September 4th, 2001

11:05 AM. Max has entered the Mission Room. Everyone is gathered at the table and is sitting in their seats. Max sits at his seat. The Master is on a balcony, standing behind a gate of white light.

Master: Good morning, Road Rovers! Well, we all know what Parvo is going to be doing on Friday. I find it a bit of a coincidence that he picked the day where we started our first mission. And now, this will be the last. After this mission, we go our separate ways.

The Master pauses.

Master: I know I don't often get a chance to say this, but, this is a good time as any. I know I always say that you're good dogs, but that's the truth. You are all good dogs. I pulled you guys, except for Max, out of the streets, hills; wherever you guys lived. I've given you homes, you get to have food in you, and you save the world, one mission at a time. And it's all thanks to me. I've brought the five of you here and even though I should've reconsidered using cats, I didn't need to. You five blew my expectations out of the water. And with every successful mission you did, I knew that we were in the right direction. I knew we had a team. So, I just want to say that it's been an honor having you dogs on the team and I am very very proud to have known all of you.

The Rovers get teary-eyed. Hunter stands up and so does Max. The Golden Retriever notices this and looks at the Alaskan Malamute.

Hunter: You want to say something?

Max looks at Hunter.

Max: You go first.

Hunter nods.

Hunter: We can all say the same to you, Master. You've been a father to us all and we will never forget that. It has been an honor serving with you, Master.

Hunter salutes Master, with the Master doing the same. Max looks at the Master.

Max: I just want to say that it's been an honor serving you too, Master. I wouldn't mind having you as my second father.

Max salutes Master. He puts his arm down.

Max: I also want to confess something. I apologize for what I did a couple of months ago. I know I can't go back and change it because I'm forced to live with it. I've just been so frustrated for the past year of being hunted by Parvo's men and I wanted to know why. I'm sorry if I have betrayed any of you.

Hunter walks to Max and puts his arm on one of his shoulders.

Hunter: You don't need to apologize to any of us, Max. You're the only human in the group that has prior experience being anything like we do. We took you in to be the eighth inducted member and we taught you everything we knew, which you passed down to Javier and Rejean. And Max...

Max looks up at Hunter.

Hunter: You have become a Road Rover I couldn't have been. If this wasn't our last mission or if you weren't a human, I would have given the reigns to you.

Max smiles.

Max: I'm sure you would have.

Exile: Da! He's the splitting picture of you!

Max looks at Exile.

Max: Splitting image.

Max looks back at Hunter.

Max: I'm the spitting image of you.

Hunter chuckles.

Hunter: Eh, no. You're not super lucky-

Max: Or anything-that-Hunter-is-super-at. Including super-speedy. So maybe I'm not a spitting image of you, but I do share a bit of quality with you.

Hunter: Always there for us? Making sure we're brought here safe?

Max: Exactly. I'm more of a...

Max looks up to think and then looks at Hunter.

Max: ...student about to turn teacher.

Hunter tilts his head.

Hunter: Substitute. At best.

Max: Substitute? Not even an assistant?

Hunter: Maybe.

Max nods.

Max: Maybe.

Max sits back in his chair and looks at Master. Hunter makes his way to his seat.

Master: Okay, now that we got that out of the way, let's get on to business.

A screen turns on.

Master: So, thanks to Aaron Ash, we know that there are 51,000 troops at his base with 200 other cano-sapiens in each facility around the world. That's roughly 39,000, adding up the total to 90,000. We know that just sending you guys alone will make this impossible. So, I got in contact with our affiliates, and we were able to tally 30,000 of our dogs. I got in contact with every military that is close to the facilities, and they too will be cooperating with us by sending 250 troops to overtake each facility and stop the canisters from being released. Bringing up the total for the military up to 48,250 and add up to our 30,000 dogs, that means we were able to get to 81,250.

Hunter: Huh. 81,250. I wasn't expecting much, but we might be able to pull this off with that many people with us.

Master: And I do believe we can add more people to that, Hunter.

The screen shows a picture of a golden brown and white Pembroke Welsh Corgi and its owner, Olivia Peru, a woman in her late thirties with long blonde hair.

Master: You six know him. His name is Sport, he is owned by Olivia Peru, a reporter for WPBT Eye-Witness News. For some of you that don't know, Sport is an unofficial member of this team. We temporarily made him one so he can testify in court in Miami, Florida, for Donovan Bell, who was kidnapping dogs and humans at a facility. We spotted him being chased by a biker gang, but we were able to bring him here and turn him into a Road Rover. He testified and Donovan is now serving thirty years to a life sentence in a maximum-security prison.

Blitz: And we're not going to mention that he was a traitor and you want us to bring him back?

Colleen quickly slaps Blitz on the cheek.

Blitz: Ow! What the-

Colleen: I will slap you harder if you mouth off like that again, Blitz.

Hunter touches Colleen's shoulder. This calms her down, with Blitz looking back at the Master.

Blitz: Sorry. I guess I haven't made peace with him yet. After all, he did bit me after the mission. On my tushie.

Exile: Why need to make peace with Sport, comrade? You two have things in common.

Blitz looks at Exile.

Blitz: We're opposite magnets. I do it for pleasure. He just gave me a taste of my own medicine.

Master clears his throat.

Master: Yes. He did betray us, but that was to just get to his owner. He made a deal with Parvo to bring him the Rovers for him to be reunited with Olivia. They're residing in Miami, Florida. As a matter of fact, why don't Exile and Blitz volunteer to recruit him? Are you two up for it?

Blitz has his eyes widen. He looks at Exile, with him looking at the Doberman. They look at the Master.

Blitz and Exile: Yes, sir.

Exile has his eyes widen and looks at Blitz.

Exile: I thought you were going to say 'no'.

Blitz shrugs.

Blitz: Might as well make peace with him while I'm there.

Master: Now, then...

The screen switches to a forest in Japan, with pictures of cano-sapiens who are brown and tan colored, wearing black ninja clothing with a red belt and red boots.

Master: You five have fought them before. They are, what Parvo had codenamed, the Ninja Dogs. They are ninjas, basically able to do everything a ninja does; Hiding in the shadows, mastered at holding katanas, and are gratefully trained in martial arts.

Colleen smirks.

Colleen: Now these are my kind of people.

Master: We have been able to defeat them and turn them back to normal. A couple of years ago, however, a Japanese scientist was interested in them to turn them into weapons and hand them over to North Korea. But, after turning them back to the way they were, and after some quiet experimentation on them, they killed him and burned his laboratory to the ground.

Colleen sinks a bit in her chair from hearing this.

Colleen: Uh, yeah. Scratch that. Not my people.

Master: Now, they are in this forest in Japan, training there, waiting to find the right time to defeat Parvo. Their leader has a personal grudge against him. They do not swear to anyone other than themselves, but I have a feeling that talking them into this might not be easy. Hunter has volunteered to recruit them, as well as Scout, Shag, and Kai.

Hunter looks at Colleen.

Hunter: You want to come with me?

Colleen looks at her boyfriend and swallows her saliva.

Colleen: (scared) Oh, yeah... Definitely... Whole-heartedly...

Colleen sits back up on her chair and smiles.

Colleen: I'll come with you, Hunty.

Hunter smiles.

Hunter: Aw, I knew you would.

Hunter pets Colleen's head, making her blush.

Master: And now, the last...

The screen turns to an image of Canada. Then pictures of cano-mutants from the past: A large orange Cocker Spaniel, a black and white Dalmatian, and a grey and white Poodle. There are other cano-mutants on the screen. Some of the Rovers are shocked from seeing this, excluding Hunter and Max.

Master: ...the cano-mutants.

Blitz stands up.

Blitz: Why? Why them? They swear themselves to Parvo!

Max: Would you rather have one of Parvo's adversaries? They do not swear to Parvo anymore, which gives us an advantage.

Blitz, after thinking it over, nods. He sits back on his chair.

Master: Anyway, these are the cano-mutants, formerly the sworn army to General Parvo. In August 1999, they were thrown into a prison that Storm owned, where Max and Groomer were also sent to. In January 2000, they all escaped and then they split. Since then, they have been living in the Laurentian Mountains. We suspect that they're living in a cave somewhere in the range. Max Parker has volunteered to recruit them, for he has a relationship with them. Are you ready for this?

Max: Yeah. I just don't have a crew yet.

Rejean: Hey, what about us?

Javier: Si, amigo. We'll go with you.

Max looks at the two.

Max: I wasn't going to leave you two out.

Max looks at the Master and smiles.

Max: Now I do.

Master smiles.

Master: Then it looks like everybody is ready. Now, go Road Rovers. Get them all here and we can start our preparations to stop Parvo once and for all!

Hunter stands up, followed by the rest of the Rovers.

Hunter: You got it, sir! Come on, Road Rovers! Let's recruit some soldiers!

The Rovers do their signature howl. They start to run out to get to the docking room.

Master: Max!

This catches the attention of everyone. Max looks at his colleagues.

Max: Why don't you guys get there, first? I'll catch up with you.

The Rovers all nod. Hunter and Max go up to Master.

Max: Yes, sir?

Master motions for him to come up to him. Max walks up the stairwell and meets Master.

Max: You're not going to threaten to shoot me again, are you?

Master chuckles a bit.

Master: No. When you get cured, can you do me a favor, Mr. Parker?

Max nods and bows.

Max: Sure, sir. Anything.

Master lifts Max's head.

Master: I want you to come back after two years have passed. Everything you see here will be exactly like the day you left. Except for one thing.

The Master points to the table.

Master: Where you sit, there will be a white envelope on the table. There's a letter I want you to read.

Max looks at the table for a moment. He looks back at the Master and nods.

Max: Yes, sir.

Master nods.

Master: Now, go. Recruit some men.

Max bows and starts walking down the stairwell. He looks at the Master.

Max: What's in the letter?

The Master smiles.

Master: To know, you'll have to read it.

Max nods and leaves the room. He arrives in the docking room. Hunter notices this and walks to Max.

Hunter: What did Master tell you?

Max smiles.

Max: Oh, nothing much. Just wished me good luck. Come on. Let's go.

The Rovers get into their aircraft: Blitz and Exile take the Rovercopter, Hunter, Colleen, Shag, Scout, and Kai take the Sky Rover, and Max, Rejean, and Javier take the Cloud Rover. Before Max enters the Cloud Rover, he feels something touch his hand. It was his mother, Stacey.

Stacey: Going on another mission, son?

Max nods.

Max: Yeah. Where's Dan?

Stacey: In bed, watching TV.

Stacey looks at the Cloud Rover and then back to her son.

Stacey: You're going to go fight your father?

Max: Yep. We're recruiting some men since we can't do this alone. I know I'm not going to win and I'm going to get destroyed just from fighting him. But as long as I'm still standing, that's all that matters. Because at least I wasn't a person that got lucky.

Stacey smiles.

Stacey: You were always lucky to me, Max.

Max smiles.

Max: I know.

Max looks up to the Cloud Rover.

Max: Well, got to go. I'll see you later.

Max does a quick kiss on his mother's cheek and walks up the ramp. Everybody gets their vehicles turned on. Each one fly's out of the base. In a short amount of time, everybody is up in the air and makes their way to their destinations.


3:00 PM. In a suburban neighborhood in Miami, Florida, one of the owners of a two-story house is a reporter for WPBT Eye-Witness News named Olivia Peru. She walks down the cement in her black heels and black pantyhose. She walks up the porch of her house and slides a key into a lock. Inside the house, a man in his mid thirty's with short brown hair and stubble, wearing casual clothing, is sitting on a black leather sectional couch, watching TV. Sitting by him is Sport, a golden brown and white Pembroke Welsh Corgi. The sound of the lock unlocking excites Sport as he runs to the door in joy. Seeing this made Olivia smile and giggle. She opens the door and gets greeted by Sport, who licks her face.

Olivia: (giggling) Okay, Sport! I missed you too!

Olivia looks at the man sitting on the couch.

Olivia: (smiles) Hi, Alex.

Alex stands up and walks to her. The two kiss.

Alex: Hi, honey.

Olivia: You took him out for a walk?

Alex: Oh, yeah. He was cool as a cucumber, as always.

Olivia sets down her purse on the dining table.

Alex: I guess I'll start cooking dinner.

Alex goes to the kitchen and fills a pot of water. An hour and a half passes and Alex and Olivia are sitting at a table eating lasagna.

Alex: So, honey, how was work?

Olivia looks up at Alex and smiles.

Olivia: Same as always. They're thinking of getting me a promotion.

Alex looks up at Olivia.

Alex: You're going to be an anchor?

Olivia shrugs.

Olivia: I don't know. They're just thinking of getting me a promotion. That's all.

Spot rubs his head on Alex's leg.

Alex: (smiles) Aw.

Alex pets Sport's head.

Alex: You know, I never knew that I would have a love for dogs until I met you two.

Olivia smiles. They continue eating when they hear a knock on the door, making Sport pipe up.

Olivia: Who could that be?

Alex: Maybe it's one of the paperboys. They just won't take no for an answer.

Alex goes to open the front door, but when he looks down, he sees grey boots. He continues to look up until his eyes met a Doberman staring at him, and standing behind him is a blue Husky. His eyes begin to widen as the Doberman speaks in a German accent.

Blitz: Good afternoon, sir.

Alex looks at the two humanoid dogs. Olivia can hear this conversation as she stands up upon hearing Blitz talk.

Blitz: Is this the house of Olivia Peru?

Alex looks at Blitz.

Alex: Who is asking me?

Blitz: Blitz from the Road Rovers. This is one of my colleagues, Exile.

Exile: Good afternoon.

Alex scratches his head.

Alex: Olivia?

Olivia smiles.

Olivia: Let them in. I know those two.

Alex looks back at the two dogs and nods. He opens the door further to let them in. Olivia walks to them.

Olivia: Blitz! Exile!

Olivia hugs them, who kindly hug her back. Olivia lets go.

Olivia (smiles) It's so nice to see you two again. It's been five years since we last talk.

Blitz: But you see us every day. You're always one of the reporters to report about us.

Olivia: Yeah. Pretty much.

Olivia looks at the two.

Olivia: Where's the rest of you?

Exile: They're traveling the world right now to recruit some more people so we can save the world.

Olivia: Parvo?

Blitz: Yeah. When is it ever not him?

A thought comes to Olivia.

Olivia: You two didn't come here for a chat, did you?

They both shake their head.

Blitz: No. We didn't.

Blitz and Exile sit on the sectional couch.

Blitz: Is Sport here with you?

Olivia: Yeah. Why?

Sport peaks him around the corner from the kitchen to look at the four. Blitz notices him. Sport comes out and sits by Blitz's legs, staring at the Doberman himself. Blitz smiles a bit from seeing this.

Blitz: Hey, Sport.

Sport looks at Blitz.

Blitz: I just want to say I'm sorry for being so hard on you nearly five years ago. I was just too stubborn at the time to realize that. All I ever wanted at the time was to be the leader until I realized that we Road Rovers are all equal to each other. Do you accept my apology?

Sport thinks it over. After a moment passes, Sport jumps on Blitz's lap and starts licking his face, making him laugh.

Blitz: (chuckling) I'll take that as a yes!

Sport jumps down to the floor and pants.

Blitz: And I accept your apology for biting me on my tushie.

Sport rubs his head on one of Blitz's legs. This makes him pet Sport's head.

Exile: Now, you two are odd.

Blitz looks at Exile.

Blitz: Even, Exile. Even.

Exile nods.

Alex: How do you two know him?

Blitz: We recruited him back in '96. Kind of an unofficial member, if you'd like. We needed him as a Road Rover so he can testify against Donovan Bell.

Alex: Who?

Exile: A person who kidnapped humans and dogs here in San Francisco. Thanks to Sport, he's now serving thirty years to life sentence in a maximum-security prison.

Alex looks at Exile, a bit confused.

Exile: And Olivia was involved.

Alex looks at Olivia, still confused.

Alex: Huh?

Blitz: Are you not from around here?

Alex shakes his head.

Alex: I'm from New York. That's where she and I met. I was a photographer for the Daily News. We met at a press conference there about a year ago. I now work for the Herald since I moved here to Miami.

Olivia smiles. She raises her hand to reveal an engagement ring.

Olivia: He asked me to marry him three months ago.

Exile walks to her.

Exile: Well, Olivia, my congratulations to you.

Exile kisses her hand, making Olivia blush a bit. He sits back on the sectional couch and looks at Alex.

Exile: I hope that didn't offend you.

Alex shakes his head.

Alex: No. It's fine.

Blitz nods towards Olivia, as his way of congratulating him.

Blitz: I have to make an offer with you, Olivia.

Olivia looks at the Doberman.

Olivia: Yes?

Blitz: As Exile has said, we are recruiting some more people to help us defeat Parvo once and for all. We have selected Sport here to be recruited with us. We think he deserves a second chance to redeem himself.

Sport looks at Olivia, with her doing the same. After thinking it over, she looks at the Doberman and pets Sport's head.

Olivia: I agree, as long as you bring him back unscathed. I don't want anything to happen to him.

Exile: Ma'am, if we protected him once, we can do it again. You have our word.

Olivia nods as she looks at Sport.

Olivia: Are you ready to be brought back on the front lines?

Sport pants with joy. Olivia looks back at the Doberman and smiles.

Olivia: I'll take that as a yes.

Sport jumps in joy. The two get off the couch. Olivia hands them a leash for Sport, which they connect to his collar. They walk out of the house and make their way back to the Rovercopter. They turn to wave goodbye to Olivia and Alex, who wave back. As they continue to walk down the sidewalk, Alex turns to Olivia.

Alex: How come you never told me that you met them?

Olivia shrugs.

Olivia: I thought you wouldn't believe me. How come you never heard of that incident with Donovan Bell?

Alex: I was in college when that happened. I guess I didn't care too much for news at the time.

Olivia turns to the door.

Olivia: Oh, that was an experience I'll never forget. Let's get back to eating our dinner, I'll tell you all about it.

Alex smiles and kisses her, who kisses him back. The two go back into the house and close the door.


4:30 PM. Max has entered the Laurentian Mountains. With him are Rejean and Javier. The three are wearing green jackets with white fur on them, brown pants, black gloves, and black boots. As Max is flying the Cloud Rover, he can see a large figure walking through the snow. He gasps. Rejean, sitting in the co-pilot seat, looks at Max.

Rejean: What is it?

Max looks at Rejean.

Max: I think I know who that is. We should try following his footprints.

Rejean gets confused, but nods. Max sees an open spot and lands the ship there. The Rovers get out and Max walks ahead. He keeps walking until he gets to the spot where he saw the figure walking.

Max: Okay. Now we just got to follow the footprints.

Javier: For what, amigo?

Max looks at Javier.

Max: To find them.

Max continues to walk, with Rejean and Javier following him. They continue to walk for what felt like a half-hour when they see a cave, where the footprints end.

Max: I think I know where they are.

They hear growling.

Max: That's not either of your stomachs, is it?

They both shake their head.

Rejean: Lions?

Javier: Tigers?

Max rolls his eyes.

Max: Scarecrow and Tin Man, don't get ridiculous. Lions normally live in the hot climates of Africa and Tigers live in Asia. The Canadian territories are home to-

The growling gets louder.

Rejean and Javier: Bears?

Max: Oh, my!

They look at Max who raises his shoulders and his hands.

Max: Hey, I love that movie.

The growling gets closer.

Max: Close in.

Max walks backward and the three get into a small group. As the growling gets closer and closer, Max looks around to see where it's coming from. Max closes his eyes and when he opens them, they turn into glowing cyan eyes.

Max: Come out. Wherever you are.

Max looks up at the cave and notices a large golden brown Cocker Spaniel wearing handmade clothing. He jumps to attack the group, but Max uses his telekinesis on him. Making him unable to move, he throws the Cocker Spaniel to the side, making him land on the snow. As the Cocker Spaniel tries to get up, he becomes motionless again as he's unable to move. Max puts his foot on the Cocker Spaniel's stomach. After recognizing it, Max's eyes turn back to being dark blue and releases Fluffy from his telekinesis.

Max: Fluffy?

Fluffy recognizes Max after seeing his eyes change and speaks in his deep American voice.

Fluffy: Max? Max Thomas Parker?

Max nods.

Max: The one and only.

Fluffy quickly gets up and hugs Max, who excitingly hugs him back.

Fluffy: I knew you wouldn't forget about us!

The two laugh as Rejean and Javier smile at seeing these two reunite. After they let go of each other, Fluffy notices Rejean and Javier.

Fluffy: Who are these two?

Max looks at Rejean and Javier and then back to Fluffy.

Max: These are my two colleagues.

Rejean and Javier walk up to Fluffy.

Rejean: Rejean, the ninth member of the Road Rovers. I'm from France.

Javier: Javier, the tenth member of the Road Rovers. I'm from Mexico.

Fluffy nods toward them. He notices that somebody else seems to be missing from the group. He looks at Max.

Fluffy: Where's Groomer?

Max looks down in disappointment. He lets out a breath.

Max: When we got separated, we tried to reach Hudson Bay. On our way there...

Max looks up at Fluffy, knowing there are no other words for what he's going to say.

Max: ...she got shot. She didn't make it.

Fluffy's eyes start getting wet. He starts sobbing.

Fluffy: Oh my God... She's dead...!

Fluffy drops to his knees and cries with his hands on his face. Max, feeling his sadness, walks to Fluffy and starts patting his back to comfort him. Fluffy wipes his tears and looks at Max, a quiet anger rising in him.

Fluffy: Parvo?

Max, knowing what he's referring to, shakes his head.

Max: Storm did it. I made sure he paid.

Fluffy nods, still feeling sad that Groomer is gone, yet at the same time, peaceful that Groomer got avenged.

Max: Fluffy, there will be a time for you to grieve for her, but it's not now.

Fluffy gets up and looks at Max.

Max: Are the rest of you here?

Fluffy: Yes. In this cave. Follow me.

Fluffy walks into the cave, with the Rovers following him suit.

Max: So, this is where you have been living for a year?

Fluffy: Yep. A year, eight months, and a day to be exact.

Rejean: How have you and your fellow cano-mutants been getting by to survive out here?

Fluffy: Well, we started hunting. Most of our food was fish and sometimes insects. Don't worry, we cooked them, making them a little bit less disgusting to eat.

Javier feels something in his chest.

Javier: I think my lunch just came up.

Rejean: Hey, suck it up.

Javier rolls his eyes as he continues to walk. They continue to walks until Fluffy stops them.

Fluffy: Don't come out until I tell you to.

They all nod. Fluffy enters a large room made out of rocks. There are 1,250 cano-mutants living in the caves, the number of cano-mutants that were able to escape from the prison that they, Max and Groomer, were imprisoned. Fluffy gets their attention.

Fluffy: I remember the day before Freedom Day that Groomer told us that she and Max Thomas Parker would come back for us so we can get back at Parvo. But, it has come to my attention that Groomer had been killed while she and Max were on their way to Hudson Bay. She was a great leader for us and she will surely be missed.

This caused the cano-mutants to be saddened by this, with some of them shedding tears.

Fluffy: There will be a time to grieve for her, but that time isn't now, for I bring good news. Max Thomas Parker has returned!

Max walks inside the room with Rejean and Javier. All of the cano-mutants cheer. The day had finally come. A large Dalmatian named Spot and a large Poodle named Snuggles notice Max and run to hug him. After a couple of moments, the cheering quiets down. Fluffy looks at Max.

Fluffy: Would you like to say something, Mr. Parker?

Max nods as he looks around the cano-mutants. He walks into the center of the room.

Max: I know you all have waited for this day to come. Not a day has passed that I haven't forgotten about any of you. I know that Groomer isn't here to see you all again. I'm sure she would've been happy too. I have come here to ask all of you if you will fulfill the promise that we all made. That we will go after Parvo for kicking all of you out, instead of being part of an army that I made. You will be coming with me to the Cloud Rover and will be fighting with the Road Rovers. I know that they were your sworn enemies, but we share the same goal; defeat Parvo once and for all. If you fight with us, I promise to set you all free and find an owner for all of you. I ask this to you, will you put your differences and fight together as a team? Will you fight with me one last time?

A moment passes. Fluffy walks up to Max. After a few moments, he grabs Max's hand and smiles.

Fluffy: I will fight.

Spot goes up to Rejean and grabs his hand and grins.

Spot: Count me in.

Snuggles grabs Javier's hand and smiles.

Snuggles: Me too.

The rest of the cano-mutants chant, "We will fight!", until they burst in cheering. Max smiles at this. They all gather the cano-mutants belongings and bring them, along with the cano-mutants to the Cloud Rover. When everyone is in the Cloud Rover, with another group fitting in the lower level of the ship, it takes off and makes its way back to HQ.


5:00 PM. Hunter and his group of Rovers have made it into Japan. They arrive at a forest where the Ninja Dogs are hiding. Hunter sees a spot to land the Sky Rover and lands it there. Hunter gets out of his seat.

Hunter: (groans) Almost six hours of driving. I need to retire.

Hunter looks at Colleen.

Hunter: You're driving us back.

Colleen smiles.

Colleen: I'll get us back in a jiffy.

The Rovers exit the Sky Rover and walk into the forest. They walk for what felt like a half-hour.

Kai: Ah, nice to see the forests of my homeland. I remember my owner used to take me out to places like this for long walks. We'd go to forests late at night and we'd come back home almost at the crack of dawn. That's one of the few happiest moments of my life with my owner. You all know what happened later on.

Hunter: Yes, we do, Kai, and there's no need for you to repeat it. Though, I do have a feeling trying to talk these dogs into fighting with us isn't going to be easy. From what I heard about them, they make Kai's owner look like a student of the samurai.

Kai looks at his leader.

Kai: He wasn't all that bad. He just lost his mind when he couldn't take it anymore. I don't think they're going to be that bad, Hunter-san.

Colleen: Don't be so sure about that. We fought these guys before and they made a run for our money. Even I was nothing but a piece of paper to them.

Exile: Even my ice eyes were useless.

Shag: I remember being chased by our biting bullet.

Hunter: Yeah, then I saved you behind with my handy-dandy Frisbee.

Blitz: I remember being in such a drag if you two know what I mean.

Colleen and Exile look at Blitz.

Colleen: Yeah, we do, Blitz. We do. Such a drag, indeed.

Colleen giggles.

Colleen: At the time, it was humorous to see you being dragged.

Exile: And didn't you say anything about licking frosting, weird boy?

Blitz nods.

Blitz: That I did. Wish I never said that.

Scout: Well, I wish I was there.

Hunter looks at Scout.

Hunter: For the Ninja-Dogs? You may be a wrecking machine, but they would chop you up and serve you into an oyster pail.

Scout: No. Just so I could meet that T-Rex. I bet he and I would have been best friends once I was able to recuperate him.

Hunter: Uh, Scout, buddy, it was a female.

Scout raises an eyebrow.

Scout: Oh. Well, I would still hang out with her. She'd be way better than Greta.

Hunter: If you can even get by her sharp teeth.

Scout chuckles. The Rovers continue to walk until they hear chopping noises.

Blitz: What is that?

Hunter: I don't know. Let's keep it quiet. They're not very fond of strangers.

They quietly walk, not wanting to make too much noise. They keep walking until they see a figure wearing black and red clothing chopping up wood from trees with a katana.

Hunter: I guess we found one of them. Kai, why don't you come with me? I don't want us all to come into a group.

Hunter and Kai start walking at the figure. Kai looks at his leader, seeing the nervousness in his eyes.

Kai: You look nervous, Hunter-san.

Hunter looks at Kai.

Hunter: Nervous?

Hunter shakes his head.

Hunter: Come on, man. I'm never nervous.

He stops.

Hunter: Okay. Maybe just a little.

They stop a second time when they approach the figure.

Hunter: Good evening.

The figure quickly turns towards Hunter. This figure wears a red mask with soulless yellow eyes on it. He grabs his katana. He speaks in a deep Japanese accent.

?: Who are you?

Hunter clears his throat.

Hunter: I'm Hunter, leader of the Road Rovers.

The figure still holds his katana.

?: Never heard of him.

Hunter looks at Kai, confused. He looks back at the figure.

Hunter: Maybe you're familiar with the Space Rovers? They reside in a base in China.

The figure ignores Hunter.

?: What are you doing here?

Hunter: Oh, I'm afraid it's something to do with Parvo.

The figure lowers his katana.

?: What are you going near Parvo for? If you ask me, it's a stupid thing to do.

Kai: Wait.

Kai walks up to the figure.

Kai: (in Japanese) If you know about Parvo, then you know about us.

Hunter walks to Kai.

Hunter: What are you doing?

Kai: Speaking in his native tongue.

Hunter: You shouldn't do that.

Kai: Why?

Hunter: How do you think that's going to make me feel?

Kai raises an eyebrow.

Kai: Meaning?

Hunter: I don't speak Japanese.

Kai rolls his eyes, which are hidden behind a pair of black shades he wears to see.

Kai: Says the guy who's super-at-anything.

?: Yes, we do know who you are...

Another figure walks out from the shadows, wearing the same clothing like the one who was chopping wood. He walks up to Hunter.

?: ...and why you are here. I am Takashi, and this is my home. I lead my dogs.

Takashi turns to the figure.

Takashi: Ryu, get back to work.

Ryu nods as he chops the wood. Takashi turns to the two.

Takashi: You and your team, follow me.

Hunter nods. He motions with the rest of his group to follow him. They all follow the leader of the Ninja Dogs.


Takashi takes them to a hand-built dojo. They all sit on the floor on a mat while Takashi hands everyone a cup of hot green tea. He hands the last cup of tea to Hunter.

Takashi: So, you're the one named Hunter, and you are the leader of the Road Rovers. What do you know about us?

Hunter takes a sip of the tea.

Hunter: We know that a Japanese scientist had an interest in you dogs and wanted to sell you as a weapon for North Korea. But then you killed him and burned his laboratory to the ground.

Takashi nods.

Takashi: Smart dog. Tell me, were you aware of us five years ago?

Hunter: Yeah. You and your team were stealing ancient artifacts for Parvo. Then after we put a dinosaur to sleep, we turned you guys back to normal and sent you here.

Takashi: I wasn't there. I wasn't one of them.

Hunter raises an eyebrow.

Hunter: Then who are you?

Takashi walks around them.

Takashi: When Parvo was defeated by you guys four years ago, he attempted to bring the Ninja Dogs back. He tried to perfect them. Unfortunately, they were not up to his standards, so he tortured them, killing them one by one slowly. I know what happened...

Takashi turns around and lets out a breath. He removes his mask to reveal himself to be a brown and tan-colored Shiba Inu. He turns back around, with some of them having a small shock inside them.

Takashi: ...because one of them was my father.

Hunter, after having a look at Takashi, clears his throat.

Hunter: Yeah. I can see the resemblance.

Takashi continues to walk around them.

Takashi: My father managed to escape and find his way back home. I was distraught to see my father like that. The cuts all over his body, the bruises; he was almost unrecognizable. I tried to treat him as much as I could, but it was hopeless. It took him less than a day to die. I remember before he died, he told me to promise him that I will find a way to make sure Parvo pays for what he's done to him and his friends. I promised him that I would. Then that Japanese scientist we killed, was just another scientist that wanted us a weapon for North Korea. I just figured he was working for Parvo. As you can tell, I don't trust anyone, but myself and my men. I don't trust any of you, but I'm afraid I have no choice. I hate people for you cannot always trust them. But, out of all people in this world...

Takashi pulls out his katana and swipes with it many times, cutting a roll of tatami mat in pieces. After a moment passes, he puts the sword back in the scabbard, which is strapped on his back. He turns to the Rovers.

Takashi: ...Parvo is who I hate more.

Takashi walks up to Hunter.

Takashi: How many of us do you need?

Hunter takes one last sip of tea.

Hunter: Everyone.

Takashi nods. The Rovers help the Ninja Dogs pack their things for training and put them into the Sky Rover. Everyone gets in the Sky Rover, including the 1,750 Ninja Dogs. Some of them were on the first level, while the rest were put in the lower level. The Sky Rover lifts off and makes its way back to HQ.


11:00 PM

Max is in a room, preparing for training. The cano-mutants and the Ninja Dogs are in lower levels so they can train in quiet. After a few minutes, everyone is in the room, with Stacey and Dan watching. Colleen speaks to Max.

Colleen: You know how to fight. I told you this before that when you fight someone, you're not fighting a person you don't recognize. You're fighting yourself, they're just in your way. You got to get them out of your way so you can get to yourself. But, again, you already know that and everything you need to know, so there's no sense in going down that path again. To beat someone like your father, you need strength, and right now, you don't have it.

Dan: I have that problem.

Max looks at Dan, noting his glutton belly fat. He nods and looks back at Colleen.

Colleen: So, what we will be doing for the next two days is some good old fashion blunt force trauma. You know, the kind of trauma that is so powerful that it will make the Hiroshima bomb being put to shame. This strength will make you pound him so hard, it will be sending his ancestors into a frenzy. Every time you punch him, believe me, it's going to make him feel like he tried kissing a bullet train.

Colleen cracks her neck. She walks up to Max.

Colleen: So, bestie, let's build some hurting bombs in those hands.

Max smiles and nods, ready to start the training. During the next two days, training for the last mission has begun. The Ninja Dogs sharpen their katanas and improve their ninja skills, the cano-mutants are improving their brute strength and weaponry, and the Road Rovers train through workouts, improving their punches and kicks like a martial artist from the UFC, and training on their powers. Within two days, they prepare themselves for the last mission they will ever do as a team.