A/N: Welcome to what I like to call Year 3. Private is in 8th grade, Skipper and Kowalski are in 11th, and Rico's in 12th. TW- subjects will get somewhat darker in this part of the story. This chapter will mention pet death briefly.
Rex almost didn't let Rico come back to New York for his final year of high school. He knew his son was planning to stay out there and probably go to engineering school, but a lot of things were starting to confuse Rex.
"So you're not going to tell me where the money you get comes from?" Rex had asked his daughter yet again after she mentioned she had funds to go to college.
"Someone owed me from an incident, I don't want to go into detail." Rikki repeated. "The guy is all for me going to college."
"A guy with money? Rikki, if you have a boyfriend-"
"No, Dad, he's not my boyfriend."
"I feel like you two are keeping something from me that I should know as your father." Rex said. "What about you, Rico? You say you have a part time job and it pays enough. What is it? The more secretive you two are, the more I worry you've gotten yourselves wrapped up in a gang. It's not a drug thing is it?"
"No, Dad, no drugs." Rico replied. "No gang."
"I don't know if I want to let you go back if you don't tell me what's going on." Rex rose a brow and crossed his arms. "All I know is you've been in more fights than ever, Rico, and you and your friends are doing something you can't talk about. And Rikki was consistently unwell last year then suddenly magically fine."
"Hormones are wacky." Rikki said.
"You can't blame hormones for everything."
"Well I'm blaming them for this."
"Rikki, you haven't used that excuse since you were sixteen."
"I also haven't talked about my body unless I wasn't feeling good."
"Point taken, but I'm very concerned and what was with needing Rico's passport and medical records a couple years ago?"
"The school needed it in case they planned out of country trips."
"Out of country from New York to where? Canada?"
"I mean there's the apartment program and the newer inter school program so maybe Canada or overseas like Private, Mason, Hans, the kid from Private's class I can't remember the name of, the list goes on. And sometimes colleges invite you out to observe the school, so he signed up in case he wanted to do that and he got to go to Africa."
"I-I still have doubts." Rex sighed. "And I don't believe that for a second."
"Why?" Rico asked.
"You've never expressed an interest in going to college outside of the country."
"Mind change." Rico said.
"Minds do change, but not yours that quickly. I even asked then, remember? You said it was a school thing and later you said you wanted to work with machines. You can go to engineering school, but all the way in Africa? I don't remember hearing of any tech schools in Africa, unless there's a really good one I just never bothered to research it. Even if there is, it would cost more than I can even think of to take you there, pay for entrance, dorms, and meals, all your school supplies, and trips back and forth. How did Private's parents approve of a twelve year old going to-? Actually, you never specified where in Africa you were going..."
Rico stayed silent.
"Dad, we don't have to say everything as adults, do we?" Rikki asked.
"First off, you turned eighteen before you graduated." Rex said. "Second, Rico was sixteen when he went and he's going to be eighteen in October. He's still a minor and huge decisions like flying across the world should be approved by a parental unit."
"'Walski didn't." Rico muttered.
"No. You can't play that card." Rex said sternly. "Ralph is an abuser and a deplorable excuse for a human being. I understand why Kowalski wouldn't tell him anything. I've been nothing but giving with you two. I love you and I'm just concerned, okay?"
"We know." Rikki said. "Skipper's parents and Private's dad approved the trip."
"And his mom?"
"She...um...wasn't told exactly where he was going."
"I'm not the only parent being lied to? Don't put Ralph into it, he doesn't count."
"She knows a little about what he does, but she would have freaked out-" Rikki clamped her mouth shut.
"His parent who loves him and has concern for him, no matter how overbearing she may be, was lied to so she wouldn't be worried about him." Rex stated. "And what do you mean by 'what he does'?"
"Uh-I-wasn't-uh...Rico!" Rikki squeaked.
Rico didn't know what to say.
"I guess that's it." Rex said, his face and voice calm.
"W-what's it?" Rikki asked nervously.
"Dad?" Rico asked.
"You're not going back to New York." Rex said. He fought the guilt that crept up as his son's face turned into shock.
"What?! Why? Why punish him?" Rikki demeaned.
"For continuing to lie and be secretive. You can't blame me for feeling like there's something or someone trying to take my child from me. I'm not losing either of you and if this is the way I can assure Rico's safety, then so be it."
"But, he'll be eighteen soon and-"
"Then until he's graduated high school, he stays here." Rex said.
"Need friends." Rico said.
"I'm concerned about their secret keeping too. I'll be talking to Jeffery about this, I suppose he doesn't know."
"No."
Rex left the two of them on the couch as he went out to the garden.
"Rico, this is bad." Rikki said.
"Team..."
"I know. What do we do?"
"Skipper." Rico got out his phone and texted the team.
Rex's concern had definitely changed Jeffery's view. Jeffery knew his cousins were keeping something and hadn't wanted to butt in, but after hearing what Rex had to say he was starting to be a bit more concerned.
Skipper's dad got involved, but not even George could assuage Rex's concerns since not everything could be told. Private's mother had inadvertently gotten involved when she overheard her son talking on the phone. His parents were currently arguing about the safety of their nearly fourteen year old son.
Rex felt bad, he hadn't meant to start a fight. He just wanted answers. And now so did Candace and Jeffery.
It took almost a month until suddenly the conversations had stopped. Rex was extremely confused until Rico handed him his cellphone.
"H-hello?" Rex said tentatively.
"Hi there, are you Rex Blue?" A man's voice asked.
"Yes? Are you this guy who my daughter is being mysterious about?"
The man laughed. "I suppose, though I'm not really mysterious to be honest with you. My name is Johnny Bone, you can call me Johnny. I've called at the request of my boss to fix this mess that I created."
"You created? Huh?"
"You see, Mr. Blue, I work for a very top secret government agency that your son and his three friends accidentally found themselves in the middle of. I wasn't being too careful and instead of giving them non-disclosure papers to sign, I invited them to work for me. I work with Skipper's father, and I knew Mr. Davis. I had a bit more of a bias since I knew them and knew they had kids. Kowalski proved himself smart enough and Rico tough enough."
"They're so young though, wasn't the kid twelve?"
"Right, that was entirely on me." Johnny said. "We have a program designed for teens and I didn't want to lose Private's interest, so I had him on. My boss wasn't too happy about that."
"Why does my daughter know and get money?"
"She and young Kenny got involved in a skirmish of sorts, completely by accident, and your son and his friends rescued them. I helped recover and take them home. The money is compensation for their troubles."
"What kind of skirmish? What do you mean troubles?"
Johnny sighed. "Your daughter really doesn't want to worry-"
"I am. I'm completely worried. What happened to her? Did someone attack her? Why was Kenny there? Was she violated?"
"No, she was kidnapped and Kenny was taken because he ran after her thinking she was in trouble."
"My daughter got kidnapped and you made her keep it from me?!" Rex looked at his shamed kids in shock.
"It wasn't forced. They were pretty shaken up and quiet on the way back to the apartments, I didn't say much but apologize that they were dragged into this."
"Rikki, did you make the choice not to tell me about being kidnapped?" Rex asked, his voice full of hurt.
"Kowalski said not to." Rikki said in a small voice. "I-I agreed."
Rex let out a puff of air.
"Rex?" Johnny said. "For what it's worth, it was an isolated incident and I think they should have told you."
"You do?"
"Yes. Something big happened to your child and you didn't know."
"You don't have kids, do you?"
"No."
"You ever been married?"
"No, why?"
"You probably already know this, but my children are all I have left of my late wife. I lost her when the kids were three and four, I had to identify her body, I made sure they made her look nice for the wake, I buried her, and I tried my best to raise my children for fourteen years. Not only should they have told me, you should have made sure to come up with something that didn't cause me to be painfully aware of the fact that I could lose one or both of my children, a fact that has never left my mind. I worried every day that something would take them from me, especially when they flew out to New York. Maybe I put it in the back of my mind, but it never disappeared." The hurt in his voice had increased with every sentence, his kids were avoiding looking at him.
"I-"
"I don't know if I would have let them back after the kidnapping. I don't know because I wasn't told. I wasn't given the opportunity to think about what was going on because I was in the dark. I was a widowed father in the dark about something dangerous happening to my children. I want to not only know everything that's happened, I want to know why I should send Rico back out there? Why shouldn't I try to find a school for him closer to home?"
"Do you have a public school near you?" Johnny asked.
"There is, but there's no way I'm sending him there. Those Vesuvius twins are in the same grade as him and I'd never do anything as cruel as make him go to school with them again. So, tell me, why should Rico go back to New York?"
"We're giving the boys a house-"
"He can get out of a lease or something, right?"
"Yes, but I'm telling you this because we've decided to get them a house as a gift for capturing a very dangerous criminal. Your son was a key part in the capture and they've done a lot of work for us up to that point too."
"Rico fought a dangerous criminal? The boys went unaided?"
"Skipper alerted us through his father and we warned them that she was highly dangerous and to leave it to us, but they expressed concerns about us being too late and went ahead themselves. They made their own decisions and however reckless it was, they succeeded and they got out with minor injuries."
"So, Rico didn't hurt his back trying to help someone move furniture."
Rico laughed nervously and shook his head.
"He didn't." Johnny said. "My boss would like to speak with you."
"O-okay." Rex said. "Rico, do you know much about his boss?"
Rico shook his head.
"Hello?" A woman's voice said.
"Uh, hi? Is this 'the boss'?" Rex asked.
"Yes, my name is Sarah Kent. I wanted to let you know that I understand your concerns, especially as a single parent. My son is two years younger than Rico and has expressed every desire to be as adventurous as I've tried to reign in. Our organization is dedicated to keeping high profile criminals in jail and protecting criminals and the world."
"Something like the FBI or CIA?"
"Something like that, yes."
"Is your son wanting to join this organization or agency?"
"He is part of the organization. He and his teacher flew the boys to Africa."
"He-WHAT?!"
"Sir."
"Sorry, but what? A kid flew a plane? Wh-"
"He requested lessons for his tenth birthday, so I hired a teacher. His actual in the air lessons started when he turned fourteen. He'd been practicing for months before he flew the boys and I don't allow him to go solo until he's eighteen. His very experienced teacher was on hand to take over at a moment's notice if needed."
"Rico's allowed in the organization?"
"He is part of our program to hire teens who are interested in protecting the world. Normally I like to observe a few years before hiring, but Johnny jumped the gun."
"Would my son be in danger?"
"I'm not going to lie, yes. We're in the middle of tracking a high-profile individual who has targeted the school multiple times. He is aware of your son and his team and has made several efforts to displace them."
"Is he the one who kidnapped my daughter?"
"Yes. We think the person he sent meant to get Rocky Sorenson, Skipper's sister, but misunderstood and grabbed Rikki. I don't believe she'll be in danger."
"If he knows her, she's in danger."
"I'm not trying to convince you to send Rico back or to keep him home. I'm stating facts. Yes, there is danger. But I suggest listening to your son. He wants to protect people, he wants to help. To be good."
"He is a good kid. I made sure he is."
"Indeed. I'm afraid I must go. Whatever decision you make, do it because you think it's the right choice."
"Okay I will. Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
Rex hung up and ran his hand through his hair. He gave Rico the phone back.
"Can I have time to think about it?" Rex asked weakly.
"Yeah." Rikki answered for her brother.
They hadn't had much time to discuss it with Scooby's health problems. They made the painful decision to put him down.
They didn't have to.
Rico woke up one morning and Scooby was in his room, in the same position he'd fallen asleep in and a half eaten treat next to his face. He heard Rikki getting ready for the day and his heart sank. Scooby was diligent about being next to the bathroom door even as he got older. He would nudge Rico's door open the rest of the way. It was still only open a couple inches.
Rikki had been having a sense of foreboding all morning and she lightly put her foot out when she was done in the bathroom. A signal for Scooby to bump it or make a noise. She heard sniffling and footsteps.
"Dad." Rico called. His voice made her break down.
Rico had gotten extremely emotional and didn't want to continue talking about the rest of that day to his team, so he just said they grieved. Rikki hadn't been searching for a guide dog yet since she had a cane and she didn't want the hassle of training and being in New York. Rex hadn't spoken much about the phone call or the arguments until later in July.
The boys were told they were cleared to fly to Private's, still being unsure of what was going on in the world of 'adults who had just been told major bombshells'. They had a good time and Candace was unusually polite and kept looking at her son in concern.
She sat them down towards the end of their stay and said that while she didn't appreciate secrets being kept, she wanted her son safe. She knew they tried their best and that they wanted the four of them to be a team. She said she'd try to be more open minded and in turn asked for no more secrets like this. They promised.
Jeffery said he had concerns like Rex, but really felt that he didn't have much of a say in what Kowalski did with the team. He didn't want Kenny a part of it yet, which Kowalski agreed to. That left Rex who was still debating what his son should do.
The boys were booking flights when Rico absolutely had to know. Rex said Rico could go back as long as no major secrets were kept from him. He had every right to know what was happening especially if it impacted the health of his children. Rico happily said it was a deal and booked a flight to New York. The boys happily returned to the apartments and then realized they'd have to clean the HQ as no one had been around for three weeks.
The Penguins changed rooms yet again and this time, Skipper roomed with Private and Rico with Kowalski. Skipper requested that they keep nighttime activities to a minimum and not to be too loud. The boys caught each other up to speed on the goings on of their friends and families. Kowalski and Kenny had officially changed their last name to Harrison; Kenny decided to live full time with Jeffery. Private said that Barry had a huge reality check after a day when the seventh graders had a day of sex-ed workshops.
The curly haired boy had never realized how much he'd been unhealthily latching on to pining after Ramona. He partly blamed it on tv, but Ramona told him that she'd asked him several times to stop. She was willing to forgive him because he was still her friend and that for most of the time they'd known each other, Barry had been an ignorant kid. He resolved to act better because he didn't want to lose her as a friend especially after all she'd gone through to forgive and protect him after the comment debacle.
Julien had returned with a sour mood and his natural hair color. They weren't sure if he'd been forced to return it to normal and that's why he was upset, or the fact that he had a bodyguard now as per Kowalski's immediate access to student files.
This office intel allowed him to get a sneak peek at any new students, to which there was one that raised his curiosity. A girl around their age, in their grade, named Clover. He was perplexed because he received a short description of her being Julien's bodyguard.
Julien hadn't needed one as far as anyone had known him. Maurice had been sort of like a retainer of sorts, keeping him out of trouble. Julien had gone a year without anyone really guarding or watching over him.
"I seem to remember him going out sometimes with Josie, Marlene, Nat, and Izzy. What changed?"
"Probably the whole 'Hans getting kidnapped' thing. Then I apparently got caught too, remember the official excuses so no one would get suspicious?" Skipper explained. "His dad knows mine, not that my dad went into detail about it. His dad must have freaked out and decided Julien needs better protection."
"Why not withdraw him from school?" Kowalski wondered aloud.
"Julien Jr wouldn't allow it because of Josie."
"Is this girl from the organization?"
"No, she's from Britain and...I actually don't know anything else...and I don't like not knowing."
"Maybe we should get out of the base and go have a chat?" Private piped up, massaging his arm. He and Rico had been having an arm-wrestling session, the younger one lost.
The boys came across Marlene and two of her upset looking roommates. Julien was in the dining hall, staring at his food glumly. Clover appeared to be doing a perimeter check.
They looked at Nat who put her hands up defensively.
"Hey, I'm actually trying to get along with the guy. He apologized for the harassment and I apologized for making assumptions based on his wealth." Nat said. "I was going to ask him if he wanted to do a Shakespeare play again this year or an improv thing, but she told me I was high risk and to stay out of 'the zone' for a while."
"We just wanted dinner." Marlene said. Josie stayed silent, her jaw set and her eyes staring daggers towards Julien. "She hasn't said much since she saw them."
"Alright boys, let's diffuse this." Skipper said, spotting Barry coming off the elevator with Mort. The younger boys caught Private's eye and waited with the girls.
"Halt!" Clover said as she spotted them. She put a finger to her ear. "Perimeter secure. Civilians approaching." She put her finger down and looked back at Julien briefly. Her ear was empty.
"Who...are you speaking to?" Kowalski asked.
"Who are you?" Clover asked, eyeing the four of them suspiciously.
"Hungry teens." Skipper said. "Who do you think you are? The king's guard?"
"Affirmative." Clover said. "I would like to see identification and reason for entry."
"We're going to the kitchen for food, not another country."
"I've already done the traveling to another country part." Private said. "My name's Private."
"Huh, a fellow Brit." Clover remarked. "Name's Clover. I've been hired to guard Julien Makyhira Jr. any other information is strictly classified."
"Well, we're his neighbors and friends." Kowalski said.
"Depends." Rico added.
"Sometimes friends. I'm Kowalski, this is Rico."
"A friend is just an enemy who hasn't killed you yet." Clover scowled.
"I think we found someone more paranoid than you, Skipper."
"Didn't think that was likely." Skipper admitted. "Trust me when I say, I know what a real friend is."
"Can't trust anyone, really." Clover said, eyeing the girls. "I think they're planning something."
"Clover, will you just let them in?" Julien complained. "I don't need everyone to hate me again."
Clover rolled her eyes and walked over to Julien's table, keeping the boys in her line of sight. Skipper gestured that it was safe and the others started coming in.
The boys got their food and sat at the table next to Julien. Clover sat rigidly, eyeing the entrance and everyone who passed.
"That one girl is planning something." Clover said, glancing back at Josie.
"No, she isn't." Julien said.
"She's harmless." Skipper said. "You're not planning anything, are you?"
"Only to protect Julien as ordered."
"Protect me from what? Having a life?" Julien muttered.
"On the contrary, I want you to have a life and not end up in a ditch somewhere." Clover said.
"I'm fine, okay?!" Julien snapped. "I'm sick and tired of everyone telling me what to do all summer! You...you are ANNOYING!" He huffed and stalked off.
"But, I'm just-" Clover groaned, hurrying to follow him.
"LEAVE ME ALONE!"
"I literally can't!"
Secretly, Skipper had recorded the conversation and sent it in to the agents for analysis along with a picture of her.
They said she wasn't one of Blowhole's, but also not one of theirs. She came from a trained agency in Britain who had nothing to do with the organization. Julien Sr had connections there and was able to hire her. Why she was a teenager instead of an adult was anyone's guess.
A/N: It ends at chapter 81. Still need to do editing and wrap ups, but the story has an official end, it's all copied and pasted into word from pages.
Up until now I haven't used any All Hail King Julien characters, but Clover was too good to pass up. Some characters share names with movie or PoM characters and sometimes with wildly different personalities such as Fred from both tv shows, so I didn't want to put in AHKJ characters. I do plan on mentioning one AHKJ specific character and having a couple more pop up in the future, but if names conflict, I'll let you know who's who. And I'm making a character list on my profile.