Chapter 11- Recovery: Part 2
Ryder looks at the pups in the lookout to see if they are physically fine. Skye and Chase walked back in the lookout a few minutes ago. Ryder watches the pups either relax or, like Rocky and Zuma, fall asleep. All of them seems like they are recovering fast. With everybody not doing much, Ryder thinks he should go ahead and talk to Chase and Skye.
-Ryder: Chase and Skye, come here.
Both Chase and Skye was on the couch when they heard Ryder calling them. They both jumped off the couch and walked over to him, thinking what he wanted.
-Chase: Yes Ryder sir.
-Ryder: I need to talk to you both about something.
Skye and Chase looks at each other intill Chase thought he found out what Ryder wanted. Turning his head back to Ryder, he says what he thinks.
-Chase: Is this about what I did in my puphouse?
-Ryder: Do you mean what you both did in your puphouse?
Skye realized what Ryder wanted to talk about.
-Skye: We're sorry Ryder! I convinced Chase to.,.
Skye stopped her sentence when Ryder held up his hand.
-Ryder: First of all, I'm not mad or disappointed. I actually thought you two would have done something like that sooner.
Chase wasn't sure what he did with Skye was actually legal, so he had to mention it.
-Chase: I know I broke one of the laws, but.,.
Ryder held up his hand again to silence him.
-Ryder: Chase, you didn't break any laws.
-Chase: Really?
-Ryder: You didn't literally have intercourse. What you both did was legal.
-Chase: So...we can still do stuff like that?
Ryder glares at Chase, which Chase understood that what he said was not at the right time. Although, he didn't expect what Ryder would say.
-Ryder: Yes, you two can.
Chase and Skye both put on smiles.
-Ryder: But I don't want to find out you both did things as much as you can. Only when you both agree and when the time is right. Alright?
Skye nods her head all excited but Chase stood serious.
-Chase: Don't worry Ryder. We won't get caught up in it.
-Ryder: Good. Now you both can go.
Chase and Skye heads back over to the couch. Ryder lays his hands down on the counter to hold him up.
-Ryder: (whispering) Uhh, I hate talking about that kind of stuff.
An hour has passed. Ryder looks at the digital clock hung on the wall and it read 10:12am. Rocky woke up a few minutes ago but Zuma still laid on the ground, sleeping. The pups decided to watch some shows on tv. One was Apollo, which Rubble picked. Another one showed cops and some calls that they responded too. Chase picked that one.
Ryder walks over to Rocky, which was beside Marshall, and taps him on the shoulder.
-Rocky: Yes Ryder?
Ryder sits on the floor beside Rocky with his legs folded.
-Ryder: How are you doing?
-Rocky: I'm doing good and recovering very fast. I barely have any pain and I'm sure that blood I coughed up on you was a once in a while thing.
Ryder smiles and pets Rocky. But Ryder's smile fades.
-Ryder: You know that thing Marshall found on you behind your ear?
-Rocky: Yeah, what was it?
-Ryder: It was a tracking device.
Rocky thinks for a bit.
-Rocky: I bet the scientists put that on me.
-Ryder: I think they did. Luckily Marshall found it.
-Rocky: I guess I need to thank him.
-Ryder: I need to too... But Rocky, the reason I came over here was that I need some help.
-Rocky: What do you need?
-Ryder: First, are you okay to move around?
To answer his question, Rocky stands up and starts to hop around.
-Ryder: (smiling) Good to know. Follow me.
Ryder leads Rocky to the elevator and they both take it down. They arrive at the bottom, stepping out.
-Ryder: First I need you dressed in your suit.
Ryder pulls out his pup pad and does some things. Rocky watches the vehicles start to move from the ground moving and his recycling truck appears.
-Rocky: How did you ever make the ground be able to turn like that?
-Ryder: It is pretty easy if you think about. Just some big bearings and an engine powerful enough to turn the loose ground.
-Rocky: Didn't you say that you put that feature in not too long ago?
-Ryder: It was put in after I found Chase, Marshall, and Skye. The first three pups.
-Rocky: So it was made before you found me?
-Ryder: Yep.
-Rocky: How did you do it without any help?
-Ryder: I had help.
-Rocky: Who?
Ryder thinks before answering.
-Ryder: Just help. Don't worry about who.
Rocky steps in his puphouse and puts on his suit. When he stepped out Ryder had a medium sized toolbox, bigger than the one he had on his atv, and a brown box.
-Rocky: So, what are we doing?
-Ryder: I'm sure more people will try to take one of you pups. So I need to put some locks on the Lookout's door and each of the puphouse's doors.
-Rocky: Oh.
Ryder lays the box down, opens it, and pulls out some parts.
-Ryder: I'll show you how to put the locks on the puphouses so I can work on the Lookout. Your house will be first.
Ryder walks in front of Rocky's truck and bends down, laying the part and his toolbox beside him. He pulls his pup pad out.
-Ryder: Watch what I do since your going to need to do the same with the other puphouses.
-Rocky: Okay.
Ryder finds a file named 'vehicles' on his pup pad and taps it. He then scrolls down to a file named 'Rocky's' and taps it.
-Ryder: When you tap the pup's name a lot of things will show.
Ryder scrolls through over a hundred different things, showing Rocky.
-Ryder: Scroll to the bottom and find the word 'unfold' and tap it.
Ryder taps 'unfold' and Rocky couldn't help but back up when his puphouse starts to come apart. The sides pulled off and leans over, the top pushes upward, and the frame broke up into two pieces. Wires that was inside the frame appeared. The only thing that didn't come apart was his trunk.
Ryder grabs a rectangular part from the box beside him.
-Ryder: This needs to be placed right here.
Ryder screws the rectangular part on the top middle of where the puphouse's door is.
-Ryder: That part I just installed is the stopper for the door. When inside, you push it forward to lock the door and pull it back to unlock. And the best part about it is that it is pure steel. Nobody can break it... Now you connect this wire.,.
Ryder grabs a spare wire from the box.
-Ryder: .,.And connect it to the lock and this wire.
Ryder points to a black wire before connecting the spare wire to it.
-Ryder: This will make me able to lock and unlock the locks on my pup pad. Just in case someone forgets.
-Rocky: Cool!
Ryder taps the 'unfold' button and Rocky's puphouse comes back together. He then lays his pup pad along with a box of screws on top of the box that had the parts.
-Ryder: You continue with the puphouse's locks while I put a lock on the Lookout's door.
-Rocky: Okay!
Rocky gladly pushes the box to the other houses and start doing the same thing Ryder did. Ryder grabs his toolbox and heads inside the Lookout.
-Ryder: I might want something more advanced for the lookout.
Ryder takes the set of stairs from the right of the elevator down to the underground level. When at the end of the stairs, he opens the present door and inside was his atv along with some tires and other vehicle parts. Ryder walks behind the atv to a garage door and opens it up. The room behind the garage door was at least 100 feet wide, 200 feet long, and 20 feet tall. Ryder switches on the lights from the left. Slowly, the lights came on. There were parts everywhere, a few workbenches along the walls, and hundreds of boxes all on racks in the middle.
Ryder goes down the ten steps intill he met the floor of the room. He then goes to a group of cabinets at the corner of the wall. Pulling one of the cabinets open, he goes threw it to find a file named 'scanner'. He pulls the file out and on the side said '37'. Ryder puts the folder back and closes the cabinet. Moving to a different cabinet, he opens it and finds the file named 'Wire Identification' and takes it. He lays the file on his toolbox and takes another file labeled 'Scanner Setup', also laying it on his toolbox. He then moves over to the boxes in the middle of the huge room. Taking a few minutes of searching, Ryder finally finds a box labeled '37'. Ryder grabs the box, lays it on the ground, and opens it to pull out a square object with a screen on the front. Kind of like his pup pad but bigger. He puts the object in his toolbox and puts the box back. Before leaving the room Ryder grabs a pry bar. Entering the bottom level of the Lookout where the elevator is, Ryder lays all the stuff he brought on the ground.
-Ryder: Lets get working.
Rocky just finished up the last puphouse, Zuma's. Rocky puts the extra stoppers back in the box and lays the almost empty box of screws and the pup pad on the box. He then pushes the box back inside the lookout.
-Rocky: Ryder, I'm done... Woah!
Rocky looks at the bare walls beside the door that showed the wires and beams inside. Ryder had a piece of paper in his hands while leading some wire to a big group of wires. Rocky decides to watch him. After connecting the wires, Ryder goes on the other side and does the same. Ryder then goes outside and screws a thing with a screen to the side of the door, making sure it is close enough to the ground for the pups to reach it. Rocky decides to ask a question.
-Rocky: What is that Ryder?
-Ryder: This is a hand scanner. You put your paw on it and it unlocks the Lookout's door.
Ryder goes back inside and connects the wires to the scanner from the back. He then leads wires to the scanner to the small engines that open the doors.
-Ryder: There.
Ryder wipes off the sweat from his forehead and puts the side of the walls back in place. After that, it looks like nothing has changed.
-Ryder: Help me to put all of this back Rocky?
-Rocky: Sure.
Ryder picks up his tools and Rocky starts to push a box, following Ryder.
-Ryder: When we get this stuff put up, we can head back up to the other pups.
-Rocky: When are you going to program the scanner to read our paw prints?
-Ryder: I already did.
-Marshall: How are all your wounds doing pups?
The pups just finished watching another Apollo show.
-Zuma: I'm fine.
-Everest: Me too.
-Chase: I'm good. But I wasn't injured anyways.
-Skye: I'm doing great.
-Rubble: ...
Marshall walks over to Rubble, which didn't say anything.
-Marshall: What about you Rubble?
-Rubble: Not very good. It still hurts to move much.
-Marshall: Well, try not to move much then. I recommend staying in the Lookout for the rest of the day.
-Rubble: You put on Apollo and give me some pup treats I'll stay here for a week.
All the pups laugh.
-Zuma: Hey. Where's Wocky?
-Chase: And Ryder?
-Everest: Maybe at the elevator.
Everest points to the elevator which Ryder and Rocky appeared. The elevator's glass door opens and they step out.
-Ryder: Hi pups.
-Marshall: Where did you two go?
-Rocky: We put some locks on our puphouse's doors and the Lookout's door.
-Ryder: Yep. Whenever we go to sleep I want all of you to lock your doors. There is a lock on top of the puphouse. Just push it foreward to lock and push it backward to unlock.
-Rocky: And there is a hand scanner for the Lookout's door. Just push your paw on it and the door will unlock.
-all pups except Rocky: Cooool!
'Ring Ring. Ring Ring'
Ryder's pup pad vibrates. Ryder pulls it out of his pocket and answers.
-Ryder: Hello?
-Jake: (sad) Hi Ryder.
-Ryder: Hi, Jake. You don't sound very happy.
-Jake: That's because I'm not.
The pups gather around Ryder, Everest trying to look at Jake on the screen.
-Ryder: Why? What is wrong?
-Jake: I'll tell you when I come over. I'll see you in about thirty minutes.
Jake hangs up the phone.
-Ryder: Huh.
-Everest: He doesn't sound like he is fine.
Everest whimpers at the thought of Jake not being okay. Ryder pets Everest.
-Ryder: Don't worry. He's coming over to tell us. But I'm sure he's fine.
-Everest: I hope so.
Marshall steps forward.
-Marshall: Don't worry Everest. If something is wrong I can try to help.
-Everest: Thanks Marshall. I just hope it is not something serious.
-Ryder: We can only hope it isn't serious. But lets not think about it intil he gets here.
-Jake: How long do I have?
Jake sat on a hospital bed with a doctor filling out some papers with him. With only one window, the morning sun shined inside.
-doctor: (sighs) I'm not exactly sure. But what I do know is that you have at least two days. You will be lucky to make it in a week.
-Jake: Alright. And thanks for telling me.
-doctor: I just wish you have more time. And not have it at all.
-Jake: At least I know when. I can try to do what I want before it is time.
-doctor: Do you have anything planned yet?
-Jake: Yeah. I'm gonna tell my friends. Enjoy most of the time with them. Maybe do something I always wanted to do. Then I'm gonna go home and drink a lot of beer.
The doctor chuckles and opens the door.
-doctor: Then you better start.
-Jake: What about the paper work and the money I need to give.
-doctor: Your dying within two days. I don't want to take up your time to do shit like paper work. Go out there and enjoy the rest of your life. I'll take care of everything.
-Jake: (smiling) Thanks doc.
Jake leaves the room, then the hospital. Pulling out his phone before entering the red truck he borrowed from his friend again, he goes to contacts and presses Ryder's name.
-Ryder: Are you sure Rubble?
Rubble sat on the couch in the lookout. Ryder and the other pups was about to go outside but Rubble said he can't.
-Rubble: I'm sorry I can't play, but I still hurt and Marshall said it might be best to take a free day.
-Ryder: Rubble, don't be sorry. Relax and get better. If anything I should be sorry that you can't play.
-Rubble: Don't worry Ryder. You go have fun with the other pups. I'm gonna watch Apollo.
-Ryder: (sad) Okay. You know, I think there is a new episode of Apollo coming on at five this afternoon.
-Rubble: Ooo, I already can't wait!
Ryder laughs before he goes down the elevator with the pups.
-Chase: What are we gonna play when we get to the yard?
-Zuma: Maybe tug of war?
-Skye: What about tag?
-Everest: Can it be freeze tag?
-Ryder: (laughing) Pups, we can play any of those.
The pups cheer as the doors of the elevator opens. The pups dash out and immediately start playing. They all started to run away from Marshall since he is it.
Marshall taps Rocky's shoulder.
-Marshall: I got you Rocky!
-Rocky: Dang it!
Rocky stays still while the rest runs around, dodging Marshall. Marshall managed to tag Skye.
-Marshall: Got you!
-Skye: (giggles) Yeah yeah.
Chase zooms pass Marshall and tags Rocky.
-Chase: Unfreeze!
Marshall runs after Chase while Rocky unfreezes Skye. Ryder stands away from the pups, hands crossed, watching them.
-Ryder: Even almost being adults and having serious injuries they still play freeze tag.
Ryder happily sighs.
-Ryder: I love these pups.
Rubble waits for Apollo to go to commercial before looking away from the screen.
-Rubble: I wonder how the others are doing?
Rubble limps over to one of the windows and looks out. Rubble sees the pups playing.
-Rubble: Tug of war? My favorite!
Rubble sees a red truck driving up the driveway.
-Rubble: Hey, that must be Jake!
Rubble quickly limps over to the elevator and goes to the bottom. Seeing the pups gathering around the truck, he joins the group. Jake steps out of the truck.
-Ryder: Hi Jake!
-Jake: Hey.
-Everest: Hey Jake!
Everest jumped up and hugged Jake, which Jake petted her.
-Everest: Why did you sound upset when you were on the phone?
-Jake: I'll tell you when I come in. Ryder, do you mind if we walk in?
-Ryder: Go ahead and make yourself home.
-Jake: Thanks.
Ryder, Jake, and the pups heads back in the lookout. Ryder and Marshall lagged behind more and more until they stopped. They both look at each other.
-Marshall: I think I know what is wrong.
-Ryder: I'm thinking the same way. But we don't know for sure...not yet anyway.
They all take the elevator up, then walked in.
-Jake: I don't wanna be lazy, but can you fetch me a drink?
-Ryder: Sure. What do you want? We have tea, orange juice.,.
-Jake: You got any alcohol?
Ryder can tell the news is bad if Jake asks for beer. He sometimes seen Jake drink out of a canteen he always has or a beer can from the cabin if he feels sad or frustrated.
-Ryder: Yeah. I'll pour some for you. Go ahead and sit down with the pups.
Jake walks over to the living room area and sits on the couch. The pups all sat on the ground. Ryder walks over to the kitchen and grabs two glass cups. He filled one with tea and the other one with whiskey. The whiskey was hidden in one of the cabinets so the pups doesn't find it. Ryder was pretty certain the pups would know better than to drink it, but he wasn't completely certain. Ryder carries the glasses over to Jake and the pups. Passing the whiskey to Jake, Ryder sits down on the other side of the couch, taking a sip from his tea. Ryder watches Jake jug down half of his drink. 'This can't be good' Ryder thought.
-Ryder: Tell us what is wrong Jake.
-Jake: Not much to say.
Jake leans back on the couch, getting comfortable.
-Jake: I have brain cancer.
-pups: WHAT!?
-Jake: Yep. I'm dying. The doctor said I have about two days before I pass away. This was why I had those headaches.
The pups just stared at Jake, speechless. A tear ran down Jake's face, making the pups realize he wasn't joking.
-Jake: I'm gonna miss you guys.
Realizing he was serious, Everest starts to cry.
-Everest: NO!
Everest jumps on Jake, tears falling down her face.
-Everest: (crying) You Can't Die! Not Now!
Jake hugs Everest while she couldn't speak any more words since she was crying too much. The other pups start to cry and they all jump towards Jake. Jake hugged them all intil they couldn't cry anymore. Ryder decided to just stare at Jake, absorbing the information, thinking why he got brain cancer, and thinking of all his memories with Jake. Five minutes passed. The pups backed off Jake slowly, except for Everest. She just hugger harder and cried more.
Except for Everest, the pups sucked up their tears and started to ask questions.
-Chase: How long do you have again?
-Jake: Two days.
-Rubble: Do you still get the headaches?
-Jake: Yeah. The doctor said by tomorrow I'll be getting headaches every few hours. If I make it to the next day, the headaches will be every hour.
-Skye: Is there any effects from it?
-Jake: The doctor said my head will start hurting more and more intil I can't take it anymore.
-Rocky: Is there any way we can help?
-Jake: No.
-Marshall: How did you get it?
-Jake: That is the weird part. The doctor wasn't sure. He said he ran tests over and over and couldn't find where or how it started. There was no way it formed on its own. He thinks the only way I got it was someone giving me it.
'Crack!'
Jake and the pups, startled, looks over to Ryder. His glass cup was smashed in his hands, glass shards fell on the ground along with the tea. Blood started to form from his hand.
-Chase: Uh, Ryder?
Chase points to Ryder's hand. Ryder slowly opens his hand, looking at it. The blood started to pour out now, dripping on the floor. Ryder stands up and runs over to the sink. Ryder turns the faucet on and washes away the blood intill it was clean enough. Then he ran to the bathroom and wrapped it up with cloth.
-Chase: What was that about?
-Jake: I don't know...Everest, can you slow down on the crying? My clothes are getting soaked.
-Everest: Why. Why.
Everest continues to cry and weep and whimper, still having a grip on Jake. Ryder walks back in with his hand bandaged.
-Ryder: How are you going to spend the last of your moments Jake?
-Jake: Well, I first need to calm down Everest. Spend a good bit of time with all of you. Then I'm going to snowboard on the biggest ramp I can find. The rest I don't have planned.
-Ryder: Whatever you think of, me and the pups will help.
Ryder gives a reassuring pat on Jake's shoulder.
-Jake: Uh, do you mind if I can talk to Everest alone?
-Ryder: Not at all. You can go in my bedroom.
Jake stands up and heads over to Ryder's bedroom. Everest did not hesitate to follow. When they entered, Jake was about to sit on the bed but Everest shoved him down on it.
-Everest: (crying) Please tell me you were kidding! That what you said was a lie!
-Jake: Everest, I can't help but to tell you and the others the truth. I'm dying.
Everest hugged Jake and continued to cry. Jake stroked her head and back.
-Jake: I'm sorry Everest, but this is gonna happen. I'm gonna pass away and you will need to live with Ryder for now on. Your gonna have to accept it.
-Everest: How am I suppose to accept my best friend, my owner, and in a way my dad, passing away in front of me!?
-Jake: I...don't know.
-Marshall: Uh, Ryder?
-Ryder: Yes Marshall?
-Marshall: Since Jake will be, no more, does that mean that Everest will be staying with us for now on?
-Ryder: I suppose so.
-Marshall: So what will happen to their cabin?
-Ryder: I guess be abandoned, or put up for sale. We will of course get Everest's stuff and bring it here.
-Chase: Um, Ryder?
-Ryder: Yeah Chase?
-Chase: Not to change the subject but why did you break your glass?
Ryder noticed the other pups wanting to hear the answer.
-Ryder: What Jake said. The doctor thinks someone has gave it to him.
The pups wait for the rest but Chase has already thought of the possible reason, and he didn't like it.
-Ryder: I think the scientists did it.
All the pups gasp except for Chase.
-Chase: (angry) I knew it!
Everybody looks at Chase.
-Chase: (angry) Of course they did it! Jake started to have headaches the last time we visited! They must have tracked us!
-Ryder: That might be true Chase, but you need to calm down.
Chase was bearing his teeth, growling.
-Chase: (angry) They put a brain tumor in our friend's head, tried to kidnap one of us, shot at us, fought us, what else are they going to do!?
Chase was now shaking with anger. Ryder and the pups backed away.
-Ryder: Calm down Chase!
-Rocky/Marshall: Calm down!
Rubble stepped in front of Chase.
-Rubble: Chase.,.
Chase grabs Rubble and holds him up to his face, staring straight into his eyes.
-Chase: (furious) I SWEAR IF I FUCKING SEE ONE OF THE SCIENTISTS AGAIN I AM GOING TO RIP THEIR NECKS OPEN, TEAR OUT THEIR EYES, AND TORTURE THEM UNTIL THEY ARE BEGGING TO KILL THEM!
Rubble backs away behind Ryder before turning into silent tears. None of them could think of what to do. Chase was completely out of control.
-Skye: Chase.
Skye lays her paw on Chase's shoulder. Chase spins around and sees tears forming in her eyes.
-Skye: (almost crying) Please calm down.
Chase's anger vanishes quickly when he realized that it is bothering his family, especially when it brought tears to Skye. Not being able to control his self, Chase wraps his arms around Skye and quietly cries in her chest. The other pups gather around and hugs each other in a group.
Ryder watches his own pups hugs each other, not knowing what bad thing will happen next. Ryder couldn't help but feel guilty. He wanted them to have a normal life, but even he knew that wasn't going to happen for now on.