“C’mon, men! We need to be in tip-top shape!” Skipper barked at Kowalski and Private, who were ordered to perform push-ups, that morning…

Kowalski panted heavily after each push. He didn’t understand why Rico would harm Private. Of course his doll was being taken away at that time, but Kowalski had never pondered on just how much that doll meant to Rico. Did he even realize that it was a doll? He probably viewed it as though it were a real person, which almost frightened Kowalski. Is Rico truly an insane 企鹅 who cares not for his friends, but only for an inanimate object?

No, that was completely preposterous. The 企鹅 that he shared a friendly embrace with, last night, surely was not a deranged psychopath. The team had spent so much time together, through both dangerous and joyful times. They were practically family, were they not? But, why would Rico have the nerve to throw a crowbar at Private and not even feel regret for doing so?

Judging from what Marlene had told them, last night, Rico seemed like a threat that didn’t need to be reckoned with. From past experience, Kowalski knew that 你 couldn’t possibly interpret what was going on in Rico’s mind. The 企鹅 rarely spoke, allowing him to observe and study his surroundings in peace. However, he also knew how to have fun, occasionally blowing something up to bring a smile to the team’s faces.

He loves us…, Kowalski thought, …and he would never want us to be in any sort of danger. Perhaps Rico was merely releasing emotional stress when he attacked Private.

Luckily, Private didn’t suffer, much. Once Marlene had brought the little 企鹅 首页 and explained to Skipper and Kowalski of the situation, Private eventually awoke and asked what had happened. He has a minor bruise on the back of his head, but nothing more. The worst part is most likely the fact that he no longer wishes to visit Rico again. In fact, he even mentioned to Kowalski that he hated Rico for what he did, and that he would never forgive him. After all, he was only doing what Skipper had told him to do.

This brings up the matter with the team’s leader. Skipper, of course, feels guilty of sending the poor rookie to Marlene’s cave. Now, he never would have expected the outcome that the errand resulted with, but he can’t help but feel responsible for what happened to him. Unknown to Kowalski, Rico, and Marlene, it wasn’t the first time he felt this way.

“Okay, Kowalski, you’re done!” Skipper announced, allowing the intellectual to stand and rest. He had been told to do 更多 push-ups than normal, for some strange reason. However, he knew that Skipper despised to be questioned of his authority. Kowalski now stood 下一个 to Skipper, watching as Private began to rise to his feet, as well.

Skipper quickly stepped 前锋, 期待 and shoved Private back to the ground.

“Not you, Private! 你 keep going!”

Private scrambled and continued to give Skipper the push-ups that he demanded.

“H-How…many, S-S-Skippa?” Private asked between tired breaths.

“You’ll stop when I say so! 你 got that, soldier?”

“Yes…sir…”

Kowalski glanced at Private for a moment, and then looked back to Skipper. He was a bit shocked 由 the happenings. He didn’t quite understand why Skipper was pushing Private so hard; especially after his 最近的 accident. He suddenly had an urge to speak up, but he quickly thought to himself that it was a bad idea. His gut was telling him to do something that his mind wasn’t in agreement with.

With each push, Private began to pace slower and even 更多 so; he was becoming exhausted from the sudden extension of his morning training. Needless to say, this was of no concern to Skipper. The leader merely had intentions of making the team 更多 vigilant. He wouldn’t know what he’d do if he was held responsible for another mishap. He didn’t think he could possibly handle it…

Kowalski, being an analytical penguin, carefully studied Private’s physical conditions. At this point, the young one was panting very loudly, coughing for a moment 或者 two, and even freezing in place to catch his breath. However, Skipper was quick to tell him otherwise. Kowalski wasn’t sure as to how long he planned to keep this up. Private was beginning to 显示 signs of dehydration.

“S-S-Skippa…” he coughed. His fins were now trembling from beneath his own weight, “C-Can…can I s-stop…Skippa?”

The leader 说 nothing, at first. Therefore, this was taken as a notion of positive confirmation. The Private closed his eyes and stood to his feet in desperation, nearly toppling backwards from the lack of strength and focus. Once he regained his balance, Private opened his eyes. Immediately, he was greeted with a slap across the face. Private yelped from shock and placed a fin on his cheek; the 来源 of his pain. He already knew who had attacked him.

“What do 你 think you’re doing, Private?! I never relieved 你 of your exercise!” Skipper leaned forward, forcing Private to look away with shut eyes.

“I know, sir! I’m sorry, sir! I just…I’m too tired, Skippa!” he finished, now having faced 前锋, 期待 with wide, pleading eyes.

Skipper smirked and threw his fin at Private’s face again. Private reacted in the same fashion, returning to face his commander.

“Skippa, please!”

He was 给 another slap to the beak…

“Skippa, just-”

Another one…

“This isn’t fair, Ski-”

Slap

“Please!”

Slap

“You’re-”

Slap

“Wha-“

Slap

Slap

Slap

Slap

“Skipper, stop it!” Kowalski finally screamed.

Skipper averted his attention from Private and eyed Kowalski with a smirk.

“Now, since when did 你 start getting a nerve, soldier?” the leader stepped 前锋, 期待 in a calm manner.

“I, uh…well, Rico…he…I mean…” Kowalski stuttered, looking away as Skipper neared him.

“Well, c’mon, Kowalski! Don’t tell me 你 迷失 all your willpower in a matter of seconds!”

The intellectual remained quiet.

“I can see it in your eyes, Kowalski, so why are 你 holding back?”

“I…I’m…”

“You’re what? Sorry? Gee, I’ve never heard that one, before, Kowalski!”

“Skipper, why are-”

“You see, this is why I was chosen to lead this team! And to think, 你 actually thought 你 would have done a better job!”

Kowalski turned his head after that statement was made. He was both shocked and hurt that Skipper would ever bring up such a disappointing memory in Kowalski’s past. He instantly remembered when the team was young, and both Rico and Private had yet to enter the picture.

The location is an unknown coast in Denmark. Kowalski and Skipper are standing side-by-side among a couple of other penguins. They’re eagerly awaiting the announcement of the new leader. Their current commanding official is old, weak, and believes that his time is near. He stands on a high boulder, holding a piece of paper that he won’t have the privilege of reading. Kowalski’s 老友记 knew that the young intellectual was best for the position of the new leader, resulting in a very simple voting session. Kowalski was practically guaranteed his spot on the boulder.

The leader suddenly drops the paper and clutches his chest in agony. Skipper rushes from the crowd, hopping onto the rock and allowing the suffering 企鹅 to rest in his arms. Unheard words are exchanged between the two. Soon, he gasps his final breath. Skipper calmly claims that the dying one’s final words included a change of plan. The angry crowd eventually accepts it and life went on. Kowalski later gained possession of that paper which, indeed, had his own name written upon it. Kowalski has, ever since, pondered of what could have been.

“Typical…” Skipper laughed and shook his head, turning to head towards the fishbowl entrance.