tell her if she'll ask about you?"

"You'll find something, but I think that she'll not, in this weather no one want to leave the habitats. Well, goodbye and also good luck boys" Katherine said looking at their sad faces. She sighed "Hey.. don't think about it as a farewell, just say… goodnight" she said, they didn't want to worry her, so they tried to smile "Take care, boys" Katherine said and went along the Central Park Zoo. After few seconds she disappeared in the darkness.

"Will she be alright?" Private asked getting the panic again.

"Hopefully, young Private" Skipper said and put his flipper on young penguin's shoulder, they looked at the place where Katherine disappeared.

"What if… if something will go wrong?" Private was still worrying.

"Just don't even think about it now" Skipper said.

"Why can't we go too?" Kowalski asked.

"It's not such a simple missions which we have every day. For a kind of those missions you need the military experience and it's really dangerous. I would never have expose you"

"… Alright"

"I think I will not sleep this night" Private said.

"Private, if there is anything which we can do for Katherine, I'm sure that it is keeping calm, it's hard for all of us but we must do it for her, ok?" Kowalski said. Private nodded and turned to Skipper.

"You know those missions Skippah, do you really think it'll be ok?"

"Private, how many times we have to repeat it. Of course…" Skipper said, but he stopped, did they really have to lie to him? He looked at Private's blue eyes "Ok, I don't know… We can expect everything"

"I-I… I don't want to think about it…" Private said and looked down.

"Come on Private, as long as you're with us, everything is fine" Skipper said and hugged Private, Kowalski and Rico joined them "Let's go, it's getting darker… if it's even possible"

But it looked that there couldn't be darker, even the lanterns in the zoo didn't switch on. And since the days got like that, they haven't heard Julian's always loud music. They didn't even visit other habitats, it was too risky and the zookeepers were more carefully. What the heck was wrong? Penguins went to the HQ, staying outside was also unpleasant.

They went to their bunks. Private was lying on the back, but he couldn't fall asleep… just like the others. Tomorrow they'll probably get some news from the military about the first team. They could only have a hope, that everything will be fine. Rico blew out the candles and HQ fell into the darkness…

"Everything will be okay" Private repeated to himself.

What do you think? If you have any questions just ask.

I know that the beginning could be boring, but it'll be getting more and more exciting (at least I hope so) ;D

(and to peoples who read my other stories: Katherine used to be an otter, but I changed her into a penguin!)

Review please!