The pod, where the penguins and Blu are, flew up high and hits the beach where Marlene and the kids where waiting.

The pod opens with the penguins rushing Kowalski out "Medic! We need a medic!" Skipper shouted

Marlene covered Gladius and Maria's eyes from the sight of blood "Is he gonna be alright Skipper?" she asked

Blu takes a look closer Kowalski's wound "I can surely remove the bullet, but..." Blu hesitated to tell the penguins of the lieutenant's faith

Skipper looked at Blu trying to think that Kowalski will pull through this "But?" Skipper grabs Blu "SPIT IT OUT, BLU!"

Blu gulped and used his wings remove Skipper's flippers from his shoulders "His gonna survive, but the bullet made an impact on his spine." he looks at the unconscious penguin "He is gonna live and I don't think he'll like the new him."

Skipper sees the locket beside his downed soldier, he picks up the locket and opens it "He has daughter. I want him to see her again."

Blu puts his wing on Skipper's shoulder "He's paralyzed. And I don't know how to cure that."

Skipper inhaled deeply trying to swallow Kowalski's condition "We need to remove the bullet from his back, now."

Private and Rico puts Kowalski on a stretcher and brings him to the Blu Bird Sanctuary. Rico regurgitates medical supplies for Blu and Private made sure to sterilize each instrument. Hours had pass and Blu is still up at the tree with Private giving Kowalski medical attention.

Gladius kicked a stone across the floor and sighs "I really thought that all of us are gonna come out of there safe and unharmed."

Maria wraps Gladius with her wings "We did got out of there with all of us still alive."

Gladius exhaled and looks at Maria "Uncle Kowalski didn't deserve to be paralyzed. He taught me lots of great things about the world and family."

Skipper walked towards the two birds and cleared his throat making Maria jump back from Gladius "Hey, son."

Gladius tries to smile "Hey, dad."

Maria looks at both of them and backs away a bit "I'll get us something to drink." she chuckled nervously as she flap her wings

Skipper grabbed a bottle from Kowalski's pouch "Here," he gives the bottle filled with green liquid to Gladius "it was supposed to be a Christmas present."

Gladius looks at the bottle seeing his reflection "What is it for?"

Skipper cleared his throat and puts his flipper on his son's back "That thing can turn you into any animal with the proper DNA sample. Like me, a penguin, if you want to be a penguin you just need to pluck a feather from me and put inside and drink it."

Gladius widened his eyes in surprise "Did uncle made this?" his father nodded

Skipper plucks a feather from his body and hands it over to Gladius "It's your choice if you want to be a penguin or," he grabs a blue feather from the pouch "a spix macaw."

Gladius grabs the two feathers and looks at both of it back and forth "I'll think about it."

Skipper smiles "It's your choice, son. I'll be back at the tree and I'll leave the two of you for a while. "

Gladius hugs his dad "Please stay for a while." he raises his head "Let's catch up."

Skipper nods and hugs Gladius back "I know, son."

Both spent their time under the moon catching up with their father-son moments. Skipper knew that it's time to spend his time with Marlene and Gladius. Thoughts of revenge are running in his mind. If something happens to Kowalski he swears that Blowhole and Hans will pay for their crimes.

Maria lighted down in front of Gladius "Its hard to find good fruit drinks at this time you know."

"You should have called me to help you out."

Maria smirked and sets down the drinks "You owe me, loco."

Gladius nodded "Of course. I promise."

Jewel and Marlene worked together to gather some food for the guys back at the camp. Both of them sat down for a quick rest. Marlene sighed and looks at the fruits they gathered.

Jewel tossed an apple at Marlene "Let's have a little snack before heading back."

Marlene bites the apple "Hmmm, this is tasty. It's a shame Skipper doesn't like apples he would've like this." Marlene sets the apple at her side "Do you think your mate can do it?"

Jewel nods "Of course I'm sure. He sometimes heads to the clinic just to watch his sci-fi and crime stuff." she takes another bite "That's where he learned how to do those surgery things."

Marlene chuckled "So his sorta like a geek?"

Jewel also chuckled nearly choking "Yup! His like that."

To Be Continued...