A/N: I'm back with this story, can you imagine that?! I can't. Anyway, another chapter, last but one. One more to go (probably). I came up with a random name for the band, don't look it up. More action, less lovely-dovely. Sorry, enjoy~
Chapter 6 – Cut Ways
~Skipper's POV~
Listening to my lieutenant thanks to the Ears-Dropper I could only make out of his babble that he was mad...or jealous. Hopefully the latter. Probably both. It also brought a glimmer of light to the dark cave. If he felt the way I did, it could be the first step. Obviously, the path would be hard to come through but worth the effort. Lost in my thoughts I didn't notice that he stopped his monologue and approached the bushes. His scream made me expose myself from the hiding. "Marlene!"
The otter left the walls of our zoo and was spreading terror in the park, taking Kowalski as her victim. She grabbed his flippers and swung with him above her head. Even he knew that reasoning with wild Marlene was pointless. I recalled how hard it had been to catch her and haul back to the zoo last time. I needed options but my second-in-command was being dragged further into the park. "Rico, move! We can't let her climb up the Needle!" Up on the obelisk Marlene wouldn't have gone so easy on Kowalski like she did on Julien, probably throwing him down. Sliding on our bellies through the grass, we cut Marlene off, so she could only head towards the Pond. There I had the otter where I wanted her. Of course, she could swim but in the wild 'form', her moves weren't so coordinated. Plus Kowalski would be able to break free. What I didn't know was that in the water already swam a huge animal. Diving, Marlene hit herself on its tail which emerged from the water, causing the two to land back on their butts on the ground. Kowalski quickly oriented himself in the situation and approached me. Unfortunately, Marlene stood back on her feet too and I needed suggestions how to stop her. "Well, nice that you finally decided to join us, Kowalski. Hopefully you brought some options with you."
"If Rico still holds the aces then yes, I think I do." Quickly I understood what he was referring to – that very morning and the incident of throwing cards at me. "Rico, cards!" I ordered the weapon expert who in no time hit Marlene with a full deck, card after card, finishing the cannonade with a warm and cozy cage. Ouch, that would leave few bruises but it was her fault to go out of the zoo in the first place. It seemed that for the otter the biggest danger hadn't been badgers but her half-backed plan. Typical mammal.
~Kowalski's POV~
"Roger?!" After Rico and Skipper had walked towards the cage, I turned to the reptile which presence still happened to be a mystery for me. "I thought you would spend your leisure time with Doris." Not to mention that the alligator, although good-natured and well-mannered, could draw unnecessary attention. We didn't need a repetition of the events from the time our team had looked for a domicile for him. "You didn't run away from the zoo, did you?" I glanced suspiciously around, already thinking about options where to hide the huge animal.
"Oh no. No, no, no. You see, I like to come here to ponder about things. I mean...Doris, she asked me to leave, adding that I'm a horrible singer but I guess it was because of the song I chose, Together Forever may be too.." He stopped, searching for the right word.
"...Soon?" I finished for him, knowing how intrusive Roger could get, we were neighbours after all.
"Yes, that. That. Besides, I wanted to attend tonight's concert. You know, The Nehs unplugged, greatest 80's hits, a must and an inspiration for me." Roger started to wave with his forelimbs and I recognized the shine in his eyes. A 'no' was not an option. Actually, I didn't know The Nehs but 80's songs sounded tempting. As far as I knew even Skipper had nothing against most of the songs from that period. Our boss caught the topic of my and Roger's conversation: "I see that our green comrade went ga-ga for Radio Ga-Ga. Now the question is how to make him go there without becoming the main star of the show..."
"Sir." I interrupted him, pointing at Marlene. "I suggest bringing her back to the zoo as quickly as possible. We still don't have the whole image of Marlene's affliction. There is a possibility that her state changes from temporary to permanent if she stays like that for too long." Skipper visibly irritated, probably because I interrupted him or because he didn't feel up to deal with Marlene any longer, barked an order at Rico to transport her back home and come back with Private because a new mission awaited us.