Skipper is taken ill and Rico, Kowalski and Private must take care of themselves up until their leader gets back to health. But there are some troubles with keeping up the discipline among the group.. they have to deal with all sorts of allurements waiting for them behind each corner...

Well... I hope you'll like it:) Cheers.



CHAPTER ONE: Our Leader is Sick

"All right, boys, line up here and get ready" commanded Skipper, walking up towards the middle of the platform.

Marlene had spent two hours tidying up her habitat and was now enjoying the sunny afternoon, sipping water through the straw and watching over the penguins. She was quite surprised with the fact that Skipper had allowed her to stay for the time of their training. All in all, he didn't seem to be his usuall self this day. For some uknown reason, Marlene started to grow quite anxious about him. Was this something about his weary look that made her feel uncomfortable? She wriggled nervously on her rock and bit her paw.

Skipper gave Rico the sign to get up sejak waving his flipper at him. Rico grudgily put his popcorn bag aside and stood on his feet. Several saat later, they were already standing in line, ready for Skipper to shout his first order.

"Let's have a short warm up for the beginning" berkata Skipper. He suddenly stopped short, rested his flipper on his chest and another one on his beak. He remained like that for a couple of seconds. Marlene's hati, tengah-tengah thumped.
"Skippa?" tweeted Private timidly.
Skipper raised his head and shrugged.
"All right then, repeat after me, twirl, punch, kick...!"
"It looked as if he was having a short wave of nausea" pondered Marlene. "Or maybe I'm mistaken? Maybe he got Lost in his thoughts for a while? It happens to him sometimes."

Everything seemed to be fine up until Skipper suddenly stopped and staggered.
"Oh, Mother.." he muttered to himself and grabbed his forehead.
Marlene froze and goggled her eyes at the leader penguin. Rico, Kowalski and Pirvate exchanged looks and turned their eyes back on Skipper.
"You,re okay?

Skipper suddenly Lost his balance, fell on his knees and started to throw up. Kowalski immediately shielded Private's eyes with his notepad, while Rico and Marlene watched in horror frome the other side of the platform.
"Skipper, are anda all right?" cried Marlene.
"It's just a small sickness emergency, Marlene, no need to wo.." he was then interrupted sejak another fit, altough less violent then the first one.
"You need to see the doctor right away, Skipper!" stated Kowalski, removing his notepad from Private's eyes.
"Hell I will" panted Skipper, his whole body clenched in pain and shaking from shivers.
"Kowalski is right, Skipper. Your condition requires medical treatment." berkata Marlene. "It looks like you've caught some nasty kind of a stomach bug."
"Yeah, what else?" mumbled Skipper, getting up from the ground.
"Well how are anda going to explain this fit of vomit you've just had?"
Skipper was just about to remark when he felt his legs slueing from under him. He rolled his eyes and collapsed on the ground.
"Oh, dear!" chirped Kowalski.
All three of them rushed towards the unconscious penguin. Kowalski took Skipper's flipper in his own and checked his pulse, while Marlene felt his forehead.
"He's burning up" she reported, fear and concern written all over his face.
"Oh, no" moaned Private tearfully and clasped his beak with both flippers.
"Just stay calm!" berkata Marlene quickly, seeing that Private is already falling apart. "Everything is under control. He is not alone, all right? We're gonna take care of him."
Rico lifted Skipper up and started to make his way towards their HQ, Marlene, Kowalski and Private following after him in silence. Private gulped loudely and let out a silent sob.

***

As soon as they found themselves inside, Marlene walked up to the fridge and scanned its contents, looking for some ice cubes. Meanwhile Rico and Kowalski were making Skipper comfortable in his bunk, Private watching over them in silence.
"Private, I need your help!" berkata Marlene fuzzily with her head inside the fridge.
"Aye, Marlene!" replied Private submissively and waddled up to her.
"Fetch me a plastic bag from the cupboard." she ordered, when pulling the ice cubes out of the box and placing them in the bowl.
Private nodded his head in silence and walked up towards the cupboard.
"How is he, Kowalski?" asked Marlene.
"Seems like his fever has increased" reported Kowalski.
"Cover him with a blanket to keep him warm."
"Erm... Marlene..." berkata Private. "I've went through each drawer in the cupboard but I couldn't find these bags anywhere."
"Men..." sighed Marlene and rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Why can't anda keep anything in order?" she closed the fridge and walked up towards the ladder. "I'm going to fetch one from my own house. And please try not to do anything reckless sejak the time I come back!"
Kowalski sent her a glare and snickered. He seemed to be quite annoyed with Marlene bossing about their HQ. But he kept his mouth shut, knowing how much she was concerned about Skipper's health.
She rejoined them shortly after and made a cooling compress, and placed it gently on Skipper's burning forehead.
"Did any of this happen to him before?" asked Marlene, watching over Skipper's worn face with concern.
"It happened only once" informed her Kowalski. "He got a mild case of stomach flu two years ago. Alice found him lying on the platform and vomiting his guts out and took him to the hospital."
Skipper opened his eyelids and glanced at his colleauges his face clouded in pain.
"How are anda feeling, Skipper?" asked Marlene, leaning against her penguin friend.
"Did I pass out?" moaned Skipper, his voice sore and languid.
"Yep. anda passed out in front of all of us." nodded Kowalski.
"Where am I? In the hospital?"
"Nope" Private shook his head. "You're with us. And we're taking care of you!"
"The training..." berkata Skipper. "We've missed our training.. we have to alih on.. ."
"I'm afraid you'll have to give up the training up until you're brought back to health, Skipper." berkata Kowalski. "You really need to rest up".
"Kowalski... we can't just leave it out like that.. What if dr Blowhole plans another attack? We have to stay alert. We have to stay fit!"
There was a long pause. Marlene dropped her eyes on the ground, not knowing what to say.
"Kowalski" whispered Skipper, lifting his head from above the pillow. "You'll be in charge of taking care of the rest of the team. I'll give anda a set of new excersises I've worked up. It will require at least three hours of practice every hari .... so do your best... anda have to stay fit" he rested his head back.

"Erm... Skipper?" berkata Kowalski. "Are anda really sure about this one? I mean.. I dont feel quite comfortable about jumping in to your place, anda know, it's just that I..."
"I believe in you, Kowalski." moaned Skipper. "I'm sure you'll do well." He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep as exhaustion took its toil over his worn body.

There was another pause among the group. Kowalski gripped his notepad in his flippers and stared at the floor. Private glanced up at him and patted him gently on the back.
"You'll do well, Kowalski" berkata Marlene quietly. "I'm sure anda will make it".