A Scientific Match

Chapter 3: Preparations

Blowhole rolled into his planning room. He looked at the lobsters there as he gathered his thoughts. "Red One, open a new plan file. I think I'll call this one Firefly."

"Firefly, boss?"

"Yes. There is a species of firefly that lures potential mates to vampirically siphon their lucibufagins for their illumination imitations. Similarly, I will use this date with Kowalski to gain further information of the peng-u-ins' current plans and secrets."

"But, doc. Isn't this a risky plan? I mean. Couldn't he try doing the same to you?"

Blowhole rolled his eye and sighed. "Red One, this is Kowalski we are talking about. The same peng-u-in that was flustered to even admit his device thought I was his perfect match. The risk is minimal."

"But, doc. What if the device was right?"

"Red One, you're testing my patience."

"Again, this is Kowalski we're talking about, lobster," Parker then said. Apparently he had been leaning in the doorway this whole time. "There is no way the date will go that well. The doc's not going to fall for one of his penguin enemies."

Blowhole nodded and motioned in Parker's general direction. "Exactly. So stop being such a pessimist, Red One," he said as he rolled over to a computer. "Now...where to take him..."

"What type of date are you thinking?"

"I don't know. Something simple. Nice, but not too nice."

Parker waddled over, watching him and the computer. "So not dinner."

"Who goes out to dinner at midnight?"

"Two animals sneaking into a human restaurant after hours?"

Blowhole glanced at him. "Yeah, no thanks." He tapped his flipper on the keyboard, thinking. "AH! I know. I'll take him to that karaoke bar downtown."

"You're taking your date to a bar?"

"A karaoke bar, Parker. I might be doing this to get information out of him, but that doesn't mean I can't have fun with it too."

Parker rolled his eyes. "Are you seriously using this as a plan, or just as an excuse to party?"

"That's the best part, you little natural disaster. I'm using it for both. It's a very versatile situation."

It was early morning when Kowalski finally returned to the HQ and put the car away. He snuck in and laid down in his lab for a quick nap. A very short nap since not even fifteen minutes later, Skipper woke them all for their daily training.

After managing to get through training, Kowalski returned to his nap. If he was going to be out all night again, he certainly did not need to risk falling asleep during the date...That would just be rude.

When he finally got up a few hours later, he waddled out of his lab and over to Private who was watching the Lunacorns. He gently tapped his shoulder. "Private, can I borrow you for a little while?"

Private looked over his shoulder at him. "Um, I guess so. Do you need help with something?"

"Something like that...Come with me." He motioned for Private to follow him out of the HQ. "Now, real quick...Can you keep a secret?"

"Not usually."

Kowalski sighed. He knew that already. "Well, I think you could keep this one. It's a small one. Doesn't endanger anyone," he said. Well...He hoped it wouldn't endanger anyone anyhow.

"I guess I can try..."

"Excellent, that's all I ask of you." He ushered him along to Marlene's habitat. Once there, he knocked a couple times before just waddling in. "Marlene?"