"Bolshoi… you were not doing the kidding, Comrade Valiant. City is being as pretty as Northern Lights…" Exile said in wonder as the brightly lit signs and street lamps reflected off the windows of the limo.

The vehicle slowly made its way through the middle of downtown Los Angeles passing several iconic landmarks such as the Walk of Fame and the Pico House Hotel. Every surface bathed in the glow of the nightlife seemed to sparkle with such brilliance that it could rival even the purest diamond.

"Blimey… it's like everythin' is covered in gold dust…" Colleen said as the lights glimmered in her eyes.

While the city was familiar to Hunter, it definitely had a new façade. He couldn't pinpoint why he felt like there was something eerie about the whole thing, but put it out of his mind for the time being. It was probably still his slight fatigue talking.

"Looks very different from what I remember…" Hunter noted as he decided to focus on how lovely the glow of the lights made Colleen's face look.

"In what way…?" Mayor Valiant asked as he took a sip out of his water bottle.

"Well, my memories are a bit hazy, but I remember being picked up by the animal control officers out in some abandoned slum area. Muzzle was picked up the same night I was and we became the best of pals. Right, Muzz?" Hunter said as he ruffled the ears of the Rottweiler curled up at his feet.

Muzzle voiced his agreement with a deep, but happy woof as he enjoyed Hunter petting his head. Hunter smiled as he continued the story.

"You both look like fine dogs… why were you not adopted?" Mayor Valiant asked.

"Well, at that time, Muzzle here wasn't so calm. He was restrained by a straightjacket and steel muzzle to a cart. The officers tried to separate us, but I just couldn't leave Muzzle by himself. So, they kept us in the quarantine kennels and were never brought out when people were there to look for a dog to adopt. It was said that we were… unfit for adoption," Hunter explained.

"Unfit…? On what basis…?" Mayor Valiant asked incredulously.

"It was mainly because of Muzzle's unpredictable and potentially dangerous behavior at the time and my refusal to leave him because I knew what would happen to him if I left. Then, one day they received the orders to have both Muzzle and I put to sleep. But thankfully, Master called and the rest is history…" Hunter finished the story.

"And a very 'appy 'ist'ry…" Colleen quipped with a smile.

"Indeed…" Professor Hubert concurred.

"RARARA rara…!" Shag agreed.

"And I couldn't asked for a better team…" Master praised.

"If I may ask… why were you on the streets in the first place?" the mayor asked.

"To tell you the truth, sir, I don't really remember, but it's really of no consequence now…" Hunter said as he turned to look out the window when a motion of a blinking light caught his eye.

"I'm sorry… I didn't mean…" Mayor Valiant began.

"No offense taken, dude… the past is what it is…" Hunter said with a smile.

"It's situations like yours and more that made me want to change the animal control program not only here in my city, but around the nation… so many animals have been mercilessly killed just because they were not wanted… or given to people who mistreated them… for horrible reasons…" the mayor said.

There was a sudden shift in the mayor's mood. He seemed to have a far off look in his eyes as he seemed to be speaking from an experience. Hunter tilted his head in curiosity at the sudden silence. The mayor shook his head as he reverted his gaze away from the group.

Strangely, a sudden wave of scent wafted through his nose. Hunter closed his eyes to concentrate on it. He knew this odor from somewhere. Flashes of a man, a woman, and a young boy ran across his mind's eye as well as a feeling of utter betrayal. None of it made sense.

"Everything alright, Jonathan…?" Master asked.

"Oh… yeah… sorry it just still gets me right in my chest when I think about it…" Jonathan answered.

"Not tha' we think it strange, guv… but why 'ave you worked so tirelessly on this?" Colleen asked.

Tha mayor seemed to inhale every bit of oxygen out of the cabin before letting it out in a huge sigh. He nervously cleared his throat before guzzling the rest of his water down. The feeling of static made the canines feel like their fur was raising up of its own accord.

"Something is definitely not right here…" Hunter thought.

Another wave of the same scent that had triggered something in his memory bank hit his nose again… only stronger. Hunter pinched the bridge of his nose as a slight headache began to throb at the crown of his skull. Images of a dark room and the smell of alcohol along with a feeling of helplessness faded in and out of his inner vision. The retriever massaged his temples as he brought himself back to the current conversation.

"Well… it… it is still very hard to talk about. Actually, no one knows… AH!" Jonathan began before he clutched his shoulder in a shriek of pain.

"Are you alright? What happened?" Professor Hubert asked preparing to get his medical kit out.

"I'M OK…Really… It's just a nervous thing… It'll pass… Please…" Jonathan said as he seemed to relax.

"Are you sure?" Blitz questioned seeing and smelling to sweat the mayor was exuding.

"Yes… yes, please… just give me a moment…" Jonathan said as he went silent.

Hunter noticed that the mayor seemed to suddenly be avoiding eye contact, especially after he looked towards him. Jonathan shifted in his seat to sit with his back stiff against the seat. Hunter arched an eyebrow at this.

Before any further questions could be raised, three knocks came from the opaque window separating the compartments of the limo.

*knock* *knock**knock*

"Yes, Bailey…?" Jonathan answered in an exasperated breath of relief.

"We will be arriving at the Bradbury in about five minutes, Sir. Shall I drop you off at the front door?" Bailey's voice came through the small speaker.

"Y-yes Bailey… the front will be fine…" Jonathan answered.

"Yes, Sir," Bailey confirmed as he cut the speaker off.

"Comrade… something is being wrong with youski…" Exile stated.

"I appreciate the concern, but its fine. This happens quite often. Heart condition… stress'll do that ya know…," Jonathan said as he mopped his brow.

Jonathan grit his teeth in conflict as the pain in his shoulder abated. He tried to calm his heavy breathing as the Rovers looked at him with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. Jonathan pressed his hand against his chest firmly as he leaned forward with a look of pleading in his eyes.

"It is good you all are here," Jonathan said cryptically.

"What's going…?" Hunter began.

The door of the limo suddenly swung open to a gaggle of press cameras flashing and cheering crowds. Jonathan quickly exited the vehicle and made his way down the red carpet in front of the building.

"Something is being upski, Comrades… I smell much fear off him…" Exile said.

Before she lost sight of him, Colleen noticed a small device attached to the mayor's belt with wires running under his shirt.

"Tha' doesn't look like a heart monitor…the wires are not in the right places…" Colleen thought as she mentally filed through her knowledge of medical devices.

Colleen looked over and noticed the stern look on her husband's face as the mayor quickly made his way through the throng of paparazzi.

"Wha' is it, Love? You seem troubled," Colleen commented.

"It may be nothing… but I'm not liking the way he keeps focusing on us, me in particular. I feel like we're walking into something bad… and something about him seems familiar to me. I don't know why though…" Hunter revealed.

"Dhen maybe ve should not go in… your intuition is rarely wrong…" Blitz suggested.

"Keep a cool head, my pets. We can't let the public have any idea of our suspicions," Master said.

"Indeed, we might cause a mass panic or riot depending on the sway of attitudes," Professor Hubert said as he tucked his emergency medical hit into his jacket, just in case.

"Da, we are already being here… we cannot be doing the disappearing…" Exile said.

"Reah… rarara Ra…" Shag agreed.

"Indeed… what do you say, 'untie?" Colleen asked.

"Act like nothing is wrong. Keep your senses about you. I don't like this, but we are not in a position to do otherwise," Hunter said as a heavy sigh escaped his lungs.

A collective deep breath was taken by everyone in the cab before releasing the tension that had been choking them. They put on calm expressions and went through the ritual motions of press mics, flashing cameras, and short news interviews before entering the Victorian building. Tension ruffled through the fur on the back of their necks as they checked their coats and belongings at the door.

Upon entering the archway into the main ballroom, the Rovers were taken aback by the sheer beauty and elegance of the gala. Many tables adorned the floor covered in gleaming white linen tablecloths with the same covering the backs of the chairs. Wisps of silver, black and red accents swirled in the center of large globe-like centerpieces. The sounds of a small orchestra echoed through the room. Candles gave a soft glow to the scene that would make any hopeless romantic feel right at home.

"Ach die lieber… for such an event… dhey really vent five-star…" Blitz commented.

"Da… it is being very fancy…" Exile agreed as a waiter offered him a glass of sparkling water.

"Let's just act normal until we can further assess the situation… look, there's the mayor…" Hunter said, pointing across the room.

"Maybe it was just 'is nerves… I mean… this is a rathah large event…" Colleen suggested as she tried to diffuse some of the tension.

"I hope you are being rightski, Comrade," Exile answered.

"Ja, I agree vith Exile. Someting is still not right about dhis…" Blitz agreed.

"I know, Rovers, but until we know more there isn't much more to be done," Master said as they grew closer to the front table.

Up at the front table next to the stage, which was reserved for the mayor and his special guests, Jonathan sat staring at his drink as the ice began to melt. He took no notice of the canines approaching him as he closed his eyes to think.

"I can't do this… I shouldn't do this… It goes against everything I've worked for… Why was I so stupid…?" Jonathan thought.

A soft buzzing noise echoed in his right ear as he tested a sip of the drink in front of him. He kept looking back to behind the curtains of the stage as he mopped his brow again. The stinging in his shoulder had finally abated, but the electric nodes digging into his skin were a constant reminder that he was at death's door at any moment he displeased the one holding the controls.

"Hurts doesn't it…" a voice began to speak into his earpiece.

Jonathan grit his teeth in disgust and anger as he coughed uncomfortably.

"Heh… remember… when I get what I want… you'll never hear from me again …" the familiar voice of Joey Trupire hissed with a sinister tone.

"You'll never get away with this, Joey…" Jonathan growled under his breath.

"Oh… and who's gonna stop me, Valiant, or should I still call you… Valium…? HAHA! Be ready in five…" Trupire said as the white noise ended in Jonathan's ear.

"What can I do? I can't just hand over…" Jonathan began to think.

"Jonathan…?" Master's voice echoed in his mind.

"Huh…!?" Jonathan jumped in surprise.

The nervous mayor looked around to see that the Rovers had taken their seats at the table with him. Their eyes were filled with confirmed suspicion and were on full defense mode. He knew that if he told them what was really going on, he would be dead within a matter of moments. But he struggled with the other option…

"Mr. Mayor… you need to tell us what's going on…" Hunter whispered in a stern tone.

"I know tha' you don't 'ave a heart condition… tha' device on you isn't for med'cal purposes…" Colleen rasped.

Jonathan felt the sweat running down his back. His chest muscles began to tighten in, hoping Trupire couldn't hear them. His gaze darted back and forth nervously trying to think of a way out of this very uncomfortable situation. All of a sudden, a crazy thought entered his mind. Slowly, he pressed the heel of his hand against his temple for several seconds seeming to just soothe away a headache. He heard the static disconnect from the device hidden within the edge of his hair.

A sudden calm washed over the mayor's face. The Rovers watched in tense silence, almost expecting an explosion to go off. The mayor rose from his seat to head towards the podium and walked behind Hunter, placing a hand on his shoulder and leaning down to his ear. He placed his other hand on the table crossing his fingers together in a deliberate action. Blitz noticed the gesture and held his breath in realization of what was happening.

"Watch the shadows for Mad Dog…" Jonathan said in a strained voice.

"Mad Dog…?" Hunter whispered back in confusion.

Before any questions could be asked, the mayor got up and headed towards the stage to begin the evening's festivities. The Rovers looked at one another with tense, confused stares.

"What was he to be saying, Comrade?" Exile asked.

"He said to watch the shadows for Mad Dog… "Hunter replied.

"Mad Dog… I wondah wha' tha' is…?" Colleen said.

"No clue…" Professor Hubert added.

"Raruh…" Shag shrugged in puzzlement.

"Did anyvun else notice the gesture of his odher hand?" Blitz asked.

"Huh… no, why?" Master answered.

"He had his fingahs laced over one anodher… it's a hand gesture vhen somevun is undah duress…" Blitz explained.

"But by whom…?" Colleen said.

"Maybe 'Mad Dog' isn't a 'what'…. But a 'who'…" Hunter thought.

While the others murmured amongst themselves, Muzzle turned his gaze towards the mayor to keep an eye out for anything out of place. He had become quite adept at being a lookout for the others since he was smaller and made less noise. No one knew he was paying attention or even present until it was too late for them to react against him.

He watched intensely as a lapel microphone was pinned to the mayor's tie. The Rottweiler went over every inch of the stage when his keen sight noticed something just behind the thick stage curtains. He could make out several beings, but the one looking towards the mayor on stage felt like pure evil. He uttered a low-key threatening growl which caught Hunter's attention.

"Muzzle, what is it, buddy?" Hunter asked.

In his own grunts and low woofs, he relayed what he was seeing to the Retriever. Hunter ruffled the Rottweiler's ears for a job well done as he turned back to his team.

"Vhat is it?" Blitz asked.

"Muzzle saw a group of men behind the stage and one is watching the stage and most likely us. We've got to make them believe that we don't know they are here. I don't know what the mayor is being made to do, but it definitely is dangerous," Hunter said.

"We cannot just be doing the sitting here…" Exile said.

"Reah…" Shag agreed.

"I know, but if we act now there would most likely be several casualties, not to mention injuries. I'm sure they're armed to the teeth back there or they wouldn't have gotten this far… whoever 'they' are…" Hunter said.

With the end of that phrase, Jonathan's voice echoed over the venue, signaling the start of the gala.

"Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome to first of what I hope will be many 'No Companion Left Behind' celebration gala! This cause is near and dear to my heart as you all have seen…" Jonathan began his speech.

As the mayor continued speaking, Master discreetly pulled out his pocket-size tablet. Even though this evening was supposed to be worry-free, he never could seem to part with it. In this instance, he was definitely glad he brought it along. He attempted to access all his information that would allow him to alert authorities secretly without alerting the criminals behind the scenes. To his dismay, he found that there was no signal in the entire building.

"The signal's been jammed… we'll have to do this on our own…" Master thought as he slid the phone-sized device back into his pocket.

"Now, I would like to welcome our special guests this evening, the beloved canine crime-fighting team, the Road Rovers!" Jonathan announced.

A bright spot light encircled the front table. The Rover gave convincing smiles as the attention of the entire room had become focused on them. Jonathan beckoned for Hunter to join him on the stage as the crowd applauded cheerfully. Hunter stood from his seat cautiously made his way up the steps at the front of the stage. All of the other Rovers sat on the edge of their seats tense and ready to act at a moment's notice.

Meanwhile, concealed within the murky darkness of the back stage area, Joey Trupire watched with a triumphant smirk. Several of his best bodyguards had already surrounded the perimeter. Crowd control agents were hidden amongst the patrons of the gala. One of his best techs had installed a signal jamming device where no calls for the police could be made till he was long gone. Now, he just had to wait for his puppet to push his prize into his hands. He had waited years for this. Dreaming and planning every single day what he would do when the opportunity came… now, it was right at his fingertips.

As he watched the exchange between the mayor and Hunter, he felt a tap on his shoulder. His evil sneer fell to a mirthless scowl as he clearly showed his disdain for being distracted from his nightmarish mental fantasies.

"What is it?" Joey snapped.

"S-sorry, Boss… but y-you d-did say to let y-you k-know when the transports w-were secured…" a trembling, scrawny young man stuttered.

"Good… looks like it's time… oh, here… for what it's worth…" Trupire said as he tossed a small bag at the youth with barely a passing glance.

The young man grabbed at the small baggie like his very life depended on it as he secured it away in his pocket to enjoy later. Trupire grinned wide with an evil toothy smile as he saw how powerful his goods still were among L.A.'s slum scene.

"Now, I would love to introduce to you a prime example of why we are all here this evening… a testament to my motivation for these reforms… please welcome the leader of the Road Rovers, Hunter!" Mayor Valiant said as he moved aside to let Hunter take the podium.

A roar of applause and cheers filled the room as the mayor shook Hunter's hand. Hunter quickly scanned around the platform as well as making a cursory glance backstage. Nothing seemed out of place, but a heavy feeling in the pit of his stomach made him believe otherwise. As he placed his hands on the podium, the echoing applause slowly faded away.

"Thank you, Mayor Valiant. It is an honor to be here tonight. As you mentioned, I could definitely be the poster image for the reasons behind the reforms of the animal control policies here in L.A. Unwanted and hidden away, I was nearly put to sleep along with another member of our team, Muzzle. Seeing the positive response of the public in taking in and training pets to become adoptable and no longer having justifiable reasons for euthanasia is a sight I thought I would never see in my lifetime. Your presence here in support of Mayor Valiant's efforts speaks volumes not only to me, but also to the members of my team. Most of us have experienced the pain of rejection and abandonment. I hope this is only the beginning of…" Hunter spoke.

*BANG* *BANG* *BANG*

The hiss of smoke bombs and terrified screams filled Hunter's ears. Thick gray clouds began to obscure his vision of the audience.

"What's happening…?" Hunter thought in shock.

He could barely make out the silhouettes of the audience that was in front of him as a roar of footsteps began to surround him. Suddenly, Hunter felt a vice-like grip on his arms from behind him as he felt himself thrown to the stage floor. A sudden sharp pain radiated through his neck as his eyesight began to swim. The sounds of the room began to fade away as he lost touch with reality.

"Quick, grab him!" one of Trupire's guards barked.

As the crowd hustled around in a panic, Trupire's men, faces covered in filtration masks and night vision goggles, drug Hunter's unconscious body to the backstage area. They threw him onto a cart for easier transport. Trupire laughed triumphantly as he looked at the Retriever.

"Get him to the van! Let's go!" Trupire bellowed.

As all of his men secured the doors and entryways so they would not be followed, Trupire climbed into the black van that had been waiting in the back. Hunter lay passed out on the hard metal floor of the vehicle, hands and feet zip-tied together and mouth muzzled.

"Soon…Mule…" Trupire thought as a possessed smile spread across his face.