Chapter 11

Hawk thought for a moment, before looking up from the report in his hand again. His face didn't betray his thoughts at that moment, as he glanced at Breaker and Duke, both waiting for him to say something. He looked at the report again before facing Breaker.

"It looks good. You can tell Cat that she and Timber will be staying for a while." He said with a straight face. "And I want you to keep up the good work with them."

Breaker grinned widely as he nodded, stood up, and saluted his commanding officer. "Yes, Sir." He turned and left the office.

"So you really think that Timber will be an asset for the team?" Duke asked. He wondered why his commander had wanted him to stay, even after he gave his report on his visit to the prison ship.

"More so than the first time she mentioned it." Hawk leaned back and thoughtfully rubbed his chin. "As you know, she's not typically military?"

Duke nodded.

"I've had Snake Eyes and Scarlett trying to teach her what is required and I think she'll do better in time. I've also had her background looked up and found that she has some decorated family members in the military, some retired. I don't know why she didn't join the military, instead of getting that position with that company. That she decided to join us was probably not her first choice, but she did." He grinned at Duke. "I don't think that Timber will be the only K9 we'll have in the future. I've looked up some good possibilities that have K9s."

"Others? How many and when, Sir?" Duke asked.

"Two and hopefully we'll get them soon and you are the only one who knows for now. Getting them transferred here is the only thing standing in the way. Now I need you to go with me." Hawk stood up and headed for the door. "Heavy and Stone is coming in with some more new recruits and I want to get a good look at them before we test their mettle." They both walked out the door and turned down the hallway.

"All right! Get in a line at this mark and stand at attention!" Heavy Duty yelled out as he stepped off the elevator. He gazed over the seven men that had arrived with him to the Pit. He watched as they got in line and stood still. He spied familiar shapes out of the corner of his eye and turned to look at the small group that appeared. He saw Snake Eyes, Scarlett, Breaker, and Cat walking toward him and Timber seemed to be dancing around them. He scowled a little as he remembered that today was Timber's demonstration and he had missed it.

"Hey, Heavy!" Scarlett called as they got closer. "Timber did it! He made the grade!"

Heavy Duty gave them thumbs up and started to turn to the new men when he saw something that made him look back. He saw Timber stop and sniff the air in his direction. When he saw Timber start walking toward him, stiff legged and head down, he knew something was wrong.

Timber growled as he kept walking toward the new men. He stopped once more to sniff again and quickened his step as the growl he let out became louder.

"Timber?" Cat called out as he started to walk faster.

Snake Eyes was fast as he grabbed the animal's scruff and held on, trying to stop Timber from whatever was on his mind. When Timber didn't slow, he was soon straddling the animal; planting his feet on either side of Timber. Still growling, Timber kept walking; dragging the ninja with him, while people around them moved out of the way, scattering.

The new recruits were shuffling as Timber neared. Heavy Duty shouted as some began to step back.

"Stay at attention!" But he saw that it was no good; as Snake Eyes was still being dragged forward and some of the new men had already bolted.

It was then Snake Eyes noticed that one new recruit was not running, in fact he didn't seemed frightened at all.

"What is going on out here?" Hawk's voice called out.

The new man dropped his bag, reached into it, and brought out a weapon. His face was set as he aimed in the direction of General Hawk.

As Cat ran up to try and grab Timber, Snake Eyes threw a shuriken and hit the man's hand that held his weapon, and in doing so, released Timber, who leaped and hit the man in the chest; knocking him flat. By then, others had recovered to help restrain the assailant. Snake Eyes grabbed Timber and held him back as the animal continued to snarl. He patted Timber's side, to say that Timber had done well. Timber wagged, but didn't stop growling.

Heavy Duty and Sgt. Stone hauled the man to his feet.

"Who are you? Who sent you?" Stone bellowed and stumbled backward as the aggressor connected with his chin.

Heavy Duty grappled with him, but not before his hand flew to his mouth.

"Heavy, watch his…" Scarlett called and sighed as the assailant fell in convulsions. "Too late." She barely noticed as Breaker ran from the scene.

The crowd moved in a little as the man's twitching slowed and Heavy looked over the crowd. "Step back!" He said as Breaker came up carrying a bag.

Breaker opened his bag and fiddled with what looked like spikes.

"Come on, Breaker." Heavy said with urgency

"I'm hurrying as fast as I can." Breaker said and neared the dead man.

Ripcord turned away as Breaker inserted the needles into the man's head and shook his head as he heard "Eww" all around him. He was kind of glad he wasn't the only one who was nauseated by Breaker's actions. He saw Cat's shocked look and felt a little sorry for her. He felt that Breaker was a little too relaxed with his actions. He soon heard Breaker's voice.

"Finished."

Hawk crowded near Breaker as did Heavy Duty and Scarlett. Everyone could see that they didn't like what they saw.

"Alpha team, to the control room!" Hawk shouted as he hurried away. He was followed by Scarlett, Breaker, Heavy Duty, Duke and Ripcord. Snake Eyes motioned to Cat to wait for him and followed his friends.

Cat crouched near Timber. "Good boy." She whispered to him as he continued to growl at the corpse. She watched as some soldiers reached to pick him up and jumped back as the corpse started to move, twitching violently on the floor. She was nearly dragged forward as Timber rushed in.

"No, Timber!" She and all around watched horrified as the man disintegrate before their eyes. "Oh, yuck." She ran to the kennel.

"Sir?" Hawk turned to the yeoman. "I just got word that the assassin…just dissolved?" Hawk frowned as he turned back to his team. "Breaker, bring up those images you got."

Breaker punched some buttons on the center control desk and stepped back as the images came up. They all stared at the photos that flashed by until it stopped at one.

Hawk heard a collective gasp as the photo of McCullen and Rex popped up and they were not in a cell, but sun light in front of a building.

"How…how did they get out? And when?" Duke exclaimed.

"That is what I'm having some people check out." Hawk said as he turned to the computer that Breaker had just sat down at.

A yeoman called out. "Sir, the commander of the prison ship said that they were still in their cells. They have no evidence that they ever got out."

"Have them checked out. If this image is a fake, I want to know how and who might have sent that man. If it isn't, then who is in the cells? Breaker, how old is this image?" Hawk asked.

"Less than forty-eighty hours old, Sir." Breaker hesitated for a second then. "They were somewhere here in Europe."

"Does anyone have an idea where this would be at?" Hawk asked as he turned back to the photo.

It was Duke who called out. "I do. That's in Kirgizstan, McCullen's lab, but didn't that government take over the lab?"

"That was what was reported." Hawk said as he turned again as she yeoman called.

"Sir, the scan's of the men in the cells show that they are NOT McCullen and Rex. They are trying to get some ID's done."

"Great, just great!" Hawk exclaimed, "I want to know who might have visited them and I want to know who those two are!" He faced Heavy Duty. "All right. I want you to get your team ready to leave in two hours. Do you think Cat and Timber are ready?"

"I don't know." Heavy Duty said. "They could use some more training and I don't know about the lobo, but from what I saw out there, I want him on my side anytime."

Hawk nodded. "What I saw was him probably acting out because of the nanomites and I'd want that help on my side, too" He turned to Snake Eyes. "What do you think?

*Cat has trained Timber. She knows him and he obeys her. I know they will work out.*

"I agree, Sir." Scarlett said.

Hawk stood thinking and then smiled grimly. "Good. Fill her in as much as you can and get them ready."