Camaraderie ch. 54- Breakdown

"Skipper, what are you doing?!"

Marlene ducked as Skipper swung a bat at her head.

Kowalski and Mikayla ran towards them as Skipper aimed another blow.

"Mikayla, go get Rico! Marlene, get out of there!" Kowalski shouted.

Mikayla bolted from the HQ, yelling Rico's name.

Marlene managed to do a barrel roll and ended up narrowly missing the bat. She scrambled to her feet as Kowalski ran past her to block Skipper.

"What the heck are you doing?!" Kowalski asked as he ducked.

"INTRUDER! YOU WILL BE DESTROYED!"

"Skipper, it's me, Kowalski!"

He continued to evade Skipper's attacks as he tried to figure out why his leader wasn't responding.

"Skipper, what's going on? Why is this happening?" Marlene asked.

Skipper seemed unable to hear her and continued to grunt as he tried to hit Kowalski.

"Skipper?" Private called as he followed Rocky and Rico inside.

"Get Marlene out of here!" Kowalski yelled.

"No, I want to help!" Marlene said.

Kowalski was about to respond when Rico hacked up his new crowbar and blocked the bat from hitting Kowalski in his moment of distraction.

"His eyes are red!" Rocky said.

Rico and Skipper continued the duel until Rico's crowbar was knocked from his flippers. Skipper swung the bat around, making contact with Rocky.

Rocky hadn't managed to dodge in time and ended up crashing into the wall, unconscious.

Marlene grabbed the crowbar and made a mad dash towards Skipper. He nearly hit her, but she managed to disarm him. She lowered the bar, not wanting to hit him again.

Skipper lunged for the bat, but was tackled back by Kowalski. Rico hurriedly swallowed the bat and crowbar before going to Kowalski's aid.

The two of them managed to knock out their leader while Private and Marlene dragged Rocky to safety. They placed her on her bed and watched as Skipper was strapped down to a table. Marlene went to the other side of the table, looking anxiously at Skipper.

"Rico, metal detector."

Rico regurgitated a metal detector along with a small laser.

The machine began beeping almost immediately. They turned him over and the beeping became louder. Kowalski got a flashlight and began pressing his flipper along Skipper's upper back. He remembered his leader complaining about a strange itch.

Mikayla and Rikki came back in and helped Private with Rocky. She was given a cold compress for her forehead and Rikki was able to detect that her vital signs were normal and she was breathing well.

"Ah, there you are." Kowalski muttered. He squinted and zapped the laser at a spot on Skipper's spine.

Rico picked up an object that was emitting smoke. It looked like a tick.

"Put it in a bag, I'll analyze it in the lab."

Rico nodded and brought it to Kowalski's lab. When he returned, they turned Skipper over and strapped him down again to be safe.

Skipper groaned and coughed. His eyes shot open when he realized he couldn't move his flipper.

"What the deuce?"

"What's your name and rank?" Kowalski asked.

"Skipper Sorenson…technically Commander, I think…dunno and really don't care. What's going on?"

"You kind of went crazy and started whacking people with a bat." Rikki said, staring at Private. He jumped and turned her head.

"Are you okay?" Marlene asked.

"I remember someone coming in and I felt really odd…did I hurt you?" He asked.

"No, I'm fine." Marlene said.

"I don't buy that. I almost hurt you, didn't I?" Skipper rubbed his flipper once Kowalski unstrapped him. He opened his beak, but spotted his sister. "ROCKY!"

"She'll be alright." Private said.

"I hurt her…"

"Skipper, a tick-like object was found on you." Kowalski reported. "I am going to analyze it in the lab. Rico, follow me. Rikki, Mikayla, I saw a few frightened animals. Please reassure them that it was a small thing and that everything is alright now."

The two of them nodded and left.

Rocky groaned and rubbed her head, accidentally knocking the cold compress off.

"How do you feel?" Private asked.

"Like I'm the thing they stand golf balls on and a really bad player hit me with a baseball bat…" Rocky answered.

"I-I'm sorry…" Skipper said hoarsely

"It wasn't your fault." Marlene said, reaching out a consoling hand.

He jerked away. "No, it is…It's always me. I have a responsibility to the team…and to the zoo…and I-I could have killed someone!"

"But you didn't. I'm fine, really!" Rocky said. "I've had worse, believe me. I had three older brothers and you."

"No...I could have hurt someone outside our team and I nearly did."

"Skipper, I'm alright." Marlene said, trying again to touch his flipper.

Skipper backed away. "I-I can't…we can't…Marlene, it's too dangerous…we can't do this…"

"Can't what?"

"Skipper, don't." Rocky said.

Private opened and shut his beak several times, uncertain of what to say.

"We can't do this…us…we can't be together…"

"What are you saying?" Marlene said, trying not to betray emotion.

"For your safety…we can't be together. You can still be the option to babysit the kids, but…we can't be this close. It's too dangerous."

"You can make it work, right?" Private asked.

"No, Private. The closer bonds we make with others, the easier it is to get hurt if they are targeted. Marlene, I'm sorry, but we can't be together." Skipper said with a blank expression.

"I understand." Marlene said with equal blankness. "I'll be going now…see you around."

Rocky and Private's jaws dropped as Marlene left the HQ. Skipper sat on the table as if nothing had happened.

"What was that?" Rocky asked angrily. "Are you an idiot? She's into you and you're into her, why did you do that?"

"You should go too."

"Excuse me?!"

"Skipper, that's a bit harsh." Private said. "She's your sister-"

"And therefore in more danger the longer she stays."

"I am NOT in any more danger than you are." Rocky said fiercely.

"If you'll feel your head for a bump or sore spot, you'll see where I'm coming from. We can't be soft anymore. We have to be hardened soldiers, ready for anything."

Rocky was so furious, Private could have sworn he saw steam coming out her ear holes. At that moment, Kowalski and Rico came out of the lab and Skipper retreated to a corner.

"What are you doing, sir?" Kowalski asked, taking note of the tension.

"Creating our training schedules, soldier." Skipper said. "We've gotten far too soft and this changes now. Up top, men."

The others followed him to the top, Rocky glared at him the whole way and he ignored her.

"Everyone was a little nervous, but it's alright now." Mikayla said. "Er…what's going on?" She asked, looking between Skipper and Rocky.

"Civilians are not allowed in our HQ." Skipper said. "What's he doing here?" He pointed to the baby penguin in Rikki's flippers.

"Marlene said it was your turn…" Mikayla said. "And what do you mean by not allowed? Where are we supposed to sleep and hang out?"

"Don't know, don't care." Skipper said. "Are you a part of the team or not?" He asked Rocky.

"Not with you acting like that." Rocky huffed.

"Fine with me, you're considered a civilian and are therefore not allowed inside HQ."

"Skipper, I analyzed the tick and-"

"Not in front of civilians, Kowalski." Skipper snapped. "Cadet Tyson, are you willing to be a part of this team?"

Tyson jumped, startled at the harshness of tone. "Mana?"

"If you are to be a soldier in these ranks, you can't play games."

Tyson looked at the others. "Dada?"

"I'm not your dad, kid, the sooner you accept that the better."

"Skipper!" Mikayla said in shock. "H-he's a baby!"

"And he is to you as Maya is to Julien." Private said. "Neither of you are blood related, but you both love your adopted children a-"

"Love is not an option." Skipper snarled. "If we are to be an elite team, we need to get rid of sappy emotions and if that's too hard for you, then leave the team."

Private looked like he was about to cry.

"Skipper, I must tell you that this is going too far." Kowalski said.

"No it isn't. Anyone who still wants to be a part of this team can join me in there. Anyone who isn't up to being a soldier can stay up top."

Skipper zipped into the HQ, closing the hatch as he did so.

The other penguins looked around at each other, lost for words. Kowalski decided to explain that somehow, a robotic tick had taken over Skipper's mind and caused him to go crazy. He was unsure of where exactly it came from and why Skipper had such a terrible reaction.

Tyson realized after a while that Skipper wasn't coming back and he started to cry.

"Let's get him a snow cone." Kowalski suggested. "I bet we'd all love one."

"Sure." Rikki said.

"Alright." Mikayla said.

"Not in the mood." Rocky said.

Rico and Private stared at the hatch.

"Rico and I will still be on the team." Kowalski said. "Private, I am giving you the responsibility of looking after the zoo."

"But-"

"I don't want you getting hurt." Kowalski said. "This is the best way to make sure you and everyone else are safe."

"So, I should take them for snow cones?"

"Sure, Rocky can go with you."

Private pulled Rocky along before she could object.

"I swear that this is not something planned between Skipper and I this time." Kowalski said.

Rico had disappeared into the HQ. Kowalski found him staring at Skipper.

"There's no use in arguing." Kowalski said. "For now, we act as if this is normal. Rikki will be fine."

"Did I give you permission to talk behind my back?" Skipper growled.

"No sir, sorry." Kowalski said.

"Where's the Private?"

"He-"

"Left the team. Figures." Skipper scoffed as he rifled through classified files. "Men, I want this place to have increased security."

"But our security is-"

"WEAK! IT'S WEAK AND YOU KNOW IT! I WANT IT FIXED NOW!" He had dropped the files and ran up to Kowalski, slapping him.

Rico growled.

"You got a problem, soldier?" Skipper snapped, poking Rico in the chest.

"No, he has no problem, sir." Kowalski said.

"I wasn't asking you."

Rico shook his head.

"Good, I want no problems or else you're off the team. Now fix the stupid security system."

"Please." Kowalski whispered.

Rico nodded at Kowalski and slipped off.

SMACK!

Kowalski was thrown to the floor.

"I am the one who gives orders, NOT YOU!" Skipper growled. "How dare you challenge MY authority!"

"I wasn't challenging you, sir."

"Don't do it again!"

"No, sir, never again."

Skipper marched back to his files.

Kowalski went to help Rico.

"Sorry, Rico, but I owe a lot to him."

"Zander."

"He can't act like Zander…not when Johnny was his hero. Our leader is a very complex penguin."

Rico nodded.

"Hello, silly penguins!" Julien's voice rang out.

"Pengy!" Maya squealed.

"Hey, do not be pointing that at the royal booties!"

Rico and Kowalski hurried to the main room to see Skipper holding a cannon, aiming it at the lemurs.

"We have no room for intru-"

"CIVILIANS!" Kowalski yelled, smacking the weapon away. "They're civilians."

"What the hecks is going on?"

"Just get out of here, Julien."

"I am King! I must know what happens."

"Julien, I am going to rip off your arm and stick it in your nose if you don't shut up and leave."

"Shu' up?" Maya said.

"Hey, that's a no-no word!" Julien said.

"ARE YOU TELLING ME TO SHUT UP?" Skipper yelled.

Maya's eyes widened in shock. She scrambled up the ladder and out of sight.

"Good going, bub. Now I gots to track her down."

"GET OUT, IDIOT!"

"Julien, please get Maya and stay away from here for a while."

"Fine, you fishy-smelling penguins are no fun-HEY!"

Skipper had thrown the television remote, missing Julien's head by an inch.

"What's the matter with you? You're acting like that crabby guy who dared to throw my baby over de fence- OKAY, I'M LEAVING!" He shrieked, spotting the cannon back in Skipper's flippers.

Rico swallowed the weapon as Julien's tail disappeared from view.

Skipper smacked the other two penguins.

"THAT is why you should update the security system."

"WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU?" Kowalski yelled.

"Nothing."

"You got a problem, spill it."

"Don't talk to me like that, soldier."

"Fine, Zander."

Skipper growled. "WHAT did you just call me?"

"You heard me." Kowalski said with equal fierceness.

"You're asking for trouble!"

"No, you are. You're acting like Zander. You're pushing everyone away and threatening civilians. Johnny wouldn't have done any of this. If you're going to act like you're the only one who's still affected by everything, then I'm done."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I quit." Kowalski turned on the spot and began to exit.

"He's a coward. Rico, is the securi- Rico? What's that expression for?"

Rico shook his head and followed Kowalski out.

Skipper held his head in pain and then screamed.

"You quit too? FINE, I don't need you. I DON'T NEED ANYONE!"

"That's right, Skipper…you don't need anyone. And that will be your downfall." A shadowed figure chuckled evilly. The penguins had evidentially overlooked the hidden camera. "If you loved my last trick, you're going to really hate this one."

A cloaked animal had been spying on the shadowed one. The spy disappeared quickly and hurried to the meeting location.

"Mr. Rockgut?"

Buck Rockgut jumped and swatted the air.

"It's me."

"Well?"

"He's targeting your teammate's nephew's team captain. Where's your teammate?"

"He went for tea or something…British…" Buck scoffed.

"Nigel's nephew is in trouble and so is his team. The target is Skipper."

"I can't do anything."

"Of course, but I can find someone who can."

"I already did."

"Then why did you say you couldn't-? Never mind, who are you going to send?"

"You."

"WHAT?! You're a crazy old man, there's no way!"

"Whatever happened, GET OVER IT. You know why? Because the enemy is about to strike."

"Skipper won't be happy to see me."

"I don't care. You owe me for saving your butt last month." Buck growled. "Don't groan at me, you know exactly where you'd be without me."

"Fine. Been bribed by an old man…How am I supposed to get there?"

"HAHAHAHA!" Buck laughed. "You can figure that out! See ya." He disappeared in a flash, leaving the cloaked figure alone.

"What have I gotten myself into?"