Balto: How the Mighty Rise Again

Balto: Kevin Bacon

Chiffre: Matt Damon

Jenna: Bridget Fonda

Boris: Bob Hoskins

Samson: Russell Crowe

Killer: Mickey Rourke

Nikki: Jack Angel

Kaltag: Danny Mann

Star: Robbie Rist

Koto: Mark Wahlberg

Ricardo: Joe Pesci

Fernando: Ray Liotta

The wolf pack lived in a valley on the outskirts of Juneau. They consisted of thirteen wolves. Most of these were survivors from packs murdered by humans. They were discussing what to do about the murders.

"I say we fight back!" One yelled.

"That's foolish. The human's have guns. They will easily kill us."

Among the thirteen wolves, a cat was present. He was black, and looked out of proportion surrounded by the large wolves.

"Samson? You say you have a proposal?"

The cat nodded. "As you know I belong to a group of 'legitimate buissnescats." At this the wolves chuckled grimly.

"We offer you our protection from the humans."

A wolf padded forward. "Nothing will save us from the humans! We should at least die fighting!"

The cat shrugged. "We do not care. We just thought you could use some help. Ricardo has a soft spot for wolves."The wolf shook his head. "No cat will save us. Tell your boss thanks but no thanks.""Very well." Samson replied. "When you die don't come crying to us."

"We won't die. We are wolves!" The wolf snapped back.

Suddenly there was a clicking sound from a bush.

"What was that?" The wolf asked nervously.

"How should I know?" The cat replied.

Suddenly he noticed something poke out of the bush.

"Duck!" He yelled.

The wolf's head spun around. "Duck! Where?"

A shot rang out. The wolf's head snapped back. There was a bullet in it.

"Hunters!" Samson exclaimed.

Suddenly the pack was chaos. Wolves scrambled for cover. Hunters jumped out of hiding places, firing.

The other wolves fell dead, one by one. Samson turned to run and found a double barreled shotgun in his face.

"Is this one a wolf?" A human asked.

"Nah. Just a tom cat." The gunner replied.

"Then let him go. Boss just wants wolves."

Samson, seeing his opportunity, sprinted away in the direction of town.

Another wolf tried running after him. He was brought down by a shot in the leg. Samson stopped.

"Jesus!" He exclaimed. He tried pulling the wolf, but it was no use.

The wolf spoke weakly. "Go! Get out of here!"

The cat didn't need a second warning. He sprinted off to town.

The hunter noticed the wolf was still alive. He walked calmly over to him.

He raised to gun. The wolf's eyes were pleading for him not to do it.

"Nighty, night wolfie." He pointed the gun at the wolf's head and pulled the trigger.

Balto awoke the next morning at 6:30. He had learned to wake up early from nearly a month of being on the run. He was in an old house. It had been abandoned because it was supposedly haunted. Normally Balto would have been frightened by this, but he had slept in worse.

He saw Samson, his current caretaker, standing at the door. He had a sad expression on his face.

"How did the meeting go last night?" Balto asked.

Samson looked up, noticing him for the first time.

"Good, up until the time that the humans came and killed everyone."

Balto gasped. "What? Isn't that illegal?"

Samson sighed. "It was. But now that the government thinks that you're wild, they've decided to blame wolves. I am afraid you've given them the perfect excuse for mass extermination."

Balto couldn't believe what he was hearing. "But that's genocide!"

"I agree with you, Balto. Unfortunately the humans are rather harder to convince."

Balto thought a moment. "I know who's responsible for this."

Samson looked shocked. "Who?"

Balto sighed. "I don't know his name. He's a wolf. He killed Silver. He set me up. That's about all I know about him."

Samson nodded. "Maybe you should talk to my boss."

Balto stood up. "Your boss? Ricardo?"

Samson nodded. "Of course, the last person who padded in on Ricardo uninvited was cut into five equal pieces." He noticed the fearful look on Balto's face.

"Don't worry. I'll go with you."

Balto and Samson padded to Ricardo's headquarters. It was an old abandoned warehouse.

Balto shivered. "I really have to stay away from warehouses."

"What was that?" Samson asked.

Balto shook his head. "Just thinking about the past."

Samson saw the look of sadness in his eye. "You miss your family."

Balto nodded. "I might never see them again."

They entered the building. A fat black cat sat in the center on a sofa.

"Well look what da cat dragged in." He said in an Italian accent.

"And you must be da famous…Balto?" He got up and bowed.

"It is an honor to be in ya presence. My owner would be dead of diphtheria if it weren't fa you."

Samson stepped forward. "Uh boss, my friend here wants to know about a…wolf."

Ricardo straightened himself out. "A wolf? Dere are thousands of freakin wolves in dis freakin planet!"

Balto summed up the courage to speak. "This one is kind of…unusual."

Ricardo seemed interested. "And what exactly is wrong wit him?"

"He got um…shot in the jaw. He's kinda…deformed."

Ricardo snapped his paw. "Chiffre!"

Balto was confused. "Chiffre?"

"Are you sure boss?" Samson asked.

Balto looked from Samson to Ricardo. "Who's Chiffre?"

"He is da wolf your after. And the dog."

Balto shook his head confusedly. "What?"

"He's a half breed. He killed a couple of dogs in Anchorage a few weeks ago. Witnesses say he had one ear, and a dislocated jaw. That's your guy."

"Do you know where he is?" Balto asked.

Ricardo turned to a gray cat behind him. "Hey! Fernando! Where's our boy Chiffre?"

"Nome Alaska." Fernando replied. "He snuck aboard a flight there. Was sighted there yesterday."

Ricardo nodded. "So dere you go Balto. Nome Alaska. You wouldn't mind uh…taking care of him for us, would you?"

Balto shook his head. "I don't kill people."

Ricardo didn't look surprised at all. "I know da type. To be honest, I would be disappointed if the savior of Nome wasn't like dat. I respect dat." His look became serious. "But dat get's in da way of my business. Do what you have to do, but I want Chiffre dead."

"Well I'm not going to protect him." Balto replied.

"You know Balto, I had a friend in Nome. Name was Steele. Don't hear from him anymore."

"That was an accident." Balto shot back.

Ricardo shrugged. "Well in that case I am a very accident prone cat."

Fernando chuckled. "Balto, I suggest if you gonna get him, you leave immediately."

Balto nodded. Ricardo cleared his throat. "I don't want anyting happenin to you. Samson, go wit him."

Samson looked shocked. "Me boss? You know how I get with planes."

Ricardo smiled coldly. "Get the hell over it. You two are going to Nome."

Balto and Samson padded out of the warehouse. Balto was suddenly excited. He was going home. "Hope I don't get shot." He said.

Samson sighed. "I wasn't lying bout the plane. They scare the hell out of me."

That afternoon a Ford Tri-motor plane landed at the airfield in Nome Alaska.

It carried about ten passengers. But this was only human passengers.

Two crates were carried out of the cargo section of the plane. They were small, smaller than the humans carrying them. As soon as they were left alone, there was a thumping sound. It came from the bigger one. Suddenly a paw smashed through the wood. Balto emerged from the crate. He turned and used his massive paws to smash open Samson's crate.

Samson stumbled out. "I don't feel to good."

Balto stretched out in the sunlight. "It's good to be home."