Father's Love
Chapter 4: The Reason

Private and Brian smiled to hear that. Maybe none of them noticed the reaction from Kowalski and Rico.

"It's really a surprise!" said Marlene. "Glad to meet you, sir!"

"Glad to meet you too," Brian replied. "So, Marlene, how's my son?"

"Well..." said Marlene. She laughed first. "He's a nice guy. Sometimes he could be annoying, but he always care about his friends. He's a 'ninety nine percent perfect' guy,"

Skipper laughed. While Private hugged Brian with a smile.

"Finally... Grandpa." said him.

"B - But... Skipper, are you sure?" Kowalski asked, finally.

"Of course, Kowalski. What's wrong?" Skipper replied.

"Skipper... He is... a..."

"...criminal." Rico grunted, finished Kowalski's words.

Suddenly it became silent there. Everybody was looking to Rico and Kowalski.

"Marlene, I'm so sorry. I think you have to go back to your habitat now. I'm so sorry," said Skipper.

"Wait, are you kidding?" Marlene asked. "I mean... You bring me here only to tell me that your father is a criminal?"

"No, Marlene. I'll explain this later. But please back to your habitat now," said Skipper again.

"But-"

"I SAID PLEASE GO HOME NOW!" Skipper yelled.

Marlene, shocked as Skipper yelled to her, turned around and went away - half sobbing.

Skipper sighed. "Now, Kowalski. Who told you that information?"

"I found his name in CIA wanted list. He joined the enemy in Greenland War, and I think he lied to you - he doesn't have family," Kowalski replied.

Brian laughed cynically. "Now you're all going to catch me, huh?"

"This is a joke, right?" Private asked. "I can't believe this, Grandpa,"

"So naive," Brian answered. He released Private's hug and twisted his flippers to his back.

"BRIAN!" Skipper shouted.

"Let me go, and I'll let my grandson go," said Brian.

"Mister Brian... You're not my grandpa," Private whispered in anger, and sadness.

The room fell to silence again for several minutes.

"Yes, I am your grandpa," Brian replied finally. "And because of that, I won't dare to hurt you, Private,"

He sighed and released Private. Private waddled away from him to Skipper's side.

"Skipper..," Kowalski whispered.

"Let him go," said Skipper. "He already let Private go,"

"If I really want to go, I must be already go since this morning," said Brian.

"SO WHAT DO YOU WANT ACTUALLY?" Skipper shouted. "YOU LEFT WHEN I WAS 9, AND NOW YOU TRY TO DESTROY MY LIFE AFTER I'VE GOT MY OWN FAMILY! WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?"

Brian stood speechless for a while. "I... I... I am sorry, son... I have a reason..,"

"SO WHAT IS THE REASON?" Skipper shouted again.

Brian was really speechless this time. He hurt his son's heart, and that fact hurt his heart a lot. While Private was terrified to see his closest uncle, which was like his own dad, shouted to his grandpa. Rico hugged him, tried to comfort him. However, somebody had to take care of Private.

"Skipper, let's just bring him to the military court," said Kowalski.

"Wait," Skipper answered. "I want to hear his reason,"

Brian's beak still didn't able to speak a word. Minute by minute passed. Things rushed in his mind, while Skipper stared him coldly.

"Alright, I'm so stupid," said Skipper. "I thought I can trust you. The way you talked about me, it made my heart warm. I tried to forget the fact that you're a liar. But I was wrong,"

He sighed. "You give me no choice. There will be a prison waiting for you... father,"

Private sobbed quietly. But in that silent moment, they could hear him clearly.

"Son," said Brian finally. "You want the reason of why I left? Why I changed your surname? Why I couldn't come back?"

Skipper nodded.

"Everything started 25 years ago, three days before I left," said Brian. "I never forget it,"

He sighed first. "It was in Greenland. Thorn and I had gathered all the cities back, and our units were going to attack the last city of the rebels. I was in the headquarters when suddenly Thorn said that he would make another rebellion. With the other Generals and their units. He would start his plan after we finished our mission there, after The President think he's safe. He said that it's all for the peace, because The President wasn't able to lead his people. He asked me to join. But I knew that he only wanted a higher position, to be the leader of The Department of Defense - or The President itself - quickly."

"So I refused, because I couldn't betray The President. He nodded and told me that I couldn't do anything to stop him because the other Generals there already accepted his offer. I had no one to trust there, my units were away at the battle. They guarded me tightly so I had no communication way. So I only had one choice. At the midnight, I quietly slided to the Generals room and killed them one by one. Until I got to the last room - Thorn's room. He was ready for me, knowing that I wouldn't do nothing. He turned on the alarm. I was trapped - the Generals were dead and I had a knife with blood in my flipper. So I slided away. I almost got away, when Thorn came and shot me. I fainted, and woke up in the jail. I brought to the military court. I said everything I knew, but Thorn could easily push me back, saying that I joined the rebels. Darn him. Well, you know, you can do nothing much with a lot of people saying you killed the Generals."

Brian sighed. "They judged me to get the death execution. In the way to the execution place, I successfully took care of those men who guarded me - they forgot that I was the best General they ever had. So I ran away. They lost my track, and I went to my family. Yeah, the last day you saw me, Skipper. Thanks God I never tell the army that I have a family. I had no time so I quickly changed your identity. After it I said a short goodbye and went away for a long time. I knew Thorn isn't able to do his plan while I'm still alive. But he got what he needed, the highest position in The Department of Defense. He used the position for his own sake, illegal experiments. While I lived in small villages so they couldn't catch me."

The room fell to silence again.

"Is that the truth?" Skipper asked.

"Yes, my son." said Brian.

Skipper waddled towards Brian, and punched him. "Why didn't you tell me earlier? Why didn't you tell me before you left? Where were you when they killed Jack?"

Brian hugged him. "I'm so sorry, Skipper. If I told you earlier, your life would be in danger. Thorn is a dangerous man. Besides I can't let you grow up with a heavy thing to keep. And I couldn't come to Jack's burial ceremony, you know why. But I came there, every year in the midnight. To see my old unit too,"

"You know my heart hurt a lot because I miss my family. But I can't let them live in danger," said him again.

Finally, he knew the truth. After everything he heard about his father. And for the first time after years, Skipper cried in his father's hug again.

TO BE CONTINUED

A/N: Well, sorry for the long time needed to update this. I got a lot of things to do. By the way, thank you so much for everyone who read this story, especially the reviewers! Please tell me how's this chapter - always glad to read your reviews!