Welcome to chapter 17. *'s = notes, (P) means perspective change, and italicized words means reading or quoting of a character. Time to read.

CHAPTER 17 – Goodbye for Now

Another day, another day of entertaining the people who visit us. They all looked excited to see the zoo had gotten a fifth penguin. Once again, we did the cute and cuddly routine. I think if the people wouldn't get suspicious of why, we would've had Marlene perform with us as well. But, enough damage had been done back home, and I certainly didn't want to do any damage here.

After the day was over, we once again were in the HQ. I was helping Kowalski test the Universal Walkie Talkies, making sure they would work later. Skipper and Marlene were playing chess. * Private was watching the Lunacorns, while Rico was checking on the contents of his gut.

"I have to say, I will miss you guys when I go home. I'm starting to feel like part of the family," I said to them all. "We'll miss you, too. As you said all those months ago about us coming to visit anytime, you're welcome to do the same," Skipper said. "As long as Alice doesn't get suspicious of why a Penguin keeps randomly appearing after being shipped out, then thank you," I said.

"I doubt she will. She forgets to feed us sometimes, so if she forgets that basic need, I doubt she'll get suspicious," Marlene said. "I would love to know how she's kept her job all these years when she keeps forgetting stuff like that," I said. "Wouldn't we all," Kowalski said. (P to a few hours later)

Kowalski and I had finally finished the Walkie Talkies, since we had to add one last feature. It was a Portablizer built into it. However, the one everyone here would keep would only send themselves to my home, while the one I would keep would only send me to the HQ.

"There we go. Finally complete. It can only be used by you or us, since I have coded it to our flippers, Marlene's paws, and your fingerprint," Kowalski said. "How did you get my fingerprints?" I asked. "I managed to get them off of Blowhole's Segway. It took some time, but I eventually got them," Kowalski explained. "Make sure you store that down in level 13 away from the other inventions. ** We don't want another Diabologizer incident," I said. "We certainly do not," Kowalski said.

We both walked out of the lab, with me carrying my Universal Walkie Talkie. "Check mate again Skipper," Marlene said to him. "You really have gotten good at this since you beat me. I'll have to work on some new tactics. Though marrying you was the best tactic I've ever come up with," Skipper said. In a flash, Marlene kissed him. I could see they would have a long, happy life together.

"Hi, guys. Did you get the Walkie Talkies working?" Marlene asked after she and Skipper pulled away. "We have just completed them," Kowalski said, pointing to the Walkie Talkie I was carrying. "It's actually only coded to the six of us. That was no one back home will wind up here," I said. "Yes, we certainly don't want any unexpected guests. Make sure to keep it in a safe place," Skipper said. "Oh, I've already thought of several places that would be good," I said, assuring him.

"You've been gone from your home for over a week, yet you said your parents would only be gone for a week. What will they say?" Marlene asked. "I've got no idea, honestly. I'll have to explain to them how I turned into a Penguin here, did training, your wedding and subsequent honeymoon," I said.

"If you need any backup on the situation, don't hesitate to use the Walkie Talkie and we'll be over there right away," Skipper said. "Thanks. I expect there to be a PR nightmare for myself with the media, though. That'll be hard to explain without photographic proof of myself being a Penguin though," I said. "How about a group photo?" Private asked.

"Good idea Private," Skipper said. I grabbed my phone and Kowalski's tripod and set the timer to take a photo of the six of us. Once we got a picture we liked, I put the tripod back, while taking my phone with me. I put the phone in the same place where I had taken it out nearly two weeks ago, hoping that it would wind up in a pocket when I was human again.

"We almost forgot. Feel free to share the wedding video with your Internet," Marlene and Skipper sad. "You really don't mind?" I asked. "Considering all the fans we've got for that and all of the things they've created of us, I'm certain that's something they would like to see," Skipper said. We all laughed at that, knowing it was so true.

It was time for our goodbyes. "Rico, those explosions you made with the fireworks at the wedding and over the last week were cool. Keep them up, but not enough to destroy another habitat," I said to the Penguin. We high fived.

"Private, you play a good game of Sorry. Thanks for the fun times here," I said to him. "No problem. It was fun with you here as well," he said, shaking my flipper.

"Kowalski, thanks for the good ideas and the Walkie Talkie. You really are the smartest Penguin in any universe," I said. "Thank you for the phones and new computer. Those will make it a lot easier to get experiments and communication done faster in the future. Personally, I think you're smarter than many of your species," he said. "Thanks, Kowalski," I said and we shook flippers.

"Thanks for the training, Skipper. I'll definitely try to practice the best I can every day so I don't forget it. Thanks for the honor of being a fourth penguin while you guys were away," I said to him. "The honor is all mine. If we need another person for a mission, you'll definitely be my 1st choice, after Marlene, of course. Thank you for helping to take down Blowhole," he said. "No problem at all. Happy to help," I said. We then shook our flippers.

"Thanks for letting me come to the wedding Marlene. That was the most fun I ever had," I said to her. "You're welcome. Thank you for helping me take down Blowhole and getting me back with Skipper," she said. You're welcome. I hope you guys enjoy being able to communicate easier now with your new phones," I said.

"Also, I actually got that idea from you," I added. "Really?" Marlene asked. "Yep, You said back on the train that you wanted to get some phones for yourself and the guys," I reminded her. "I remember now. How do you remember stuff like that?" she asked. "I'm not sure. That's how my mind works, I guess," I replied.

"I could actually tell you how," Kowalski said. "Thanks, but some mysteries are better left unsolved, like how I'm a Penguin here," I said. "Well, I'll see you later," Marlene said, hugging me. "I'll see you later as well," I said.

It was time for me to return home. "Before I forget to say this, I've got one more thing to say," I said to the group. "What's that?" they asked. "You're always literally dropping into my universe. Maybe eventually I can drop in here," I said. "Make sure to give us a bit of a warning so we can put you into the system first," Skipper said. "Can do," I replied. ***

I pressed the button on my Universal Walkie Talkie and a portal appeared behind me. "Bye guys," I said before jumping in. "Goodbye and good luck!" they all shouted before the portal closed.

Inside the Portal, I was changing back into a human. "Well, that's mildly disappointing," I thought to myself. A portal appeared in front of me after I changed back to normal and it dropped me into my yard. "Now I know how they feel," I thought, with my arm aching a bit, as I had landed on it.

I opened the door and walked inside, where my family was waiting. "So do you mind telling us the whole story?" my parents asked. I sighed, and then began to tell them everything from the beginning until just now.

That's it for Book 2. But don't fret! Go read the epilogue.

* Yep, I referenced all the way back to the start of all this.

** I'm referencing "King Julien For A Day" where it was revealed the Penguins have 1e levels below them filled with secret things, such as a UFO and Kowalski's untested inventions.

*** Epilogue. That's all I'm saying.