Malcolm yawned for a moment as he was starting to wake up from his slumber. His ears twitched.

Odd. He expected to hear the sounds of the animals braying about food by now from his cage. He shook his head as he slowly rose up. Maybe he would taunt the other bear again see if he would break, that would be fun. Show him a real taste of-

"WHAT THE HELL!" He shouted as he opened his eyes to see that his surroundings had changed from the warehouse to an enclosed room, There were four cages around him including his own. The room was at least lit well, he turned his head to the left see an another room the door was wide open leading to a closet? While the right was a closed door.

His mouth went agape as he took in his new surroundings, What happened? He thought. He heard cackling from one of the cages in front of him.

"HAHAHA. The look at his face!" he knew that was Clyde...He would be dead soon. He got up and growled. "Tch, Hey there Mally, welcome to the police station."

The polar bear narrowed his brow. "What?!" he said annoyed gripping his cage. Surprisingly enough the Jackal had a huge grin on his face, this had been the happiest he'd seen the dog. He didn't care though, what mattered was what happened while he was out. Again, he narrowed his brow again in anger. Clyde gave him a sly smile and spoke.

"While you were out cold, the police managed to find the warehouse filled with animals and arrest the humans…." The Jackal went on jeering and making snide remarks, they fell on deaf ears, one thing filled his mind as he gripped the bars tightly, then he noticed something familiar about the cage…

Tali responded to Clyde, the voice came from beside of Malcolm. "That's enough taunting Clyde, do you want him to throw a fit?"

He reached his paw out from the cage.

"Please what's he gonna do walk out off the ca-"

Beep Beep Click.

The jackal eyes went wide as heard that noise. He knew that noise well...They kept them in the same cages in the warehouse.

Tap Tap Tap Click.

He froze as he saw the polar bear come toward the cage. He sighed inwardly. Not my brightest moment…This was it, all this time he stayed in captivity and he was going to die when he was finally free of it...Someone up there was laughing at him. He would've done the same. And yet things still worked out for him…

He saw another animal guarding his cage, Fighter.

Malcolm rose his eyebrows, he questioned why the bear looked different, but he could only guess that he was partly responsible. "My, my you learned the code?" Malcolm exclaimed.

"You literally just entered in front of me: 332." He folded his arms while leaning on the cage.

"I can only assume you are responsible for this change of scenery?"

He shrugged "It's not fancy, but it's better than that little hole we were living in."

"Believe me when I'm thorough with you, hmhmhm" He chuckled grimly, "There won't be enough to fill a hole." He stood up from the cage wall and rose his fists scoffed at him. "Really? Your going to protect him? It's pathetic honestly."

"Please, your more pathetic than he is." He replied.

"Wha- oh you misunderstood me, he's a lost cause." He waved his hand dismissively.

"Dick." Mike said while Clyde sat there annoyed.

He continued, "What I meant was that it's pathetic that you think this little coup saved anyone." He gave a humorless smile. Fighter narrowed his brow in anger at his bold-faced lie. "I provided the animals with safety, they stay in warehouse and have food, security. All while we risk our lives to protect them and you threw it away."

"That's b-bull and you k-know it." A soft voice beside Tali's cage exclaimed. It was the raccoon.

"My thoughts exactly, just how did the snow leopard escape it cage if it's so safe?" Fighter responded.

"A glitch? Human technology is flawed you know. Besides I held back the leopard."

"True. But isn't it a little too convenient that the leopard got out and ran to my cage? Heck, I didn't even hear the sounds of the animals you claimed to protect? I would have expected a mass panic, but it was quiet." Fighter stared him down. "Furthermore -" Malcolm interrupted him by clapping his hands condescendingly.

"Well done, you figured out that I wanted you gone because I deemed you a threat. Brilliant observation, anything else that slipped through the cracks that I have to add to the pi-"

"Your also responsible for the mis-," Fighter corrected himself and sighed. "Dead animals, aren't you?" He said coldly. For that one moment Malcolm actually looked serious. The others were dead silent. The raccoon narrowed it's brow in anger. Tali spoke first.

"What?!" Clyde looked at the polar bear quizzically, it was possible but this was a leap in logic. She continued, "I've known about the missing animals but what does he have to gain from that? Hell, how do you know their even dead to begin with?" She narrowed her brow at Fighter.

"Because when I went to the freezer alone there was a pile of animals there." He shuddered remembering that.

"And why should we-" Malcolm was interrupted by the Raccoon.

"Believe him? I was there in the pile, Malcolm—You made sure it..." Malcolm stayed silent watching Fighter briefly… The raccoon continued. "You can't get rid of me..." The raccoon voice grew tired "I was trying to help you, trying to comfort you! But every time you threw me to the side! " He exclaimed fervently, "Move on. It isn't to late…" The raccoon stated weakly.

"I already have...' Malcolm stated coldly. He jumped forward to slash Fighter, but the bear blocked the blow and counter punched him in the jaw. He staggered for a moment then spat out a tooth. "Not holding back this time?"

"No way in hell." He stated.

"Good. " A broad smile grew on his face. He ran forward swiping his claws at him. Fighter dodged them with ease. Malcolm rose an eyebrow as if he was fascinated by something. "Keep dodging, boy. I'm sure you'll tire me out eventually." He said mockingly.

"Fine." He growled.

"It's so easy to-" He dodge a jab aimed straight for his throat. He tried to retaliate by trying to grab him, Fighter spun and ducked under his reach and aimed a punch straight to his knee. He growled in pain as Fighter went back into his stance again.

Malcolm paused for a moment, he wasn't faster than him by much. Malcolm feinted a punch with a jab and went for a kick to his stomach. His opponent cringed in pain but still retaliated with a kick of his own aimed to the same knee he hit before. "Hpmh, I thought you boxers weren't supposed to know how to kick?"

Fighter rolled his eyes as heard him, why would he limit himself to one option in a fight like this? It would be stupid. They both knew that but he wanted some reaction out of the bear something to make him slip, no luck. But this gave him an idea as he remembered something. Fighter reared his shoulder forward to tackle him. Malcolm avoided as made his way around him. he kept an eye on the polar bear as he tried to slip out of his vision, he wouldn't let that happen.

He ran toward Malcolm, he continued to aim for his vital points: his head, neck, stomach and each time he avoided it wasting his energy slowly. He then tried something drastic. He rushed forward and swung a straight punch at him, Malcolm dodged but didn't account for him continue. He spun his body around and hit him with a slashing elbow strike to his jaw.

Crack

A single voice was heard from a cage. "Yesssss." Tali said excited. Her blood lust was showing. Clyde and Mike looked at each other shook their heads. Not gonna touch that one.

Malcolm held his jaw, it stung. He felt a sharp pain in his jaw but he needed this. He saw Fighter swing again he ducked then his eye caught something. His leg moving for a kick, it wasn't perfect but he needed this in order to win. He took the kick to his cheek then rolled back toward the tool closet. He sunk into the dark room with Fighter running after him.

Mike went wide eyed as he realized what was happening.

"Pitch, wait! " He shouted, the three others looked at him dubiously. He then realized what he said.

"Shit..."

Clyde smiled albeit briefly, Knew that wasn't he real name.

….

The room was small. Tools were laid out on a wall beside him in front of him was a sink, it dripped slowly: Plip. Plip. Plip. His sight wasn't entirely useless he could recognize some shapes, but he couldn't find his opponent. His ears perked...Creak...He rolled to the sink area and dodged a slash from Malcolm. "Congratulations you've cornered your self." He jeered.

He lunged forward to grab him. Fighter crouched under his grasp and grabbed his hand and threw him into the tool wall. The tools fell down around him, he picked up something with his paw… He roared as he charged at him.

Fighter darted around him, he kept slashing at him with his left hand. He slipped under it and gave him uppercut followed by hook aimed downward on his head, he fell to the ground. Malcolm slowly rose up, Fighter saw this and charged forward he wanted to knock him out. In his haste however, he regretfully didn't notice the small smile his opponent had. He merely tucked his head to the side of his punch only jab a screw driver in his foot, it bled and blood dripped unto the floor.

"GAHHH!" He screamed in pain as he felt the tool dig into his flesh, he reached for his foot in pain. Only for the bear to take advantage of this opportunity and grab his arm in turn. He gave a sadistic grin as he held his arm, he placed his foot on the bear's back and started to pull.

"GRAAH!" He screamed again.

"Shhh! Just a bit more..." Malcolm continued to pull his arm until…Pop. He pulled the arm our of it's socket.

"ARGGGHHH!" He yowled in pain as he Malcolm let him fall to the ground. He almost teared up at the amount of pain he felt, first his leg, now his arm he growled annoyed. His attacker smiled at his work. Then he got another idea.

"Y' know what would be fantastic?" Fighter stayed silent he was in a large amount of pain, but he didn't want to give him any satisfaction. He panted as he gave him a determined look.

"How about I let you watch me take the mouse from you personally?" He looked down at him still grinning. One thought went through his mind. He had to ask despite the amount of pain he was in.

"…Just…Why…Why would you do this?" He gasped.

"Because you took the one thing that mattered to me. I worked hard to create a never ending cycle. Just enough to sustain me, It's the only thing that matters anymore..." He walked forward toward Fighter as he rubbed his wrists on his foot to get the blood on him.

"After all, Pain is necessary to play this little game we've been playing, right?"

Game… He thought that was the last thing he wanted to hear.

"Now then, watch as I take every thing from you, oh and one more thing," He kicked the bear hard in his stomach. "YAARGHH!" he screeched.

"That's so they think your dead, little sheep…" he walked toward the entrance and stopped. "Now your screwed." he chuckled a bit before he left. The bear growled as he looked at the floor…

NOT YET!

.

Mike entered the code into the last cage. It beeped for a moment and clicked. Tali walked out of the cage."So his name is Pitch?" Mike sighed the cat was out of the bag,

"Yea. He doesn't like that name for good reason. He choose Fighter because it fit." She narrowed her brow for a moment and opened her mouth to ask another question, but then stopped. It was his decision and she had no business prying further.

Clyde intruded. "He can call himself whatever he wants-"

"YAARGHH!" They all froze as they heard the blood curdling scream…

Tap Tap Tap

They saw Malcolm emerge from the darkness of the room, his wrists had blood on them. He folded his arms and watched them with a condescending smile… Silence, no one said anything, Clyde was the first to respond.

"Now...I know this looks bad, but we need to calm-"

"Fucking BASTARD!" Mike ran forward to the bear at full speed.

"Ok, reasonable but we need-"

"I'll rip his freaaking EYE out!" Tali screamed as she charged with the mouse.

"Oh come on! When does this ever friggin' work!" He charged with them. Mike ran up to Malcolm's leg and bit into it, he sighed in response. Tali crawled up his leg to scratch his eye, he caught her the moment she tried and threw her into the raccoon's cage, the raccoon recoiled back in his cage as Tali rose up again. he shook off the mouse as he walked forward to Clyde.

He gave a cocky grin. "Look at that the pup grew a spine, I wonder how long it takes before it's gone." He lunged forward to kick the jackal. He dodged the blow with ease, he went for another and he slipped right under it, he in turn slashed his knee with his paw.

Malcolm paused for a moment but kept his composure. "I knew there was a reason I kept you around, other than clean up..." he smiled wickedly, it took him a moment for him to realize what he meant, the cheap firework finally went off. Clyde saw the mouse on the desk beside the bear with a pencil in hand.

He decided to stall.

"I'm tired of this."

Malcolm scoffed in return, " I never get tired seeing you fail, it's quite amusing." He smirked.

"Oh no, you misheard me." He gave a sly grin, then gave a stern look. "I've been feed lies for my entire life, I sat around and played my part because I was afraid of you.' He paused as he saw the mouse jump from the desk pencil in hand. "Today—I bite back." Mike stabbed the pencil right into his arm. He held on to it as Malcolm yelped in pain.

This was his time to strike. He leapt up in the air and spun around to give the bear a devastating drop-kick to the chest as the bear landed outside the tool closet door. Mike rolled with the bear as well and landed right in front of him.

Tali rushed forward as Clyde was getting up to finish Malcolm as he slowly rose up. Again, she went for his eye… and history repeats itself, he caught her by her neck. She flailed around to no avail. He then stomped down on Mike's tail. He couldn't move. Clyde was about run forward but Malcolm spoke, he began to recognize what was going to happen.

"In spite of all that bravery, what does it get you in the end? A choice...Who gets to die first? It's on you." He smirked holding his prizes...Clyde was silent he didn't have the right to choose. Malcolm saw this and began to gloat. "Well, well the pup is speechless, how about a make another." He tightened his grip on her neck.

Snap

The jackal's shut his eyes as he heard the sound of bones snapping...but there was silence? He would've been gloating by now: "Oh I'm sorry, mind if I snap in?!" Fighter stood behind him, his fist placed firmly in the side of his ribs.

"Gahrrg." Malcolm dropped Tali to the ground as he fell forward. He held his ribs in pain as Mike safely ran to Fighter side.

Malcolm's first thought would have been how, but that was immediately answered. His leg had been patched up with the cloth from his dangling right arm. He still kept his left paw curled into a fist.

"Aren't… hah…Your resilient. I won't make the same mistake twice. I got your your good arm" Malcolm panted as rose up again.

"No, your first mistake was to assume I'd be one of the sheep. Your second is when you started this game."

Beep Beep Click.

Tali opened the other cage with the raccoon he walked out with her. Malcolm noticed and laughed. "Ha ha. What can that miserable rodent do?"

"Not a rodent." The raccoon replied flatly.

Fighter and Clyde stared at each other, they nodded. Clyde got into position behind him.

Fighter charged forward with his injured leg first, and went to strike with his left hand. Malcolm smiled he ran forward to slip under the punch. However it wasn't a punch he was going for, he should have been watching his feet. His injured leg was his leading leg, he stepped forward slightly, twirled his body to generate some speed and momentum, landed on his left hand and delivered a cartwheel kick with his rear leg: It hit him square in the face.

Crack

The impact sent him falling back toward Clyde. He let him fall on his back and roll toward Tali. And landed with a large thud, he was still conscious. Both Clyde and Fighter ran to him held him down. The mongoose looked over him. Malcolm gave a pained gasp.

"Hah, hah. Where has the time gone? Yesterday I was crushing my enemies. Now I'm being held back by two little pissants. He looked at Tali as she stared down at him. "And what of you? All those empty threats and nothing to show for it? Don't you fell sorr- AHHHH!"

Pop!

Malcolm cried out loud in pain as Tali pulled out his good eye, she held it in her palm. She gave the polar bear a cold expression as he writhed in pain as her two cohorts got off the bear. Clyde was the first to respond: "I was not ready for today." he stated flatly.

"Neither was I,' he cringed for a moment, "But that didn't stop me from seeing the signs..." He thought back to their previous conversations. He was only broken out of his thought process was the laughter from Malcolm.

"Heh, heh, heh.' He laughed as held hand over his eye socket. "Finally did something, dear? How bout you do something useful for once and aim lower." He pointed to his neck. Tali responded unamused.

"Your like a cat with nine lives, except I want to see you die nine times." She was about to finish the job before the raccoon stepped in.

"May I talk with him?" He said, Tali was going to reply, but she was interrupted by Malcolm.

"Heh. What does the poor excuse for a rodent have to say?"

The raccoon sat behind him as he held his head. He spoke with a serious expression on his face.

"We've known each other for a long time. I can't say that they've been pleasant, you used to chase me around the warehouse for fun.' He laughed bitterly. "I think you changed the moment when are owner died…What made you take his name?' He shook his head. "You hated the humans, specifically him because he took out your eye with a bottle…"

Everyone narrowed the brow at that bit of information. He continued. "Whatever it was you changed for worst, you didn't care for anything else, just to cause and inflict more pain on others, outside or inside the ring." He sighed feeling the one-sided nature of the conversation. "I don't know what's worse, the fact that I thought there was some good in you, or the fact I didn't think to run further away from you when I had the chance…"

Malcolm scoffed bitterly. "Is this the part where I'm supposed to start to care? Repent for what I've done? Your just as dense as the others. I'd eat you, and kill everyone if the situation were reversed, you stupid rodent." The raccoon paused as he held the bear tighter….

"My name is Jimmy,"

SNAP!

"And this is the closest thing to closure I can get." He let his limp head drop to the three of the boys stayed silent as the saw what happened...

Tali on other hand….

"That," She smiled contently "Was music to my ears."

"A-are you gonna be alright?" Fighter tilted his head to the side dubiously.

"Yes, I will be." She said calmly.

"Cause it seems like your about to go coo-coo for cocoa puffs?" Clyde responded.

Tali walked into the tool closet, eye still in hand. She responded without looking back. "Tell you what, if you see the animal that killed your brother in cold blood die in front of you and feel anything, but joy. Then you have the high ground."

Mike waited till she was out of ear shot."Gentlemen, this is why I follow one rule and one rule alone when flirting with women:" They paused as they looked down at him. "Never stick your dick in crazy." They both rolled their eyes and shook their heads.

Clyde sighed. "If we end up together someplace, I swear we need to get a drink together just to forget this."

"Agreed." They all sat in their separate cages. Each tired from the events that transpired. Jimmy placed the body in back in the cage, everyone was creeped out at first, but it was better than throwing it in the tool room. Mike spoke to Fighter inside their cage.

"Hey, kid. There's something I wanted to talk about."

"Shoot. We just straight up murdered someone today, time is irrelevant till we're shipped off to who knows where." He stated bluntly.

"I don't think I'm comfortable with you stating that so calmly." The mouse squinted worried.

"I'm probably gonna have some nightmares about this."

"No, thanks to you!" He purposely shouted over to Tail.

"Your welcome!" She replied happily, She had a jar with the eyeball intact floating in water…

"I want you to know right know, whatever happens—Stay strong for me alright?"

Fighter pulled him for a hug. "Always." He yawned for a moment, he needed some sleep.

He put the mouse down and leaned back on the bars.

"Hey, kid please don't change..."

Fighter yawned and closed his eyes. "Mike, He was like because he stopped caring about everything around him. He choose that. We choose what holds us back and what moves us forward. I won't be like that as long as I can help it." He smiled contently.