Chapter 3
"I can't believe we were actually able to pull it off," said Agent X
"Don't get too excited yet. We still are not at the base," said Agent Y. Both agents were dressed in dark battle uniforms. A symbol of a red claw was on each of their arms. Both agents studied the dog and cat being held in the glass cage. At the window one could see the snowy fields of Canada. They were in a military helicopter which was moving north quickly. The plan was just to take the dog, but in their hurry to push him in the cage, they ending up putting the cat in there as well. No matter, everything was still going fine.
"It sure took a lot of money and arm bending to get that intel of where this dog was staying. Do you really think he has super powers? I mean it still sounds unbelievable," said Agent X.
"The boss believes it and that's all that matters," said Agent Y as studied the glass cage the animals was in. Attached to it was a tube and canister filled with the knockout gas. Which should keep them asleep until they got to base.
Thunder had woken up when the agents first began speaking, but one wouldn't have known looking at him. He was still as motionless as ever with eyes closed and even breathing sounds. After hearing the two agents speak, it wasn't difficult to figure out what happened. He had been captured. Worst, they had taken his collar so he couldn't use it to alert the captain. He peek one eye open to study his surroundings. Glass cage, gas canister attached, and the cat was here to.
That cat must be the reason why he was able to wake up. The gas canister probably only had enough to knock out one animal for the whole trip. They hadn't planned on placing the cat with him and had no idea that this would cause him to wake up. He reviewed what action would be best to escape. There were several good ones, but some of them included abandoning Mittens.
After thinking it over for a second, he decided he wasn't going to abandon Mittens. It wasn't that he was attached her. He just didn't like the idea of leaving her to die since technically she was the reason he could escape now. Besides he still didn't know how she knew about his super powers. In the end there was just one plan he could think of for certain that would allow both him and Mittens to get out of the helicopter in mere seconds before the agents could react.
Perhaps everyone had a theory on how heat vision should work. Maybe they thought you were supposed to squint your eyes or stare hard. But for Thunder, it was thinking of the color green. Just think of nothing, but that color in his mind. He could feel it working. And finally as he fully opened his eyes, green beams of energy shot forth and shattered the glass cage.
BOOM!
They also broke through the metal plating of the helicopter. A good three by three foot hole was now on the helicopters side. Air instantly rushed out into the hole as the whole helicopter shook. Red lights went off and the agents ending up on their hands and knees.
Thunder didn't waste a second, scooping up Mittens with his teeth and throwing himself through the hole. He found himself a good mile and a half above the ground. He curled up into a furry ball with himself between Mittens and the snowy landscape that was getting closer and closer. His body was tough and should be able to survive the fall. Surprisingly he found himself more worried for Mittens who he would be trying to cushion the fall for. That was his last thought before the impact came.
Bolt paced back and forth in the living room. Mittens had been gone a whole day and no matter how many times Rhino assured him that she was fine, he felt that wasn't the case. She had disappeared before for days to explore. But that was back when they first arrived at the house. She hadn't been gone this long since then. And he couldn't get out of his mind that look on her face. Like she wanted to say something, but just couldn't say it. Even playing with Penny didn't help relieve the tension he was feeling.
"Rhino, I'm going to try to track Mittens," said Bolt. Rhino saluted as Bolt left the living room, still keeping his eyes glued to the television. Bolt could tell he wasn't alarmed in anyway. Otherwise he'd instantly be volunteering to help him find her.
Luckily he was able to catch the scent of her going into the forest. He kept his nose close to the ground as he tracked. She appeared to be going down a path in the forest and then … there was a scent of another dog. The scent actually smelled similar to his own. Did Mittens run into a dog who caused her trouble?
"There you are!"
Bolt raised his head to find a chubby man in a white coat down the road. The man quickly approached him.
"You were supposed to meet me in the shed an hour ago for your treatment," said the man with a disapproving frown. He stopped ten feet short of Bolt. Bolt simply cocked his head to one side. He had no idea who this guy was, but he was speaking to him as if they knew each other.
"Well come along, you don't want to be late," said the man as he gestured for him to follow. As the man moved down the path, Bolt cautiously followed behind him. Perhaps he would learn what happened to Mittens by following him.
"Now I know you don't like these treatments, but you really must have them. We can't take a risk that your abilities will wear off," said the man as the turned a corner on the path. To the left was a beautiful ranch, with horses behind wooden fences who chewed grass contently. At the edge of the ranch was a metal shed. The man made a shooing motion for him to go inside the shed. Bolt's stomach twisted a little, but he went inside anyway.
Swoosh!
He instantly regretted it as glass walls came down and captured him. He growled as he clawed at the glass walls. Inside the metal shed was a computer attached to two large canon shape devices. The canon shape devices had flashing green lights and wires attached to them. And they were aimed straight at him.
"Now, now, no use complaining. Let's just get this over with so we can send you to Canada for your mission," said the man as he pressed a key on the keyboard in front of the computer.
Bolt only had a second to wonder what he meant by Canada before green light bathed him. Then came the feeling of his whole body being on fire before oblivion took over.
Professor Lee sighed as he watched the dog collapse after his 'treatment'. He thought Thunder was able to take these blasts of gamma radiation without losing consciousness at this point. Perhaps taking it easy at the ranch the last couple of days had made him less durable.
With another press of a key, the glass walls surrounding the dog rose up. Two soldiers were waiting outside.
"Carry him and place him in the crate. He'll know what to do once he wakes up in Canada," said Professor Lee. With a nod the soldiers lifted up the dog and carried him away.
Professor Lee had never really been attached to Thunder. To be honest he saw Thunder as nothing more than a test subject. And Thunder made it clear that he didn't like him as well. So they always stayed a healthy distance from one another. Which could explain why he didn't notice that the dog was wearing a collar with the tag saying 'Bolt'.
"Oooohhh did someone get the license of that truck," muttered Mittens as she groggily woke up. Sluggishly she began to stand on her paws.
"I'm glad to see you woke up."
She turned to see Bolt- no wait it was Thunder, standing behind her. She shook her head as she tried to become more alert. The last thing she remembered was smelling something funny, then suddenly she fell asleep. It took her a second to realize that she was surrounded by snowy cold landscape.
"I don't think we're in Kansas anymore Toto," muttered Mittens as she stared at the cold, white surroundings before her.
"I'm not Toto," said Thunder with a frown.
"It's a quote from Wizard of Oz," said Mittens with a sigh.
"Wizard of what?"
"Never mind, how did we get here?"
"We were captured by terrorists and carried in a helicopter. I was able to get us out. And take them out," said Thunder while gesturing to his east. It was only then that Mittens noticed the wreckage of what appeared to be a helicopter. A black column of smoke was rising from it.
"What the- oh no, no, no, NO!" shouted Mittens. Why was this happening to her? Crashed helicopters, a dog that supposedly could take down helicopters, there was only one logical explanation.
"I'M ON THE STUPID SHOW," screamed Mittens as she clenched her paws. They must have brought Thunder here for filming and accidentally dragged her along as well.
"Show?" asked Thunder. For the first time since meeting her, he appeared alarmed. He was staring at her as if she had rabies or something.
"Yes the Bolt show! HEY YOU GUYS! I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME! I WANT OFF THIS SET!" shouted Mittens. Was it a set though? If so it was sure realistic. Whatever the case, she wanted out. She wanted to go home. She turned her head looking for the cameramen. She couldn't see any, but she was certain they were out there.
Thunder appeared to finally lose his patience and step in front of her. He certainly had no concept of personal space. He was just inches away from her as he growled.
"Before you have a nervous breakdown, I need some answers. How did you know about my powers and who's this green-eyed man? Is he the one who arranged for my capture?" asked Thunder.
"What the hell? Ok, GI Joe take a seat. This is going to be a long story," said Mittens with a sigh. And from there she began telling her story of how she met Bolt the superdog.
