If an object is dropped from fifty meters in the air, how long will it take to hit the ground?
Lucky called Strudel over to explain the plan. Mel appeared eager to learn about it, which was picked up on by Strudel. After learning Mel was excited to learn about it, she passionately began explaining it to Mel and the others.
"Well, we have learned that the black dog was not bluffing. The room is rigged with infrared sensors that will restore the hydraulic pressure to that boiler if the thermal energy in this room decreases by a certain amount. However, upon further analysis, I have discovered a flaw in the system's temperature threshold. The sensors were not programmed specifically for a group of our size, which means we have the slightest amount of leeway we can use to our advantage. There is also the added advantage of the window in the top corner of this room. Basically, one small dog from our group can exit this room through that window without setting off the boiler. They would travel back around to the other side of the entrance of this room. Though, up until this point, we still had no idea who the one was going to be, but since you have a way to send the black dog back to the spirit world, I guess that would be you."
The others turned to see Mel's reaction. She simply nodded her head, indicating her comprehension of the plan. Suddenly, Tera began to speak up.
"Actually, I should be the one to go through the window." She said with a serious and urgent tone.
"Really? Why is that?" Asked Strudel.
"Just trust me. I know what I'm doing." She responded. Everyone drew closer to her.
"No, Tera. Why do you need to be the one? Just tell us, and we'll gladly send you through." Lucky replied.
"I... can't. Just know that I always have a backup plan!" Answered Tera. Squirt then began to approach her angrily.
"What do you mean you can't!? Is it that you can't, or is it that you don't want to!?" He shouted.
"Easy, Squirt!" Shouted Cookie. Squirt ignored her.
"This ain't about looking cool and being the hero. It's about getting all of us out alive. Stop jeopardizing our mission and putting all of our lives at risk for your own selfish purposes! Just stand down, pup!" He continued. Tera maintained a mutually angry expression. She approached him until their noses were pressing against each other. They both were bearing their teeth.
"First of all, don't you dare underestimate me. Second, that's NOT why I asked to be the one. And third, don't ever call me pup again!" She shouted back.
"Alright, that's enough!" Lucky shouted. He walked over and pushed them both apart. "Calm down, both of you! We don't have time for arguments! I'm settling this right now!"
They both looked up at him, awaiting his response. "Tera, just sit this one out." He said.
"What!?" Replied Tera.
"Sorry, but we really need this mission to go without a hitch. Unless you can provide a reason why you're a better fit to be the one to go through that window than Mel, I need you here."
Tera was stunned. "Xavier!?" She called.
Xavier appeared to them all as if he really didn't want to participate in the argument, but he had to anyway. "Look, Mel. I have to take the Pound Puppies' side on this. Just let Mel do this, okay?" He said.
"I can't believe it. I thought you all trusted me." Replied Tera.
Xavier continued. "It's not that we don't trust you, Tera. It's just that we're dealing with the safety of everyone here, including yours. I know you're used to being a lone operator, but you're part of a team now, and teams trust each other. They tell each other their motives, and they work together." He responded in a kind, yet straightforward manner.
There was a long pause while everyone continued to look at Tera, which made her feel very awkward. Eventually, Lucky ended it by calling all of the Pound Puppies to the corner of the room to further discuss the plan, along with Xavier and Mel. The seven of them huddled together and spoke in a manner that prevented anyone that was not part of the group from hearing them.
A few minutes passed, which felt like an eternity to Ty, who was lying down on the hard, cold floor. He thought of the uncertainty of the future and what fate held for his friends. He also thought of the argument from earlier. He believed everything will be fine in the end with Mel being sent to vanquish the black dog, though he was still curious of Tera's motive to be the one to escape.
He looked up to see where she was, but he couldn't find her right away. He looked around for a while, and finally found her on the opposite side of the room. He looked closer, and saw that she had a really sad expression on her face. Originally thinking it would be best to leave her alone, Ty decided to get up and walk over to her. He sat down right beside her and tried to make eye contact with her, but she continued to stare at the floor directly in front of her.
"So, how are you doing?" Said Ty calmly. Tera said nothing back and continued to gloomily fidget with the grains of sand in between the tiles. But finally, Ty said something that made her stop. "Do you really think we don't trust you?"
Tera sighed and began a slow, quiet response. "You know, I was alone. I was all alone, and I was happy. I was fully content with my life: me versus the world, living in an abandoned warehouse, discovering new things. Then, something happened. It changed my life. It completely revolutionized my way of thinking. It made me realize... well... maybe being alone, without anyone caring about you and you not caring about anyone... isn't the best way to spend your days. Maybe... life is best when it's shared."
Ty thought about her reply for a moment. "What happened?" He asked.
Tera sighed again. "You guys happened. You all took me in, you all showed me that it's okay to receive help, and you all showed me what this weird love concept really means. So... I just want to take a moment to thank you all... for showing me how to love." Tera finally turned her head to look at Ty, who she found was smiling immensely, as if saying "Our pleasure." It was such a warm smile. It warmed her up so much, it felt like an eternal hug; one she wanted the feeling of to last forever.
"We still have a great debt to you for bringing back Mel to us, you know." Said Ty. Tera looked back down again and laughed a bit to herself.
"No, that's not necessary. I was just doing what I loved." She replied.
Suddenly, the group in the corner disbanded, and everyone that was in it turned around and faced the room once again. Lucky called the rest of them over and began a few words of encouragement.
"Alright everyone, it's time. The black dog should be here any second. Now, I don't want anyone to be scared. Everything will be alright. Niblet, Xavier, Mel, you know what to do. Everyone else, just stick by me. Remember, everything will be alright. Go dogs, go."
Everyone watched as Niblet crouched just underneath the window. Xavier then picked up Mel. The struggle he encountered while doing so gave everyone the indication that she was a lot heavier than she looked. With Mel in hand, he carefully climbed onto Niblet's back. He held his arms up as Niblet began raising himself up to full standing height. The both of them combined were just tall enough for Mel to effectively pull the window open and crawl out. She shut the door behind her and soon disappeared out of view. Xavier climbed off of Niblet and stood back on the ground. Everyone began cheering, except for Tera.
"Great job, you two!" Said Lucky. "Now everyone, stay calm. Remember, everything will be alright."
No matter how many times Lucky reiterated that phrase, everyone couldn't help but feel terrified coming so close to death. They couldn't help but feel as if there was a possibility that this would be the end, that this would be their final mission. They each remembered, though, that they were Pound Puppies. They will do so much as to stare death in the face if it is for a noble cause. They've been through so much together, and if this is the end, they ended strong.
Seconds later, the black dog slowly opened the door and began to walk through it. They all felt a painfully large shudder of fear come over them. The black dog looked upon all of them for an uncomfortably long time before finally speaking.
"I trust that you have made a decision." His voice was chilling and unnatural. It instilled fear in anyone who heard it.
Meanwhile, Mel snuck up to the door frame, just inches away from the spirit of the black dog. Mel was trying her hardest not to tremble. The fate of all of her friends lied on her small, mechanical shoulders. Never in a million years would she have guessed she would end up in a situation like this. Nevertheless, she knew she must continue.
Mel had never even received instructions on how to perform an astral push, but she believed she knew what to do. She took a deep breath and thought about moving forward. She felt her spirit wanting to fly away, as if she no longer had her body. She outstretched her foreleg, one that was not made of metal. She gradually began inching closer to him.
Before she even got the chance to test her idea, she felt many jagged, razor-sharp points impale her foreleg from all angles. She screamed in pain and the others all gasped in horror. She looked and found that the black dog had clamped onto her with his jaws. He then violently threw her across the room and into the cinder brick wall. All nine of them were petrified.
"I offer you all a generous decision, and this is the response I receive? It was foolish to believe you could sabotage me. You have lost your opportunity. You will now all suffer." The black dog then turned his head and stared directly at Tera. "But first, I will place my new body somewhere safe."
He then ran straight to Tera. She shrieked as he ripped open her mouth to an unsettling angle and dove inside of it. The lights flickered and the others continued to watch, frozen in fear. The last thing they saw was the black dog in Tera's body running out of the open door, which closed and locked behind him.
After being completely out for a few seconds, the lights were restored, though they were significantly dimmer than before. The eight of them all stood up again.
"What... just happened?" Asked Ty.
"We.. lost." Said Strudel with a lump in her throat.
"So... this is it. This is how it ends. Shelter 17's last mission." Said Squirt. They all bore expressions of defeat.
"No, guys. It's okay. Lucky has a plan!" Shouted Cookie. She ran up to him and began smiling at him. Lucky looked past her and continued to stare downward in sadness. No one else responded to it either.
"Lucky, come on! Tell them your plan!" Cookie shouted again. Still no response. She was beginning to tear up.
"Come on, Lucky! You always have a plan!" She shouted while playfully pushing him. "Come on!" The lump in her throat became more apparent. "Come on!" She eventually gave up after a long while. The others couldn't bear to watch the one-sided conversation.
Lucky finally replied with something. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't save anyone and I let everybody down. And I'm especially sorry to you kids. Mel, Tera, Ty, and Xavier." The three of them that were in there looked up at him.
"No child should ever have to experience what you have. You got roped into something way too sinister for someone your age to comprehend. And now you're suffering for no reason."
No one responded. No one said anything afterward. No one even moved a muscle. They all knew that in just a moment they would no longer see... they would no longer think... they would no longer feel. All they could do now is wait.