AN: Hey guys, we're back. I know it's been awhile, but things have gotten a bit easier for me to start writing this one again alongside Everest Gone Missing. If you're wondering why this one is a short one its because I wanted to slowly get back into writing this world's atmosphere again. So enjoy and hopefully see more soon.
Disclaimer: I do not own Paw Patrol
The moment Chase heard that Ryder was saved, he breathed a huge sigh of relief. However, upon hearing that his half-brother had been hurt, he all but pushed Skye aside so he could see how Blue was doing. Ryder had been then and forced Chase to heel before he could rush into the emergency wing and disrupt the doctors. It was only when Ryder told him that they would be okay did he calm down. He did get a look at his owner, who was supporting his own set of bandages, but overall looked to be pretty okay. Both Blue and Agent Kennedy, however, had serious knife wounds by some crazy blade weilding lady who was apparently after Zuma himself.
Speaking of which, the knowledge that Zuma was there, shooting up the place, had been a shock for both him and Skye. When the others arrived, they showed them the footage of how Zuma pretty much acted like a commando during the raid. It was clear he was there to rescue Ryder, but he had decided to do it with the force of a bull in a chinashop.
One thing that Chase looked at was how Zuma fought. This was a far cry from whatever training Zuma had gotten from Ryder. Every move and attack was tactical with an impulse to kill and Zuma never hesitated to take any lives. It was something Chase really hadn't hope to see, but it couldn't be denied anymore. Zuma was no longer the innocent pup, he was now a full on trained killer.
The question is, who trained him? Chase wondered as everyone sat around in silence.
There was heavy depressing mode in the air and it wasn't just for the worry of Blue or Agent Kennedy. The fact that Zuma really was doing a full on crusade against Stone's operations on his own, and willing to kill to do it, meant that he was technically a criminal. The only reason that Ryder and the Paw Patrol could do what they did was because they had permission from the governor and were recognized as legal first responders.
When Zuma left, he had officially quit, and was now acting outside of the law. Being an officer, Chase was obligated to stop him. In reality, as a friend, Chase wanted to help him. But how do you save someone who's so ruthless like that?
A few minutes later, a doctor walked in and all of them stood in attention as the nodded at them with a small smile. "Your friends are going to be fine. They need some time to recover from their wounds."
"Can we see them?" Ryder asked.
"I think it might be best to see them tomorrow, we've sedated them to help them recover faster," The Doctor answered before he checked his beeping pager. "Excuse me."
Once he was gone the six of them were left with themselves as they tried to think of something to say, but the truth was none of them knew what to say. Finally, Marshall asked, "Guys, what do we do about Zuma?"
"...Please tell me we're not going to arrest him," Rubble whimpered.
"We can't do that!" Rocky shouted as he looked at Ryder desperately. "Ryder, he's our friend! He's Paw Patrol! I know what he did is...extreme..."
"Rocky, he practically raided that bar single pawly," Marshall pointed out. "He killed all those guys without any hesitation."
"They were criminals! Holding Ryder hostage! He was trying to save him!" Rocky shouted before shaking his head. "Come on, we can't let this prevent us from helping him! He's part of this team! This family!"
"Rocky, I want to help him too, but you saw what he did!" Chase shouted to get his attention before sighing. "Even if we want to help him, and I do want to, that doesn't mean all the other cops are going to. He's a vigilante now. Not a certified and legal member of the team. And if we go in public and say he is then that's going to make us look bad and we might lose our right to act as Paw Patrol."
"Chase is right," Ryder said which made every pup stare at him. "We have to act within the law. Zuma's actions could hurt us all if we publicly support it. I'm not saying we should see him as an enemy, but...we have to bring him in." Rocky looked ready to argue but Ryder continued, "To protect him, I mean. The other cops and feds might not be so gentle or even act hostile to Zuma. If we can get him to come with us or capture him, there might be a shot we can protect him. But that's the best I can come up with at the moment. I've got connections, but they only go so far."
"At least he provided a means for Agent Kennedy and Blue to free Ryder," Marshall pointed out with a nervous smile. "So that means he's still fighting for the right side."
"But what happens when his actions cause more problems?" Skye asked.
"Look, it's late, we're all tired, and we just had to deal with a bunch of angry russian criminals and a crazy knife lady," Ryder pointed out as he rubbed his head. "Let's head to our hotel and rest up. Tomorrow we'll deal with what's going on and talk to Agent Kennedy and Blue about our next move."
Everyone nodded but Rocky as he lagged behind the group. Chase spotted this and slowed down to meet him by his side. "You okay?"
"Does it look like it?" Rocky muttered.
Chase frowned before nuzzling his friend. "Looks, Rocky. We're going to help him. I don't know how, but we will."
"...I just want things to go back the way they were," Rocky whispered as a tear went down his cheek. Looking over at Chase, he harshly chuckled. "But that's not going to happen, huh?"
"...No," Chase answered solemnly. "I'm afraid not."
"Jesus kid, you really know how to tear a place down," Frisk said as Zuma was helped by Marcus O'Malley to put his gear down. "I bet folks will be talking about that little stunt of yours for about three or four weeks."
"Wesh i 'ad a goehy like you when i was fightin in Iraq," Marcus O'Malley said with a chuckle before he patted his hands. "So, you plan ahn keepin yooehr end o' de deal. Right?"
"Yeah, I do a job for you, but it better not involve innocent people," Zuma said with a fierce glare.
"Relax, i dahn't do shet like dat," Marcus assured with his hands up before putting them on his hips. "Dere's a fella by de name o' Dennis Swellings. De bastard's owns a lahcal amusement park by de pier. Ahld classic style. De cheeky get use set as a frahnt fahr manufacturin and sellin droehgs. Naht fahr Stone, mend you, boeht 'e's stell joehst as bad. Rumahr 'as it 'e 'as lahcal 'ahmeless fahlk test de prahdoehcts fahr food and dey end oehp goin addect ahr into de grave. Even keds get used. "
"So you want me to kill a drug making park owner?" Zuma asked, eyebrow raised.
"Nahpe. I need 'is client lest. I know a few fellas dat want dat. if ya want to kell 'im, go ahead. nahbody's gahnna mess 'im, boeht its de lest i want," Marcus stated before nodding. "Befahre you ask, I ain't tell ya why. I gaht me secrets to, you know?"
"Alright, when do you want this job done?"
"Eh, give ya two days befahre it needs to be dahne. When yooehr ready to do it joehst comb see me," Marcus said with a two finger salute before nodding to the door out his shop. "Now get ooeht. It's clahsin time."
The two dogs nodded and soon made their way out of the room as Frisk turned to Zuma and asked, "So, after you do this job for Marcus, what then?"
"Don't know, I'm too tired to think about it," Zuma whispered before pausing and turning to Frisk. "Say, Frisk? There was this weird lady with knives in the fight. She didn't look like one of the security guards there. I think... I think she was aiming for me personally, however."
"What? Like an assassin or something?" Frisk asked with disbelief. "You think Stone would go that far?"
"I don't know...but I don't want to leave things to chance," Zuma muttered as he looked at Frisk seriously. "Think you can find out about it?"
"Sure, I'll do my best," Frisk said with a sigh. "But hey, at least you save your owner, right?"
"Yeah," Zuma whispered as the memory of seeing Ryder again echoed in his mind. He really wished he could say something to the human who helped raise him, but he knew it was best to keep things distant.
For both their sakes.
Pain.
That was all he was feeling.
Utter pain.
Slowly opening his eyes, the Shiba Inu police dog slowly groaned and looked to his left where his human owner was lying dead with his mouth wide open and his left arm missing while three stab wounds poured out blood. Coughing, the Inu slowly tried to get up, but his legs were killing him. Looking down he saw one was blown off completely while the other was cut up pretty bad. It was a miracle he was even still living.
However, he knew that he wouldn't last long. Five minutes at most before he closed his eyes and never opened them again. He had never been a religious dog in his life, but maybe there wasn't any shame in praying to whatever god above to have pity on his soul.
He looked over to the other side of the hall where other cops and the criminals themselves were lying dead from multiple blows. The figure that had killed them all, killed him, was standing there looking through some kind of holographic screen emitting from the center of his black and blue lined armored chest. He had never seen such an advanced suit before, and in his blurry vision he could barely make it out. It was like looking at something out of a cyberpunk film if he was being honest.
But what really got his attention was the fact that it wasn't just any canine that had done this. It was a fox.
A deadly, cybernetic armored fox.
His ears twitched as he heard the assassin say to whoever it was on the screen. "I'm just about finished here. I'll be in Costal City tomorrow. How many other assassins are going to taking part in this?"
"Seven others. We already got confirmed reports that Keres and M.B.S are in the city already. Word also has it that Jagar is going to be there too."
"Jagar? Hmm, he'll be tough. I can handle the rest. Just get my gear ready."
"You got it Deadtails."
The figure then jumped and vanished as the Inus sighed and closed his eyes as it began to get colder. His last thoughts were whoever it was that was in this Costal City had better watch out. Because death was coming.
