The Rovers have returned to the abandoned building, back in their human forms. They are excited about what they were able to accomplish.
Chris: That was incredible!
Claire: I know! I can't even believe that we just stopped that robot!
Rahul: I may not have been much help, but man, was that fun!
Liam: The Road Rovers ahah back in business baby!
Ali: I can jozt see it all ova' the wo'ld: "The woad wova's bwavely weta'n to stop wobot menage".
Patricia; Hey, guys, it wouldn't have possible without Jasmine.
Jasmine chuckles.
Jasmine: Hey, come on, guys. Don't rub it in. In my eyes, we all stopped that robot.
Iris just looks down, knowing that she couldn't even have it in her to lay a punch on the robot. Max comes out of the building, a frown on his face.
Chris: Hey, Dad!
Claire: Did you see what we did back there?
Max stares blankly at the group.
Max: Well, I didn't think I'd be seeing you again.
The kids are confused as to why Max is acting like this. Max gets a smile on his face and laughs in joy.
Max: YOU DID IT!
Max runs to Chris and Claire and hugs them, causing the group, except Iris, to hug their teacher. They let go of each other.
Max: How was it?
Claire: Well, Dad, for our very first mission against a robot straight out of a sci-fi film, it was amazing!
Max: I'm glad to hear that. Since you guys have completed your first mission, this calls for a celebration. I'm taking you all out to dinner!
The kids cheer at hearing this.
Max: But, first, I'll need you to take off the uniforms. Your shoes are over there by the door. Until we get the team operational again, I'll keep your uniforms and put them somewhere in my house. I'm proud of you all!
The kids take off their uniforms and show that they are wearing their normal clothes. After they take the boots off, they go and put their shoes on. Max folds the uniforms and puts them in the trunk of his car, along with the gloves and boots, making sure they go to each uniform. Iris, after putting her shoes on, starts walking away from the group. Max notices this.
Max: Hey, Iris! Where are you going? My car is here!
Iris just looks at Max and shakes her head, disappointed. She continues walking. Max walks up to her while the rest of the kids look at the two, confused.
Max: What's wrong, Iris?
Iris: I'm not in the mood to be eating with you or my friends, Mr. Parker.
Max: Why not? It's a celebration of your first victory as a team.
Iris: I failed in you, Mr. Parker. I failed the team.
Max is confused.
Max: What are you talking about? You guys fought and defeated a robot.
Iris turns to Max.
Iris: I didn't lay a single punch on the robot! I didn't even use my powers, because I knew it would be useless against it!
Iris looks down and sighs.
Iris: I'm just not worth being on the team.
Max looks at Iris and lifts her chin.
Max: You're having doubts. I wasn't any different than you, Iris. I had my doubts too. On my first mission in Brazil, after Scout took out a large group of enemies, we met this giant. After I saw it, I had doubts about whether or not I had it in me to fight it. I fought what my mind was telling me and with the help of the team, we fought and took the giant down. That was my moment. You just haven't found yours. It will come to you as it did for me, Kai, Rejean, Javier, and...
Max looks at the kids and then back to Iris.
Max: ...even my kids and your friends.
Iris shakes her head.
Iris: I don't want to find that moment. I want a normal life. I don't want to be a Road Rover.
Max is a bit shocked. Max looks away from her and clears his throat.
Max: So, my training was pointless to you.
Iris looks up and feels bad for saying that to Max.
Iris: No. No, it wasn't pointless. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.
Max looks at Iris.
Max: I'm not hurt. I hear you. I knew you and Jasmine started to falter a bit, but you two continued and trained hard. Why did you continue to train with me, even though you knew you didn't want this?
Iris starts to get teary-eyed.
Iris: Because I wanted you and my friends to be proud. And I did it because I wanted to give myself hope that maybe I can be a Road Rover. Today, I went up to that robot and I knew this would be my one chance to prove to my friends that I can be a part of the team. But, after I saw what the robot was doing, I knew using my powers would be pointless, much less even using my combat against it.
Iris looks at Max's eyes.
Iris: I'm sorry I couldn't be a Road Rover.
Iris hugs Max and starts to cry. Max, feeling her sadness, hugs her back.
Max: Oh, Iris, there's no need to be sad over it. I know you trained so hard for it. Seeing you train with your friends was enough to make me proud. I know that deep down you were proud to be doing it too.
Iris continues to cry.
Max: Iris, look at me.
Iris looks at Max, who wipes the tears off Iris.
Max: The Road Rovers were people, just like you. They've had their battles and their struggles with each other, both inside and out. No matter what, they found a way to resolve it. I believe one day, you will resolve it. If you want, I can help you with that with more training. I'll give you a couple of days to think it over. Go home to your parents.
Iris smiles and hugs Max.
Iris: I love you, Mr. Parker.
Max is touched by this. He smiles and hugs Iris.
Max: I love you too, Iris. Ever since I started training you guys, you and your friends have been children to me.
Iris looks at Max, still having a smile on her face.
Iris: And you've been a second father to me.
Max looks at the kids as they get in Max's Hummer, while the rest go with Chris and Claire in the Honda Civic.
Max: I bet your friends look at me in the same way. Now, go home and think about it. You can call me when you made your decision.
Iris nods as she continues to walk down the road to get to her parents' house. Chris pulls up to Max.
Chris: What's wrong with her?
Max looks at his son.
Max: She's having doubts. In the next couple of days, she has to decide whether if she wants to be on the team or not.
Chris and Claire look at Iris and then back to Max.
Claire: What do you mean by getting the team 'operational'?
Max: The Road Rovers is a property of the US government. I'm going to have to talk to President Trump about getting it operational again. He'll have to decide whether the team deserves to come back.
Chris: Hey, what we did today is enough proof for him.
Max chuckles.
Max: I wish it were that simple, son. Follow me. I know a good place in town...
Max starts to walk to his Hummer but then walks to Chris's Honda.
Max: ...and it ain't Chick-Fil-A.
Chris chuckles and nods. Max gets in his Hummer and drives down the road, with Chris following him, prepared to eat a good meal for what they did today. After eating the meal, they all head back home, eager and excited for their new life as Road Rovers. We are at Max's house. Chris is laying on his bed, playing Among Us on his iPhone 12 while he's getting ready to go to bed.
Chris: Let's see who's sus today.
Chris gets a call from Claire, making him annoyed.
Chris: Really? Right when I'm in the middle of playing a game?
Chris picks up the call.
Chris: Yeah, Claire?
Claire: Can you come to the backyard? I think there's something at our house. I heard this snapping sound.
Chris: Are you sure it's not your imagination?
Claire: No! I'm being serious!
Chris rolls his eyes as he gets out of his bed.
Chris: Okay, sis, I'm on my way. If this is a prank, I'm going to get you back at it.
Claire: What? Like I would cal-
Chris hangs up the call. He walks down the stairs and goes into the backyard via the back door. He walks outside and sees Claire. She had just felt something prick the back of her neck and is walking to her brother to warn him. Chris chuckles, thinking it's a joke.
Chris: Okay, Claire. That's good. Now get back to bed so we can go to work tomorrow.
Chris starts to head back into the house. Claire's eyes widen as she walks to Chris only to see her vision fade and she falls on her stomach, unconscious. Chris looks at Claire and can see something stuck to her neck. Curious, he goes to Claire and kneels to see a tranquilizer dart that had just drained its liquid into Claire.
Chris: What the?
Chris starts to have cyan energy fill his arm.
Chris: All right! Come on out! Don't think I don't know how to- Ow!
A tranquilizer dart gets injected into Chris' neck. He quickly takes it out but starts to feel dizzy. He falls to the ground, unconscious. At that moment, one cano-sapien and one cano-mutant go up to the twins. The cano-sapien is a black Newfoundland carrying a rifle and the cano-mutant is a white Bulldog.
Newfoundland: The twins will be perfect specimens for Zio.
The Newfoundland looks at the Bulldog.
Newfoundland: Get the uniforms.
The Bulldog growls in compliance as she goes into the house and looks for the uniforms. She looks down in the basement and finds the uniforms in a small room. She takes the uniforms, gloves, and boots and takes them to Newfoundland, who gladly takes them. The Bulldog picks up Chris and Claire
Newfoundland: We take them to the ship, then we find the rest of the kids.
The Bulldog growls in compliance as they run off into the night.
July 26th, 2021
It is 8:00 in the morning. An alarm clock had just gone off, waking up Max and Sarah. Max turns it off.
Max: (groans) I hate that thing.
Sarah groans too.
Sarah: But we wouldn't know when to get up, honey.
Max chuckles as he and Sarah share a kiss.
Max: Well, let's hope God gives us another good workday.
Sarah nods as he gets off the bed to go take a shower. Fifteen minutes have passed. Max and Sarah have done their morning routine; taking a shower, brushing their teeth, and combing their hair. Max walked around the house looking for Chris and Claire but couldn't find them. Max walks down the stairs and into the kitchen, where Sarah is preparing to cook her breakfast.
Sarah: Did you see Chris and Claire?
Max shakes his head.
Max: No. They're not here. They must be at work right now.
Max grabs his car keys.
Max: Well, I'm off.
Sarah looks at her husband.
Sarah: For what?
Max: To get something from Starbucks. Besides, I need some exercise every now and then. I'll be back to cook my breakfast and then we head to work.
Max reaches to the front door and opens it. Before closing it, he blows a kiss to Sarah, who blows it back to her husband. Max gets into his Hummer and drives into the city. As he's driving down the road, he notices construction is underway to repair the damage that the robot has caused. This gave him an idea to text to Iris. He starts typing, "Hey, Iris. Have you made your", before backspacing it all.
Max: No. She'll give me a call.
Max arrives at the Starbucks he drives to. He heads inside and walks up to a smiling cashier woman.
Cashier: Hello, sir! Welcome to Starbucks! How may I help you?
Max nods as he looks up at the menu.
Max: Can you give me a hot chocolate?
Cashier: Size?
Max thinks about it.
Max: Venti.
Cashier: Certainly, sir. Will that be it?
Max: Yes.
The cashier nods as she rings up the order.
Cashier: That will be three dollars and sixty-seven cents.
Max gives the cashier four dollars, getting thirty-three cents as change. Within a few minutes, Max gets his order and he sits at a table near a window. Max takes a plastic spoon and eats some of the whipped cream, drizzled with chocolate sauce. After getting the whipped cream down to sip level, he takes a sip of the hot chocolate. After tasting it, he's amazed.
Max: Wow. I should get this more often.
Max continues to drink it until it's half empty, he pulls up his iPhone 12 Pro and after unlocking it, he pulls up the CNN app to watch some news. Kate Bouldan shows up on the screen. As Kate is talking, clips of the robot being attacked by the Road Rovers is shown on screen.
Kate: In other news, the Road Rovers, a team of superheroes that have been disbanded for almost twenty years, has seemingly returned as a team of dogs were able to stop a robot causing havoc in Salt Lake City, Utah.
A clip shows the robot getting electrocuted and blown up. Another clip shows Claire in her cano-sapien speaking to the camera.
Claire: You can look around and know that there is indeed a need for the Road Rovers to come back. We won't be forgotten! We will always be there! When help is needed, you can expect us to be there! Let this incident be known everywhere, in every country! The world has just seen the return of the Road Rovers!
Hearing Claire made Max smile. The screen goes back to Kate.
Kate: So, is this indeed the Road Rovers' return to be the symbol of justice and peace for our world? Well, to answer that, I have a guest in the studio today. She is an anchor for WPBT Eye-Witness News in Miami, Florida, Olivia Peru.
The camera shows Olivia Peru sitting next to Kate. She is starting to show gray in her blonde hair.
Kate: So, Olivia, we brought you in because obviously, you have an experience with the team. Do you think this could be the return of the Road Rovers?
Olivia smiles and nods.
Olivia: Yes, I do believe it is. When my dog, Sport, was turned into a cano-sapien to testify against Donovan Bell for him kidnapping dogs and humans, I have been really grateful for that team to be a part of my life as we would cross paths with each other, even after Bell was found guilty. I saw what those dogs did. Three of that team saved two national guards, one stopped a robbery, one saved a woman from going into cardiac arrest, and that team destroyed a robot. It literally screams what the old team used to do. They are brave like any hero is. The thing that makes the Road Rovers special is that they will never give up, ever. They will be there for the world, no matter what. I do believe after seeing what that team did yesterday that the Road Rovers have indeed returned.
Kate nods.
?: Finally, we got the news that is worth watching.
Max hears this distorted voice and he is interrupted. Max turns to see a tall man wearing a black cape with a hood and a black armored uniform. He is wearing a black mask, with a blank humanoid expression on it.
Max: Um, are you aware that Comic-Con is over and you're in the wrong state?
The man looks at Max as he sits across from him.
?: Sorry. My name is Zio.
Max looks at the man up and down as he puts his phone away.
Max: Am I supposed to know you?
The man puts the hood down and removes his mask and reveals who he is for a minute. Max is surprised to see who is behind the mask.
Max: How did you-?
The man puts the mask back on and puts the hood back up. His voice remains distorted.
Zio: It doesn't matter. What matters now is accomplishing a dream.
Max already has a feeling that isn't going to be a pleasant conversation but tries to stay positive.
Max: Sure, Martin Luther King Jr. I sure hope you will get there.
Zio slams his fist on the table.
Zio: SHUT UP!
This causes everyone to look at the table occupied by Zio and Max.
Zio: I know you're the one who trained that team, Mr. Parker.
Max looks around, noticing everyone is looking at them.
Max: What makes you say that...
Max wants to say his real name but gets second thoughts about it.
Max: ...Zio?
Zio chuckles to himself.
Zio: Isn't it obvious? You're the only one that is left of the team. You're the only one who could've adopted Shepherd's teachings.
Max looks at everyone around and then back to Zio.
Max: Do you really need to do this right now?
Zio tilts his head.
Zio: Would it matter if I was speaking to you in front of an audience at the President's State of the Union or in a dark alley? I can do my conversation with you right here.
Max clears his throat.
Max: Look, Zio, I don't really have time for this. So, how about if we just-
Zio quickly gets out of his seat and grabs Max by the throat.
Zio: I've got plenty of time!
A person gets up to stop Zio, only for that person to be punched and fall to the floor. Zio walks until he reaches the counter, still grabbing Max's throat.
Max: (while choking) What... do you... want?
Zio laughs evilly.
Zio: The world. I fully intend to finish what General Parvo started. To accomplish your father's dream.
Max looks at Zio, his eyes widening.
Max: Just wait... until the... Road Rovers... are operational...!
Zio grips Max's throat, continuing to choke him.
Zio: Oh, you just reminded me. Last night, I invited your kids and their friends over for a little activity I'm putting together. I think they will be perfect for what I want to do with them. If they refuse, I can easily make them disappear. Life is indeed a delicate state to mess with.
Max's eyes change from being full of fear to being full of anger
Max: If you even... put a finger on them... I'll-
Zio punches Max in the stomach, making him groan.
Zio: You'll do what? Have you forgotten or has old age really started to take a toll on you? You used that tranquilizer that Hubert gave you the moment your kids were born! Your first step to having a normal life.
Max tries to throw a punch, only for Zio to block it.
Zio: RIGHT?!
Max, though he's doing everything he can to try and fight with Zio, nods.
Zio: Now, I'm here to make you an offer...
Zio throws Max with pure strength, making him hit a sign with all of the drinks and food on it, causing a crack on the plexiglass. He falls to the floor and the cashier, though in shock at what is going on, goes to Max's aid. Zio just casually looks over the counter seeing Max slowly starting to get up.
Zio: ...I will give you four days to come and save your precious Road Rovers. If you don't come to me by then, you will never see your family or their friends again. My base is in the Philippines, the same base Atwater was before you murdered him.
Zio grabs a cookie from the counter.
Zio: Have a nice day.
Zio casually walks away as if he didn't cause what happened and leaves the store. Everyone goes up to the counter to see if Max is alright. Max, though a bit in pain from the beating he took, gets up and brushes himself off.
Cashier: Sir, I think you should wait until an ambulance gets here. Your back needs to be checked out.
Max looks at the cashier and shakes his head.
Max: I'm fine. I took worse beatings than that.
Cashier: But-
Max: I'm fine, honestly.
Max walks out of the counter and goes to get his hot coffee. He drinks the rest of it as if he was thirsty after doing a game of basketball. After finishing it, he wipes his mouth.
Max: No one messes with my family.
Max goes to leave the store.
Cashier: Wait!
Max, though annoyed, looks at the cashier.
Cashier: Is it true what he said? About you being General Parvo's son?
Max: Have you read my book? My Life as the Only Human of the Road Rovers?
The cashier shakes her head.
Max: Read it. You'll love what I wrote.
Max leaves the store and goes to his Hummer. After starting it, he drives out of the parking area and hurry's to his house, determined to stop Zio. After getting to his house, he drives into the driveway and parks. He gets out and goes into the house. Sarah walks downstairs.
Sarah: Hey, honey, our kids haven't texted me.
Sarah looks at her husband, noticing there's something wrong with him.
Sarah: Max? What's wrong?
Max shakes his head, acting like there's nothing wrong.
Max: I almost hit a deer on my way back.
Sarah looks up and down at her husband.
Sarah: Um, it doesn't seem that way.
Max: Well, it happened. I think I'm going to not make breakfast today.
Max starts walking up the stairs.
Sarah: You're not eating breakfast?
Max continues walking up the steps.
Max: I'll be fine.
Sarah, though confused, goes upstairs to get ready for work. After Max made sure she went to the bedroom, he opens up the attic, revealing a wooden staircase. He walks up the steps and goes into the attic, feeling the hot air. Max looks around and sees a box familiar to him. He opens it to find trinkets of his service as a Road Rover and takes out what is inside: A grey and blue uniform, with grey gloves and boots. There is a reddish-orange 'R' logo on the groin area. It is his old Road Rovers uniform. He washes the uniform once a month to keep it fresh and clean. He takes them and puts them in an old backpack he used to carry for hiking trips. He finds a red and black motorcycle sitting in the same box and takes it out, carrying it in his hand. He walks down the steps and starts walking down the staircase going into the first floor.
Max: Hey, baby! Can you cover for me? I don't feel like going to work today.
Sarah hears this as she was putting on her lab coat and is even more confused. Max has never acted like this before. He and Sarah were always hard workers for LIFE Corporation and hardly missed a day, much less called off work because they didn't feel like working, aside from being sick or taking vacations. Not wanting it to feel awkward, she sighs and acts as though she will cover for him.
Sarah: Sure, honey! Are you sure you don't want to cook breakfast?
Max continues walking down the stairs.
Max: I'll get two McGriddles.
Max leaves the house and goes to the garage. He goes inside and sees a tarp covering something. He lifts up the tarp to reveal a black dog-shaped motorcycle, the same motorcycle that Hunter and Colleen gave him the day the team disbanded, and it was the same motorcycle Hunter took with Colleen on their first date. Max removes the cap and fills the motorcycle with gasoline from a can laying around for the lawnmower. He continues filling it until it's full. After filling it, he puts the cap back on. After opening the garage door, he kicks the kick start, turning the motorcycle on. He revs the motorcycle. As this is going on, Sarah had just got ready and noticed the attic stairs are down. As much as she wanted to close it, she walks up the staircase and goes into the attic. She looks around the attic and notices an open box. After looking through it, she realizes that there are two missing in it, Max's Road Rovers uniform and a motorcycle helmet. She notices that Max's old backpack is missing. She ultimately realizes what is going on. Something has happened and Max wants to put an end to it. She hears the sound of a motorcycle running. With her eyes widening, she quickly runs down the attic steps and then down the staircase. She opens the front door, only to see Max drive out in a black dog-shaped motorcycle.
Sarah: HEY, WAIT! MAX!
Max ignores his wife's pleas as he continues to drive. Seeing Max drive away from her, she panics.
Sarah: Oh, what am I going to do?! Clearly, something has happened! How am I-
A thought comes to her.
Sarah: The Road Rovers HQ! That's where he has to be going! Why else would he take that motorcycle and his uniform with him? I'll just go to him!
Sarah goes inside the house and sees that Max left his car keys on the kitchen counter. She goes into the bedroom and puts on more casual clothing. She walks to Max's Hummer, his car keys in one hand and her iPhone 12 Pro in the other.
Sarah: Jeanette! My husband and I have some private matters to deal with, I'm afraid we won't be back for a while. Can you and Jake cover for us while we're away? I'll let you know when we're back, can you two just cover for us? You will? Okay, thank you, Jeanette. Remind me to give you a gift. Alright. We'll see you when we get back. Thank you very much. Goodbye.
Sarah gets in the Hummer and turns it on. Driving out of the driveway, she drives down the road, following Max, who is starting his long journey to the Road Rovers HQ. Max went and got two McGriddles from a local McDonald's before continuing his journey, which made him stop every 200 miles to refill the tank back to full and occasionally stop at restaurants to get something to eat. Sarah would do the same thing, though she only stopped once to fill the Hummers tank back to full. After an exhausting eleven-hour drive, Max had arrived at the crater that leads to the underground base. Knowing he has no way to go down the hole safely, he rides to a nearby elevator disguised as a rock with a cactus on top of it. He opens a small door, opening a keypad. He enters the correct numbers and the elevator doors open. He walks in, taking the motorcycle with him, and the elevator doors close. He presses a button that leads him to the docking area. After a minute, the elevator lands and opens its doors, revealing to have landed in the docking area. He puts the motorcycle somewhere near the other vehicles and removes the helmet, putting it on the motorcycle's seat. Max runs to one of the empty bedrooms and gets ready to stop Zio. He removes his normal clothes and starts putting on the suit he hasn't worn for almost twenty years. He first puts on the grey shirt and its blue arm sleeves, then the grey pants and its blue leg sleeves, and finishes by putting on the grey gloves and the grey boots. Max takes a look at himself in a nearby mirror.
Max: Huh. Not bad for almost twenty years. Alright, Zio. You want me, that's what you're going to get.
Max walks out of the bedroom and goes to the transdogmafier room. Looking at the machines, it reminded of him the day he involuntarily turned into a cano-sapien. He can almost hear the painful screams he incurred during the transformation. Ignoring it, he walks to one of them and can see that they're all turned on. He does some tinkering to see if his cano-sapien information is saved and is surprised to see that it has been saved even after all this time has passed.
Max: Okay. I figured it would have been deleted at some point, but no. It's still here. Honestly, I didn't think being a cano-sapien was going to happen again, but I have no choice. Just hang in there, kids. I'm coming for you.
Max goes to step into one of the transdogmafiers when he hears a very familiar voice.
Sarah: Honey! Stop!
Max is surprised to be hearing this voice as he turns to see Sarah running to her husband. She stops to catch her breath.
Sarah: I knew... you would come here...
Max is still surprised.
Max: What are you doing here, baby?
Sarah looks at Max.
Sarah: I could ask you the same question if it wasn't a serious situation.
Max, knowing he doesn't have anything else to say, tells Sarah what is going on.
Max: Someone has our kids and their friends. If I don't get there in four days, I won't see them again.
Sarah's eyes widen.
Sarah: Who did this?
Max: Someone calling himself Zio. I don't really have time to explain it to you, Sarah. I've got to get to the Philippines as fast as I can. That's where he's keeping them.
Sarah looks at Max, with seriousness showing on her face.
Sarah: I'm coming with you.
Max shakes his head.
Max: No. Don't be ridiculous. I'm not putting you in danger.
Sarah: I have a right to fight too, Max.
Max walks up to Sarah.
Max: What do you mean?
Sarah looks at Max, knowing there's no easy way to say it to her husband.
Sarah: You're not the only one who has a dark history.
Max gets confused.
Sarah: Okay. I never knew my real parents. I got separated from them at birth. I emigrated here to the United States when I was just a day old. A family called the Kelly's took me in. They raised me as if they were my parents. After we met for the first time, I always kind of wondered why you were in a trance when you saw me.
Max starts to look down, knowing where this is going.
Sarah: While we were taking a business trip to Scotland in early 2002, I went to go find some adoption records on me. While there, I discovered that I have a twin sister.
Max sighs.
Max: Groomer. You're the twin sister of Groomer.
Sarah raises her eyebrows.
Sarah: You really catch on quick.
Max: You and her share the same facial features. It's not that hard to put you and her together.
Sarah nods.
Sarah: For whatever reason, Groomer and I got separated at birth. I went to be raised by a family in America while she stayed in orphanages most of her life prior to her meeting with Parvo. So yeah, as I said before, you're not the only one who has a dark history. I have a reason to fight just as much as you do, Max.
Max looks at Sarah. He shakes his head.
Max: Sorry, but I can't let you, Sarah. It's too much of a risk.
Max goes to go in one of the transdogmafiers, only to be stopped by Sarah grabbing one of his hands.
Sarah: Max, I know it's going to be risky, but I don't care. No one messes with our family. We're both related to the people who started this mess in the first place. Maybe you and I are destined to end what they started. Teach me whatever you can in three days.
Max looks at Sarah with seriousness on his face.
Max: Alright. I'm just letting you know that this isn't going to be easy. I have to know if you're willing to take that risk.
Sarah, after thinking it about, nods.
Sarah: Just like I was ready to marry you, I am ready to risk my life to save them.
Max nods. He pulls out his phone and calls Aaron. The call is quickly picked up.
Aaron: Max?
Max: Yeah, it's me. Someone named Zio has kidnapped our kids and their friends, including their parents. Care to do some volunteer work?
Aaron clears his throat.
Aaron: Yeah, sure. Are you at the HQ?
Max: Yes. Sarah is here too. She's going to fight with me. How soon can you get here?
Aaron: I think I can schedule a flight there. I'll get there as fast as I can.
Max: Are you free for four days?
Aaron: I think I can fit it into my schedule. I'll see you, Max.
Max smiles.
Max: See you.
Max hangs up. He looks at Sarah as he goes to one of the transdogmafiers.
Max: I'm just letting you know, it may hurt for the first time.
Sarah looks at one of the transdogmafiers.
Sarah: Well, all of those transformation scenes in every film and cartoon I watched is going to be a reality for me.
Max chuckles as Sarah goes into one of them. The glass doors close and smoke starts to fill the transdogmafiers.
July 26th, 2021
10:00 PM. An island near the Philippines. A base that once belonged to the late Professor Eugene Atwater; this is where the operations of Zio take place. In the center of one of the rooms sits Chris and Claire, both strapped to a metal chair and are wearing the new Road Rovers uniforms. They are sitting next to each other, their arms and legs bound by metal. Chris is the first to wake up. His vision comes back and he looks around, scared and not knowing where is. He tries to get up but can't. He looks to see him strapped to a metal chair.
Chris: (sighs) Great.
Chris hears the familiar sounds of someone.
Claire: HELP! SOMEBODY HELP ME!
Chris looks to see Claire strapped to a chair in the same way he's strapped.
Chris: Claire, calm down! It's me!
Claire looks to see Chris, which calms her down a bit.
Claire: Chris? Do you still think I'm pranking you?
Chris shakes his head.
Chris: No. If you were, this is way too good to be a prank.
Claire looks around.
Claire: Where are we?
Chris: I don't know, nor do I even know how we're going to get out of this.
Chris hears the footsteps of someone walking to the door. The door opens and out comes a tall man wearing a black cape with a hood and a black armored uniform. He is wearing a black mask, with a blank humanoid expression on it.
Chris: Oh, look. It's Kylo Ren.
The man ignores this and speaks in a distorted voice.
Zio: I'm sorry to put you through this. I am Zio.
Claire: Yeah, no. Definitely Kylo Ren.
Zio ignores this and paces around the room.
Zio: I will admit, it is nice to see the Road Rovers come back from the darkness.
Chris: Then get rid of that mask to meet the light.
Zio stops and looks at Chris.
Zio: What do you think you're going to see?
Claire stares at Zio, frowning.
Claire: The face of our captor.
Zio sighs and removes his hood and the mask to reveal what he looks like. It's a man with white hair that is bald at the top and has brown eyes.
Claire: Oh. I thought you would look intimidating under the mask.
Zio looks at Claire and speaks in his normal voice.
Zio: Lower your expectations, then.
Zio goes to put the mask on.
Chris: Wait. I know you.
Zio puts the mask down.
Chris: You obviously aged, but you're Shepherd's former working partner, Dr. Jeffery Otitis.
Jeffery tilts his head.
Jeffery: That was my former name. But, yeah, that's who I am.
Chris: You used to be buddies with Shepherd before you turned your back and betrayed him. You spent twenty-four years in prison of a life sentence for being involved in the bombing of his laboratory.
Jeffery: Your father knows how to spill information about Shepherd. Well, I've got plenty of time to explain to you how I managed to get to this point.
Claire: Oh, don't worry. We too have plenty of time. We're not going anywhere.
Jeffery chuckles as he gets a chair from the corner of the room and sits on it when he places it near Chris and Claire.
Jeffery: So, Shepherd and I were partners. We knew each other since college. In 1995, he began preparations for the transdogmafier.
As Jeffery is talking, we are brought to 1995, twenty-six years earlier. Professor William F. Shepherd is working late at night in his laboratory in Soccoro, New Mexico, looking at stuff under a microscope. He is wearing work attire and has brown hair with grey showing on either side of his hair. A Rottweiler is with him, his dog Scout. A door opens and out comes Dr. Jeffery Otits, having brown hair and is wearing a brown business suit with a vest, white dress shirt with a red tie, and brown pants with black shoes. He is surprised to be seeing Shepherd working this late.
Dr. Jeffery Otits: You're still at it? I thought you'd be home by now.
Shepherd continues to look at what he's looking at through the microscope. Jeffery looks at Scout and goes to pet him, which Scout growls at him.
Jeffery: Gee, I guess Scout doesn't like me yet.
Shepherd chuckles.
Shepherd: Hard to believe it after a couple of years since I've had him. I'm sure he'll like you soon enough.
Shepherd gets out of the seat and walks to a machine he's been working on for the past year.
Shepherd: Anyway, I'm close to perfecting the transdogmafier.
Jeffery grins.
Jeffery: Good. The machine's going to make us rich.
Shepherd sighs.
Shepherd: We've been this through before, Jeffery. I'm not interested in profit. The transdogmafier is meant only for the good of the world.
Jeffery: Right, right. So, when do we start testing it?
Shepherd: Soon. I've been searching the world for potential candidates and several look very promising. Let me show you.
Shepherd turns on a computer that shows files of dogs he has picked for candidates for the transdogmafier: A yellow Golden Retriever, A blue Siberian Huskey, a white Old English Sheepdog, a female brown and white Rough Collie, and a brown Doberman. Jeffery looks at each dog and is impressed.
Jeffery: Hmm. Very promising, indeed. Just remember it takes more than dogs to keep this project running.
Jeffery puts his hands on Shepherd's shoulders.
Jeffery: It takes funding and lots of it.
Jeffery starts walking out of the room with Shepherd following him.
Shepherd: And I appreciate all the work you've done of getting those government grants.
Jeffery: I do what I can. See you later, professor.
Jeffery leaves the room.
Shepherd: Dr. Otitis needs to relax.
Shepherd looks at Scout and smiles.
Shepherd: Maybe he should get a pet.
Scout barks in response. In another part of the research laboratory, Jeffery is sitting in his office on his office chair, talking to someone on a headset.
Jeffery: I'm telling you, it's a goldmine.
Jeffery spins in his chair, putting his legs on his desk.
Jeffery: That's right, sir, this transdogmafier can give dogs awesome abilities.
Jeffery puts his legs down and smiles.
Jeffery: You want me to find a volunteer? Scout? Okay, fine. Professor Shepherd? He won't know a thing about it.
Jeffery gets out of his seat.
Jeffery: Come to the Shepherd residence after I get him then we'll take him to an abandoned barn. I reconstructed the transdogmafier where we can test it on him. Yes, I reconstructed it in the way you wanted me to, but I have to remind you-
The person hangs up, causing Jeffery to frown and slam the headset on the table in frustration. He calms himself as he walks out of his office.
Jeffery: No one trusts anyone anymore.
Jeffery leaves to go prepare for what he has to do to get proof. As the Shepherd family turns in for the night, Jeffery, wearing a red long sleeve shirt with black gloves, brown beanie, blue jeans, and black shoes. He is carrying a dog crate in one hand and a flashlight in the other. After breathing in and out, he puts the dog cage on top of the brick fence and climbs over it.
Jeffery: Here we go.
Jeffery turns on the flashlight and shines the flashlight on Scout's doghouse. He slowly walks to it, not wanting to wake Scout up. After getting close enough to it, he puts the dog crate down and slowly opens the door. He kneels by the doghouse and starts making cat noises. This causes Scout to wake up, curious about what is causing the noise. Once he clearly hears the cat noises, he sees the cage in front of him and starts to growl. Jeffery makes the cat noises louder, making Scout charge to the doghouse and bump his head inside. Seeing the right opportunity, Jeffery quickly closes the dog crate and locks it. He starts to laugh in an evil matter as he looks inside to look at Scout.
Jeffery: Oh, Scout, you are going to make a man very happy.
Scout, learning he's been tricked, starts to whine, causing a light to turn on in the house. Jeffery walks out of the backyard and into the driveway. He sees a large military truck coming on the right side and parks close to the driveway. As Jeffery puts Scout in the trunk of the truck, Shepherd comes out to see what Jeffery is doing.
Shepherd: Jeffery? What are you doing?!
Jeffery looks back at Shepherd, frowning.
Jeffery: Sorry, Shepherd, but I'm afraid you can't turn away from a moneymaking opportunity.
Jeffery walks to get in the passenger side of the truck.
Shepherd: No!
The truck quickly drives away and heads off to the abandoned farm. Jeffery looks to his left side and is surprised to be seeing a woman with long black hair wearing a red and black uniform with black gloves, black boots, and a metal helmet.
Jeffery: I didn't expect there to be any company.
The woman looks at Jeffery and then back to the road. She speaks in a crisp Scottish accent.
?: General Parvo simply felt it's best if you don't meet face to face right now. He's waiting in the barn.
Jeffery nods.
Jeffery: And who might you be?
The woman looks at Jeffery.
?: I've been working with Parvo for over a year now. My real name is not important.
The woman looks back at the road and then smiles.
?: But you can call me Groomer.
Jeffery looks at the road. After a half-hour of driving, they arrive at the abandoned farm. They get out of the truck and get Scout from the trunk. They walk into the barn. Standing in front of the transdogmafier is a tall, large muscular man wearing a black top shirt and beige pants with black shoes. The man turns around and has a large blonde mustache and has a metal helmet on his head. Seeing Parvo for the first time made him feel fear, but he clears his throat and doesn't show it.
Jeffery: Parvo?
General Parvo nods.
General Parvo: Good evening, Dr. Otitis.
Groomer walks up to Parvo.
Groomer: I hate to tell you, General, but Shepherd caught us.
Parvo looks at Jeffery, frowning.
Parvo: You told me that he wouldn't know a thing.
Jeffery: Well, he did see that I was taking Scout. I'm sure he has no idea what we are about to do.
Parvo walks up to Jeffery.
Parvo: Do not take me for a fool, Dr. Otitis.
Jeffery: That is not my intention, sir.
Parvo looks at Scout.
Parvo: Are you sure this will work?
Jeffery looks at the transdogmafier. He wants to tell Parvo that there could be problems but walks to the controls anyway.
Jeffery: It should. I reconstructed it exactly as you told me to over the phone.
Parvo: Good. Get it ready.
Jeffery nods.
Jeffery: Yes, sir.
Jeffery removes his beanie as he starts tinkering with the controls. After a short while, the machine starts whirring.
Jeffery: The dog is ready for mutation, sir.
Parvo grins and so does Groomer. Jeffery gets the door open and puts Scout inside. He closes the door and starts to tinker again so the transformation can begin. Scout is scared as electricity starts to spark. After twenty seconds, the door opens, and smoke comes out. They start to hear growling, causing Parvo and Groomer to smile, thinking the test has been a success. Scout leaps out, flying towards Scout, and foam starting form from his mouth. Jeffery's eyes widen as Scout pounces him and starts scratching his hair, messing it up and making it stand up.
Jeffery: AH! GET HIM OFF OF ME!
Groomer, though shocked and disappointed that the test didn't work, goes to Jeffery's aid and puts Scout on a chokehold. She drags Scout to where a chain is connected on a hook and connects the chain to his collar. As Jeffery gets up to brush himself off, Parvo looks at Jeffery in anger.
Parvo: Cano-mutant, huh?
Jeffery looks at Parvo, his eyes beginning to widen as Parvo grabs Jeffery's shirt. Scout growls and looks as he is ready to savagely bite someone.
Jeffery: Wait! I can explain!
Parvo: You failed, Otitis! That dog wasn't transdogmafied! He's just nuts!
Jeffery: Yes, I can see that! If you can just let me explain!
Parvo: You're a complete failure! Groomer, dispense with him!
Groomer grins.
Groomer: Aye, sir!
Groomer puts Jeffery in a chokehold and grabs a portable clipper and turns it on.
Groomer: Let's start by taking a little off the top!
Jeffery: Wait!
Groomer ignores this as she removes the top of his har with the clippers. Jeffery starts screaming as she continues to remove the top until it's bald. Jeffery groans from the pain he got.
Groomer: Now, should I do work on the back and around the edges, sir?
Jeffery: Can you just let me explain before you do so?!
Parvo: What do you want to tell me? Explain your failure? Scout is already an explanation!
Jeffery: The transdogmafier I built is inferior to what you want!
Parvo looks at Jeffery.
Parvo: What do you mean?
Jeffery: That transdogmafier does not have the capabilities to make you cano-mutants. I knew this while making it.
Parvo signals Groomer to let Jeffery go and she does.
Jeffery: The one I built is based on one of the final designs, but it's not as useful as the final one in development. No matter what I did to tweak it, I knew it was still going to have problems.
Parvo has his eyes widen.
Parvo: Why couldn't you just tell me this? You could have just reconstructed the final one.
Jeffery: I don't know what the final blueprints are. Shepherd is very secretive about it. He doesn't want them to be leaked. I figured I just take one of the discarded designs and make it work, and clearly, it didn't. I can get the final blueprints, for a price. I'm sure if we get the final blueprints in some way,
your cano-mutant army will be a reality.
Groomer shakes her head.
Groomer: That sounds like a dumb idea.
Groomer goes to Jeffery and turns on the clippers, causing Jeffery to get scared.
Parvo: Wait.
Groomer turns off the clippers.
Parvo: I think we can arrange that. I have an idea to get the blueprints.
Parvo looks at Scout, who growls and snarls.
Parvo: Maybe he can be useful after all.
The next morning, Shepherd is at the research laboratory in his office, talking to Parvo on the phone.
Parvo: Listen to this, Shepherd!
Parvo puts the phone near Scout, who starts barking and whining.
Shepherd: It'll be okay, Scout. It'll be okay.
Parvo puts the phone back in his ear.
Parvo: Satisfied, Shepherd?
Shepherd: I just want Scout back.
Parvo grins.
Parvo: That dog means a lot to you, doesn't he?
Shepherd: He's... He's family.
Parvo: Well, you can have him back as soon as you hand over the final blueprints to the transdogmafier. Think it over, professor, but don't take too long. I might change my mind.
Parvo hangs up the call.
Parvo: I love being evil.
Groomer grins.
Groomer: Aye. So do I, sir.
Jeffery comes into the barn, carrying a tape recorder.
Parvo: Ah, look who it is, the failure.
Jeffery nods.
Jeffery: About to be a forgiven failure if everything goes well with getting the final blueprints.
Parvo: And you will get something in return for it.
The three walk out of the barn to talk to each other. Scout looks at the open doorway. He gets an idea as this was his only chance to escape. He starts to pull on the chain. The chain breaks and Scout runs out of the barn and goes to be free. A few minutes later, the three walk back into the barn only to find Scout is gone.
Jeffery: What?! Scout got away!
Groomer looks around the room and sure enough, Scout has indeed got away.
Groomer: We've got to find him.
Parvo shakes his head.
Parvo: Forget it. He's gone.
Groomer looks at her leader, confused.
Groomer: But, sir, we can't lose him! He's our only bargaining chip!
Parvo: I SAID HE'S GONE!
Groomer looks down and heeds to her leader's voice. Parvo sighs.
Parvo: Now, I don't know what we're going to do to get the plans from Shepherd.
Jeffery looks at the tape recorder he's holding.
Jeffery: What if we make him think it's Scout in that cage in the trunk?
Groomer looks at Jeffery and smiles.
Groomer: Yes. Trick him. I can imitate a dog whining and it will make him think it's Scout.
Parvo looks at Groomer, confused.
Parvo: You can imitate a dog's voice?
Groomer starts to whine like a dog, which sounds like Scout whining. Parvo is impressed by this.
Parvo: Pretty good. But sooner or later he's going to know it's just a recording.
Groomer: I have another idea. Get rid of Shepherd. We can put a bomb inside in the tape recorder.
Jeffery: You can make bombs?
Groomer nods.
Groomer: I have been known to dabble a little. I should be able to make a bomb explosive enough to destroy his laboratory, enough power to make sure he's dead!
Parvo grins.
Parvo: And thus, I alone will have knowledge of the transdogmafier and no one will ever be able to stop me to have complete world domination!
Jeffery looks down, knowing he will never see Shepherd again, his working partner he knew ever since college. He looks back up to Groomer, who grabs his arm.
Groomer: Come, Otitis! Let's make Shepherd disappear!
Jeffery nods as the two go to work on the bomb. As the minutes turned into hours, preparations for Plan B are in place, though they won't be finished until tomorrow. It is now night and Shepherd is on another call with Parvo.
Parvo: Yes, Shepherd, I have your dog.
Parvo moves the phone away from him, with Groomer barking like Scout into the phone.
Shepherd: Okay, Parvo. I'll give you the blueprints. All I want is Scout.
Parvo grins.
Parvo: We'll do the exchange tomorrow night. Six o'clock, your lab.
Parvo hangs up the call.
Groomer: I think we're going to need to change clothes for tomorrow. I think I can come up with something.
Jeffery walks up to Parvo, he had been pacing around the are for over an hour, having doubts.
Jeffery: Look, sir, I've been thinking about this. I can't come tomorrow to load up the prototype.
Parvo looks at Jeffery.
Parvo: I understand, Otitis. You need not worry. I will have someone else come along. He won't be afraid to get his hands dirty.
Parvo walks up to Jeffery, towering above him.
Parvo: You just bear the blame tomorrow. You tell the police that this was your scheme.
Jeffery gulps his saliva.
Jeffery: How do you expect me to get away with it? That's a life sentence.
Parvo: I will find a way to give you an escape plan at whatever prison they send you. You only escape when the time is right. Should we fail or die to have the world in our grasp, I want you to take our place. You have been forgiven for making one mistake. When you escape, I have a Swiss bank account. The numbers will be provided with your escape plan. I have a lot more money in that account than you make in a lifetime. You will use it to achieve world domination. And should you come across anyone to stop you from achieving that goal...
Parvo makes Jeffery get down on one knee.
Parvo: ...stop them in any way you can. Show no mercy to your enemies.
Jeffery bows.
Jeffery: Yes, sir.
Parvo gets Jeffery up.
Parvo: Now, go, and accept to take the blame for what will happen tomorrow.
Jeffery nods as he leaves the barn, prepared to accept his punishment until the time was right to finish what Parvo started. We are now back to July 26th, 2021. Jeffery is still speaking to Chris and Claire.
Jeffery: I admitted to the police the next day that the bombing was done by me. They arrested me and charged me with conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction with a murder charge pending. After they couldn't find his body, they dropped the murder charge on me. I was found guilty and sentenced to life without parole. Last year, thanks to your grandfather, I managed to escape from the prison they kept me and I was able to get a hold of that Swiss account. I was quite amazed that the account wasn't touched for nineteen years since his death. I got the technology to make both cano-mutnats and cano-sapiens as my army and within a year, I got the men and women I needed. I hired orphans and nobody's since no one will miss them when they die. And that brings us here today.
Chris and Claire look at each other and then back to Jeffery.
Chris: What a great story.
Claire: Yeah. We should tell it to our grandkids.
Jeffery puts the chair back in the corner. He paces around the room.
Jeffery: I will do everything I can to make sure you two and your friends are set free.
Chris: Well, I hope it doesn't take too long. We have a job to do.
Jeffery nods.
Jeffery: Of course you do. You have to be Road Rovers. But, then again, why should I let you guys be free, knowing you will find ways to stop me accomplish your grandfather's dream?
Claire: You do know that he was actually a good person.
Jeffery looks at Claire.
Jeffery: Please. Everyone's got to find their true purpose in life. Your grandfather sure found his when he left Stacey.
Chris: He still cared about her, even after becoming what he's infamous for.
Jeffery: He was weak, but the minute he found his calling, he became a god. I want to be that way for the world. I want to cleanse the world and I know just how to do it. I plan on using robots like the one you fought yesterday. Salt Lake City was just a testing ground. Washington D.C. will be next on Friday. After that, it will be every capital city in the country to fall, then it will be the entire world. After that, the remaining people on this planet will look up to me as their god, bowing and worshiping me.
Chris: History isn't kind to people who pretend that they're God.
Jeffery scoffs.
Jeffery: You will see it. If he's lucky to be here, your father will be able to witness it too.
Claire stares at Jeffery.
Claire: And I can't wait to see him punch your face in for kidnapping us.
Jeffery walks up to Claire.
Jeffery: I have the power within me to break every bone in his body. I should know for I did a little experiment on myself of what it's like to be blessed with a gift, like yourselves. I'll be happy to sweep the floor with your father's body, no matter how hard he tries to put me down. And I will do the same if any of you try to stop me.
Jeffery gets up and grabs the mask.
Jeffery: I have given your father four days to get here to try and save you all. If he doesn't, then I'm afraid it's going to be difficult to make sure you get out of here alive. Enjoy your stay here, for it may be your last days on this Earth.
Jeffery puts the mask back on and leaves the room, leaving Chris and Claire to worry about what is going to happen to them and their friends in the next four days. Can they be saved and save the world from destruction or will they be left to die?