Max is walking down a hallway. Thoughts have been in his head for the past hour. Why does Master want him to have a break from doing missions? Something fishy is going on here. Max continues walking until he gets to the room where they keep the security camera footage. He sees the door's handle and quietly opens it, not awaking Muzzle on the other side of the hallway. He turns on the light and sees a huge device where the cameras capture the vicinity of the base. He looks to his left and sees a metal storage cabinet. He opens the doors and sees a whole stack of tapes in it.
Max: (whistles) That is a lot of tapes.
Max looks through the tapes. He keeps looking through until he sees a tape labeled "July 29th, 2001, Mission Briefing" He pulls the tape and sits on the black rolling chair. Pulling himself up to the metal surface, he places the tape inside the built-in VCR. The video plays with the Rovers entering the Mission Room and they sit in their usual seats. The Master stands behind a gate of white light.
Master on video: Good morning, Rovers. Is Max gone?
Hunter on video: Yes, sir. We did exactly as you told us.
Master on video: You used the laxative, Colleen?
Colleen on video: Yes, sir.
Max pauses the video, shocked at what was wrong with the coffee he drank this morning. He continues the video.
Master on video: Alright. Now-
Kai on video: Master-san.
Master on video: Yes, Kai?
Kai on video: Why did you make us do that to Max-san? This isn't like you.
Master on video: I don't want him to know what we're doing. Trust me, with this mission you're about to do, you'll thank me for it, later.
Kai on video: (sighs) Yes, sir.
Max's emotions at this point are a mix of panic, worry, and fear. What does Master not want Max to know? Max continues watching the video.
Master on video: All right. Now, here's what I have prepared for you today. It has come to my attention that a scientist named Max Thomas Parker has worked for General Parvo, developing the new army that Parvo has. He has information that will help us. First...
A photo of Stacey's house shows up on the big screen in the room, as well as a photo of her drinking coffee at a table with a couple of her friends.
Master on video: ...I want you to ask questions to this woman, Stacey Louise Myers. She is Max's mother. Her answers may help us with what information that Max has. Then...
Photos of a base show up on the big screen.
Master on video: ...This base in Panama is reported to be used by an old enemy of ours, Captain Zachary Storm. Somehow, he escaped from that mental institution and has been working for Parvo since. I need some of you to go to that base and find out what Storm is up to, and also see if you can find more info on Parker. Lastly...
Photos of Professor Eugene Atwater and an island somewhere located on this Earth show up on the big screen.
Master on video: ...You all know this man. Eugene Atwater went crazy after we took care of his bug problem back in early 1997. He escaped the mental institution with Storm and now works for Parvo. He helped Max Parker develop the army. He is currently hiding in this base on an island near the Philippines. He promises to tell us the location of Parvo's base as long as we grant him protection, which I have complied with the US government to do so.
The big screen turns off.
Master on video: Any questions, Rovers?
The Rovers look at each other then back to Master.
Master on video: All right, Rovers. Be off!
Hunter stands up, making the other Rovers do so.
Hunter: You know what, guys? Let's just go. I don't feel like doing our howl today.
The Rovers nod in understanding, sharing their confusion with Hunter, and they leave the Mission Room. The video stops. Max sits in front of the screen, shocked that Master got his cover blown. He puts his head on the metal and his hands on the back of his neck.
Max: Shepherd... What are you doing...?! This was supposed to be private...!
Max ejects the tape and puts it back in the metal cabinet and closes the doors. Max, knowing where Atwater is, wants to go find him, but he can't. Maybe if he did it in secret? These thoughts kept going in Max's head. He goes to his bedroom to think it over. Does he stay here like he's told to or will he go after him?
It is 3:00 PM in Panama. A helicopter fly's over. Exile is in it at the controls, with him are Blitz, Rejean, and Javier. Exile is flying erratically.
Exile: Don't worry, comrades! I got it under control!
Blitz: (growls) Tell me, how did we get talked into you flying the helicopter?
Rejean and Javier are sitting in the back, holding tightly on their seats.
Rejean: I could have done a better job.
Javier: So would've I, amigo. I would be an excellent co-pilot with you.
Exile sees the base is not far away. He lands at an open spot in a designated area, nearby the base. Everyone leaves the helicopter and makes it to the base. They sneak their way in and walk to the other side of the base. They pull out grappling hook guns from their holsters and shoot at the roof. The guns get them to the roof. As soon as they get on the roof, they get to the vents and enter the building via an access vent, except for Javier, who decides to enter the building by invisibility. He follows the other Rovers until they leave the access vent and enter a room. Javier turns visible.
Javier: (quietly) Hola, amigos.
Blitz: (quietly) Yeah, yeah.
They huddle into a group.
Exile: (quietly) Okay, comrades, here's what we'll do. We go around the base looking for what Storm is up to and also find information on this Max Thomas Parker.
Rejean: (quietly) Just like Hunter told us.
Exile: (quietly) All right. Let's go, comrades.
The Rovers quietly look around the base. They look around the rooms but couldn't find any information. They then get to this room on the second floor. Two men of Panamanian descent notice as they walk in and aim their guns at them, making Javier instantly turn invisible.
Guard #1: Who are you?!
Guard #2: What are you doing here?!
Rejean walks to them and waves his hand in front of the two guard's faces.
Rejean: It's okay that we're here.
The two guards put their weapons away.
Guard #1: It's okay that you're here.
Guard #2: Yeah. Thank God, you're here.
Rejean: Storm has sent us to check the surveillance camera in this room.
While Rejean speaks, Javier walks to the surveillance camera in the corner of the wall and quietly disconnects it. Rejean waves his hands at the guards again.
Rejean: He's also sent us to tell you to meet him, he says it's urgent.
Guard #1: Alright. We'll be there right away.
Guard #2: Good luck with checking the security camera.
The two guards leave to go to Storm and Javier turns visible.
Exile: Okay, comrades. Let's check this room.
They look around the room. Javier opens a filing cabinet and sees two files. One was labeled "Operation Zone Blitz" and the other labeled "Max Thomas Parker: July 26th - August 1st, 1999".
Javier: Amigos, I found something.
Javier puts down the two files on a table nearby them. Blitz opens the Operation Zone Blitz file.
Blitz: Let's start with this one first.
Rejean: Because it has your name on it?
Rejean chuckles, with Blitz looking at him seriously. Rejean quits and nods. Blitz looks through the files, pulling out a map of the world with hundreds of red marks with the names of the United States Military Base.
Blitz: What the? What does he intend to do with these military bases?
As they look further, they see blueprints of a spaceship, the biggest ever built. Dubbed 'The Scrimmage', it is over 12 kilometers long, the size of 132 football fields put together. Then they see blueprints of a huge laser, about 150 feet high and 15 feet wide. After they were done with the Zone Blitz file, they start to look through the Max Thomas Parker file. As they look through, they see a stack of papers written in a way as if they were testing a person for some kind of experiment, no doubt the new form of cano-sapien that Parvo developed. They see photos of a human, who stood approximately five foot seven, has short black hair, has 26-year-old features, and has blue eyes.
Javier: So, this is our friend, Max Thomas Parker. I expected him to be older.
Rejean takes another set of photos from the file and walks to a corner in the room. Once his eyes saw what was on them, they were full of shock.
Rejean: Oh my...
Blitz gets alerted by hearing Rejean. He walks to him.
Blitz: What is it?
Rejean, with his hands shaking, gives the photos to Blitz. When Blitz saw them, he shared the same reaction as Rejean. The other two Rovers look at them, confused. Blitz throws the photos on the table, and the two Rovers share their shock. It was pictures of an Alaskan Malamute, who looked strikingly similar to Max, the Rover back at base.
Exile: What?! Max?! He really was human after all and did work for Parvo!
Javier: No. This isn't possible. This can't be the same Max back at base.
Blitz looks at Javier.
Blitz: What are you trying to say?
Javier: M-m-maybe this is another Alaskan Malamute in Parvo's army...!
Blitz: Javier...
Javier looks at Blitz, still in disbelief.
Blitz: ...when have we seen an Alaskan Malamute in Parvo's army?
Just as Javier was going to get a word out of him, an alarm rings out.
Woman on PA: Intruder alert! Intruder alert! Road Rovers in the base!
Rejean: What?! I thought my mind trick worked!
Blitz: There's no time to talk about it, Obi-Wan!
Blitz puts everything back in the files and puts the files in his uniform. They run out when a guard notices Blitz and attempts to punch him. He ducks and Exile grabs his leg and throws him over the railing. They continue running to get out of the base.
Blitz: I could have done that myself.
Exile: Well, I didn't want him to hurt your beautiful litso.
Blitz chuckles.
Blitz: Okay, I'll give you that.
They run to get out, with guards coming after them, shooting their guns at the Rovers, who return fire with their blasters. They see a back door.
Javier: I see a door!
Javier turns to the guards chasing after them and throws what looks like a dog bone. The dog bone lands near the guards, who look at it with curiosity. The dog bone sends out bright light, temporarily blinding them. The Rover gets through the back door. Exile rips out the door handle so the guards can't open the door. The Rovers run to the nearest wall and use their grappling guns to get to the other side. The guns take them to the top. The three Rovers get over the wall.
Exile: Alright, comrades, let's get back to the heli-
Before Exile could get over, he feels a sharp pain on his shoulder, making him fall over the wall and landing on the ground.
Blitz: Exile!
Blitz runs to Exile and sees his shoulder bleeding. As he looks closer, he can see that a bullet went straight through his shoulder. Javier sees something on the ground and when he picks it up, he sees that it's a bullet. Javier looks at Exile, horrified. Blitz, noticing this, looks at Exile, horrified after seeing the blood start to stream in his uniform down to his arm. Blitz starts to grab Exile.
Exile: (groaning) What are you doing, weird boy?
Blitz: I'm saving you.
Blitz grabs Exile and starts to carry him on his back.
Blitz: GO, GUYS! GO!
The two Rovers comply and start running to the helicopter. Blitz, even though his back started to hurt from carrying Exile, still ran, as hard and as fast he was able to. They keep running for what felt like the longest run of their lives. Rejean looks over at his shoulder to see Blitz.
Rejean: Blitz?!
Blitz: FORGET ABOUT ME! JUST KEEP GOING!
Javier spots the helicopter.
Javier: THERE!
They all run to the helicopter.
Blitz: YOU TWO! GET US OUT OF HERE!
Rejean complies and gets on the driver's side and Javier gets on the passenger side. Rejean gets the helicopter to start and lifts the helicopter off the ground. He turns the helicopter around and gets back to base as fast as possible. Blitz is desperately trying to stop the bleeding.
Blitz: Come on! Don't you die on me now!
Javier, noticing Blitz's struggle to stop the bleeding, gets out of his seat and goes to help him. He sees a first-aid kit and opens it. He sees scissors and uses them to cut the uniform's right arm of Exile. Once it's been opened, he grabs a tourniquet and ties it tightly on Exile's arm. He then grabs a couple of rags and starts adding pressure to the wound. Blitz sees this.
Blitz: Mind if I?
Javier nods and lets him add pressure to the wound. Javier lifts Exile's head.
Blitz: Exile, look at me.
Exile, through half-opened eyes, looks at the Doberman.
Blitz: I'm staying right here. I'm not leaving you. I want those eyes to stay open. Don't you dare close them.
Exile, despite being in pain from the gunshot, smiles. He holds Blitz's hand, giving him also the chance to smile.
Blitz: That's right, comrade. I won't leave you. Just keep those eyes open for me.
5:30 PM. Back at base, Kai is in a room with Hubert about to compare a video featuring Max with the footage that he recorded to see if both voices match with each other. He is in disbelief at what he saw at Stacey's house. Hunter and Colleen walk into the room. Kai looks over his shoulder to see them.
Kai: Hello, Colleen-san. Hello, Hunter-san.
Both: Hey, Kai.
The Bloodhound smiles at them.
Hubert: Hello, you two.
Hubert smells around them. He then looks at Colleen.
Hubert: Lancôme?
Colleen: (nods) Exactly, Hubert. I wear it every day.
Hubert: I just have to say, it's better than what Max wears.
Colleen chuckles as she walks to Kai.
Colleen: So, what have you got for us?
Kai turns back to the big screen.
Kai: Well, thanks to Hubert setting it up for me, I've got two recordings here: One is from Hunter-san's video from Christmas last year and the other is a graduation speech by our friend Max Thomas Parker. I'm going to play both of them to see if these two voices match, to know that our Max-san is Parker.
Kai does some typing on the keyboard, showing two videos.
Kai: Okay, first one.
Kai presses a key on the keyboard, which plays the Christmas video. It shows the Rovers sitting at a table laughing and singing some carols, just like any other family during Christmas. Hunter stands up, holding the video camera.
Hunter on video: Okay, Rovers. Before we head off to go see our movie for tonight, does anyone want to say anything?
After a couple of moments, Max stands up.
Max on video: Yes. I'd like to.
Hunter, holding the camera, nods.
Max on video: I just want to let you know that I'm happy to be here with all of you during this time. I never thought I'd be happy to be spending Christmas again after my master got killed. Being here was like having Christmas with him. People were eating, smiling, laughing, singing carols. Just being here brings me back to those moments back in Alaska. I wish he were here now. I bet he'd be proud of who I am today...
Max's eyes get watered. He grabs the nearest napkin and wipes his eyes and calms himself.
Max on video: (sniffs) But, even though he was my family, you guys are like a second family to me. For as long as I'm here with you, you are a family that I'm proud to be having now.
Hunter smiles, along with everybody else, and starts clapping for him.
Hunter on video: All right, everybody, let's go watch the movie.
The video ends.
Colleen: That was a nice speech he made.
Hunter nods.
Kai: Okay. Now the next one.
Kai presses a key to play the second one. It shows a huge auditorium full of people. The president of the university stands on the big stage.
Adam Shoemaker on video: All right, ladies and gentlemen, now we bring you the Valedictorian of the genetics and biology class. This twenty-three-year-old man has done the most achievements for these classes and I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that this young man will be a great scientist one day. Please help me welcome the Valedictorian, from Salt Lake City, Utah, Max Thomas Parker.
The whole auditorium cheers, including Stacey holding the camera, as Max gets up on the stage. He handshakes the president and gets his diploma. After a couple of moments, he stands at the podium to make his speech. When Hunter, Colleen, and Hubert heard the voice, they were in realization, disbelief, and shock.
Max on video: President Adam Shoemaker, members of the Board of Trustees, Administrators, faculty, friends, family, guests, and graduating seniors of the class of 1996. Welcome to the 1996-
Kai stops the video, just in disbelief as they all are.
Hunter: Wow. Max was human after all.
Kai: I know. That's what I thought when I first watched that speech video.
Colleen, in shock, walks to the nearest mirror and starts hearing Max's voice, the same voice she heard three years ago. Hunter notices her and runs to comfort her.
Hunter: Colleen...?
Colleen looks at her boyfriend, her eyes full of shock.
Colleen: It was him. He left me there at that tree three years ago.
Before Hunter gets a word out of him, he hears Blitz on his radio.
Blitz: Hunter! Get Kai and Colleen in the recovery room!
Hunter gets his radio and puts it near his mouth.
Hunter: Why?
Blitz: Exile has been shot!
Kai and Colleen dart as quickly as they can to the recovery room.
6:00 PM The Rovers are sitting in the mission room, worried for Exile. Hunter is comforting Muzzle, who is just as worried as the others. After what felt like hours, even though it was thirty minutes, Kai, Colleen and Hubert enter the room. Hunter stands up, along with the rest of the Rovers.
Hunter: How is Exile?
Colleen and Kai sigh and look at them.
Colleen: He's lost a bit of blood, but he'll be fine.
The Rovers sigh in relief.
Kai: I was able to fully heal his wound. His arm will be sore for a while, but he'll be better. We just want him to rest for a couple of days to recover from that shock.
The Rovers smile, knowing that Exile is going to be okay.
Kai: Hubert was able to analyze that bullet that Javier-san collected in Panama, the one that went through Exile-san.
Hubert: This is a 14.5×114mm.
Blitz: A what?
Javier: It's a bullet used by the military.
Hubert: Exactly. This type of bullet is usually shot out of a heavy machine gun...
Javier looks to the other side, thinking of seeing Exile bleeding.
Hubert: ...or a high-powered rifle. Specifically, an Anzio 20mm.
Hunter looks at Javier, knowing how scared he looks.
Hunter: Well, I'm going to meet Exile. Colleen.
Colleen looks at Hunter.
Hunter: Bring Parker here. We need to talk to him.
Colleen: (nods) Yes, Hunter.
Colleen goes to get Max while Hunter goes to see Exile. When he gets there, he sees Exile laying in a hospital-like bed. He has an IV needle in his right wrist to keep him hydrated. Hunter walks over to Exile.
Hunter: Hey, buddy.
Exile hears this and looks at Hunter, through half-opened eyes.
Exile: Hey, comrade. I appear to be in bad shape.
Hunter: How are you feeling?
Exile: (sighs) Hot. Sweaty. In pain. Tired.
Hunter: Like you always are.
Exile slightly chuckles.
Exile: Except those last two.
Exile looks into Hunter's eyes.
Exile: Max, he's-
Hunter grabs Exile's blue fur-coated hand.
Hunter: I know, Exile. We're going to talk to him.
On another side of the base, Colleen is walking to Max's room. She opens the door. It was dark and she turns on the light to see what looked like Max was in bed. She walks to the bed.
Colleen: Max? Why wasn't your radio on? Come on, we need to talk to you.
Colleen pulls the covers only to see pillows.
Colleen: What?!
She looks around the room. Nothing. She picks up her radio.
Colleen: Max isn't here, Hunter!
Hunter picks up his radio.
Hunter: What do you mean?
Colleen: He's gone!
Hunter is confused. He quickly leaves to go around the base.
6:30 PM. The Rovers are back at the mission room.
Rejean: I just checked the docking area. The helicopter we were in is gone. He must've taken it.
Kai: But where? Where could he have gone to?
Master: Atwater.
The Master stands behind a gate of white light. The Rovers stand up.
Master: He is going after Atwater.
Javier: But, Master, how could he have known where he is?
Master: I somehow knew he could've taken the bait. Hubert and I developed that tape to see if Max could find out why I gave him a break today. I suspect he knows that we know who he is, Max Thomas Parker. He helped Parvo develop the new army for him along with Atwater. He was punished after he found out that he was having loving affections towards Groomer. They were both sent to prison, with her being a cano-sapien as punishment. They both escaped in January last year. On their way to the plane, she got shot. Max was able to make it here to America and left Groomer's body at that hospital in San Francisco. He then went to his mother to let him know that he was alive and then came here to join us to find a way out of his cano-sapien form.
Hubert: I have been developing the cure for over a year. It's in its final stages so it should be ready soon.
Blitz looks at the Master.
Blitz: Master, why didn't you-
Master: Tell you? Because I didn't want your trust in him to be misplaced. If I had told you who he was, you wouldn't have been able to trust him just as much as I didn't want to trust him when I found out who he was.
The Rovers look at each other.
Master: Rovers, there will be another time to discuss this. You must to go that island and bring Atwater back here for questioning. If you find Max, you must bring him back here too. He is our only hope to end this fight against Parvo. Now, go!
Hunter salutes.
Hunter: Yes, sir! Come on, guys! Let's go!
The Rovers run out of the mission room and get into the Cloud Rover and leave for the island near the Philippines to bring back Atwater and Max.