Hey guys, like I said, I want to upload more often, but to do that, I'm shortening chapters. Thanks for the kinds messages, I appreciate that you understand why it's taking longer than usual to update and your patience is really appreciated!

The time progression, if you actually work it out, probably doesn't make sense, so from this point, I'm just gonna put the time as how many days and what time it is at the point in that story to prevent further headaches lol.

Reviews:

Chase: No problem. I like it too when people respond to comments, hence why I do it. I want to make sure I am as involved as possible with my audience. Glad you're enjoying the story.

Here's chapter 7 of Burning Responsibility


Chapter 7: Deception

11:00am - 1 day after crash

The last of the storm was hanging in there; grey clouds dotted above the town of Adventure Bay paled in comparison to those that were in their place the previous night, but still beat down upon the small town with torrents of water and wind. Rocky looked out the windows with a disappointed expression, watching as the rain travelled down the glass. "Figures, it has to rain through my patrol", he said, walking back to the group.
"Hey you aren't the only one going out there", Marshall said, flipping his hat onto his head and fastening his torch in place. "Two of us are gonna get soaked together", the dally said with his trademark grin. "Besides, this could count as your bath for the week perhaps?" Rocky's tail began to wag.
"I can live with that. C'mon, the sooner we get out, the faster this will be over. There's probably tonnes of garbage to collect from this storm." Marshall nodded,
"right, and Rubble?" Marshall turned to the younger bulldog who looked up from the TV, "you better get dressed up too, who knows what kind of debris could be washed about on the streets" Marshall said, tossing him his yellow construction cap.
"Sure thing Marshall".

Rocky and Marshall left the lookout and boarded their respective vehicles. "Ugh, even the seat is wet". Marshall chuckled at his friend's rather comical aversion to water. He often wondered how he was such good friends with himself and Zuma, since they constantly have to be in contact with water throughout their roles.

They both left the driveway, rain hitting against Marshall's visor and dripping from Rocky's cap. The bridge over the bay loomed above them as they drove side by side. "Rocky, do you think I'm being a good leader?" Marshall asked, breaking the silence between the two.
"Of course I do Marshall, why wouldn't I?" he cheerfully responded.
"Because our leader and our friend, both family really, are stranded somewhere remote and we aren't really doing anything about it. I'm just making everyone go about their daily business like nothing is happening. Not even the town knows of Ryder and Chase's disappearance, they just think they are still at Barkingburg. Rocky, I feel like we should be doing something, looking for them, y'know?" Marshall pulled his firetruck up at the end of the bridge, Rocky stopping alongside. "I know Ryder expects me to keep everything under control here, but I want him back just as badly as everyone else does, and I'm just expected to pretend like it doesn't bother me?" Marshall took his hat off slumped back in his seat, rain covering his otherwise dry head. "Sometimes I feel like he should have chosen someone else to lead, I mean, you've got the brains for it. Why didn't he choose you?" Rocky looked over at his friend.

"Marshall, he chose you because he believed you were the best choice out of the five of us. Actually six, he even considered Everest. Can you imagine Everest in charge? Everyday would just be liver and snow, we'd nev-" Rocky stopped as Marshall gave him a 'get back to the subject' kind of look. "He didn't choose because of brains, he chose because of your instinct. Sure, he could have chosen me, but I tend to overthink situations and because of that, waste time. You know exactly what needs to be done and you do it without the need to think about it over and over again. Think of that test we gave you on the beach*, you took charge, you knew what needed to be done and the fire was out in no time". Rocky said, smiling.
"Sure, but that's what I'm trained to do. Firefighting is my job. It would have been the same if it was a paramedic emergency. But a police chase? Or water rescue? I wouldn't know what to do!" Marshall argued.
"Then you put faith in your team Marshall. No one expects you to know what to do in every situation, just to know who to trust to put in charge of the situation. If it were a water rescue, of course Zuma would know more than you, or an aerial rescue, Skye would be the obvious one in charge. I think Ryder made the right choice, and I've never doubted it since, but you can't be a good leader if you spend all of your time thinking you aren't one". Rocky said, before starting his engine. Marshall looked up at the mixed breed through the rain. He placed his hat back on his head and started his firetruck.
"Thanks Rocky. I'll see you back at the lookout at 2".
"No problem Marshall, and by the way.. Say hi to Everest for me?" Rocky said, chuckling to himself as he turned off the street towards the town. Everyone knew Marshall gave himself the patrol route around Jake's mountain, and everyone knew why. Sure, it would make more sense to have Skye do the route, but Marshall had a very obvious secret regarding the Husky and he took whatever opportunity he could to visit.


11:36am - 1 Day after crash

"Hey Marshall!" Everest ran towards the firetruck. "Storm hasn't passed up here yet either, we've got hikers stuck in cabins all over the summit. Jake and I were about to head out and try and set some free, wanna join?" Everest sat in front of Marshall, head tilted and covered in the falling snow.
"Sure Everest, maybe we could call up Rubble to come lend a paw?" He suggested,
"Nah, the three of us would be enough". Marshall shrugged and took a snow shovel in his mouth.
"Marshall, dude. How's it goin?" Jake closed the door to his cabin and stood on the back of Everest's snowcat. "Snows been pretty rough up here all night. How's the town?"
"Wet. Very windy and wet. I tried calling last night to ask how you two were doing, but I think all this snow is blocking the tag's communication system". Marshall explained. Jake nodded, sipping hot coffee from his mug. "Most of the pups are just lazing around indoors, not much else to do in the rain. Rocky is out on patrol around the town this morning".
"In the rain? Rocky, driving in the rain? Bet he was happy about that" Everest laughed before jumping up into her snowcat. "You coming in this or your truck?" Everest asked.
"Suppose it would make more sense if I came with you two, my truck isn't really designed for slopes". He jumped up into the drivers seat and squeezed in next to Everest. "Sorry, I don't think Ryder ever planned that people would be riding shotgun in this", Marshall said.
"No biggie. Makes it warmer I suppose" Everest responded, shrugging as she pressed the ignition. Her snowcat ploughed off into the snow, leaving the cabin and Marshall's truck in the white dust behind her.


12:10pm - 1 Day after crash

Rubble, Skye and Zuma laid about on the bean bags. "Jeez, it gets really boring around here when it's raining". Rubble broke the silence in the room. "Any ideas on what to do?", the young bulldog stood up, stretching his legs, looking at his two teammates who were just as bored.
"Nah wubble. TV maybe?" Zuma suggested, turning the screen on to only see static and the occasional flicker of some random reporter's face. "Nevermind, the stowm must be weally messing up the signal".
"We could play truth or dare?" Skye said. Both Zuma and Rubble froze at the idea and stared at her.
"No"
"Never again"
"Why not?"
"Wemember last time? I'm not in the mood for a pink dwess right now". **

The three went back to sitting silent again, listening to the wind howling outside and the rain battering the windows. "Ughhhh, I can't take it anymore, there has to be something to do!" Rubble said, heading off to the elevator.
"What are you doing Rubble?" Skye asked, watching him.
"I don't know, cleaning my gear? Better than just sitting around here!" With that, Rubble left and disappeared to the second floor.

Zuma and Skye sat in silence for a minute. "So, how are we gonna ask Rocky?" Zuma turned his head to Skye, tilting it at her question. "About the transmission?"
"Ohhhh, yeah. I don't know? We can't let him know we found it, or he'd tell Mawshall". Skye nodded in agreement. "I know, I'll just make up some excuse about how Ryder told me to look into more communication methods. He always said that ships send messages through all sorts of styles. Guess I should have wesearched before he left?" Skye simply nodded.
"In the meantime, I'll find a way to get Marshall's tag. I might take him to Katie's for a while maybe? Then when he has his bath, I'll swap his tag out for his old one. He hopefully won't notice the difference". Skye said, before another thought rose to her head. "Zuma?"
"Hmm?" Zuma responded, looking up from the floor.
"Do you even know how to pilot the Sea Patroller?"


13:30pm - 1 Day after crash

Rocky sighed as he shook more water out of his fur. "This better count as my bath for the next three weeks" he said to himself. His pincer grabbed another loose branch from the road and pulled it to the grass. He looked back at the street he had been driving up, piles of debris and garbage ready to be collected. "Rubble can sort that later".

He looked up to the lookout. He always admired the design of the building. Such a simple idea, a tower, but iconic to so many people. How uncomplicated it was stood as a testament to the Paw Patrol's promise to help everyone who needs it. Such a simple concept. Sure, Rocky could think of a few times where the Patrol's skills could have been used more effectively. If they had to rescue that chicken from the roof one more time, he might have another chew toy in his truck. Rocky looked down at his reflection in the puddle beneath him. He was wet. He hated being wet. Water dripped from his clumped form, falling into an even bigger puddle of water. His trusty cap turned a darker shade of green. Even his collar was a darker orange. "Rain makes everything look so miserable. Suppose it makes sense, not a lot to be happy about right now". He sat back in his truck and looked over at the bay, the last place he saw Ryder and Chase. "I know you two are OK. I can't imagine any situation where you wouldn't be. You always know what to do. Please be OK". He started his Truck and headed back towards the lookout.


Meanwhile

"That should be the last of them dudes". Jake said, much to the joy of Marshall and Everest. The trio had been working for hours, digging through snow. Marshall couldn't feel his paws, his face, his anything really. "Hey Marshall, you OK over there?" Everest asked.
"Uh huh, just... very cold". Marshall said, stumbling through the snow back to the snowcat.
"C'mon, I've got something to show you anyways. It sounded important". Everest said, starting her engine and making her way back to Jake's cabin.

She laughed as Marshall gasped, looking at his firetruck buried under a few foot of snow. "Don't worry, it's probably fine. Come on, in here", Everest grabbed Marshall's collar and pulled him away from his truck. "This is what I wanted to show you". She said, opening the door to Jake's bedroom.
"Um, Everest, I've seen Jake's room before. Did he get a new trophy or something?" Everest shushed him and turned a machine on in the corner.
"It's been beeping like this all night. We had to turn it off. It's the same sequence over and over again. Jake says its-"
"Morse code" Marshall said, his eyes lighting up slightly. "Everest, it's morse code! Do you know what it could be? it could be Ryder! Or Chase! Or both of them! Maybe they're OK?" Marshall said, grinning ear to ear looking at the confused husky. it suddenly dawned on him as Jake and Everest looked at each other.
"Marshall, dude. What do you mean, 'they're ok?'" Jake said, mirroring the same look of concern Everest was showing.
"Oh right. It all happened so fast we never told you. We haven't told Carlos and Tracker either. Or even the Mayor".
"Marshall, what happened to them?" Everest asked, cutting to the point.

"Ryder and Chase were summoned to Barkingburg. It's a place across the sea in England. Chase and Ryder have a special role involving the protection of Barkingburg's royal family. Anyways, they took the air patroller, with Robodog, to Barkingburg, but they hit this storm that we're in the middle of now." Everest's ears fell flat, she looked up at Jake how just told Marshall to continue. "The storm caused Robodog to freak out, and soon after, something went wrong. We don't know what happened after that, because we lost signal. Ryder and Chase presumably crashed into the ocean". Everest whimpered at the last words. Jake just sat in silence.

"Look guys, I know how bad that sounds. Ryder left me in charge of the Paw Patrol. I've been thinking the worst every second since then. Rocky and I have exhausted ourselves trying to trace Chase's collar or Ryder's PupPad, but this storm has really messed up the Lookout's systems. We we're going to wait until it clears up tomorrow, but now i need to know what this morse code is saying. For all we know, maybe Ryder found a way to message us!" Marshall said, trying to brighten the sudden drop of mood in the room.

"Marshall, I get what you're saying, and I want to think that too. But, don't get your hopes up too high. All sorts of places resort to using morse code when a storm comes in. It could be anyone". Jake said, patting him on the head. Marshall nodded, letting his head fall slightly in disappointment, realising that Jake was right. Everest noticed this, and tried to cheer him up again.
"So, you're in charge of me too then?" Marshall looked up at Everest.
"Suppose so?" Marshall said. Everest laughed at the idea.
"I know who will know how to understand this. We tried calling Rocky when we first heard it". Everest said. "Maybe Jake and I could pay a visit?" Marshall nodded. "There is always that chance it is them Marshall. Ryder is smart and Chase would never give up. It's the perfect combination". She said, putting her hat back on and throwing Marshall a snow shovel.
"What do I need this for?" He said, picking it up.
"Unless you plan to drive an igloo, I'd get digging". She laughed as he pointed out the window to Marshall's truck.
"Oh, yeah".


14:03pm - 1 Day after crash

The lookout doors opened. Skye and Zuma looked up to see a soaking, dripping mixed breed pup stood looking at them. "Have fun Wocky?" Zuma laughed at the mixed breed who shook, flinging water everywhere. He rolled his eyes at the lab and looked over at Skye.
"Anything happen? Calls and such?" He asked, wringing his hat out into the sink.
"Nope. Been quiet all day. Rubble is upstairs cleaning his gear, but by now, he's probably fallen asleep". She responded.
"Hey Wocky, I was wondering if you could teach me something. Ryder said I should look into more communication methods, y'know, in case there are ships stwanded at sea". Rocky looked over at Zuma.
"Um, sure I guess, but first I'm gonna go and get dry. Maybe later?" He responded. Zuma walked over to him.
"But I wanna learwn now. Please Wocky?" Rocky shook his head. He was dripping wet, and stank of wet dog.
"Zuma, please. You know how much I hate being wet, and look at me. You've been drier in your underwater missions. I can't concentrate like this, I wouldn't be a good teacher". Zuma stood back as Rocky pushed past him. "If you want, I have some books in my Pup House you can look at, just, don't get them wet". Rocky entered the elevator and left to the second floor.

"Suppose we could look at the books?" Skye suggested as she and Zuma walked towards the door.
"Ok, on the count of thwee, weady?" Skye nodded. "One", the door opened. "Two, thwee!" Zuma and Skye dashed out into the rain and ran to Rocky's Puphouse, diving through the door and closing it behind them. "Wow, it really is wet out there".
Skye and Zuma looked at Rocky's puphouse. His patchwork green bed laid in the corner whilst a small stool and desk sat in the other corner with a light hanging above it, lighting up a small shelf of books.

"Wow, it's so much neater than mine!" Zuma said, looking at the alphabetically coordinated books on the wall. "Lets see; engines and motors, nope. Computers and Coding, nope". Zuma threw each book to the floor.
"Zuma, stop making such a mess, this is Rocky's room!" Skye said, picking each book back up and replacing them on the shelf. "Here, it's this one". Skye picked a book off of the lower shelf. "Radios, Signals and Communication", she said, reading the title, "it has to be this one".

The two sat back on the bed and opened the book. "Hey look", Zuma said, pulling out a piece of paper on the first page. "Looks like our pup tags" he looked at Skye, "He helped make them?" Skye nodded before turning several pages.
"Here, morse code. A basic, low power consuming code that sends a basic encoded version of the Latin Alphabet electronically using a series of beeps or flashes". Skye read aloud.
"OK, so does it say how to understand it?" Zuma asked, rolling his eyes. Skye turned the page and found a chart showing a series of dots and dashes, each with a letter of the alphabet above. "That has to be it!" Zuma said, grabbing the book from Skye and tearing the page out.
"ZUMA!" Skye yelled, hitting him in the back of the head. He looked up with the page in his teeth.
"Whaw?" he mumbled.
"That's not our property. You can't just vandalise peopl- oh nevermind, c'mon, lets go figure this out". Skye closed the book and placed it back on the shelf. "Marshall will be back soon, then I just need to get his collar". Skye opened the door and walked back out into the rain, Zuma following behind holding the page in his mouth. They both headed towards the elevator and entered the top floor.

"Right, lets get this done quickly. Marshall will be back any second now" Skye warned. "Hand me the paper, you go turn the machine on". Zuma spat the page out into her outstretched paw. "Gross, you had to drool all over it?"
"Where else was I meant to put it?" Zuma said, walking to the morse code machine. He pressed a button and plugged a cable in, and it began to beep again.

"So, every long beep is a line, and the shorter beeps are the dots. We just need to make note of the beeps and then convert them over. It should be simple enough". Skye said, grabbing a pen and paper.

Zuma paced about the room, watching Skye scribble a series of dots and dashes on the paper. "Skye, it's wepeated like, four times now! When can we figure out what is says?"
"I have to make sure I wrote it down right. If this is a location, one wrong digit could take us the complete wrong direction!" Zuma fell to the floor onto his belly and rested his head on his paws. "But you're right, we're running out of time". Skye grabbed the page from behind her and placed it besides her notes. "OK, let's see what we've got".

Another five minutes passed as she slowly wrote letters and numbers under each dot and dash. She looked up at Zuma. "It's a location. A location we needed! Zuma! They're alive! Stranded.. hurt apparently, but alive!" Zuma and Skye howled for joy before they quickly shushed each other.
"Then we need Mawshall's collar. We have to get them!" Zuma said, more determined than ever. "Skye, go grab his old tag". Skye walked to the lift holding her message in her mouth. "Hide that, make sure no one else reads it", she nodded and closed the doors. Zuma walked back over to the morse code machine. "As for you, you're gonna have to be quiet too". He pulled the plug from the wall and it fell silent. He smiled triumphantly. "We're gonna find them!"


14:40pm - 1 Day after crash

"Hey guys!" Everest entered the lookout, shaking her wet fur all over Marshall and Jake who stood besides her.
"Everest!" They all responded and ran over, all except Rocky, who kept his distance.
"What's up Rocky?" Everest asked.
"Oh nothing, I just got dry, I don't need anymore water for a while". Everest laughed at Rocky's response.
"I heard about Ryder and Chase dudes. Sorry about that, but Everest and I found something that might help!" The pups looked up at Jake and gave their full attention.
"What is it?" Rubble asked.
"Everest and Jake found a signal, morse code to be precise", Zuma and Skye looked over at each other. "I think, or at least hope, it could be Ryder and Chase. We want Rocky to find out what it says!" Marshall explained, looking at the various expressions amongst his team.
"There's no time to waste c'mon". Rocky headed to the Elevator with the rest of the pups close by. Zuma looked at Skye, mouthing "do something". Skye just shrugged wide eyed, then she had an idea.

"Hey, Marshall, I was gonna head to Katies and get my fur groomed, you wanna come? You've been under a lot of stress recently, maybe it could help?" Skye said, standing in front of Marshall.
"Sounds good, maybe after we know what the signal is?" Marshall responded and walked past.
"She's wight dude. Maybe some spa time might be good for you? And if it is anything big, we'll call you!" Zuma quickly followed up. Marshall looked over at Skye.
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have some time to relax. I'm still freezing and sore from all that work I did with Everest". Rubble and Zuma both gave him a smirk. "No, not that kind of- will you two behave". Marshall blushed heavily, so did Everest. "Alright alright, Skye I'm coming" Zuma and Rubble both laughed.
"Ha, is that the first time you've said that today?" Zuma yelled as Marshall walked out, he turned around and shot him a glare, and then Everest slapped him in the back of the head.
"Behave you two" She said, blushing. Jake quietly chuckled and Everest kicked him in the leg. "You too!" Jake stopped laughing and stood still. "Boys" She said, rolling her eyes as the elevator doors closed.


15:00pm - 1 Day after crash

Skye stood on the grooming table, watching Marshall slowly sink into his warm bath, sighing with relief as the warm water warmed his freezing body. "OK, so maybe this was a good idea?" He said, looking over to Skye. She simply nodded as she jumped down.
"So what do you think it is Skye?" Marshall asked, leaning his head back and closing his eyes.
"I don't know, maybe it's Ryder and Chase, but like Jake said, it could be anyone". She responded, quietly walking over to the bath. She spotted Marshall's collar laying on the floor next to him. She took his old tag out from her pack she brought with her. Slowly, she approached the bath.

"Skye, do you think I'm doing a good job?" Skye froze and dropped the tag back in her pack quickly as Marshall sat back up and looked at her. "I know I keep asking everyone, but I worry that I'm not fit for this role. I want nothing more than for Ryder to just come and take over again, or Chase to take the lead, but with both of them god know's where, I'm left doing it. Rocky told me this morning that he chose me because of my instinct. But I've seen you use your initiative in lots of missions, and you are much more sensible than I am, why didn't he choose you?" Skye sat quietly for a while, looking over at the Dally.
"Marshall, I've never doubted Ryder's decisions, and I certainly don't doubt this one. You always do what is right. You have a big heart and the courage to match it. I think you're doing a great job so far. You're dealing with things that Ryder never imagined you would have to deal with. Heck, it's stuff not even Ryder has dealt with. Sure, I've been lost in the snow, or you ran away for a few hours, but he knew where we were. We don't have a clue where those two could be. You're doing your job brilliantly".

Marshall looked over at her, and nodded. "I guess". He closed his eyes again. Skye began to reach for her pack again, but stopped. She turned and looked up at Marshall. "Hey, Marshall?" He sat back up and looked over the edge of the bathtub.
"If you knew where Chase and Ryder were, if this message told you where they were at least.. what would you do?" Marshall thought for while. It was a good question, and not something he had been thinking of. Assuming the worst meant that he didn't need to think of a potential rescue. He actually didn't know what he would do. So he changed the question.
"Skye, what would you do?" She too thought for a second. If she said anything about the Sea Patroller, Marshall might figure out her plan. "I'd go find them. I'd do everything in my power to sail or fly across the sea and find them. It's what Ryder or Chase would do for us". Skye answered.

"I suppose. But, what if something happened here?" Marshall argued.
"I'd still put family over the town". Skye said. "Reluctantly of course, but Chase means everything to me". Marshall looked down at her, "I mean, Chase and Ryder mean everything to me" She nervously chuckled.
"I don't think we could leave Adventure Bay. It would leave the town in danger, plus, it would put us in danger too. I couldn't deal with that and Ryder wouldn't want me to do it either. I guess I'd just report it to the authorities and let them find them".

Skye had hoped for a different answer. Maybe if he said he'd do the same, perhaps she would have thrown the whole plan out the window, and just waited until Marshall heard the message, but knowing that he couldn't do anything meant she didn't have a choice. She quickly switched the tags over, making sure to move fast and silently. She placed Marshall's command tag in her pack and closed it.

"Well, I'm done here. What about you?" Skye asked. Marshall nodded before standing up and jumping out. He looked over at Skye and blushed. "What?" She asked.
"Um, I feel naked", he nervously said.
"Marshall, we're always naked. We're dogs", Skye said rolling her eyes. Marshall laughed as he slipped his collar back on.
"Bye Katie, thanks for the bath!" The two left the building and jumped back into Marshall's truck and headed back to the lookout.


14:50pm - 1 Day after crash

"Okay guys, this might take me some time. I haven't done this in a while" Rocky said, heading over to the communications panel and plugging it in. "That's strange, Ryder never unplugs this bit". He sat down and put on a pair of ear muffs and began to scrawl out lines and dots, just as Skye did earlier.

"So, Everest. What do you think it is?" Zuma asked, looking over at the Husky. She shrugged.
"I hope it's what we think it is, but like Jake told Marshall, during storms, morse code is one of the most reliable communication methods, lots of ships and remote places use them. For all we know, it could be some guy stuck in a storm ordering Pizza". Zuma giggled. "What about you Zuma?"
"I think it's Wyder. It has to be. He's too smart for something like this to happen and for him to be left with no wescue". Everest nodded.

10 minutes passed and Rocky turned around to face the pups. "Okay, I just have to convert it to something readable now". Everest sighed. She looked out the window. "Hey guys, Skye and Marshall are back. Let's give Rocky some space and go see them". Jake stayed up at the top whilst Skye, Rubble, Everest and Zuma headed downstairs.
"Hey Marshall, feeling less sore now?" Rubble chuckled before being pinched by Everest. "Okay okay, jeez"
"Yeah, hot bath was just what I needed. And thanks for the chat Skye. Skye?" He turned to see no one stood next to him. "She probably went to her pup house, she always puts her new perfumes away and such after visiting Katie's" Rubble suggested. Marshall nodded. "I'll go see if she's OK" Rubble said walking out of the lookout.

Zuma and Skye wandered off together to her puphouse. "You got it?" Zuma asked. Skye tipped an orange and red tag out of her pack. "Yes! Wyder and Chase, here.. we... come?" Zuma looked over at Rubble who stood in the doorway.
"Um, what's happening guys?"
"Oh crap" Skye hit her head on the wall. "Hey Rubble. What if we told you we had a plan to save Ryder? But Marshall wouldn't approve?" Skye asked.
"What do you mean?" he responded.
"She means that we know where Chase and Wyder are, but to get to them, we had to steal Mawshall's tag so we could steal the Sea Patwoller". Rubble stood in a semi shocked position.
"Um, you're joking right?" He said, before noticing the puptag on the floor in front of him. "Oh dog you're not joking". Rubble sat down. "You're gonna steal the Sea Patroller? Why wouldn't Marshall allow it? How do you know where they are?" Skye began to explain the plan to Rubble, who sat showing a variety of emotions throughout. Usually confusion.

"So, you ripped a page out of Rocky's books, and you stole our leader's puptag and now you're gonna go steal a huge boat?" Skye and Zuma just sat nodding.
"So, Rubble. What do you want to do? Let Marshall let some strangers go rescue them, or should we go get them ourselves?" Rubble sat dumbfounded. "What if I go tell Marshall what you two are doing?" Zuma growled.
"We don't have a choice anymore Rubble. Either come with us, or stay out of our way".
"Guys, I miss Ryder and Chase as much as you two do, maybe not as much as Skye", Skye swatted him for the comment, "but I want them back as soon as possible. If we do it, we'll be heroes, just like Apollo!" Rubble looked at the two of them, and took a deep breath. "I want to help".
"Then we have no time to waste. C'mon, we're leaving right now". Skye said standing up and heading out. Zuma, bring your hovercraft, I'll bring my helicopter. I suppose your rig wouldn't hurt either Rubble. Who knows what's gonna happen". The two pups nodded and ran off to their puphouses. "Don't worry guys, help is on the way".


15:15pm - 1 Day after Crash

The elevator doors flew open, and Jake walked out. "Pups, Rocky wants you upstairs". Marshall nodded and activated his collar.
"Hey, Zuma, Rocky needs us upstairs".
"Um, on our way, you head up. We went for a walk".
"In the rain?"
"Uhh, yeah you know how much I love water"
"Okay, but hurry".

Marshall, Jake and Everest headed up the elevator. "Well, it wasn't easy, considering someone ripped the morse code translation page out of my book", Rocky said spitefully, "but I know what the message says". He looked up at the three. "Where are the others?"
"Walking apparently?" Marshall answered, "we can fill them in in a second". Rocky nodded.
"If you say so, but this is very important. The message is exactly what we wanted to hear. Marshall, Ryder and Chase are alive. Injured badly but alive. They are stranded on an island in the mid-atlantic. Miles away from any inhabited place". Everest and Marshall howled with joy and Jake cheered. Rocky handed Marshall a note.

'Message to PAW Patrol of Adventure Bay. This is Ryder. Chase is injured. We are stranded. Location is Scrawlrock Isle. Send Help" Marshall sat down. Reading the message over and over in his mind for minutes, staying silent. Some tears formed in his eyes. He spent days thinking the worst had happened to them, thinking he would have to organise a memorial for them, he couldn't bare to think that he almost gave up, when he was this close. Everest rushed over and hugged him, breaking his concentration. "Come on Marshall, let's go! We know where they are, we could have them home before breakfast tomorrow if we head out now!"
"We can't" Marshall said, emotionless.
"What?" Rocky, Everest and Jake responded, taken aback by the response.
"Ryder said send help. He didn't ask for us in particular. Because of that, we need to send the right people for the job. We might be a rescue team, but we're just pups. This is the ocean! We can't just set sail. We have no way to reach them anyways. Ryder wouldn't want us to be in that much danger so he would expect me to send help from the right source. We can contact the navy or something, but our job is here in Adventure Bay".
Rocky and Everest sat down and looked at each other. "Marshall, we get what you're saying... but it's total crap". Marshall looked up at Everest, only to be greeted by a slap. "Marshall, Ryder and Chase are our family. I don't care how dangerous it, is, I'll swim the whole damn ocean to get them. Forget your role and responsibilities, we have family who are hurt and lost. This town can live without us for a day". Marshall stared at Everest. "What do you want to do, Marshall. Forget your responsibilities for one damn second, and tell me, what do you want to do?"
"Save them. More than anything I want to save them. But we have no way to reach them that far out".

"I think that's where I can help. Marshall, you're forgetting something big. And boat shaped. And usually... ugh, wet". Marshall looked over at Rocky.
"The Sea Patroller!" Marshall exclaimed, slapping himself. "Ow".
"The what?" Jake asked.
"It's a big mobile water-based control base. The beach tower on the beach is actually owned by us, and it's not just a tower. The whole thing is a boat that is docked unless needed. It can easily handle the rough waters of the ocean".
"Then what are we waiting for?"
"We're gonna need help!" Rocky said, pushing a button on the control panel. The elevator rose up from the basement, revealing Robodog, stood shining in the light.

"Robodog! I thought the crash destroyed him!" Marshall said.
"Robodog's brain is digital. He has lots of spare bodies, but his mind is constantly being saved to here. He can pilot the Sea Patroller better than anyone".
The three pups howled together, before turning to the screen. Rocky pressed a button, "Right. Let's get it ready for laun- wait".
"What's up?" Marshall asked?
"The computer, says it's already launched, but that's impossible. Ryder and I made it so only team members with the right rank could launch it. Marshall, you're the only one here with access to it".
"Don't look at me! Why would I go to it?" Rocky looked down at Marshall's collar, before reaching out a paw and flipping his tag. It was blank. "Marshall, this is your old tag. Where's the new one Ryder gave you?"
"WHAT? I never took it off! Except for when I went to Katie's. She wouldn't take it". Quickly, his expression changed. "I knew it, something was suspicious about her today. It's SKye! She took my tag!"
"Skye? Why would she do that?" Everest asked,
"She must have taken the Sea Patroller too, but other than Robodog and Ryder, only one other member can pilot it". Marshall said, "Z-"
"Zuma. It's Zuma. He asked me before if I could teach him morse code. And then I found the missing page in my book, plus the unplugged morse code machine. My book is covered in drool and it smells just like him". Marshall raised an eyebrow. "No, I only know how it smells because he constantly leaves his toys around. Anyways, if he's on the Sea Patroller, then there's nothing stopping them setting sail. And assuming that they did all without wanting to let us know, they intend to leave without us". Marshall walked to the console and pressed the call button. The screen showed the Bridge of the Sea Patroller, with Zuma sat in the captain's chair.
"Oh, um. Hey Mawshall" Zuma noticed the Dalmatian's face on the monitor in front of him. "What's up?"
"Zuma. We need to talk".


Next to two words in this chapter, there are * symbols, which link to the below references.

*Refer to Chapter 1: The Test

*Truth or Dare by HavocHound. Please go and read it, it's very entertaining. There's even a comic of it somewhere online but it's not finished.

Well that's the second longest chapter of this story so far. I had planned on continuing Zuma and Marshall's confrontation in this chapter, but it's just got over 6'500 words and I don't want it to be much longer, or people get bored reading the chapters. I'll put that in the next chapter.

The next chapter will obviously have Zuma and Marshall arguing, but also what Skye, Zuma and Rubble were doing whilst the others were in the lookout listening to Rocky. I also would like to put in another chapter focused on Ryder and Chase, so I'll probably do that after the next.

This story is turning out to be much longer than I expected it to, and I really appreciate those who are sticking with me as it is difficult to write stories with so much other stuff going on at the same time. You know who you are, so thank you so much. As always, leave comments and I'll respond to them in the next chapter. If you PM me, I will respond as soon as I can.

Until next time,
PupPupGo. Xx