Camaraderie ch.51- Descent into madness

"What?!" Becky and Stacy gasped.

"She can't!" Mason said.

"I oughta punch 'er." Joey grumbled.

"We can take care of it." Bing said, Bada cracked his knuckles.

"What's happening?"

"Where are we going to go?"

"Is she shipping us off?"

"What about that Sarah lady?" Logan said.

"Yeah, can't she do anything?" Izzy said.

"I have to agree with the beaver and the otter." Nat said. "Come on, Captain Paranoia, talk to her and get her to-"

"ONE, stop calling me names."

"Beats Flatty."

"AND two, I've already spoken to her." Skipper said. "She said she's working on it, but she has to deal with tons of other animals right now."

"What about Julien?"

The room went silent, Mikayla blushed.

"Never mind…" she squeaked.

"No, that's a fair point." Kowalski said. "If we had Julien's upbeat personality back, we could be further along in our goal to regain the excitement of Central Park Zoo."

"That's right; I remember one time when he started a competition." Private said. "He tried to see who the most exciting animal was; we had flocks of visitors and everything."

"The thing is, I have no idea how to get Julien back." Skipper said. "He's basically a zomb-"

"ZOMBIE!" Kowalski shrieked. He cleared his throat and blushed. "Sorry…"

"Zombie now…" Skipper continued. "We need to get him to snap out of it. Leave it to us, we'll think of something."

"Well, when he lost his crown he did speak very poetically." Marlene said. "Then again, he lost something more important than a crown…"

"He needs to be reminded that he still has Maya." Maurice said. "We almost lost her twice before Josie even got to hold her."

"Say what?" Rikki asked.

"Josie got hit by a piece of glass in the stomach when she was a few months pregnant." Skipper said.

"And Maya experienced slight respiratory failure immediately after birth." Kowalski said. "Luckily a scientist is always prepared."

"Luckily Rico has a bottomless gut." Private said.

Kowalski aimed a slap which was dodged.

"Don't sass me."

"Don't be smug."

"Okay, no one said little brothers were sassy and cheeky." Kowalski said.

Private giggled.

"Alright, dismissed." Skipper said. "I need a break…I need someone on recon."

"I suppose I'll do it." Kowalski said.

Skipper nodded.

The animals returned to their habitats to relax.

Kowalski climbed on top of the clock tower and yawned.

It was past midnight and the zoo was silent. A shadow approached the lemur habitat. It went over the wall and stopped. Four sleeping lemurs were visible. Mort was lightly snoring in his box; Maurice and Maya were asleep on the bouncy; and Julien was asleep on his throne. The shadow came towards Julien.

Julien shivered as the wintery breeze went through his fur. He grabbed for a blanket, but felt none. He groaned slightly and opened his eyes. He remembered that he didn't bring a blanket. He sighed and stepped down from his throne. A movement caught his eye. The shadowed figure hid in the bushes.

"Who are you?" Julien asked it.

Silence…

"What's going on?" Julien asked tiredly. His eyelids felt heavy and he fell on the ground, returning to sleep.

Three days later, Skipper was holding another meeting in the shop to tell the animals that Sarah was sending someone over to help them.

Skipper explained that they had a very small group of humans who had been helped at one time or another by their friends (the Antarctic Force).

These humans had promised never to tell the secrets of the animals. They were trusted to assist when necessary and to hide the truth from the rest of the population. There were a few of those humans who built underground headquarters for animal agents all over the world. He knew of one somewhere in Virginia, though he didn't tell the other animals that.

They saw a woman conversing with Alice the day before and decided to let the other animals know what was happening.

"All that we know about her is that her name is Bianca." Skipper said. "She was in a boating accident when she was little and was rescued by some of our friends. She told Alice that she's working for Sarah who could not make it. Basically, Bianca's telling Alice that Sarah is willing to help Central Park Zoo stay opened. They're going to meet again tomorrow to discuss how this is possible. That is all you need to know."

The other animals sighed, but accepted this. To get information out of a penguin was a bit hard, but getting exact details was difficult. There was so much classified information, but no one was allowed to know too much.

The four boys and Rocky entered the HQ to receive an incoming transmission.

Rocky, who could roughly write out words, held up a board that said 'Hello'

"Hello." Bianca said. "I trust you are all alone?"

The penguins nodded.

"General Kent has asked me to assist you." She continued. "After speaking with your zookeeper, Alice, I have learned that she does not think this zoo can open. The reason for this is that she can tell that the animals have no energy left. This is because of a recent death, am I correct?"

They nodded again.

"I am sorry about that."

She saw Skipper say something to another penguin who held up the board.

"I don't know when the zoo can open again, but I promise that I'll try my best. She is very suspicious of you and there are still people wondering about the whole 'Jack Sullivan' incident. Alice said that she needs to know this won't happen again."

Rocky wrote on the board.

"Are you sure you want that?"

Skipper nodded.

"And you think that will help with security?"

Skipper shrugged. Bianca laughed.

"Alright, I'll pass the message along. In the meantime, try to get zoo spirit up- what's wrong?"

She noticed their confused looks and heard a strange noise.

Skipper squawked and exited, the others following him. Private turned back to the television.

"It's alright." Bianca said. "Thank you."

Private nodded and turned off the transmission. He exited the hatch to find that Julien was running around and yelling.

"What the deuce?" Skipper said.

"What's going on?"

"RINGTAIL!"

Julien skidded to a stop and looked wildly around. "I saw her…I saw Josie!" he laughed insanely. "She's alive! I saw her."

"Is madness one of the five stages of grief?" Rocky asked.

Kowalski shook his head.

Skipper made eye contact with the frantic lemur. Excitement and anxiety filled the lemur's eyes, but there wasn't a hint of a lie. As far as Skipper could tell, Julien was telling the truth in that he truly believed Josie had come back.

Everyone was silent as they looked at Julien. He made eye contact with everyone else, trying to get them to see that he was not lying to them.

"Please…please be believing me…" Julien whispered. It wasn't his usual air of dignity, but a plea for acceptance. He'd always demanded and ordered what he wanted, but now he looked utterly helpless. His fur was a mess and he was in desperate need of a bath.

"I'm sorry, but there is no way she can be back." Skipper said.

"But-"

"No, Ringtail, it's impossible."

"Dere is a way!" Julien insisted. "She came back because the sky spirits-"

"Stop." Skipper said. "She can't come back. If these so called 'sky spirits' could bring back the dead then there would be less of a need for funerals. If the sky spirits existed, they would have brought your mother back along with Maurice's mother, Mort's parents, Private's father, My father and brothers, Kowalski's friend, Rico's mother…need I go on?"

Julien stared at Skipper, his face empty of emotion. Only pain was seen in his eyes.

"What about Juliana?" Skipper said. "Wouldn't the sky spirits have brought her back too? This is all in your head, Julien. The dead are at peace and you need to-what?"

Julien's mouth had moved slightly.

"Speak up, Ringtail."

"I said shut up." Julien said.

"Shut up about what?" Skipper asked. "Shut up trying to convince you that the sky spirits aren't real, or shut up trying to convince you that Josie and Juliana are dead."

"Dey are NOT dead." Julien snapped, his eyes filled with fury.

"They are. The sooner you accept that-"

"YOU SHUT YOUR STUPID MOUTH!" Julien screamed.

"Hate to contradict you, but this is a beak." Skipper said quite calmly. "And it is neither stupid nor smart."

Kowalski opened his mouth, but was silenced by Skipper's glare.

"Fine…" Julien growled. "Then be explaining to me who was moving around last night if it was not my Josie?"

"I had to pee." Nat said. "And yes, I do sleep in the lemur habitat sometimes."

"So, it was not my Josie?"

"I can barely sleep some nights; I was awake when I heard you mumbling." Nat said. "Your Royal foolishness was sleep-talking. I didn't see anyone who didn't look like they belonged here."

"I woke up to put a blanket on you." Maurice said. "There really wasn't anyone there last night."

Julien trembled. "I-I imagined all of it? So…Josie…Juliana…gone…"

"Dada?" Maya said, wandering over to Julien.

"No, it cannot be." Julien said. "I will prove to you that Josie is alive."

"Dada." She poked him.

Julien crossed his arms and fixed Skipper with a glare. Skipper returned it.

"Dada!" She poked him harder.

"STOP IT!" Julien yelled.

Maya stared at Julien, tears filling her eyes. His face was contorted in rage. Maya whimpered.

"Julien, stop!" Kowalski said. "Don't be a fool. Just accept the deaths and take care of Maya!"

Julien let out a furious yell and lunged at the penguin.

Skipper jumped in the way and was tackled down by Julien. The penguin managed to slide out and kick Julien in the side.

"Wipe your mouth." Skipper said coldly.

Julien dragged his arm across his mouth to discover that spit had gathered at the corners, giving him an even scarier appearance. He breathed heavily as he watched the appalled animals leave. Maya had buried her face into Maurice's shoulder and shook with sobs.

"And wake up." Skipper said.

Julien's body shook. The animals looked concerned.

"…eh…hehe…"

"Julien?" Marlene said.

Julien looked up; a forced smile plastered itself on his face. His eyes were cold looking and his pupils were small. His laughter became a loud cackle, causing the others cringe and back away.

"He's gone…" Kowalski whispered.

"Huh? Where'd he go? I still hear him." Rikki said.

"Yes, the lemur is still there, but the egotistical king is gone. He's gone off the deep end…"

"There's nothing we can do to help him." Skipper said, turning away from the lemur. "He's on his own."

"Skipper, you can't be serious!" Private said. "He's our friend, we have to-"

Kowalski put up his flipper, causing the younger one to close his beak. The brothers made eye contact. Private sighed.

"We have more pressing matters to concern ourselves with." Rocky said. "I understand my brother without question and I accept his decision without question as well."

"I-"

"You should do the same, Private." Skipper said.

Private wanted to argue back, but Skipper had already gone. Everyone returned to their respective habitats except for him and Julien. Private looked at Julien.

"You believe me, don't you?" Julien asked, hopeful

I honestly don't know anymore.

"You have to…" Pleading

Do I?

"We never argue…you and me, we tight…right?" Desperate

It's true we've never had arguments or big fights, but I-I just don't know.

"Private, I saw her. I saw her and I will prove it." Angrily determined

Julien…

"AHAHAHA! I WILL PROVE IT TO ALL YOU STINKY ANIMALS!" Descent

What have you become?

"It's fine…" Julien laughed. "I don't CARE if you don't believe me! I will get her myself. I will bring back my Josie and Juliana and I won't let anyone get in my way!" Madness

Who are you?

"I am JULIEN!" Disappearing

"Are you?"

"SHUT UP! YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME!"Julien screamed. Gone?

"I believe that you are traumatized." Private said, trying not to show his fear. "I know how-"

"YOU DON'T KNOW HOW I FEEL!"

"Oh yeah?!" Private snapped, his eyes filling with hot tears. "You don't know what I've seen…I saw battle…So many bodies…I saw blood…madness…I saw Byron die in front of me…I saw Johnny's insanity in his last hours and…Jo-Joh…JOHNSON BLOODY DIED ON ME!" He had never used that word against anyone, but he was too upset to stop and his tears couldn't be held back anymore. "WE WERE ALMOST THERE! He could have made it…I dragged his dying body back…away from the other bodies that were already DEAD and I tried to save him…Maybe they weren't as close to me as Josie was, but I still felt the pain. You have no idea how guilty I still feel for Johnson's death!" He stared Julien in the eyes. "But I never went insane about it. Yes, I had nightmares, but I also had friends who supported me. On the contrary, it's you who doesn't know how we feel."

Private inhaled sharply and made a break for the penguin habitat without waiting for a response. He zipped down the hatch and ran into someone.

"Private."

"S-Skipper…" He cried into his leader's chest.

"You still feel guilty?"

"I-I'm sorry…"

"Look at me."

Watery eyes met the leader's darker ones. Kowalski hugged his brother.

"Don't be sorry." Skipper said. "You shouldn't be sorry for losing your temper or for feeling guilty. To be honest, Johnson would have died even if you had succeeded. He was already gone."

"I don't want Julien to be gone too." Private said.

"Neither do we." Skipper said. He looked around at the penguins.

…

…

"I am not infested with the crazies…I know it…" Julien muttered to himself. He was hiding out by a trash can near the front gate. "I don't know…am I crazy? Sky spirits, I needs your help! I want to know that I am not imagining things."

"You're not imagining me."

Julien whipped around and squinted into the shadows. He gasped and his eyes widened.

"Kowalski imagined his friend Emma. But me, I'm not imaginary."

"I knew it." He whispered softly.

The figure moved forward.

"Josie…"