ROAD ROVERS: RETALIATION
Losses and Gains
Dawn of Dread, Part 2
Written in part by Pyrover
The other part also written by Pyrover
Season: 2
Episode: 2
---
Wednesday, 11:45 A.M.
Vermont, USA
The Rovers have discouraged Dreadclaim from continuing to fight. He has mysteriously disappeared, and Parvo has escaped. P83-04G, the SIEGE trooper who stepped in to save the Rovers from certain doom (well, all he really did was buy some time, but it was good time!) was severely wounded by Dreadclaim.
The team is exiting the main complex. Blitz and Exile are shouldering a semi-conscious P83-04G in attempt to get him to the Sky Rover. Hunter, still badly beaten from an unfair fight with Dreadclaim, staggers on. Shag is holding a glowing screen. He barks and points in a certain direction.
HUNTER: North it is, then. Everybody okay?
EXILE: Good as expected. Comrade not able to speak yet.
HUNTER: Keep him off his feet. We're almost to the Sky Rover.
The team reaches the Sky Rover and is greeted by six SIEGE troopers, guns in hand.
TROOPER: Everybody on the ground, now! Back away from P83 and you will not be harmed.
The Rovers stare back.
TROOPER: Aim!
The soldiers take aim at the Rovers. P83-04G comes to, weakly lifting his head. His left eye is a dim grey. He raises his weapon.
P83-04G: Sss...static pulse....
The weapon transforms at his feeble command and he fires. The pulse knocks the soldiers into the Sky Rover, unconscious. P83-04G again passes out.
HUNTER: Wow, cool!
The crew is loaded aboard the plane. P83-04G is stretched out in the back, Shag trying to patch him up. Exile is beside him. Blitz, Hunter and Colleen are in the cockpit.
BLITZ: Man, that suit of armor he's wearing weighs like a thousand pounds! (to Colleen) Notice how far I carried him to safety?
COLLEEN: You were there? No kidding? (Blitz slinks angrily into his seat)
HUNTER: Now why do you think he just let us go like that? And what was that attack on the base all about?
COLLEEN: Maybe our friend back there can tell us.
EXILE: Friend is not saying much of anything right now.
---
Back at Road Rovers Mission Control, P83-04G still lays motionless on a bed. He suddenly opens his eyes. The grey left eye begins to glow. Shag and Exile step back. Steel slides over the gaping hole in his armor, seemingly from nowhere. Some life seems to return to him. Colleen runs to the bed. Hunter and Blitz do the same. P83-04G struggles to sit up and Exile helps him.
EXILE: How do you do this?
P83-04G: ...Where am I?
COLLEEN: Road Rover Mission Control. Are you all right?
P83-04G: (looks down at the "healed" armor) Yeah, I should be fine now.
EXILE: I said how do you do this!
P83-04G: It's called CYbio technology. It was a part of my CIonization.
BLITZ: Ohhhhh...what?
P83-04G: It's similar to your transdogmafacation, with a few added perks. Dreadclaim created it.
HUNTER: Yeah, who is this Dreadclaim?
P83-04G: He leads an organization called SIEGE. It's been in existence for years, but he's choosing to surface now. That base attack was just some pointless little trivial thing he decided to do. He has a short temper.
COLLEEN: You mean he did that just because he was mad?
P83-04G: Yup. Parvo must have insulted him in some way. He isn't the first.
A flashback comes to him again. It is a portion of the one he saw earlier. Dreadclaim's steel fist clenched around a female SIEGE trooper's neck, he laughs madly. She goes limp, and he drops her to the floor. P83-04G shakes it off.
COLLEEN: You all right?
P83-04G: Yeah, yeah...fine.
BLITZ: What was with all of the Cano-Mutants?
P83-04G: Your guess is as good as mine. We were never given that information. When we showed up there was nothing left but humans. Odd.
HUNTER: Will this Dreadclaim guy strike again?
P83-04G: I doubt it. I'm not even sure why he chose now to surface. He should probably remain dormant for some time.
EXILE: How did you get to be SIEGE trooper?
P83-04G: I don't exactly remember. I don't remember much of anything these days. Except for this one flashback...
It comes back in its entirety. A female SIEGE trooper is sitting at a table beside Pyro. She is a black Labrador Cano-Sapien. They sip something from coffee cups as they talk.
P83-04G: I saw something today, Shara. Something bad. We attacked civilian posts again outside Beta. Raven6 dropped us.
SHARA: What in the world is he doing?
P83-04G: We slaughtered them, Shara. Families...mothers and their children. I saw a little girl crying for her mother...I couldn't do it. I was ordered off the field. This isn't what I bargained for. We've got to get out.
SHARA: You know there's no way out. Once you're chosen you follow orders until you die.
P83-04G: I'd rather die than open up on a 12-year-old girl crying for her mother!
SHARA: I don't get it. There's nothing in Beta but civilian outposts and office buildings. If I ever got called there, I don't know what I'd do. Maybe you should request a transfer...
P83-04G: Don't you get it, Shara? He's killing children for no reason! I'm not fighting for what he stands for! If this is the kind of order he's going to set up, I want no part of it. I'm getting out. Are you going with me or not?
SHARA: Aren't you afraid of him?
P83-04G: Yeah...(heaves in a breath of air) but I've got to try. Are you with me?
SHARA: How could I not be?
P83-04G: (smiling) I knew I could count on you.
SHARA: But can you find a way to sneak out of the base undetected?
P83-04G: No, probably not...but I have a feeling we can. (they kiss)
The door to their room bursts open. Three SIEGE troopers grab them. They are set before Dreadclaim, hands bound behind their backs. Legions of soldiers surround them.
DREADCLAIM: The crime you have committed against SIEGE could mean your lives. Unit P72-96AR has no personal use to me, but you, P83-04G, I have a special need to keep. Swear allegiance to SIEGE on the spot, and I will grant you both re-entrance without punishment. It is that simple. (pauses, staring at a silent P83-04G, and becomes angry. Bends down and extends his metallic arm at him. It separates and reveals a large, pointed blade.)
DREADCLAIM: (putting blade to P83-04G's neck) Will you sacrifice both of your lives with your silence? ...Like mother, like son.
P83-04G: (turns to Shara) I guess it's now or never, Shara.
He jumps into Dreadclaim, whose blade screeches on the shining SIEGE armor. Knocking the monster over, he tears the binding off of Shara's wrist. Troopers are upon him immediately. Shara gets loose.
P83-04G: Run, Shara! Run!
He pulls a weapon from one of the soldiers and fires a Static Pulse into them. They are tossed like rag dolls. Dreadclaim is now standing by him as Shara runs off.
DREADCLAIM: (turning his head toward him) Care to watch her die?
He disappears. The eye is still visible, moving at an incredible speed towards Shara. P83-04G runs after them.
P83-04G: Shara! Don't look back! Keep running!
It is too late. Dreadclaim appears in front of her. She is shocked. He thrusts his steel hand at her neck and lifts her up. P83-04G yells to her, still sprinting towards them. Dreadclaim fires a pulse from his other arm, knocking him to the ground. He fights off unconsciousness. As he staggers up, he sees Shara's body tossed to the ground. Dreadclaim turns to face him. He is laughing.
P83-04G: No!
He leaps from his bed, snapping from the flashback. In an angered fury, his armor enlarges and expands, doubling in size. His forearm plates split open, revealing weapons. He aims them at nothing, then collapses to the floor with his hands over his head.
P83-04G: Shara...
The Rovers step away. Colleen moves to help him, Hunter grabs her arm and pulls her back.
EXILE: Calm down, comrade!
HUNTER: What was that all about?
P83-04G is visually upset. He is sweating and breathing fast. His weapons retract and his extra armor disappears. He stands up and takes a deep breath.
P83-04G: Sorry...sorry. Bad dreams. Really bad dreams.
---
In the weapons testing room, P83-04G stands on a platform with electrodes attached to him. Shag is at a computer, the other Rovers watching. Shag barks something. Hunter translates.
HUNTER: Stand still.
P83-04G: Right.
In a few seconds, the test is over and P83-04G steps down. He removes the electrodes and stands by the Rovers, around the screen. An image comes up.
ROVERS: Ooooooooooohhhhh...
P83-04G: Like I said, I'm about 5% cybernetic. Most of it's up here. (taps his head) I can see infra-red and scan for certain life forms.
BLITZ: What about the rest of you?
P83-04G: The CYbio implants enhance my speed and strength a bit, but it's mostly in accuracy.
COLLEEN: Accuracy?
P83-04G grabs a steel pipe from the table, turns in a split-second and heaves it across the large room at a stuffed practice dummy. The pipe jams straight into the dummy's forehead.
COLLEEN: Oh, accuracy. Got it.
HUNTER: Hey wait a second, I haven't fully introduced us yet. I'm Hunter, you've already met Colleen, that's Exile, Shag's over there by the computer, and biting the dummy's tooshie is Blitz.
BLITZ: ...what?
P83-04G: I'm unit P83-04G, Pyrostasis division. But I guess I don't really go by that anymore, huh?
COLLEEN: Don't you remember your real name?
P83-04G: Nope.
EXILE: Well, funny codename has to go.
P83-04G: Okay then. Any suggestions?
COLLEEN: Let's see here...you're red...and what was that thing you said at the end of your name?
P83-04G: Pyrostasis division?
COLLEEN: Yeah, that's it. How about Pyro?
P83-04G: Pyro, hmmmmm...yeah, I like that.
HUNTER: Pyro it is, then.
PYRO: Say, anybody seen my SCaR?
HUNTER: Uhhhh...don't really care to.
BLITZ: I'm, uh, going with fearless leader here on that one.
PYRO: (slaps his face, shaking his head) "Systemic Command-activated Response" weapon. That big gun I was carrying around.
ROVERS: Oh! SCaR!
BLITZ: Over there on the table.
Pyro takes the weapon from the table and looks it over.
COLLEEN: Gee, it sure is...big.
PYRO: Standard-issue is a little smaller. You climb the ladder, I guess.
BLITZ: What can it do?
PYRO: (to Hunter) You mind?
HUNTER: Take it away.
PYRO: Okay, see that dummy over there? (they look, he speaks to the weapon) AutoMaG 700.
The weapon converts to a machinegun-like device. He positions a laser-sight on the dummy and fires. A string of shots hits it dead-on. The sound from the gun is deafeningly loud, startling the Rovers.
PYRO: Silencer.
The gun changes shape slightly. He fires again in the same spot. There is virtually no noise. Everyone is impressed.
HUNTER: Cool!
PYRO: Okay, how about this one? Static Pulse.
The barrel converts to a cylinder shape. He fires, and a sonic wave knocks the dummy clean over.
EXILE: More cool!
PYRO: Here's an effective one. Napaalm-discharge, active spray.
The cylinder shrinks and extends. Tubes connect to it.
PYRO: Stand back!
Everyone takes a generous few steps back as he lets loose a spray of liquid flame. It dissintigrates in the air.
PYRO: Impact-active.
The weapon makes no change. He fires at the dummy and a red cylinder is launched. Upon hitting it, it explodes into a fury of fire. Colleen is completely shocked. Hunter is a bit worried himself.
PYRO: There's a few more. Wanna see?
HUNTER: Not really.
COLLEEN: How can you fight? You know, without the big death machine.
PYRO: Wanna find out? Anybody up for a little spar?
COLLEEN: (cheerfully) I'll do it!
PYRO: (tossing the SCaR aside) Great, let's go.
The two step onto the large, circular sparring mat. Colleen takes her fighting stance. Pyro's is slightly similar.
PYRO: Whenever you're ready.
COLLEEN: Alright, then.
She lunges toward him for a kick. He grabs her by the leg and tosses her down. She is immediately up, her fist hitting him in the side of the head. He takes the blow, but blocks the next with his forearm. He backfists her to the mat. She takes a second to get up, shocked at how powerful this mere sparring blow was. She cannot show it, though, so she jumps into another attack. This time she is able to land a kick to his midsection. He is knocked off-balance. She explodes into a breathtakingly fast flurry of kicks that he is unable to defend from. She jumps over him, grabbing his armor and tossing him into a flip as she lands. He hits the mat on his back. As he gets up, she jumps down upon him. The force of her legs pummels him back to the mat. She kneels on him, one hand pulling him to her by his chest armor, the other clenched in a fist, ready to strike. Instantly, the vicious face she once had becomes that of the cheerful Colleen again.
COLLEEN: (panting) Check mate!
PYRO: Pff...yeah, right.
She sees his left, red eye don a green targeting reticle. He grabs her arm and a mild shock goes through her. She is stunned enough for him to land a knee to the stomach. She rolls off as he springs up. She regains her footing and he attacks with a group of perfectly-timed kicks and punches. They are slow, but each one makes her cringe with pain. He roundhouse-kicks her, sending her down once again. He pins her at her neck with his hand. She is not without energy, but she cannot budge him. His other hand is raised above his head, and the forearm plate splits in half. A long, knifelike blade quickly extends and he positions it at her face. Just as Colleen's expression had changed, his now becomes light. He retracts the blade and leaps from her, high into the air. He lands a few feet from her, on his feet. He then heaves a sigh of relief.
PYRO: (catching breath and wiping a little blood from his face) Whoa! You have got to be the fastest person I've ever sparred with!
COLLEEN: (also quite out of breath) Well, that's quite a punch you've got there.
PYRO: I try.
They warmly shake hands.
HUNTER: (from computer) Hey, would you guys take a look at this for a second?
Hunter has popped the disk he swiped from Parvo's desk into Shag's laptop. It won't open.
COLLEEN: Oh, I'm not very good at these things.
PYRO: Lemmee see what I can do. Mind if I sit down?
Hunter steps up and politely motions for Pyro to take a seat. He jokingly bows and sits down by the screen. He taps a few keys. No luck. He taps a few more keys. Still no luck.
PYRO: What is with this thing? (pulls the disk out) Let's have a closer look.
The targeting reticle reappears on his glowing eye. He stares intently at the disk. The reticle moves across his eye, focusing and then re-focusing. It disappears.
PYRO: It's SIEGE.
HUNTER: I got it from a desk at Parvo's complex, along with that. (points to a computer chip by the laptop)
PYRO: Whoa...(picks up chip) I have no idea what this is, but it's definitely SIEGE...(puts the disk back in and taps a few more keys) Come on...got it!
BLITZ: Got what?
PYRO: Got that.
An image comes onscreen of a spinning DNA strand.
PYRO: It's Cano-Mutant DNA. Look there at the top of the strand.
HUNTER: What's it doing? It's changing color.
PYRO: I'll zoom in for you.
The strand is breaking down. Pyro zooms back out. Within seconds, the entire strand breaks apart.
PYRO: It's a chemical imbalance present in Cano-Mutants. Near the brain.
SHAG: woof, woof, woof...you know the deal.
HUNTER: (translating) What triggers it?
PYRO: This model doesn't include the starting reaction. I think Dreadclaim wants Parvo to think his troops are getting their brains wasted away.
HUNTER: I think he's lying.
PYRO: So do I. We've got to get our hands on some real DNA to find out if this is really existent.
An alarm sounds.
HUNTER: Duty calls, everybody to the transdogmafacation room! (to Pyro) Wanna come along?
PYRO: (grabbing SCaR) Why not? This could be fun.
As they run, Exile catches up to Pyro.
EXILE: Fitting right in, eh, comrade?
Pyro laughs.
---
In the transdogmafacation room, the Master awaits them. He begins to speak as soon as they arrive.
MASTER: We have a hostage situation, Rovers.
HUNTER: Shoot.
MASTER: It is in a very urban area of southern California. An entire block of office buildings is held at bay. Assailants are reportedly Cano-Sapien...who's this?
BLITZ: This is Pyro, he's coming with us this time around.
MASTER: Good to have you aboard, Pyro. The coordinates are coming up on the main screen.
A map appears and a circle outlines the area under siege. Pyro stares intently at the map, then suddenly becomes extatic.
PYRO: Beta! That's Beta! Hunter, if we don't get over there now, people are going to die.
HUNTER: Dreadclaim?
PYRO: I know it. What's your fastest mode of transportation?
HUNTER: The Sonic Rover. We'll take that. Let's get to the hangar, everybody!
MASTER: Good luck, Rovers.
The team runs from the room through a sliding door. Hunter is last to leave. As he turns from the door, he sees Pyro tear the steel SIEGE insignia from his armor, toss it to the ground and step on it.
---
The Sonic Rover is seen screaming over the streets of California. It lands in a parking lot outside a large office building. The Rovers deplane quietly. The enemies are clearly SIEGE. They now surround only this one office building. It seems as if it has already been penetrated. Doors are broken in, windows shattered. The Rovers crouch quietly behind a piece of rubble as a SIEGE trooper walks by, SCaR in hand.
PYRO: (whispering) Standard shock units, mostly. A few heavy assault troops around the entrances.
HUNTER: How heavy?
PYRO: AutoMaG 1260 series. Wow.
BLITZ: That good?
PYRO: Only if you're a SIEGE.
COLLEEN: Is there any way in beside the entrances?
PYRO: Oh, I'll make one, but where? We need to find a less-populated area to sneak in.
EXILE: Is parking lot attached to building somehow?
HUNTER: Hey, yeah! Shag, check.
Shag whips out that trusty laptop again and hits some keys. He barks a yes and nods. Blitz is also looking at the screen.
BLITZ: It's underground. There's an elevator somewhere.
PYRO: I'll find it. C'mon.
---
The team stands beside a freight elevator. The door is sealed shut.
PYRO: I can melt the door, I can burn the door, I can put a million tiny little holes in the door, I can blow up the door...
Exile pushes the call button.
BLITZ: Oh yeah, he surrounds the building with armed guards and he leaves the elevator open? You wish...
The door slides open.
EXILE: You think with muscles, wierd-boy.
BLITZ: (stepping into the elevator behind the others) Hey, don't call me that!
---
They step out of the elevator on an office floor. The walls are riddled with bullets. Windows are broken, everything is smashed. Pyro steps out first, waving his SCaR down each direction, then motions for the team to exit. Hunter is talking to Exile.
HUNTER: ...And that's why they call smooth jazz "elevator music."
EXILE: Ohhh...this is new to me!
As they round a corner, Pyro motions for them to stop.
PYRO: Three shocks at the end of the hall. I'll try and be quiet, but get ready to run. (to weapon) Concussion Rifle, silencer.
The weapon converts. He rolls into the hall, opening fire on the three troopers. Repeating energy blasts launch down the hallway. The SIEGE troopers all go down, but one fires on Pyro before blacking out. Pyro is hit in the shoulder by the AutoMaG shell. He attempts to make no noise.
HUNTER: You okay?
PYRO: (flinching) Yeah, it'll heal. Let's keep going.
The wounded Pyro still leads the way beside Hunter. The others follow.
BLITZ: Uh, Pyro, where are we going?
PYRO: All of the hostages are being held in one spot for some reason. It's a large reception room down the hall.
Shag is barking wildly, but quietly. Colleen is by him, looking at the screen.
COLLEEN: There's a ship approaching the building, guys.
PYRO: (running to a window and seeing a mammoth oval-shaped craft approach) Raven6. It's Dreadclaim. We've got like thirty seconds to free these guys.
HUNTER: Then let's do it!
PYRO: I'm sick of this sneaking around anyway. Who wants to see a little action?
Everybody but Shag responds yes.
PYRO: Sorry Shag, it's gonna get fun. The hostages are positioned in the center of the room. There's a handful of shocks and three assault-class guarding them. That's not much, and they probably won't shoot at any hostages. If Dreadclaim kept them alive for this long, he's got a reason. (takes a breath) Okay, anybody ready to chicken out?
Shag whimpers.
PYRO: Okay then, let's go.
---
Inside the room, a large group of hostages have been ordered to sit together in the center of the reception room. They are all office workers, except for one who is considerably better dressed and tied to a pole away from the group. The door to enter the room is broken down, and the two guards that turn to intercept are kicked in the face by Colleen. Pyro is next, firing a flurry of energy blasts at the assault-class troops. They fall. Hunter speeds up and rams a SIEGE aiming his SCaR at Pyro. Exile takes hold of two troopers and cracks their helmeted heads together. Blitz leaps for an assault SIEGE going for his Comlink, tearing his heavy armor to pieces and kicking him in the midsection. Even Shag has gotten up the courage to fight off one shock trooper. Every SIEGE is lying on the floor. Hunter motions to the hostages.
HUNTER: Everybody get out! The freight elevators still work, take them to the parking garage!
At that moment, the windows shatter with gunfire. SIEGE assault-class troops pour in. The ceiling crumbles and Dreadclaim falls in. He stares at the Rovers and motions to his troops.
DREADCLAIM: Hold them at gunpoint. I will not deviate from my purpose on account of them.
He walks robotically toward the well-dressed man tied to the pole.
DREADCLAIM: (putting his pointed, steel finger at the man's neck) William Malary. Look what you have caused to happen. Do you know how many people we have slaughtered in the past few months because of you? (the man is silent and terrified) I lost count as well. This is your fault, William. This is the result of your mistake.
WILLIAM: Jason...I'm sorry...
DREADCLAIM: I am Dreadclaim! And I will kill you, William. Do you remember what the face of terror looks like? You should, William. Or have you forgotten? Oh, I will kill you...(a blade protrudes from his steel arm) but not until I slaughter every one of the people before you. Then you will recall the face of terror, the face of life draining from a dying man. And then I will see it on you, William. (turns to Rovers) You will also have the opportunity to witness this. You of course will also die. I warned you, Hunter. Those who do not recognize my power will see it full-force. (looks at Pyro) And you, P83-04G, you have no idea of the power you would have had. I pity you.
PYRO: (whispering) Guys, I have a plan. But I'm gonna slow down a bit, so you've gotta be my legs, okay?
He de-activates his suit. It shuts down, becoming cumbersome and heavy. He can barely move. He struggles to lift his SCaR up and speaks to it.
PYRO: Napaalm-discharge, active spray.
He launches a blast of fire into the air. It sets off the building's sprinkler system. Water sprays down from the ceiling. The assault-class armor shorts and sparks, shocking the troopers. Some fall over, others deactivate their suits and attempt to remove them. Dreadclaim similarly sparks, but makes no unnecessary motion or sign of pain. He notices the man from the pole has untied himself, and is running to the balcony door. He follows.
There is momentary chaos, and the Rovers take advantage of it. Blitz and Exile lead the group of hostages to the exit. The remaining soldiers begin to retreat. Hunter and Colleen fight off whatever troops attempt to attack as Pyro struggles to get his heavy suit from the still-spraying room. He limps onto the balcony, where Dreadclaim has cornered the man who ran there just moments ago.
DREADCLAIM: They may have ruined the show for us, but that does not mean I will just let you go. I have waited far too long for this moment to let such a trivial thing interrupt it.
Dreadclaim again unsheaths the blade from his arm and raises it to strike the man. Pyro activates his suit and lunges at Dreadclaim, bringing his heavy SCaR down on the metal skull of his opponent. Dreadclaim falls, but he is not down for long. He quickly raises himself from the ground and grabs hold of Pyro's chest, lifting him over the ledge of the balcony.
DREADCLAIM: You fool! You could have had such power! You could have been unstoppable!
PYRO: I am unstoppable!
Pyro unleashes another flaming blast upon the face of Dreadclaim. The fire clings to the metal monster's torso and refuses to be put out. Dreadclaim tosses Pyro aside and staggers about the balcony, feebly trying to extinguish the flames. Pyro converts his weapon to Static Pulse and aims.
PYRO: For Shara...
He hits Dreadclaim point-blank with the pulse. Dreadclaim is launched over the side of the balcony to the concrete ground below. There is no movement in him. Pyro steps away from the ledge and looks back at the man he just saved, who is petrified.
PYRO: You're welcome.
He walks off.
---
The Rovers are walking down a hall in the now-deserted high-rise building. The team is congratulating Pyro on his victory.
HUNTER: You know, that was some pretty amazing stuff you pulled off back there.
PYRO: Yeah, I guess we make a decent team...hey, I'm picking up Cano-Mutant life in the vicinity! It's only a few halls down! Let's check it out!
They run a ways until reaching a door. This time, it is locked. Pyro steps back.
PYRO: What have we got to lose?
He joins his fists, raises them above his head and brings them down through the heavy door. It no longer stands in their way. They step into the room. Inside a clear, liquid-filled tube at the far side of the room is a Cano-Mutant, held in stasis. He is attached to a breathing apparatus. Monitors nearby give his vital signs.
PYRO: He's dying.
COLLEEN: Can you save him?
Pyro looks over his shoulder at Hunter, who gives a nod.
PYRO: I'll give it my best shot.
He pulls a computer keyboard from under the monitors and starts typing. The tube begins to come to life, lights flashing and glowing.
PYRO: This way's too slow. Let's try another approach.
He stands up and goes to the tube. His forearm plates open and cords extend, attaching themselves to the glass. Pyro is momentarily silent.
PYRO: Maybe Dreadclaim was right after all. There's a definite chemical imbalance in the brain...whoa, it is down to the DNA.
The screens flash rapidly with new information. The Cano-Mutant comes to life, thrashing from side to side.
PYRO: He's too unstable...(looks up at the thrashing Cano-Mutant) there's nothing I can do for him.
He retracts the cords from the tube. The Cano-Mutant stops its violent convulsions. It slowly dies. The team is solemn. As the Cano-Mutant slides over in the tube, a patch on its clothing reveals the mark of General Parvo.
Pyro looks around at the desk. He finds a small computer chip, similar to the one Hunter picked up.
In the shadows of the high-rise building, where Dreadclaim had fallen, a small, red glow pierces the still darkness.
---
In the transdogmafacation room, the Master steps from a door. The team is collectively present, including Pyro. Everyone salutes but him.
MASTER: Hello there.
PYRO: Sir.
MASTER: I have heard of your bravery in rescuing Hunter and Colleen in the complex, and in defeating Dreadclaim. We all thank you.
Pyro is solemn.
MASTER: We know you went against your master for us, which must have been hard. We would all benefit from your special abilities, and we extend a position to you with our team. We are deticated to fighting off evils like this Dreadclaim and keeping international peace. Would you join us?
Pyro smiles and extends his hand to the Master, who takes it. The team cheers.
BLITZ: Hey, way to go!
EXILE: You are Road Rover!
SHAG: (lots of intelligible woofs)
PYRO: What?
SHAG: (the exact same string of woofs)
PYRO: Oh, thanks!
HUNTER: And to celebrate...lazer tag!
PYRO: Let me warn you that I have a really unfair advantage in this game.
COLLEEN: No SCaRs!
PYRO: Awwww...
The Rovers exit the transdogmafacation room. At the end of the line are Blitz and Exile.
EXILE: Okay, so what do you call smooth jazzy-type music heard on soft-rock radio?
BLITZ: Uh, elevator music?
EXILE: Oh no, even wierd-boy knows! I am feeling very much the stupid one right now!
TO BE CONTINUED...
All material © 2000 Pyrover, used only with written permission.
