Chapter 8 – Buck Rock gut

A/N: Hey guys I'm back!

In the previous chapter, I said that some animals from the zoo followed the penguin team to find the source of the scream but I reconsidered it and decided to make the penguins the first arrivals in the murder scene.

Anyway, I wish fun reading!

Buck!?

The five penguins stared down in horror at the unconscious penguin agent. His torso had been wounded and he was bleeding a lot. A sight that made Private cover his eyes.

"It's special agent Buck Rock gut, but what happened to him?" asked Kowalski.

"It seems that someone tried attacked him and wounded him badly. We need to treat his wound and take him to safety at once" Nigel explained.

"You're right. Rico! Medical supplies!" Skipper commanded and Rico nodded.

"Okay" he muttered and coughed two roles of fresh white bandages. Skipper and Uncle Nigel took the roles and began wrapping Buck's wounded torso. But the bandages soon had some hints of red blood on them.

Private who was watching from a distance looked back and saw the female squirrel laying not far from them. Her condition and wounds were much worse than Buck's and yet. No one paid her any attention. She needed help too. Private thought.

"Help me carry him back to the base to rest" said Nigel as he got Buck into a sitting position and then place the agent's right flipper around his own shoulder.

"All right!" Skippers respond and carried Buck's left side and then they walked towards the base.

"Skippah…" Private spoken, making them stop in place, "What about her?" he asked while pointing at the female.

Skipper looked back at her and then to Private and sighed, "I'm sorry Private but it's too late for us to do anything. She's gone. What matters now is to take Buck to safety and find out who's responsible for this" he explained to young bird only to see his eyes become watery and disappointed. He knew Private so well and how much it hurts him to see someone in pain without doing anything to help, but it was too late to do something to help her.

"Private. I need you to hurry back to HQ and prepare a bed for Buck. Can you do that?" Skipper asked.

"Yes Skippah" Private sadly responded and belly-slid back to their habitat.

Then he glared to the remaining two "Kowalski, you and Rico will stay here and search the place for any evidence. And don't let anyone find out about what happened!" he commanded and the two saluted.

"Aye-Aye Skipper" they both said and then spread out. Rico coughed dull, grey blanket and used it to cover the squirrel's body while Kowalski started looking for any clues that will lead them to the murderer.

As for Skipper, he and Nigel resumed their way towards the base and every now and then they would hear the penguin agent moan in pain in his sleeping state. Getting him to penguin quarters wasn't easy either, their kept sinking in the snow with every step. But they made it in the end.

By the time they had entered the base Private had already prepared a room for the injured penguin- an extra room that was meant for the guests to stay in. It had two beds, a wooden desk, and a small window that showed the water around the habitat. They gently laid him on the bed and then stared at his sleeping form for a while, he looked in so much pain though his wounds have been treated and the bleeding had stopped.

Skipper also couldn't help but notice the concern in Nigel's eyes. Why was he so worried for a total stranger such as Buck? Did they meet before? Skipper thought.

"We better get back to join the others" Skipper told him.

"Yes...I guess you're right" Nigel replied in a grief tone and then left without saying another word. Private scratched his head in puzzlement at his uncle's strange attitude.

"What's wrong with Uncle Nigel Skippah?" the private asked the skipper but he himself didn't have an answer for it.

"I don't know Private" the avian leader admitted. Then walked towards the door and stopped in mid-way "We'll go to investigate the murder scene along with Rico and Kowalski. You stay here and watch over Buck while we're gone" Skipper ordered before he left and Private nodded.

Private was now alone with penguin agent in the base. The only sound that Private was able to hear was the clock in the wall ticking. It echoed in the base and gave him a sense of insecurity. The silence was one the things that he disliked. He eyed the injured Rock-hopper one last time and then left to watch the telly.

-PoM-

When Skipper and Nigel arrived at the zoo gate they gasped at the sight of angry mob of zoo animals shouting and arguing in front of the gate. Rico and Kowalski looked like they were having a hard time keeping them under control.

Skipper scowled and walked towards them in eagerness to know what was happening over there. The scientist and weapon expert looked relived when they saw him coming and stand behind the mob with his trade mark stance "Now what in the world is going here!?" Skipper asked, angrily. The group of zoo animals turned around to face him.

Marlene was the first to talk, "We were about to ask you the same thing. What happened in here Skipper?" she asked back.

"Were in middle of our sleep when the when the power went out and then heard screaming coming from over here" Roy the rhino added.

And then the lemur king walked in and gave a yawn, "Yes and because of dat girly screaming de king didn't get much sleeping. I am demanding you to tell us who was it" Julian said with a tired and annoyed expression.

"That's classified info!" Skipper returned.

Maurice scowled, "You can't just walk away and leave us all clueless. We have every right to know Skipper!" the aye-aye claimed.

"No you don't. Now move aside!" the penguin captain shouted at the mob. He could feel the heat rising inside him. He felt the same anger like the time when Julian took his locket from him. Nigel stepped in the right moment to stop him before lost control again.

"All of you please calm down. I know you all wish to know what happened but unfortunately we penguins don't know either. Therefore we will go and investigate in the zoo and then we'll report you as soon as possible" Nigel announced. His words seem to have calmed the zoo animals down and one by one they returned to their habitats.

After dealing with the angry mob the two went to meet their comrades. As they walked the penguin spy glared at Skipper and asked "What was that all about Skippah? You can't reason with people by yelling at them" Nigel stated.

Skipper however rubbed his neck sheepishly, "I know, I know I just…lost my nerves all of a sudden" Skipper returned and then joined with Kowalski and Rico. Nigel just kept eyeing him suspiciously- something about the penguin leader was…familiar somehow and it gave him a strange feeling, a feeling that he haven't felt a long time ago- hurting.

"Kowalski status report!" Skipper commanded.

Kowalski cleared his throat and looked at his note pad "Judging by the victim and Buck Rock gut's wounds I assume that the attacker used a sharp weapon to attack them and maybe he or she is one behind the black out before the scream." Kowalski explained, "Also, Rico and I found 'this' near the spot where Buck was laying" he added and gestured at the dagger that Rico was holding. It had sharp, silver edge and a brown hold but it also had some blood stains on it which brought the idea that it might be the murderer's weapon.

Suddenly, while everyone were busy thinking. Skipper felt a cold feeling travel through him. It made him shiver. Then he knew who it was. He spun around walked away from the group into the snow covered park and with every step the feeling grew stronger and stronger. He remained in defense stance and kept walking in the snow. "I know you're there. Show yourself!" Skipper shouted. But there was no response. In fact, something was different this time. Whenever he felt the dark penguin's presence he still had hard time locating him but this time the ominous feeling was strong and it was coming from everywhere. He couldn't help but to take a step back.

"They're coming?" said the dark penguin's voice from behind him. Skipper immediately spun around to strike but stopped when saw Kowalski standing before him.

"Skipper are you all right?" Kowalski asked his leader in concern.

"Um….yeah I'm all right" the flat-head answered shakily.

"Good! Now let's go back and look for more evidence" he said and then walked away. Skipper however looked back to the park for a while and then followed him.

A/N: Sorry if my writing isn't that good. English isn't my first language but I'm still trying to get the hang of it. The next chapter is coming soon.