MOST RECENT CHAPTER EDIT: March 27th, 2017

Cabin – The thugs' rented car – Driving through the streets; Denver, CO, United States

17:34 MDT; Friday July 25th, 2014 (DAY 23) (Immediate time from previous chapter)

Al hung up. "Thugs!" cheered Al, turning with a huge excited smile on his face, "Balto is going to give us everything he has!"

Al's "friends" cheered. "And if he doesn't, Al, zen we'll steal it by force!" cheered Joshua.

Al went back to his smart-phone and Googled the next non-stop flight to Denver to Vancouver.

"Thugs!" announced Al, "I found a non-stob flight! It debarts tomorrow at 5:00 BM!"

"Good," replied the others.

"Now we have a day to pack and to deliver our money to our offshore account," said Joshua, "Let's go back to ze motel!"

"Wait a second..." said Gerald, "We will need to see the airline website to check the rules on taking pets."

"Darn-it!" said Al, "Fine, I'll check!"

He then googled "states airlines pets" and then he tapped the top result. He read over the website and told what it had to say. "Alright, it says that we can carry bets in the cabin in a cage kennel, or we can carry them in the cargo area in a larger cage kennel for the larger bets. We can only carry them in the cabin if they are shorter than 18 inches." (~45.7 cm) "I've gotta google how tall a Siberian Husky is." He then searched on Wikipedia for a Siberian Husky. "Alright, so a male should be from 21–23.5 inches." (~53.3–59.7 cm) "So that means we've gotta bring them in the cargo combartment. Lemme get to the rules." He went back to the rules on the airline website and read over it. He then told what he read. "So it says that the kennel must not have the tob of the head or ears not touch the ceiling, and the kennel must be large enough for the dog to move and roll around in. The kennel must have four ventilation windows if travelling outside of continental U.S.—which we are because we are crossing to Canada. The kennel must also be secured with a metal nut and bolt which secures the tob and bottom of the kennel door. Two dishes for water and food must be brovided, and attached, and easy to access so it can be refilled without obening the kennel door. The kennel floors must have absorbent materials like newsbaber, and the kennel must be leak-broof."

"That's a lot of stuff needed," said Sarah.

"I knew zis was a bad idea," face-palmed Joshua.

"But wait! There's more!" said Al.

The other thugs groaned.

This time, Al went to the other tab of rules. He read over it and then said the most important ones. "The dogs need broof of rabies immunization; they must be drobbed off at the airbort three hours before the scheduled flight debarture if we are travelling outside of continental U.S.; one-hour connection time is required if the origin or destination is outside of continental U.S.; we will need the dogs to have a health certificate reviewed by a vet within 10 days of departure and arrival if we're going a roundtrib—which we're going a one-way trib. Finally, we must not deliver a sedated animal."

"Yes, Al," said Joshua, "I wouldn't do zis because of the cost and the responsibilities."

"But it's too late, so we have to," said Gerald, "And I don't know anyone else who can."

"So first sing is first," said Joshua, "We're going to pick up the dogs, get zeir medical examination, get cage kennels for zem, and zen get ze kennels ready. Let's go!"

Dog cage room (or whatever room the three dogs would be in) – Denver Animal Shelter; Denver, CO, United States

18:01 (Less than 25 minutes later)

Kodi, Kirby, and Blueberry were up sitting in the animal shelter waiting for their delivery people.

Kirby sniffed around. "Mm! I smell some food incoming!" he panted, jumping. Then Kodi and Blueberry started getting excited.

An animal attendant came in to the room with three bowls of dog chow, and fed the three dogs.

The three ate like a pack of wolves. "Mm! MMM!" whimpered Kodi in happiness as he was munching the delicious food, "After three weeks wait! I finally got some FOOD!"

"Oh yeah, Kodi! Tell me about it!" munched Kirby in happiness as he was munching his food too.

"So, Blueberry, we're going to be picked up by humans again?" asked Kodi.

"Yup, Kodi, but I hope we're treated properly this time," said Blueberry.

"Good thing we got news that we were going to be picked up," said Kirby.

"Uh, Blueberry, are we going in a plane?" asked Kodi.

"Oh yes, Kodi; most likely," said Blueberry, "You boys like flying?"

Kirby and Kodi whimpered in disagreement.

"Come on boys, it's fun!" said Blueberry, "It's not dangerous or anything."

"No, Blueberry... it's not that we're scared or anything..." whimpered Kodi with a crushed face looking down. He faced a little upward and continued, "...it's just that... we dogs back in Nome... never knew that when the first bush-plane came into the town... it would take away our jobs as mail dogs. We were in luck to have been challenged a race to it."

"And then we've won the race!" barked Kirby happily to Blueberry.

Kodi continued, "but then... my dad, who loves flying and loved that plane, said, 'Their day is coming.' I never believed him... I forced myself that he was just wrong... but now that I'm in this future world... I have to suffer the sad truth that he was right."

"Drats, Kodi!" said Blueberry, "But don't worry, those people who are coming to pick us up are delivering all three of us to your dad. By the time you get used to his awesome life there, you'd be forgetting all about your life back where you came from!"

"Mm, I don't know, Blueberry," whimpered Kirby, "The life here is way to strange for me. I'd do anything to go back."

Lobby

In just two seconds, the five thugs walked into the building, and then to the main desk. "Hey, lady," said Joshua, "Listen, we've got to pick up Balto's pups. We are ausorized to do so!"

"Alright. Immediately," said the lady. She stood up from her seat, and then walked away to the back of her desk to hurry up in getting the right dogs.

In a minute, Kodi, Kirby, and Blueberry were walked with leashes to the boys. "Remember, gentlemen, deliver them to Balto, okay?" said the lady, pointing her finger back and forth.

"We promise!" said Joshua, with a grin.

"Alright team, lets go!" commanded Al, making a "lets go" emote with his hand.

They ran, holding the leashes of the galloping dogs running with them into where the thugs' rented car was parked.

Everyone mounted up into the car. "Get ze dogs inside!" commanded Joshua.

"That's affirmative, Josh!" replied Sarah, as she got Kodi, the last one inside, and on her lap.

Cabin – The thugs' rented car – En route from Denver Animal Shelter to a local animal hospital; Denver, CO, United States

18:05 (Less than 4 minutes later)

Like the dogs' last trip, the dogs sat in the back seats on the humans' laps. "Déjà vu!" said Kirby.

Of course, the humans didn't understand the dogs talk. Right now, those dogs have no idea we are criminals! thought Sarah, making an evil grin at the dogs who aren't noticing her face.

Pierre, the driver, pulled out from the parking lot.

As the car was driving, Gerald said, "Thugs, we should probably introduce ourselves to the dogs."

"Well, zat's quite pointless, Gerald," said Joshua, in the "shotgun" seat, "Zey're dogs. Zey don't understand what we're saying."

"Yeah, right, Joshua," said Al, who was at the seat behind Pierre, the driver, "Whatever, let's do this anyway," said Al, turning his head to his right to where Gerald was sitting.

"So it should already be obvious that Balto's son is this one," said Gerald, pointing at Kodi who was on Sarah's lap.

And, phew! he guessed right, thought Kodi.

"Duh! Those other two don't look remotely like Balto!" said Al, turning his head to Gerald, beside him.

"So, Mr. Balto's son, my name's Gerald," said Gerald as he patted Kodi on the head, "I'm from Stanwood, Washington. I'm 24 years old."

He then pointed to Joshua, who was at the "shotgun" seat. "This here is.. uh... Joshua," said Gerald, "He was born and raised in Israel, but he lived here since and he's fluent in English. He's our oldest at 41 years old."

He then pointed to Pierre, who was driving the car. "This here driving is Pierre," said Gerald, "He's from France but he has lived here for about a year. He's 29 years old."

He then pointed to Al, who was next to Gerald at the left-window seat. "This here is Al," said Gerald, "He's from Somalia, but his time here goes way back. He's fluent in English, and he's 35 years old,"

He finally pointed to Sarah, who was next to Gerald at the right-window seat. "And this here is my girlfriend, Sarah," said Gerald, "She's from Atlanta, Georgia. She's our youngest at 22 years old."

"Wait a second, Gerald," said Al, "What are we going to call these other two brown dogs?" (Kirby and Blueberry) asked Al as he was using his hand to make sure which ones he's talking about.

"Should we give them names?" asked Sarah.

"No, Sarah," said Gerald, "They probably already have names."

Sarah turned her head to Gerald. "Let's just call them:" she pointed to Kodi who was on her lap; "Son," she then pointed to Kirby; "Number 1," she then pointed to Blueberry; "and Number 2."

"I like that," said Al. "You've made a smart way to address each of them before we find out their names."

Outside parking lot – Local Animal Hospital; Denver, CO, United States

18:11 (Less than 5 minutes later)

The thugs have finally made it to a local animal hospital near the shelter. All five thugs, with the three dogs, dismounted and then made it inside.

18:55 (About 44 minutes later)

The thugs and the dogs walked out of the place because they were done. "Phooey!" said Al, as he was walking with the thugs back to their car, "We got the dogs their rabies shots, their medical checks, and now we just need to buy them three cage kennels with water and food bowls!"

Joshua looked straight in frustration. He did not answer his squad member.

The thugs then mounted in their car, with the dogs on the back seat thugs' laps. Then the car drove away.

Shopping area – Local Pet shop; Denver, CO, United States

19:18; (About 23 minutes later)

The five thugs now entered a local pet store with the three dogs. Kodi and Kirby were quite surprised. "Wow! Is that a store?" asked Kodi.

"It sure looks much bigger than the general store back in Nome!" said Kirby.

The thugs then first were looking for some food for the dogs. A huge aisle with lots of different brands of dog chow was in their line of sight. "Which one do we get?" asked Gerald, looking around.

That one! the three dogs wanted to say. The three had their snouts pointed at the same brand bag which they were sniffing.

"Looks like we're getting that one then!" said Sarah. She then picked up the heavy bag. "Uh, Jerry!" she said, facing her boyfriend, Gerald, "Can you help me out a little?"

Gerald then picked up the heavy bag from her arms. "I have been friend-zoned..." he said as he then advanced with the rest of the thugs through the aisle. The other thugs and Blueberry laughed.

They then made it to the cage section. "Remember," said Al, "The tops of their ears must not touch the ceiling of their cages."

The thugs, with the exception of Joshua, were testing the different sizes of cages for the dogs. They then settled on the perfect size for each dog. "Perfect!" said Al.

Finally, they took some bowls from the shelf for each of the three dogs.

After all of that was done, they all made it to the cashier with the heavy payload. "Al, you're our wimpiest man and you got us into zis mess; you're paying!" barked Joshua, even though he's a human.

Al, defeated, paid for everything.

Living room – The thugs' motel; Denver, CO, United States

20:49; Friday July 25th, 2014 (About 1½ hours later)

In the living room of the five thugs' 1-bedroom motel was where the thugs tiredly made it back in the late sunset. "Alright doggies, get in your cages!" said Gerald as he leaded the dogs to their cages at the wall. The three dogs entered their cages.

"Oh boy. This is going to be one silly flight," said Kodi, "These cages are dumb, these people are dumb, our rabies shots were dumb, the plane we're going on is dumb, this time is dumb, and I'm dumb. Not a good combo at all."

"Ho, you bet!" snapped Kirby. He then snuggled in his cage asleep.

"Kodi, don't worry," said Blueberry, "This will all be alright when we make it to your dad." She then snuggled herself asleep.

The dogs slept in their cages through the night in their very first indoor sleep.

Tune in for chapter 11!