Hey there…. I was kind of busy for the last two months so I couldn't post anything, BUT I could write. So I did 2 chapters of HIAB, 2 chapters of this, and a chapter of my NEWEST story, OPERATION: BABY POOF …

Here it is!

Chapter THREE!

Family Feuds

Chapter 3: Science's hatchday

"Skipper!?" Kowalski said, covering Alexander.

"You'd ditch the team to attend some kiddie party?" Skipper exclaimed.

"Skipper? Private? Rico? Wh… what're you doing here?"

"Oh we're just chasing a mad scientist who shipped himself off to the SSSA to see a dolphin!" Skipper yelled.

"Yeah!" Rico growled, puking up a bat.

Alexander saw this and said, "How did he do that?"

"Not now, Alex…" Kowalski whispered before turning back to Skipper and raising his voice. "I didn't ship myself here!"

"Yes you did! Kowahski, everyone knows how despr'te you are to see Doris again." Private said.

"Yes, I am desperate but I wouldn't ship myself here just to see her!" Kowalski reasoned.

"Stop trying to hide it, Kowalski! This is insubordination soldier! … Rico! Pound some reason into him." Skipper ordered.

Kowalski's eyes widened with fear as he stepped backward, still covering his son.

The bat was about to strike Kowalski when Alexander kicked the bat out of Rico's flippers. Everyone froze. Skipper looked stunned to see the kid and his reflexes.

"He didn't ship himself here… Doris told me to make contact with your zookeeper and get him to come here." Alexander defended.

"And why would Doris tell you to ship Kowalski here?" Private asked.

"Because Doris and Kowalski are my parents!" Alexander said.

"Parents!?" Skipper glared at Kowalski, who smiled innocently.

"He's yoh son?!" Private exclaimed.

Rico just stood there, not understanding anything.

"Yes! Now can you please be as kind enough as to leave!? I am perfectly fine here with my family." Kowalski said, pointing at the door.

"No, no, no, no… I don't think it's a bother if we stay here for a couple of days. After all, the Central Park Zoo is closed for the weekend because somebody blew the gate open." Skipper growled, looking at Rico, who shrunk in his embarrassment.

"Now lead us to the dolphin habitat. Pronto!" Skipper said.

"Now wait a minute!" Alexander walked in front of Skipper, stepping on his left foot and looking at him in the eye. "I don't trust you guys one bit. How am I supposed to believe that you're not gonna hurt Doris?"

"Alexander?" Kowalski stammered. What is he doing? He thought. Does he even recognize the level of his authority?!

"It's basic commander rights. I can do what I want, when I want. Now what gives you the authorization to stick your beak on classified business?" Skipper growled, pulling his foot out from under the young one's foot, and raising a flipper to push him aside.

Alexander blocked it with his flipper and stepped on his foot again. "It's basic family rights. I can stick my beak on any family information that I want, when I want…"

Skipper looked more furious than ever. But Alexander scoffed then continued. "We live by the code of honor, sir. And you should promise not to hurt my mother."

For a few moments, they met each other's angry gaze through narrowed eyes. Skipper curled his flippers into fists and was about to lunge at him when Private spoke up. "We promise."

Alexander raised an eyebrow before walking toward the nearest air vent and saying, "Follow me."

Kowalski's beak was wide open in shock. How did he get the guts to treat Skipper that way? He kept on asking himself.

"Kowalski!" Skipper's voice shot him back to the real world.

"Yes, Skipper?"

"You better teach that kid some respect, or so help me, I will rip you apart, you hear me?!" Skipper snapped. He looked so frustrated. Typical. He was just beaten by a kid. Kowalski chuckled at the thought. Then suddenly covered his beak with his flippers.

Skipper growled and kicked his feet; unbalancing him and making him fall flat on the ground.

"Other than that, teach yourself some respect, or I'll teach it to ya myself." Skipper said, punching his flipper threateningly.

"A… Aye-aye, S… Skipper…" Kowalski stammered.

E-gad he's angry. He thought, rubbing his flipper shyly and following the rest of the team into the air vent

"Doris!" Kowalski said happily.

"Kowalski!" Doris replied, swimming over to the fake island where the penguins were. "Oh how I've missed you so!" she hugged Kowalski.

"It's… good to see you too. Uh… Doris? I've got visitors here who want to see you." Kowalski pointed at the rest of the team.

"Oh! Hi Skipper, Rico, and Private! How's it going?" Doris greeted.

Private opened his beak to reply but Skipper spoke first. "Whydja ship Kowalski here, huh?" Skipper yelled.

"It's Science's hatchday! Kowalski has to be here for once. Don't you guys take a break from all that commando stuff? I mean… You already beat Francis a lot of times." Doris reasoned.

"Dr. Blowhole will always remain a threat to us and the world even if we beat him many times in his attempts to get revenge." Skipper said.

"Plus, we have many more enemies that him. There's the Blue Hen, Hans, Officer X…" Private added. "And we have to keep track on what happens in the zoo!"

"Sounds like a lot of responsibilities." Doris commented.

"er… Skipper? Are you sure you'd be okay if you stay here? I mean… The penguins here are pretty party crazy. A bit like Julien I guess…" Kowalski informed.

"Nah! I can handle it." Skipper smirked.

Rico started motioning at the glass, trying to get everyone's attention.

"What is it, Rico?" Kowalski asked.

"Eeh! Gablababro manananamo!" Rico grunted, pointing at the glass again.

"Skipper! The penguins are headed back to the penguin aquarium. We should probably go now. Alexander?" Kowalski looked at his son, who rolled his eyes and went toward the air vent on the wall.

"C'mon. Let's move out." Skipper ordered, following the young penguin through the air vent.

"Bye Doris." Kowalski said, kissing the dolphin good-bye.

"Bye Kowalski." She replied right before Kowalski jumped into the air vent.

"BE QUIET!" Skipper yelled at the penguins outside.

"What?!" a voice asked.

"I SAID, BE QUIET!" Skipper repeated.

"Hey, YEAH! I am on a diet! Thanks for reminding me!" the voice replied.

"UGH!" Skipper grunted, covering his head with his pillow.

The party was still continuing in the penguin aquarium.

Skipper said that the team should take a rest but as soon as they lay down on the newly-made beds, the music started and screams of laughter and joy were heard. Now, Skipper couldn't sleep.

"You could handle it, huh? Hehehe." Alexander murmured.

"What did you say?" Skipper said, angrily.

"Nothing…" the boy replied, returning to his work on the bed.

"What're you doing?" Kowalski asked his son.

"Trying to get this thing to work…" Alexander said.

Kowalski looked at the boys lap. He was working on some kind of ray that was small enough for him to handle.

"What's that?" Private asked, joining the conversation.

"Some kind of Ice Ray… Aha! Done…" Alexander got up from his bed and peered out the door.

He spotted the speakers and the boom box that was making all the music. He aimed and fired at them.

Kowalski heard lots of penguins grumble and complain as he did so.

"Haha! Works like a charm! Booyah!" Alexander said, hugging his Ice Ray.

"Impressive!" Private complimented. Kowalski

Now everyone was heading to their little hideouts for the night and they could get a good night's sleep.

Skipper sighed with relief and curled up on his bed.

"You're welcome." Alexander said, before lying down on his bed.

"OOF!" a pain in Skipper's stomach jolted him awake.

"Heehahaha!" A little penguin giggled as she jumped from bed to bed.

Skipper rubbed his stomach. The little pest obviously jumped on him.

"Science! Come back here!" Kowalski shouted, chasing after the little one.

"Kowalski! What's the meaning this?!" Skipper said, looking around at the empty beds around him.

"Umf, Sorry Skipper… It's just that.. er… Science got a little too much ice popsicles this morning without permission." Kowalski replied, grabbing hold of the penguin chick.

"Daddy! Lemme go!" The chick squealed, struggling in Kowalski's flippers.

"Woah, woah, woah! You have a daughter too?" Skipper said.

Suddenly, Science slipped out of Kowalski's flippers and ran toward Skipper.

"You must be the boss penguin! The others told me you had a weird flat head." Science giggled.

Skipper growled.

"Now, now Science. Why don't you go around? I'm sure the others have hatchday gifts for you. Now run along, hatchday girl." Kowalski said, shooing his daughter away.

"MORE GIFTS?! OH BOY!" And with that, Science zipped out of the room.

"Just because it's her hatchday, doesn't mean she can go and jump on me." Skipper complained.

"Skipper, she's just a chick. She doesn't know any better." Kowalski explained.

"Well I hope you don't expect to give her a gift." Skipper jumped off his bed.

"No… I… I don't, sir." Kowalski said.

Skipper walked out the room to see that the chick's hatchday news stirred the whole aquarium. Everyone was talking about it.

"Hi there!" A feminine voice said from behind him.

Instinctively, Skipper back-flipped over the new comer and twisted her flippers in an awkward way behind her.

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Hey! What are ya doing?" she yelled in her British accent.

"State your name and occupation!" Skipper demanded, still holding the penguin's flippers.

"Chloe Tomlinson! Chicksittah to Alexandah and Science!" She whimpered. "Now please let go!"

Skipper let her go and she fell on the icy ground.

"Ouch…" She said, rubbing her flippers. "Is that how you greet back in Central Park?" she asked.

"No. But it's our way of defense." Skipper replied, extending his flipper out to her.

Chloe took it thankfully and got up.

"You newcomahs are really psychotic…" She murmured.

"What did you say?" Skipper growled.

"Nothing! Nothing… Anywho… I heard that you're new, along with some othah two whose names are Private and Rico… And you're Skipper?" Chloe said.

When Skipper nodded, she continued. "Word is that you snuck in during the night from Central Park Zoo."

"Yeah. Came here to find out the Kowalski has 2 chicks." Skipper grumbled.

"Oh! He doesn't only have two chicks! He has two chicks and a young dolphin!" Chloe informed.

"WHAT!?" Skipper shouted.

"Hi Chloe!" Alexander greeted.

"Ah, Alexander! I hear somebody froze the boom box and the speakers last night. And we all know who's behind that." She cocked her brow at him.

Alexander looked at his feet.

"Because of that, the music for Science's hatchday party was cancelled! You have to fix this, Alex." Chloe ordered.

Alexander slumped. "Okay… I'll get to work." Alexander began walking to the hidden room.

"No, Alexander! NO inventing this time. You'll be picking through the ice today." Chloe handed the young penguin some ice picks. You can get your father to help. But NO gadgets. I mean it!" Chloe pointed at the frozen boom box and speakers near the location of the hidden room.

Alexander grumbled and walked away to find Kowalski. "How do you get that brat to follow you?" Skipper asked.

Chloe chuckled. "I'm a chicksittah. They follow me because I'm their chicksittah."

"So… you have authority over them?" Skipper cocked his brow.

"Well… You can say that." Chloe said.

Meanwhile

"Dad? Where are you?" Alexander shouted, looking around.

"Over here, Alex." Kowalski's voice was heard.

Alexander followed the sound to a secret tunnel under Kowalski's bed. He crawled through it and saw Kowalski digging around it, making it bigger.

"What are you doing?" Alexander asked.

"Well, since I'm crashing here for a while, I may as well have a secret lab." Kowalski explained, not looking up from his work.

Alexander chuckled. "If I did that Chloe would ground me for sure."

"Yes, but you're not doing this. I am. We can share this lab if you want." Kowalski smiled at his son.

"But it's not yet even done yet." Alexander put his flipper on his hip.

"It will be." Kowalski smirked, continuing his work.

"Um… dad? Can you help me in… you know… picking the ice off the boom box and speakers?"

"Can't you just invent something to melt the ice out?"

"No… Chloe won't allow me."

"I'm sort of busy here, Alex. Why don't you give me some time? You can get a head start, and I'll just catch up." Kowalski said, looking at him again.

Alexander slumped. "Fine." He muttered before crawling out of the tunnel and walking toward the frozen speakers.

He began picking the ice with his tools, grumbling.

Then suddenly, "Hi, Alexander." A female voice said.

"GAH!" Alexander shrieked, turning around to face her. "OH! Uh… Hey, Sofia." He stammered, a blush appearing on his face.

"What're you doing?" she asked, looking at the frozen speaker behind him.

"Um… Nothing… Nothing… Just… Fixing this…" He said, gesturing toward the speaker.

"Well that's very kind of you to do. You think you can fix it before your little sister's hatchday party tonight?" she asked.

"Yes… Uh… Yeah… I can handle it." Alexander smiled.

"Well, if you ever need any help, you can give me a call." Sofia batted her redviolet eyes at him before walking away, taking one last glance at him before disappearing.

Alexander sighed happily and leaned on the giant frozen speaker. Then suddenly the speaker fell sending him falling with it. "GAH!" He said.

A few hours later

"Wadztaging so 'ong!?" Rico complained.

"Sorry! Sorry! I'm almost done. You can DJ all you want when I'm done." Alexander said, chipping off the last piece of ice on the boom box.

"There." Alexander smiled.

Rico quickly grabbed the boom box, set it on a table, and shouted, "Let'z geddiz parrdy starrded!" before playing some music.

Instantly, the normal white lights became colorful and a disco ball hung from the celling. And all the penguins were dancing to the music on the ice.

Then Alexander spotted Sofia just getting out of the water from afar. Sofia looked at him and he looked away, blushing.

Sofia smiled and glanced at the fish in her flipper before approaching him.

"Hi… Sofia…" Alexander stammered.

"Hi." Sofia greeted.
"So… what are you doing here?"

"Er… you've been working all day and uh… I thought you might be hungry…" Sofia gave the fish to him.

"Thanks." Alexander replied, swallowing the fish.

Then a tough-looking teenage penguin called out from the dance floor, "Sofie! C'mon over here, darling! I'll grab us some sushi!"

"Wh… who's that?" Alexander asked.

"That's Brad. He's my… uh…" Sofia trailed off.

"Oh." Alexander smiled shyly.

"Sofia, honey! C'mon!" Brad called again.

"I… I gotta go. See you later?" Sofia said to Alexander.

"Sure… later…" Alexander nodded before watching her leave. Brad wrapped his flipper around her shoulders, escorting her to the food table.

"Alexander!" A voice called.

Alexander looked around and finally saw him. It was his father, still wearing his lab goggles, and decorated with bruises here and there.

"What happened?" Alexander asked his father.
"Er… There was little incident in the tunnel. There were rocks tumbling everywhere… But It's been repaired." Kowalski smiled.

"Hmph… Obviously too busy that you didn't bother to help me with the ice." Alexander snorted.

"Sorry… Hey! Wanna check it out? I finished our lab!"

"Uh… sure! Why not?" Alexander cheered. He followed Kowalski back to the rooms and through the tunnel.

"WOAH!" Alexander said, looking at all the gyzmos and gadgets and potions in there.

"How did you get all this stuff?" Alexander asked.

"I never leave without my lab… In Rico…" Kowalski laughed.

"Yeah… about that… How come he can up-chuck like that?"

"It's a long story. You wouldn't be interested." Kowalski narrowed his eyes. "Anywho… This is ours, son." Kowalski said, observing his work.

Alexander went straight to the table full of different chemicals in bottles and test tubes.

"Meguphium 239? This thing is really useful to you…" Alexander observed.

"Hehe… Yeah…" Kowalski replied.

A strong, sweet smell hit Alexander and he turned around to find the source. It was a box of cupcakes! "What's with the fish cupcakes?"

"It's Science's hatchday. I just thought I could make cupcakes for her." Kowalski explained. "Want to help me deliver them to the party?"

"Okay!" Alexander grabbed the box and rushed out the tunnel. Not waiting for Kowalski to come out, he dashed into the crowd of dancing penguins and into the food table.

He placed the fish cupcakes on a vacant spot on the table.

Then he looked to his right and saw that a few dolphins were in their pool.

"Louise!" Alexander said when he spotted her sister. He belly-slid toward the edge of the ice.

"Hi Alexander! Where's dad?"

"He's in the la – " he covered his beak. "He's coming…" He continued.

"Alexander, dearie!" Another dolphin came swimming toward him.

"Mom!" Alexander greeted. "H… how did you guys get here?"

"Secret underground tunnels…" Doris smiled.

"Doris! Louise!" Kowalski shouted, hurrying toward them. "You made it!"

Alexander left and gave them time to talk. After all, Kowalski was gone for a long time… He was hungry.

He slid toward the food table. As he tried to pick between fish fillet and sushi, he noticed Sofia near the table as well.

"OH! Hey Alexander. I heard there were some delicious cupcakes and I… Ooh! There it is. Hey, can you pass me one?" Sofia asked.

"Sure." Alexander said, picking up one fish cupcake and handing it to her.

"Thanks… Hey, wanna dance?"

"D… dance? Why don't you wanna dance with Brad?"

"He's busy."

"B… but I'm not much of a dancer." Alexander rubbed the back of his neck.

"C'mon! It'll be fun!" Sofia said. And before Alexander could react, she pulled him toward the dance floor.

"Just dance randomly to the music!" Sofia encouraged.

"O…okay…" Alexander started tapping his toes on the floor to the beat of the music. Then he moved his flippers in a rolling motion in front of him, smiling.

"That's it!" Sofia said.

Then Alexander spun and took Sofia's flipper, twirling her before pulling her closer and tipping her. Then suddenly the music became slow and everyone slowly split into partners.

Alexander's eyes widened. He helped Sofia up then hid his flippers behind his back, embarrassed.

Sofia looked at him with a slight smile in her face.

"I… er… I have to go…" Alexander excused. Then without another word, he zipped out of the dance floor and into one of the hidden rooms.

He plopped himself unto his bed and buried his face in his pillow. He let out a loud groan.

"Alexander?" he heard a familiar voice call him.

He lifted his head to see his father with a concerned look on his face.

"Is…. Something wrong?" Kowalski asked, sitting on Alexander's bed.

"No… It's nothing…" Alexander stammered.

Kowalski narrowed his eyes. "It's about Sofia Snow, isn't it?"

"SOFIA SNOW!? NO! Why would it be about Sofia Snow!?" Alexander panicked.

"I saw you…"

"What!? How!?"

Kowalski smiled, "Security cameras." He said, pointing at a camera attached to the corner of the room. "I set it up just before the party so that I could facilitate Science's hatchday party from here. I never would have expected you to try and dance with her."

"B…but… Who would change the music into SLOW music in a 6 year old's HATCHDAY!?"

"Your mother would." Kowalski told him.

"WHAT!?"

"He told Rico to change it while you were dancing together. Though I have no idea why Rico would allow…"

"Whydja do it, mom!?" Alexander asked. "How could you embarrass me in front of Sofia!?

"I'm sorry, Alexander. It's just that you two look sooo cute together!" Doris smiled.

"MOOMM!" Alexander groaned.

"Oh, Hey miss Doris!" a young female penguin approached them.

"Hey Sofia! We were just talking about you…" Doris said.

Alexander's eyes widened. He moved his flipper from left to right across his neck, telling his mother to be quiet, but he was ignored.

"You know, the way you two danced in the dance floor was marvelous! But… why did you stop when…"

"OKAYY!" Alexander cut her off. "Hey, mom? Weren't you supposed to watch over Science and Louise?"

"We've been looking for Science… We haven't seen her yet…" Doris explained.

"I'll go ask Kowalski…" Alexander said, rushing toward the hidden rooms.

"Why no… I haven't seen her in my cameras… I think… I think she's missing…" Kowalski looked sad. Then he lightened up. "Unless…" He said, running toward a computer and typing some codes in.

"AHA! Camera #23 has been tampered with!" Kowalski said, pointing at the gray screen.

"Oh dear…" Alexander worried.

"If I can find a camera that caught a glimpse of the area that camera #23 was focused on…" He said, typing again.

Kowalski played the surveillance tapes of a certain camera and rewinded it. There they saw little Science, waddling around, enjoying her fish cupcake when suddenly something from the edge of the screen grabbed her and pulled her away, making her drop her cupcake.

"Someone got her! But who?" Alexander shouted.

Kowalski didn't reply, but went on typing codes on the keyboard. He rewinded it again to the part where she was grabbed, paused it, and zoomed.

They saw red claws grab her. It looked like it belonged to a lobster.

"Blowhole…" Kowalski growled.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Oh well… So Dr. Blowhole captured Science... Any ideas why?