Author's Notes: And we're back again with more Penguins of Madagascar, the hunt for Blowhole is on. But will they find him? Let's find out!

Fun Fact: Has anyone ever noticed that Kowalski has a mad scientist vibe about him in the series that doesn't really show itself in the movies? Well, this story is my way of explaining the shift in his character dynamic. Please let me know what you think as always thanks for reading and please review.

Yours Truly, RoxieDivine

(Back with the Penguins)

Skipper's three-day deadline had come in what felt like a blink of an eye for Private.

Part of him couldn't believe he was doing this, family or not Nigel was still a total stranger, and he was about to leave the country with him.

"Be strong Private." Skipper advised. Any moment now Alice would come to prepare them for transport, and they needed to be ready. "You may be going on Holiday, but this is still a good chance to practice." He advised. "Keep your earholes sharp and repot to me weekly."

"But what if I have nothing to report?" Private asked.

"But you do." Kowalski said. "You're keeping us informed about your time with Nigel." He told him. "He may be harmless, but Skipper is right. It's good practice, plus it will ease our minds to know your safe." He added.

Private didn't blame him. The last time he was away from them since Dave had kidnapped him. "I won't let you down."

"You never could." Skipper said. The brothers were standing on the ice floe now with Nigel in tow, after all Alice wouldn't notice an extra. And even if she did she probably wouldn't care.

Just then Alice arrived with the shipping crates, she takes one look at them and frowns. "Hey, I thought there was four of you." She said then shrugs. "oh well." She adds and starts to load them up. Looks like you Birdies get to go on a Zoo tour." She explained. "Isn't that exciting." She was secretly hoping the other Zoos would keep them, after all these birds really freaked her out. Sometimes she swore they were watching her. She suppresses a shiver as she finishes loading them up, Placing Private with his uncle and putting the other three in separate crates.

"It's alright old bean." Nigel assured him. "We're going to have a smashing time. Where are the others going, by the way?"

"You heard Alice, Zoo Tour." Private lied with almost complete ease. Uncle or not he hated lying to him, but he was a civilian after all, and classified means classified. He smiles, looks like he was getting practice after all. "So you said your brother and you played sports in the Outback?"

"Why yes, your father was quite a pro at Miniature golf." Nigel revealed.

"Mini GOLF!" Private exclaimed.

"I know, I use to poke fun too." Nigel giggled. "But now that he's gone, I play a game at least once a year to...honor him." He explained.

"That's so...wow..." Private sniffled. "I bet he would have loved to play with you."

"He would have." Nigel agreed. "But seeing us play together, now that would make him proud."

Private smiled. He was really starting to warm up to Nigel; so much so he was starting to hope they were related. An idea that still made him feel guilty when he really thought about it. So naturally, he didn't.

(Back with Skipper)

He didn't have any illusions about the task ahead of him. Skipper was heading straight into the dark heart of the animal criminal underworld. Las Vegas, because of course it would be, the Silverton Aquarium to be exact. A place so deadly it made Hoboken look like a petting Zoo, sure New Jersey was no picnic. However, at least there animals still had to pretend to be dumb.

In Vegas, the criminal empire laid just below the actual city, and it was just as big, maybe even bigger. The underground had many Zoo entrances, but the Silverton Aquarium was by far the most dangerous. Which is why Skipper was going in, he already had a solo mission under his belt which made him the most experience.

Thankfully, the cross-country trip was uneventful, and Skipper soon arrived at his destination. Long trips always made him groggy, but he couldn't waste any time with sleep. As soon as the Zoo personnel got him acquainted in his new habitat he had set to work on a disguise. He knew the underground wouldn't let him in unless he looked the part. Besides if Blowhole did have connections here it would best not to look like the mammal's newest arch nemesis. Raiding the local Zoovineir shop had been easy, and skipper soon dawned one of his chosen disguise.

Two-Bit Hood Jack the Knife- was just one of three aliases that he had created for himself. Being a new face there was only way he would get information in the heart of the underworld. Skipper or bet yet Jack, would have to gamble for it. Sporting an eyepatch and a fake curly mustache Jack spun his dagger expertly as he stalked the darken walkways of the Zoo. He was lucky that he arrived so late in the night, it meant he could get right to work.

Now all he needed was to find the entrance. According to the recovered Northwind files it was rumored to be located at the south end. Jack headed that way and was hit with a stroke of luck, just as he rounded the corner he sees a few rough looking magpie geese as they disappeared behind a revolving statue.

Jack walks over with sure confidence, resisting the urge to run and try to catch it before it closes. He didn't want to look desperate or stick out, so he stopped to admire the stone Sealion before him.

"Need help newcomer?" A voice hissed from behind him.

Jack didn't flinched as a long Boa constrictor slivered up beside him. "Names Jack." He said curtly.

"Bo." The boa hissed.

"Bo the boa." Jack snickered. "A bit on the nose don't you think?"

"Perhaps." The snake hissed a response. "What brings you around these parts."

"Just wanna try my luck." Jack answered honestly. He kept his answers as vague as possible he didn't want to show all his cards before he was even in the door.

"Well, you've come to the right place." Bo assured him. "How good is your hand?"

"Depends." Jack growled. "You looking to mooch of my earnings?"

"Depends, you looking to get in?" Bo hiss dangerously.

Jack smiled a wicked smile, one that would surely make his brothers shiver. "Well when you put it that way. My hand is pure gold, in fact I never lose."

Bo returns the smile, His dagger teeth gleaming in the light of the still rising moon. He slashes his tail up to pull a hidden lever just under the seals left flipper. "Then allow me to be the first to welcome you."

The statue revolves revealing the secret entrance that he just saw, and Bo leads him inside. Jack follows the reptile down a long corridor that opens up a large casino. This was what he came for, the heart of the criminal underbelly.

"Welcome." Bo hissed. "To the Underground."

Jack smiles as he takes in the overcrowded tables full of criminals. He had done it, he was in; now there was only one thing left to do. "Let's try our luck."

(Back with Kowalski)

He was ashamed to admit that he had gone to bed, but really he didn't have much to do. After he had arrived at SeaQuest Aquarium there want much for him to do but set up his laptop and wait. The computer had been salvaged from the Northwind Headquarters; it's hard drive was wiped but that was fine. Thanks to their retrieved data he was able to find a back door into the Undergrounds dark web with relative ease.

Of course the dark web of the animal kingdom was similar to its human counterpart. It was dark region of the cyber universe where criminals and the big bad supervillains got together. Whether it was to scheme, brag about their past exploits, or sell dangerous weapons the dark web provided all. However, this where the similarities ended. Since most animals couldn't reads, the dark web mostly pertained to live chats, posted videos, and illustrations.

His task was to help out Rico, masquerading as a weapons smuggler, Rico needed his merchandise on the dark web. However, not bring computer savvy he needed Kowalski to upload his product for him. So once he was in the first thing he did was make a page for Rico's Alias: Ajax, He listed several weapons and prices along with some pre-taken pictures of the various weapons Rico had on his person.

Finally he added the number of Rico's communicator so his brother could take care of the costumers from there. Afterwards he had to make yet another page for himself; as Brainiac he would be posing as a mad scientist. "Shouldn't be too hard." He said out load to himself. "I just need to make dangerous weapons that end in destruction and laugh maniacally to myself."

He practice a long-winded laugh only to give way to a coughing fit. "Okay, need to work on that." He noted. He looked around his small workspace and couldn't help but feel cramped, this was nothing like the icefloe back to home. Here the penguin exhibit was a concrete pool with a few nooks that could be used as a sleeping area. It was a far cry from what he was use to when it came to lab space, and it was obvious this was going to a tight squeeze. Still, roughing it was all a part of the mission and in the first few hours of his arrival Kowalski had salvaged various things for his new secret lab.

Most of his supplies had been taken from the Zoo's medical bay, such as his beakers, small bottes and hot plates. He only took the bare minimum, after all he was posing as a mad scientist, and he would be engaging with other evil scientist via web videos. He needed his background to look the part, so he added a scale, a pack of mini tools, a funnel, and a few flask for good measure. He snatches a mini fridge which je converts into a shelf as well as a small cooler to act as a table and as well as extra storage.

Oh yes it was a tight fit, but his props were a big piece of his role, in a way they were a part of his disguise. Speaking of Kowalski slipped into attire once he had return. He had stollen the cloak off of one of the plushies in the zoovineir shop. It was strange dark purple in hue, but it served its purpose by his most of his features. Since he was infiltrating the most likely community that Blowhole would be a part of Kowalski could risk giving away any of his features. If the dolphin guessed he was a penguin than he just might catch on to his real agenda.

Yes if any of them was going to be the whistle blower it was him. With this in mind he made sure nothing was exposed, nit his feet, or a flipper, not even his beak. Better safe than sorry after all, satisfied with his work he decided to get some much-needed sleep.

After all there wasn't anything he could do until the other scientist saw his page and too his bait.

(Back with Rico)

He probably had it the easiest, and in a way that made it all the more dangerous.

For you see Rico was not dropped off at a Zoo. No he was slotted to arrive at Shark Reef Aquarium, but his transport was met with a convenient accident. Rico had broken containment and knocked out his driver, before escaping to the sewards. It was of course all a part of the plan, he couldn't sell weapons out in the open in some Zoo. No criminal would risk being spotted like that, so Rico or Ajax as he was now known as, set up shop underground before letting Kowalski know his location.

Once he was done all there was to do was wait, and that was the dangerous part. Rico was known to do some reckless things when he was bored and with no Skipper to stop him…He didn't even let the idea finish in his mind before moving on to something else.

He took stock of all his weapons and made sure they were supplied with the necessary tracking chips. After all it wasn't like he wanted criminals to keep the weapons he was selling. No, this was a part his cover and the team would use the trackers to reacquire them later. When that was done he clean them, displayed them; done pretty much anything you could think of to keep busy.

Needless to say it was a long night that gave way into a slow crawl to madness.

Skipper had to be short a few marbles to think he could manage this on his own, and yet he did. Skipper expected him to do this, was depending on him to be successful. With that thought fresh on his mind he took up patrol around his base trying his best to be patient. Clients would come soon and then he would have plenty to do to keep him distracted.

(Back with Skipper)

He hadn't been lying when he said he had a lucky hand. Jack the Knife; who had started off as a nobody when he reached the poker table. Now had every no time crook around him eating out of his flipper. He had won six hands already, and as agreed he shared a good bit of those winnings with Bo.

It was a good thing too because Bo just happened to be everyone's best friend. There wasn't a single crook who didn't know him. He was the life of the party, putting the others at ease and making Jack's job easier than it already was. Before long everyone's guard was done, and the thugs had started with some small talk.

"So stranger, what brings you to these parts?" A Komodo dragon by the name of Julius asked as they started another hand.

"Information." Jack answered honestly, not looking up from his cards. "I don't do much work, just enough to get some action when the need arises. And right now, I've been craving more than the usual thrill if you know what I mean."

"Oh I see." Bo laughed. "You the contractors slump."

"What now?" Jack asked giving him a confused look.

"Oh I'm sure you've hear of it." A stripped black and white feline purred from his left. She had introduced herself as Mittens. Jack almost burst out laughing at that but managed to keep his composure. "You may call it something else, but basically you get in this rut. Your usual jobs don't give you any excitement anymore."

"Oh you mean the funk?" Jack shook his head. "If that is what this is than it isn't hitting me the way it usually does." He sighed. "Everything's just gotten so predictable lately."

"Predictable?" Julius asked. "Sounds like you need something newfangled and unpredictable, like one of them new upcoming criminals."

Jack shook his head. "I usually stay a way from the wannabees, no offense but they tend to be messy and make all kind of newbie mistakes."

"Yeah, that's what makes it thrilling!" Bo reasoned. "Besides no all the newcomers are so green, why there's this one guy who managed to get an entire government agency to go ghost single handedly."

Jack cocked a none existing brow. That sounded a lot like what Blowhole did to Northwind. Could this be it? He gotten his first break in just one night's worth of gambling. "Really, how did he manage that?"

"He tricked one of their agents into giving him a list of all their fellow agents, the whole lot of them was compromised. He got their names, family members, home addresses and shared it on the dark web."

Okay that sounded exactly like what happened to Northwind.

"What did they do?" Jack asked.

"They ran scared, went into hiding, now it's pretty much a lawless world." Mittens answered.

"New guy did that?" Jack sounds impressed. "Must have quiet a had on his shoulders." He looks thoughtful. "You know maybe you're all right, maybe I've underestimated the fresh material our world has to offer. You wouldn't happen to know where I can find this guy would you?"

Afraid not, he gone quiet recently, we keep waiting for some big scheme to be revealed. After all what's the point in getting rid of the enemy unless you got some plan." Bo reasoned.

Jack nodded. Of course he knew Blowhole did have a plan, he also knew he and his brother's had stopped him for the time being. Still he was bound to try again, the mammal had screamed for vengeance after all. "Well that's a shame, and here I was getting hopeful." He looks pretty put out.

Mittens takes the base. "We'll let know if we here anything else. Right boys?" She as ked the other two.

"Well of course, we know times is hard, even with no agents getting in the way There's just too many contractors out there and not a lot of villains hiring."

"It's the new generation and their fancy tech that is to blame. "Mittens hissed. "Stealing our jobs."

"Dang pencil pushers." Jack shook his head. "I've always been a brute force guy myself."

"Man I knew I liked you." Bo laughed showing his hand.

The others do the same.

"And Jack wins again." Bo mused. "If I didn't know better I'd say you were cheating."

"What if I am?" Jack wagered. "You're still winning with how much I'm paying you for."

"Well I'm not." Mittens reminded him. "So you better be playing clean."

Jack smiled, He knew good and well they were all cheating, after all they were criminals, but he shrugged. "Why Mittens I would never." He winked.

"Don't think you can distract me with that charm either, I'm immune to such tactics."

"Noted." Jack said as he dealt the nest hand. He knows these three have nothing more to give as of now, but he still had a role to play. 'Since the underworld hadn't heard from blowhole since his little stunt with Northwind then he must still be laying low.' He thought to himself. 'He's probably trying to recreate his revenge on the humans.' Of course this meant he would try to flood the planet once more. A scheme that could take many years to prepare.

His only hope was that they'd find him before it was ready, after all last time had been cutting it way too close.

-To Be Continued