Penguins of Anarchy

Two

The beautiful albatross soared through the air, high above a huge chunk of ice that many penguins called their home island. The white albatross was flying against the wind, using all of its strength to keep going the same direction.

As it flapped its huge wings and gazed at the horizon ahead of it, it heard the sound of a gunshot crack through the air, and then, in a moment, the bird was ripped apart in an explosion of feathers, and the body plummeted into the icy water below.

"Got another one!" Falcono announced as he reloaded his shotgun while his nephew watched the albatross sink into the water. From the moment Falcono had picked up a gun, he realized that he had a natural bond and skill with firearms. Natural, or perhaps an earned skill that he had forgotten. He often wondered why he had so many scars on his face and body.

"I still don't know how you're so accurate," Dreemo remarked. "You never seem to miss." His uncle shrugged smugly as he searched the air for another unfortunate target.

It was early in the morning, on Sunday, the day when Falcono liked to take his dear nephew out for shooting lessons. Dreemo enjoyed spending quality time with his caring uncle, but his thoughts were always occupied with what else he could be doing on the weekend. "I see another one, but it's really far away," Dreemo told his uncle.

Falcono gazed at the distant flying object with his keen eyes and realized that it was no bird. It was a helicopter, and several other aircraft were flying right behind it. "Come on, we're going back to the igloo," Falcono told his nephew.

"What, already?" Dreemo asked, though he was somewhat relieved. But when he saw the concern in his uncle's eyes, he prompted, "Falcono, what's wrong?"

"Those helicopters have .50caliber machine guns mounted on their flanks," Falcono replied. He had read many magazines about warfare and had an extreme interest in them, which baffled him and made him question his unknown past.

The helicopters soared overhead and then hovered above the island as Falcono and Dreemo ran back to their igloo. "What's happening?!" Dreemo cried as the helicopters landed all over the island. They were painted a light-and-dark gray camouflage pattern and featured two sets of rotor blades.

"Uncle, what are they planning on doing?" Dreemo asked as he continued to sprint. Soldier penguins with the same gray camouflage pattern on their uniforms poured out of the helicopters as the gunners stayed at their posts, anticipating an attack; none came.

Five soldiers blocked Dreemo and Falcono's way. "Hold it right there," one of them said in an American accent.

"American soldiers? What could you possibly want?" Falcono demanded.

"Sir, please come with us," the soldier said as he pointed an assault rifle at Falcono.

"Look, what are you guys doing here?" Dreemo asked as an assault rifle was pointed at him.

"Let's move," a soldier said, ignoring Dreemo. They led Falcono and Dreemo at gunpoint to a clearing on the island, where thousands of other residents were also being led.

One soldier carried a big holoprojector to the middle of the clearing, set it down, and activated a recorded message.

A yellow penguin with tousled brown hair appeared in the form of a hologram that was projected to giant size.

As Falcono looked at the hologram, he suddenly let out a cry and collapsed on the ground. Dreemo cried, "Uncle, are you alright?!" as he tried to revive him.

The hologram spoke in a booming American accent, "Hello. My name is Omniscion, Supreme Commander of the Martial Alliance, a group that plans to invade all foreign territories on the planet and essentially take control of all the earth, to show everyone that we Americans were born to rule, and that you foreigners are all meant to be ruled by us. Your land is now under my control, and you'll now live under martial law. Thanks for your cooperation." He leaned into the video recorder, his eyes burning through every penguin watching. "And you will cooperate."