Author's Notes: Good afternoon, guys I know I've been dragging my feet on this chapter and that's because I'm having a really hard time writing private as Mr. Tux. I'm used to writing about the sweet, nice guy that couldn't hurt a fly. However, I've decided to push through this mental block to get this ball rolling.

Thank you for your patience and on with the story.

(Back with Private…)

He had never been addicted to winning before, mostly because he had never really won at anything before. Maybe that is why he couldn't see it, but everyone else could, and what they saw was the sweet little Private turning into a competitive little monster.

Okay… Nigel would never call his nephew that but…Mr. Tux's head was certainly getting too big for his bow tie. After the amazing news that was the positive DNA test the two had celebrated with a game of minigolf. As was now the regular, Mr. Tux had attracted quite an audience.

It had been a close game with Private taking the lead by only two points, when Nigel had suggested a spot of tea. Private was about to agree when something new happened. An outsider, a Hare from the petting Zoo five blocks away had come over to challenge him in a round of minigolf!

Private wanted to say no, that he had plans to celebrate with his uncle, but Nigel said that would be rude.

"Are you sure?" Private had asked.

"He's already walked all the way here, might as well make it worth his while." Nigel assured him. "Knock the socks off him for me."

And he did! Private won with nearly a perfect game and just like that the floodgates were opened. Soon everyone and anyone who thought they could hit a straight shot came looking to break his winning streak. And with each win Private had become more and more confident and more and more well…obsessed.

Yes, that was a word that Nigel would use. Samuel had been the same way, utterly obsessed with the game, and refused to lose no matter what. Nigel loved his brother, but he didn't tell Private about the times that Samuel was almost unbearable to play with. Now he was starting to regret that.

"You know winning isn't everything." Nigel was telling Private as his nephew lined up his final shot. It was Wednesday now, and they only had a few more days together. Private was playing his third game of the day, against an alley cat by the name of Manny.

"I know." Private said. "But they came all this way to play, so I got to give them my best." He reasoned.

"Yes but, you don't even let the kids win." Nigel lectured softly. "Sally and them deserve to win too."

Private looks apologetic. "Sorry Uncle Nigel, I guess I just got too into it." He admitted. "I promise I'll go a little easier on them next time."

"That's a good lad." Nigel said with a smile.

With that settled, Private took one last swing and landed a perfect shot. "And another one bites the dust." He joked as Manny threw down his putter and stomped off.

Nigel sighs, "Perhaps we've played enough today?" He asked hopefully. "There is so much more I want to show you before you leave Friday morning.

"Alright" Private agrees. "It's about teatime anyhow." He says with a shrug.

Nigel sighs with relief.

"Now wait just a darn tootin 'minute." A voice from the crowd exclaimed.

Private turned around. "Who said that?" he asked.

"It was me!" The crowd parted to reveal an armadillo! Private had seen a few in the outback since he arrived but never this close before.

"Names Kid, the Amarillo Kid, and I've been waiting to play since this morning." he said.

"Well, we're sorry, but Mr. Tux has played all he's going to play today, right?" Nigel said, giving his nephew the side eye.

"Yes, I'm afraid you'll have to come back tomorrow, Kid." Private teased as they began to walk away. He was standing a lot taller than he used to, more proudly and it showed.

So much so that the Kid knew exactly what to say to get under his skin.

"Awe I get it." He said all smugly. "You're chicken! Scared I'll win hu? Mr. Tux."

Private spun back around, his blood boiled hot, with anger and embarrassment. However, before he could say a word Sally stepped in. "He's not scared, Mr. Tux ain't scared of anything."

"Yeah, you tell him." DJ shouted.

"Well Mr. Tux?" Kid teased.

Nigel sighed as Private stomped on over to him, putter in hand. "You're on!"

(Back with Kowalski…)

He wasn't sure what happened, but Kowalski was having a sinking feeling that he did something wrong. Ironically, it had nothing to do with the mission, this being ironic because said mission should be his main focus, and yet…

The problem was with Manfredi and Johnson, the brothers who had been as thick as thieves with him before were now stand offish. Instead of going to watch TV after hours they now conveniently had "other plans". Moreover, they no longer came by to visit, or spent their time with him during meals. No instead they'd watch him and Rico from afar and then excuse themselves quickly when they were confronted.

"It's me, isn't it?" Rico grunted.

The brothers had retreated to their current temporary home just moments before. The Zookeeper, Dilan, had just given them their evening meal.

Kowalski winced at the words, sure he had thought them himself, but the idea! The thought that someone could openly show his brother that amount of disdain! It made his blood boil and see the darkest shade of red imaginable. "I…I don't think so." He managed to say while keeping his rage in check. "They seemed pretty cool with you when I introduced you."

"It's the upchucking." Rico grunted in his usual babble that only a few could understand. "Just had to tell them the knives story."

Kowalski winced. He hadn't meant for the story to repel their attention, honestly, he always thought the story was cool, and being fans of Buck Rutgut, he thought the story would be up their alley. Honestly, he shouldn't even care, but that was the problem. HE DID! He had done something to upset his new friends, and it rubbed him the wrong way. Sure, he could blame it all on Rico's arrival, but he knew that wasn't it.

"They gave you such a warm welcome." He voiced his opinion out loud. "I really don't think it was you."

"Then what?" Rico grunted.

"Not sure." Kowalski says thoughtfully. "But I think we need to get to the bottom of it."

Rico gave him a look.

"Yes, I know the mission is more important, but they are part of our cover, which means this is still about the mission." Kowalski argued.

Rico raises a nonexistent brow, and he caves.

"Fine they're my friends and I need to know I haven't royally screwed that up."

Rico smiles triumphantly at the confession.

"You're a bully, you know that right?" Kowalski only half joked.

Rico shrugs and gets up grunting about fixing this also he can stop being so anxious.

It was odd; feeling this way, Kowalski had never been anxious about how someone felt about him before. Well aside from Eva…but that was a whole can of worms that he wasn't opening up…not never again. Besides, this was different, Manfredi and Johnson had shared some of his interest. They went out of their way to record him a video so he could learn to read. Not only that but they showed promise in a future as commandos during their nightly escapades. So much so that Kowalski was considering presenting them to Skipper as possible additions to the team.

He had to know what he did to jeopardize their friendship, and he would get to the bottom of it or die trying.

It hadn't taken him long to find the brothers, much to their dismay. Oh yes it was obvious in the way that they turned away quickly that they were not happy to be spotted.

"See, don't like me." Rico insisted.

And that was enough of that. Kowalski marched over to the brothers and decided to give them his two sense.

"You know if you have a problem with my brother, you can just Penguin up and say so!" He snapped.

Okay, that was not what Manfredi had been expecting to hear. For the past week now, they had been keeping their distance, but it had nothing to do with Brian's brother. No after they nearly walked in on them a couple of days ago, it was obvious that Brian was not what he seemed.

All the human stuff suddenly made sense, he was a mad scientist, and his brother, if he really was his brother was obviously some kind of assistant or test dummy. Or so he thought, with every passing day Johnson was less and less convinced.

"It just doesn't match the guy we've come to know." He argued.

"We saw him!" Johnson insisted.

"Yes, they saw, but what they saw was a lot more than just one very questionable experiment on a living test subject. No, since then the brothers had overheard conversations about the dark web, secret video messages and some guy named Doc!

The experiments they could explain away, but the expert sneaking around and now this, Axl and Brian were starting to sound more and more like spies with every passing day.

Which brings them back this moment. With Brian marching over in an angry fuss Manfredi and Johnson were convinced they had been found out. Now they were presented with this, was it a front? A clever ploy to see how much they know.

Johnson didn't think so, Brian looked genuinely angry, and Axl looked warry and hurt…like he could actually be the reason why the new friendship was suddenly not working out. Oh no, had they really blown this whole thing out of proportion? Did they allow their obsession with Buck to drive off another friend? It wouldn't be their first time that their aspiration to be commandos had gotten them in a similar situation. Heck, most of their accidents started trying to copy Buck, still the secrets! The new brothers were keeping something from them, but maybe driving a wedge between the four of them wasn't getting the desired results.

They couldn't know the truth if Brian decided to cut ties completely, and with the reach out program ending soon they were pressed on time.

So, without much talk Johnson took the lead. "It has nothing to do with Axl!" He blurted out. Okay so he took the lead, that didn't mean he had a plan.

"But you admit it's something!" Brian shouted as if to say HA I GOT YOU!

"We saw you." Manfredi surprised his brother by being honest.

"Saw….me?" Brian looks lost, but Manfredi doesn't back down.

He decides if he's honest then Brian will be honest in return. "The mad science experiments!" He whispered. "We saw you!" he can actually see when it clicks in his friend's mind.

"Oh that, I record my test and share my findings with other animals of my aspirations. But of course, animal testing even from a willing participant like Axl is still shady so we post it on a dark web of sorts."

It's explained so smoothly, it's almost too smooth, like this guy is used to telling lies that are close but not quite truths.

Still Manfredi had already come to the same conclusion as his brother did. They were learning nothing from the outside. "We'll that's a relief." He forces a laugh. "You had Johnson and I thinking you were some kind of spies."

Kowalski laughs, it's hardy and maybe too enthusiastic?! Seriously he thought these two were good enough to consider before, but they actually had him figured out.

Rico gives the. "Do you want me to knock them out?" look.

Kowalski gives him a meaningful. "Are you crazy?!" look.

It may have been a wordless transaction, but the brothers were forgetting that the other two were also brothers who had the art of wordless conversation down.

"They are so hiding something." Manfredi conveyed with ease.

"Stick close, be ready for anything." Johnson signaled back.

Yes, this was what they had been waiting for, and they would get to the bottom of these two. Friend or foe they would find the truth, no matter what.

(Back with Private…)

He couldn't believe his rotten luck, Private tried to not visibly wince as the Kid sank in another perfect shot. It wasn't easy, the Kid was playing him hole for hole, they both had managed a perfect game so far. It was hard not to sweat under the growing pressure, the crowd had tripled since the Amarillo had come to play.

Still, Mr. Tux wasn't going to let some amateur come in and ruin the one thing he was good at. So, he waltzed up to the next hole like he didn't have a care in the world and lined up his next shot. The Kid was snorting up a storm about how amazing he was and that the goffers from where he was from couldn't putt straight to save their lives. He knows the guy is just trying to mess him up, he needs one bad swing from Private to win this game.

So Private drowned him out and took his swing, it's perfect as always and the crowd cheers.

Nigel breathes a sigh of relief and it's audible. This match had him nervous for more reasons than one. This Amarillo was trying to hustle his nephew, oh he had heard tells of the Amarillo Kid and his raw deals. The guy had a reputation, something he would have warned his nephew if they had ever stopped to have that tea! Now it was far too late, of course this was only the first of many fears.

"Are you worried?" Sally asked him, looking up at him. "You seem worried."

"Private-I mean Mr. Tux seems to have a real competition on his hands for the first time." He told her. "I'm afraid how he'll take it if it doesn't go his way."

"He'll win!" DJ argued, though his voice was soft and meek as he hides behind Nigel.

"I hope it ends soon." Sally adds. "I'm hot, I think I'll go get an ice cream do you want some DJ?" She asked.

"No all they got is strawberry." DJ made a face. "I only like chocolate."

Sally shrugs, "More for me!" She exclaims before slipping away.

This was it, the final hole, if he didn't do something He'd might have to agree to a tie or worse loose his winning streak. Private wasn't sure what came over him, he had lost competitions before, a lot actually. Maybe that was the problem, Skipper turned every training session, every mission into a competition. Needless to say, Private always came in dead last, but not this time, finally he found something that only he was good at.

And now he was about to lose it all.

Or so he thought, the Kid lines up his next shot and surprisingly misses!

"Dang nab it!" The Kid growls. He knows it will be easy to sink the next shot, but it's too late his winning streak is all over…unless. His eyes narrow as he focuses on Mr. Tux, he's lining up for his next shot, what he plans to be his last until.

The Amarillo kid gives a loud sneeze just before he swings and Mr. Tux jumps causing his swing to be slightly off. The ball misses just short of the 18th hole.

"You did that on purpose." Private accused.

"No Fair!" DJ shouted.

The Kid shrug it off as he makes his last swing and makes the hole, all while knocking Privates further away! So far away it's off course.

"Hey he's cheating!" DJ Shouted.

Yes, this is exactly what Nigel wanted to warn Private about. The Kid was known to swindle and cheat to get what he wanted.

"It ain't cheating, it's winning, and if Mr. Tux wants to win, he has to make the shot from there!" He snorts at how outrages it is.

And it is, Private can see it the angle is all off and the wind was not on his side, there was no way he was making that shot, unless…

Unless he had help changing the angle.

He sees his answer as Sally skips int view. She has a double scoop strawberry ice cream, and she has stopped to enjoy it right by the 18th hole. If he aimed it just right, he could bounce it off the cone and change the angle, but…Sally would lose her treat.

"It's no big deal" he thought. "When I win, I can give her another." He lines up to take the shot. "Beside it will be worth it putting this two-face jerk in his place."

Nigel sees his intent. "Private NO!"

It's too late! He makes the swing without hesitation and the shot rings true, hitting the double scoop and propelling the ball right into the 18th hole!

"Ha! In your face kid!" He exclaims as the crowd cheers.

The Amarillo Kid kicks up a fuss. "You ain't seen the last of me Mr. Tux, I'll find you and settle this one day!" He rolls into a ball and takes his leave.

"Ha! Did you see that Shot!" He exclaims to Nigel. "I can't believe it."

"Neither can I" he says his face a look of…. disappointment?

Private stops confused, He follows his uncle's gaze and sees the carnage of his mistake.

Sally's lower lip is trembling as she looks down at her discarded cone. Then she looks up at Private, Mr. Tux her hero, and it's a look of utter heart break and betrayal.

He did that! The guilt is too much, he ripped off his bow tie and walked away, ignoring Nigel's cries. He's too ashamed to face what he's done.

But face it he must, it doesn't take long for Nigel and DJ to find him, hiding in the penguin habitat.

"Don't look at me. I'm a monster." he says, hiding his face in his hands.

Nigel wanted to be cross, but he felt just as responsible in a way. "I knew what the game was doing to you; I should have made you stop."

"And I should have had enough sense to stop on my own." Private cried.

"Not too late. You can fix this." Nigel advised.

"How?" Private cried as he looked up from his shame.

"You can start with sorry!" DJ snapped, surprising him.

What was he thinking! What was he doing! He had no time to be sorry for himself, not when Sally was out there hurt!

"I have to go!" he exclaimed as he runs off.

"At a boy." Nigel says with a relieved look. "I just hope Sally will forgive him."

DJ smiled. "She will, Private just had a moment of stupidity, Sally says all boys do."

Nigel chuckled. "So, we do."

Meanwhile, it didn't take Private long to find her, she was sitting under her favorite tree crying softly. His heart ached at the sight, making him more determined than scared. "Is this seat taken?" He asked softly. When she doesn't respond he sits beside her, "I got you something."

She looks up and sees a new ice cream cone with two scoops of strawberry. "It wasn't about the ice cream." She whines.

"I know, I've been a bit of a jerk lately." He admitted. "I just got so caught up in winning and stopped caring about how I was making others feel. I became a monster. I promise I'll never do it again."

Sally smiles wiping away her tears before grabbing the new cone. "As long as you realized your mistake you can still play with us." She tells him.

"No, I'm never playing that dreadful game ever again." he said gravely.

Sally stops mid lick. "But you love minigolf, and it makes you close to your father and Nigel."

"Doesn't matter." Private said. "It's not worth what I put you through or what I was becoming. I never want to feel that way again."

"Okay…If, you're sure." she says quietly. "I will support you in this decision."

"I am." Private vowed. "From this day forward, I will never play mini golf ever again." He vowed.

And it was a promise he planned to keep.

-To Be Continued