?: Ow…

?: My head hurts like hell.…"

?:… He's dead, isn't he?

?: After that. There's no way he isn't…

?: I can't believe he betrayed us all…

Prologue - Welcome to Despair Academy

Unknown Voice: "Hey…. Can you hear me?"

Unknown Voice: "Are you okay? You seem pretty out of it."

A voice I don't recognize washes over me like a warm blanket.

?: (…. Huh….)

?: "Leave me be…"

?: ….

?: (That wasn't very appropriate.)

Unknown Voice: "You're not giving me a very strong first impression."

Unknown Voice: "Open your eyes."

He's speaking calmly to me. This stranger's words blend in with the voice that lives in my head in an unorganized song. I can't lay a paw on this feeling. As far as my thinking goes, it says I should follow orders for now.

?: "Hrngh…"

?: (Why does this light have to be so bright..)

? (No, wait… That's not important.)

?: "Where… Who…"

Next to my bed is a stranger. Not a human, no, a dog. From all I can gather, I can tell it's a hybrid. To pinpoint what kind of hybrid is a stretch too far to my knowledge.

?: "My head is killing me…"

Hybrid: "Don't worry. Before asking questions, I have as little idea who and what, just like you do. I woke up not too long ago."

?: (Straight to the point huh.)

?: (I just need a minute… To regain my thoughts.)

?: (Then I can freak out to my heart's content)

Hybrid: "I was wondering if maybe you had more of a clue."

?: (Wait. I don't know what to do but panic won't bring me anywhere.)

?: "Where are we?"

Hybrid: "A bedroom."

I swear I can see the hybrid's face turn into one filled with smug for a brief second before it returns to its neutral state.

This is giving me an excellent opportunity to get a good look at the hybrid. Grey fur with a hint of blue. Darker spots around the left eye. Two pointy ears, one being jagged at the side. Two piercing amber eyes with a more analytical look behind them. Seeing how calm this hybrid puts me slightly at ease.

?: "Revelation."

The hybrid finally cracks his serious facade and laughs.

Hybrid: "To answer your question, I have no clue. But wherever we are, we're trapped."

?: (What do you mean by that?)

My head turns slightly towards the direction of the wall. According to any sane person, there should be windows on the wall.

?: (What?)

Instead of windows, massive steel plates cover on the spots windows are supposed to be. Comically sized bolts hold the plates perfectly in place.

Immediately, a sense of danger kicks in. This scene is anything but normal. My eyes dart off in any direction they find. Scanning the surrounding area.

?: "A camera?!"

My eyes find a standstill on the camera attached to the ceiling. Pointed straight at me from its own cozy corner.

Hybrid: "It seems they're for security reasons. They're not connected to a greater network."

?: "How do you know that for sure?"

Hybrid: "I'm pretty solid with mechanics."

?: (He seems genuine while speaking. I guess I have nothing to be afraid of for now.)

?: (Wait… Who even is this person?!)

Before we even have the chance to say anything. A loud screech surges through the building, followed by a voice that had a cartoon-like pitch.

Intercom voice: "Ahem! Mic check! Mic check! A-A-A! Is this thing on? Oh man! It would be so embarrassing if it wasn't! Even a thousand deaths wouldn't be enough to make me forget my shame!"

"Anyway! All fellow ultimates head over to the academy gymnasium for a very special introduction service! And if I don't see everyone there, I'll surely prepare a very cruel, mind-numbing detention for those not in attendance!"

Hybrid: "An introduction... Fellow ultimates."

Hybrid: "Phew.."

Hybrid: "It seems like we're not kidnapped after all. It's just some weird academy stunt!"

?: (Fellow ultimates… Right. Right I'm an ultimate.)

?: "This surely is an odd place…"

?: "Ah sorry, I don't think we've even done the introductions! I'm Chase. The ultimate Police Officer."

Chase - The Ultimate Police Officer

I reach out my paw, waiting for the hybrid to shake it in response.

Yet the hybrid just gives a simple bump against it with his own paw. I suppose that works just as well.

Hybrid: "A police officer? Makes sense, alert when you needed to. Didn't panic even when in a strange room."

Hybrid: "A German shepherd!"

Chase: (That's… Hurtfully stereotypical.)

Hybrid: "Nice meeting you Chase, I'm Rocky."

Rocky - The Ultimate Ecologist

Rocky: "And I'm the ultimate Ecologist."

Chase: "Ecologist?"

Chase: (So like an activist?)

Chase: (Wait! Crap!)

Chase: (I didn't want him to stereotype me and now I'm doing the same!)

Rocky: "I keep myself busy with the environment. How about we keep talking while we walk to the gymnasium?"

With a simple nod, I throw myself back onto my paws. Far less wobbly than I expected my leg to be. It was a welcome surprise.

Rocky: "You alright?"

Chase: "Yeah yeah, I can walk just fine. Just a slow starter."

With that, Rocky and I exit the room. Luckily, a small sign decorated with flowers stands in the hallway, pointing us toward the gymnasium.

Chase: "So you're the ultimate activist?"

Rocky: "Ecologist."

Chase: (Oh crap… It happened again…)

Rocky: "Like I just said, I keep myself busy with the environment. Ecosystems and all."

Rocky: "But I like the influence of waste and garbage on our living space the most. After all, one man's trash is another man's gold."

Chase: (So what you're telling me is that you're a garbage boy who went to school…)

Rocky: "Recycling is an important matter in our society. To collect waste and turn it into something new. The second life of trash!"

Chase: "Is that where your knowledge of mechanics and electronics comes from?"

Rocky: "Sharp."

Chase: (Rocky huh.)

Chase: (Seems like the reliable type. He clearly isn't dumb either. But doesn't seem like a bad person.)

Rocky: "Say, Chase. Is this your first time meeting another ultimate?"

Chase: "H-Huh?"

Rocky: "You seem to be in your thoughts a lot."

Chase: "Well, yeah, you're right. It's not every day you meet an ultimate. They're spread all over the world."

Chase: "Scouted by the academy. So having 16 ultimates in one class is quite something"

Rocky: "It really is, huh?"

With that, a wash of silence falls over us. The only noise filling the hallway was the soft buzzing of the overhead light mixing with the rhythmic tapping of our footsteps.

This silence allows me to stop focusing on Rocky and look around the hallways. A checkered black and white tiling. White walls washed in color from the overhead lights shining in their own bright color around every corner. As if the light were to divide this long, slithering hallway into neat sections.

The design of this place seems quite classy. Using plenty of pillars on the walls. In the open spaces, the pillars are evenly spaced across the open spot. Arches run over the ceiling connecting every single pillar in the wall or out in the open.

Chase: (Cafeteria, Classrooms, AV-Room, Infirmary... A shop even!)

Chase: (This feels more like a small village than it does an academy.)

Walking through the hallways, I can tell Rocky is observing intensely, just as I am. The sights take aback both dogs in front of them. Taken small steps to immerse themselves in this completely new setting gradually.

Rocky and I arrived at an extensive set of doors. Made of fine wood to break up the off-white walls. Two blurry windows sit cozily in the middle of each door. Without hesitation, pushed on the door, causing it to slide open. What it revealed to us was a rather odd sight.

Inside the room were chairs neatly set up on an ongoing red carpet. A large, empty podium and a large TV in the back of the room, the ceiling decorated with red banners organized in an orderly fashion, but something else stood out above the rest…

Chase: "H-Huh?"

Thirteen faces stared back at us.

Female Husky: "Oh damn! So we still aren't done with the people, aren't we?"

Male Chocolate Labrador: "Sup dudes! Welcome to the big party!"

Chase: "Big party… Wait, do you know what's going on then?"

Male Chocolate Labrador: "No clue! But life's a party, ey? You just got to hang up the decorations yourself!"

Chase: (It hasn't even been ten seconds, and this dog is already giving me a life lesson…)

Male potcake: "S-Sorry to interrupt but… Did you wake up i-in a dormitory too?"

Rocky: "I did, and I found Chase over here in a dorm room too. I assume you all did too?"

Male potcake: "Y-Yeah…"

Suddenly we heard a voice ring through the speaker system set up throughout the gymnasium

Grey male French Bulldog: "YOU ALL STOP YOUR YIPPING AND YOUR YAPPING AND LISTEN TO ME!"

Grey male French Bulldog: "I HAVE NO IDEA WHO YOU ALL ARE BUT THERE IS ONLY ONE THING YOU SHOULD REMEMBER!"

Grey male French Bulldog: "ME! HUBCAP! THE ULTIMATE GANG LEADER AND YOU ARE ALL HAPPILY SELECTED TO BE MY MINIONS–"

Female White Terrier: "Someone… Get that fucking clown off the stage."

Male Chocolate Labrador: "AHAHA! Way to go little dude!"

I witnessed the Grey bulldog being dragged off the stage by a female Alaskan Malamute and a male Doberman. What resulted was a childish tantrum from the bulldog.

Chase: (This seems like an academy full of eccentric people.)

Chase: (Somehow. It calms me down.)

Looking at Rocky, I don't see him smile. He's intensely watching the situation.

Chase: "Not at ease?"

Rocky: "Not good with new people."

Chase: "You did fine with me."

Rocky: "Well you're not like that"

Rocky points his paw at the gray French Bulldog

Chase: (That is… A very valid argument to make.)

Chase: (I don't think I could ever live my life like that.)

Chase: (Luckily it isn't my worry either.)

…

Chase: "Should we split up and get to know who we're dealing with?"

Rocky: "Yeah… At least we'll have someone sane to fall back on if it turns south, huh?"

I can't help it. A chuckle slips out of my mouth. This room seems to have quite the amount of characters, so to have someone grounded in reality like Rocky is a nice grip to hold on to.

Chase: (Let's see…)

SLAM!

Chase: (Huh?)

A male Dalmatian ran through the entrance doors of the gymnasium, the doors violently slamming shut behind his tail. His expression sells nothing short of panic. But that all gets cut short the moment the Dalmatian stumbles into the gymnasium. His paw got caught on the start of the carpet, causing him to trip and fall with a loud thud.

THUD!

Male Doberman: "What a way to make a fool out of yourself…"

Female Alaskan Malamute: "I think he might have the best entrance out of all of us."

Male English Bulldog: "That looked like it hurt though…"

Chase: (Well… No place better to start than with the fallen Dalmatian they say.)

Chase: (I don't think anyone has ever said that before.)

Male dalmatian: "Owowow…"

Chase: "Are you okay?"

I reach out a paw towards him.

Male dalmatian: "Yeah… Yeah, I'm okay! Thanks! You have to fall dozens of times before you can walk!"

Chase: (I don't think that's meant to be taken literally.)

Male Dalmatian: "I uh. I gotta ask though."

Male Dalmatian: "Woke up in a weird place, there was a camera, there were steel plates over the wall, and I don't recognize this place at all! Are we common kidnap victims?"

Male Dalmatian: "Is this what Stockholm Syndrome is like?!"

Chase: (Why do you seem excited about that?!)

Chase: (Are you tapping into some deep-rooted trauma or something?!)

Female Cockapoo: "We all woke up in dorms, as you describe. I don't know anything besides that.."

Male Dalmatian: "So you people aren't bad people, wonderful!"

Male Dalmatian: "My name's Marshall! I'm the ultimate firefighter!"

Marshall - The Ultimate Firefighter

Marshall: "I might not be very coordinated, slightly chaotic, and clumsy, but I fight with my life to protect the lives worth protecting!"

Chase: (It sounds like you're the type of person who'd cause the troubles you end up fixing.)

Chase: (Regardless, his heart is in the right place.)

Female Cockapoo: "You're a firefighter? So, have you ever saved people from burning buildings?"

Marshall: "I have! I know it's dangerous work, but someone has to do it. It takes a life to save a life."

Chase: "That's quite an admirable view."

Marshall: "Nobody deserves to see their lives go up in flames."

Female Cockapoo: "You're quite the admirable person if I hear you speak like this Marshall!"

Marshall: "Ehehe… Just doing my job."

Female Cockapoo: "I'll go next then! Sup guys, my name's Skye. I'm the ultimate Pilot!"

Skye - The Ultimate Pilot

Chase: "..."

Chase: (Your name is Skye and you're the ultimate pilot. Talk about being born for the job.)

Marshall: "So you soar through the skies! That's SO cool!"

Skye: "Well…"

Skye rubs behind her head as she blushes slightly

Skye: "Call it a family job."

Chase: "So your dad was a pilot too?'

Skye: "Actually, my mom!"

Chase: (Yeowch… I really need to stop assuming things…)

Skye: "Yeah, you really need to stop assuming things hmm?"

I feel my ears fall flat against my head as my eyes widen.

Chase: "Huh– What– You I–"

Skye: "Oh please, it's written across your forehead. You're surprisingly easy to read."

Marshall: "Or you're the ultimate psychic!"

Skye: "Who knows?~"

Chase: (Marshall and Skye. Seem like a set of good dogs.)

Marshall: "So! Shepherd boy! You never told us your name!"

Chase: "Huh?! O-Oh yeah! Right! My name is Chase. I'm the ultimate Police Officer."

Skye: "With such a baby face?"

Chase: "WHAT?!"

I feel my body trembling in annoyance. The fur on my body starts to stand upright as my muzzle instinctively snarls.

Skye: "I was joking~ I'm sure you're a wonderful officer."

I hear Marshall sigh in relief next to me as my body language turns back to a more passive, neutral stance.

Chase: "I uh… I gotta go talk to the others."

Chase: (Crap! She really riles me up too easily! Am I that easy?)

Marshall: "Chase can I tag along with you?"

Marshall's tail is wagging excitedly as he looks at me with innocent eyes.

Chase: "Yeah sure. Why not."

Chase: (If it all comes down to dealing with insane dogs I can always use Marshall as an emergency distraction.)

The two of us look around the gymnasium until our eyes found a Portuguese Water Dog standing near the wall. A dark blue tuft in his brown fur and a pair of large headphones around his neck.

We walk over to the Portuguese Water Dog.

Marshall: "Heya! I'm Marshall, the ultimate firefighter!"

Portuguese Water Dog: "..."

Chase: (He's not responding.)

Chase: "And I'm Chase, the ultimate police officer."

…

Chase: (This feels like I'm right back on the job.)

The Portuguese Water Dog blinks a few times before taking a deep breath. Seemingly preparing to speak before exhaling once again.

Chase: (This is really awkward…)

Marshall: "Take your time! It's okay to be nervous around new people."

Chase: (...!)

Chase: (Marshall you're such a saint!)

Portuguese Water Dog: "M-Moby…"

Moby - The Ultimate Inventor

Marshall: "Well nice to meet you Moby!"

Moby: "..."

Moby's face went slightly red as he looked away from the two.

Chase: (He went back to silence…)

Moby: "W-Well whatever…"

Moby: "I-I'm the ultimate i-inventor, Yip yip…"

Moby quickly puts on his headphones and skitters away from the conversation

Moby: "... yip…"

Marshall: "You don't get a whole lot out of him huh… Must've run out of things to talk about!"

Chase: (Not everyone can talk as easily as you Marshall.)

Chase: "Guess so."

We went up to the Doberman next, wearing what resembles to be silver armor with purple motives resembling the wings of a dragon on his shoulders. Dominant green eyes and a perfect posture as he stood up.

Doberman: "Fierceless! Fearless! Stronger than all that quiver before him! What do you two puny wimps need from the great Claw?!"

Claw - The Ultimate Knight

Chase: (Whimps?! Who does this roleplayer think he is?!)

Chase: "We… We just wanted to introduce ourselves but seeing how I suddenly lost motivation."

Marshall: "Woah– Is that real armor?!"

Marshall places a paw on the shoulder piece of the suit

Claw: "FOOL!"

Claw quickly jolts his shoulder backward with an angry expression.

Claw: "Do you have any ideas how many rounds in the washer it takes for the smudges to come off?!"

Marshall: "Washer..?"

Claw: "Now that your wishes for an introduction have been fulfilled. Goodbye."

Chase: "You're leaving already? We haven't even told you our names."

Claw: "What do you reckon the word 'Goodbye' means? I have no need standing near a set of nobodies."

With that Claw walked away, leaving the two of us to stare at one another.

Basset hound: "Damn! Quite a personality that Claw has right?"

Suddenly we felt a paw being placed on our inner shoulders.

Basset hound: "Don't worry about it, just focus on the plenty good guys standin' here around town ey?"

Marshall and Chase turn around to look at the Basset hound. Wearing a large white and red truckers cap. Furthermore, his fur is white with large patches of light brown over his left eye and his ears.

Chase: (Finally, someone who's able to smile)

Chase: (For a second I thought all of them had disappeared from the face of the earth)

Marshall: "I guess you're one of those good guys! I'm Marshall, the ultimate firefighter!"

Basset hound: "You're catching me! Name's Al. I'm the ultimate Trucker!"

Al - The Ultimate Trucker

Chase: "And I'm Chase, the ultimate Police Officer. Nice to meet you, Al."

Al: "Back at y'all!"

Chase: (I can't shake this fatherly vibe from him.)

Chase: (It's making me hungry…)

Al: "So y'all be waking up in a dormitory too? No clue, No hoo-ha just straight-up nonsense?"

Chase: "No hoo-ha sir."

Al: "Sir?"

Chase: (Did I really say that out loud…)

Marshall: "So the ultimate Trucker! Have you seen many places?"

Al: "Oh I've been plenty. Y'all I've been around all the corners of the map."

Chase: "Sounds like you have a lot of experience."

Al: "Wouldn't be an ultimate otherwise!"

Al: "Well I won't be your roadblock any longer! I'll be here if you need me lads!"

We left Al

Marshall: "Well, he seemed really nice!"

Chase: "It's pretty refreshing finding a person who's pleasant to talk to."

Marshall: "... So I'm not pleasant to talk to?"

Chase: "I– Uh... Shit that came out wrong didn't it?"

Marshall: "I'm hurt, Chase! I'm cut deep by your dagger of words!"

Marshall dramatically falls to the ground and pretends to slowly die

Marshall: "The light! The light! I see it all!"

Bernese Mountain Dog: "And end scene!"

Siberian Husky: "Bravo! I can't wait for a bad sequel to pop up years later!"

Marshall gets up and makes a theatrical bow toward the two dogs

Marshall: "Thank you. Thank you. I'll take autographs at the exit."

Chase: (I'm stuck in purgatory with a group of kids… No doubt about it.)

Chase: (... At least I'm not forced to hang around people like Claw.)

Marshall: "I'm Marshall, the ultimate Firefighter!"

Bernese Mountain Dog: "I'm Rex, the ultimate Paleontologist."

Rex - The Ultimate Paleontologist

Siberian Husky: "And me! My name's Everest, the ultimate Alpine Skier! Nice to meetcha!"

Everest - The Ultimate Skier

I found myself staring at the two with large eyes. Everest was dressed in mint-blue and orange clothing, including a cap and a scarf. Piercing blue eyes and silver fur. Rex, on the other hand, looks a lot messier. His fur is a swirl of white, cinnamon, and black, while the ends of his fur curl up in any direction it can find its way to. Not to mention the large wheelchair-like contraption behind his rear legs.

Everest: "Whassup Chase? Cat got your tongue?"

Chase: "No I'm fi–Chase? I didn't tell you my name, didn't I?"

Everest: "No you didn't, but Marshall has quite the loud voice so I picked it up!"

Everest: "Like picking up some snacks after your collection has desperately run out!"

Everest: "And without any choice, you're forced to starve or fight! FIGHT!"

Chase: "..."

Marshall: "..."

….

Everest: "Sorry I'm kinda hungry hehe…"

Chase: "It's okay."

Chase: (Everest the ultimate skier… Skye the ultimate pilot… I see a trend appearing.)

Rex: "But a cop and a firefighter? Damn, you two have quite the helpful talents."

Marshall: "Of course! It's my job as a firefighter to protect life from burning to a crisp!"

Marshall: "And my buddy Chase over here protects the law like no other!"

Rex: "What honorary titles. Even Everest here uses her talent for the greater good.

Everest: "I use my skies to search for people in risky areas and after avalanches. I'm somewhat of a hero in my hometown."

Rex: "My talent couldn't protect anyone. Dinosaurs are from a time long gone and no lives will be saved by some bones."

Chase: "But your talent helps in scientific research, right?"

Rex: "Scientific research won't save lives as you all do."

Chase: (Why are you so obsessed with saving lives? Weird.)

Rex: "I enjoy what I do though."

Chase: (That contradicts your previous statements by quite a lot…)

Marshall: "Hey hey why are your legs in a wheelchair?"

Chase: "Marshall!"

Rex: "No no it's fine!"

Rex lets out a chuckle and lays his paw on Marshall's shoulder.

Rex: "Are you ready to hear the most intense, most jaw-dropping, amazing story of your life?"

Marshall: "Y-Yeah! YEAH!"

Rex: "I was born this way."

Marshall: "..."

Everest: "Pfft–"

Seeing Marshall's face go from pure excitement to an absolute blank canvas. I shouldn't laugh about it but… It's kind of funny!

Rex: "Sorry Marshy! That's all there is to it!"

Marshall: "Come on Chase, let's go talk to the others…"

Marshall: "I need to process my heartbreak…"

We decided to leave Everest and Rex

Chase: "You okay Marshall?"

Marshall: "Yeah, of course, I'm okay. I'm doing good Chase thanks!"

Chase: (That was a quick recovery)

…

Chase: (Huh?)

Chase: (This sharp sensation in my nose.)

Chase: ACHOO!

Marshall: "WAH?! DON'T SHOOT!"

Ginger Tabby Cat: "Hmm? Oh shoot, haven't seen you two up close yet have I? Whassup?"

Marshall: "Y-You're not going to shoot us..?"

Chase: "N-No I just sneezed!"

Chase: (Comparing an allergy sneeze to a gunshot. Do I really sound that bad?)

Chase: "It only acts up around cats… Allergies…"

Ginger Tabby Cat: "Damn… If I knew you'd react that heavily to me I would've done the introductions in private."

Chase: "H-HUH!? What's that supposed to mean?!"

Chase: (Is he flirting with me or something?! The hell does he think he is?!)

Ginger Tabby Cat: "Anyhoo, the name is Wild, I'm the ultimate Stunt Cyclist. Nice to meet ya boys."

Wild - The Ultimate Stunt Cyclist

Marshall: "A stunt cyclist? Like the ones that jump over gaps in ravines?"

Wild: "And shark tanks, drive over the edge of bridges, things with fire, the more dangerous the better."

Chase: "The more dangerous the better?"

Wild: "Hell yeah! What's there to it to a stunt if there's no danger involved!"

Wild: "I'll get a real kick out of it y'know?"

Chase: (This guy… This guy is actively seeking danger?)

Marshall: "Woah… And what's the coolest stunt you've ever done?! Tell me! Tell me!"

Wild: "The coolest stunt…. Probably wheelie over the rims of a bridge blindfolded. But now that I think about it… I could've easily survived if I crashed."

Marshall: "You are so cool…"

Chase: "You're insane! You can't just play with your life like that can you?!"

Wild: "It's my life, I can do what I want with it right?"

Chase: "Well… Yeah as long as you don't break any laws!"

Wild: "Do I look like a lawbreaker to you Chase?"

Chase: "..."

Wild: "If you want I can show you my permits?"

Chase: "No... Nono, it's fine…"

Wild: "Awww acting all withdrawn now! You're quite soft for a police officer you know that?"

Chase: (The AUDACITY of this guy!)

I immediately grab Marshall's shoulder and the two walk away

Marshall: "I uh– Bye Wild!"

Wild: "See you, Marshall."

Marshall nudges me violently against my shoulder

Marshall: "What was that for?!"

Chase: "We still have a handful of people left! We need to hurry up!"

Hubcap: "HALT YOU TWO!"

The Grey French Bulldog blocks our path, next to him sitting a smaller Potcake looking at the ground. The bulldog wearing a brown leather jacket with a black helmet, showing multiple spikes stabbing through. His fur is gray with a stripe of lighter grey going through the middle.

The potcake on the other hand is probably the smallest dog in the room. Rocking Brown fur with a white underside, face, and paws covered by a dark green vest. Accompanying said vest is a hat with the same collar.

Hubcap: "As you already know I am Hubcap! This right here is my loyal minion Tracker!"

Hubcap - The Ultimate Motorcycle Gang leader

Chase: (What the… Tracker looks like he doesn't even want to be there…)

Hubcap: "C'mon! Say something! Ey! Say something!"

Hubcap starts repeatedly knocking his paw into the side of Tracker's paw

Tracker: "H-Hey! Y-Yeowch! Stop that! H-Hubcap! I'm not a t-toy!"

Tracker - The Ultimate Survivalist

Chase: (I actually feel bad for Tracker…)

Chase: (But I don't think I should interfere.)

Marshall: "Knock it off!"

Marshall uses his paw to knock away Hubcap's

Hubcap: "..."

Tracker: "T-Thanks…"

Marshall: "Uh…"

Hubcap: "WHAT?!"

Marshall: "W-WAH!"

Hubcap: "YOU CAN MAKE HIM SPEAK TOO?!"

Tracker: "N-Nobody made me speak. I can just– Do it myself y'know…"

Hubcap: "I GOTTA TELL THIS TO GASKET–"

Alaskan Malamute: "Tell me what numbnuts?"

Gasket - The Ultimate Outlaw

Hubcap: "HE!- HE MADE TRACKER SPEAK!"

Gasket: "... He suuuuure did. Why don't you go play over there?"

With that, Gasket pushed Hubcap to the side and stood next to Tracker. Her piercing blue eyes, her silver fur with a long lock of grey-and-white dangling in her face. A brown leather jacket and bracelets with grey spikes on her paws. She looked rough.

Gasket: "Sorry bout that Tracks."

Tracker: "It's uh… It's okay, y'know I am kinda small and such I–"

Gasket: "Does this feel fuckin okay to you? If so, live your life."

Tracker: "Well no I–"

Gasket: "No, period."

Chase: "Doesn't seem like there's a serious injury on your arm."

Chase: (Out of all people I did not expect Gasket to interfere)

Tracker: "Thanks Marshall."

Tracker's tail started wagging carefully.

Marshall: "It's no big deal! Hubcap has no right treating you the way he does!"

Gasket: "Y'know Hubcap's not a bad guy, he's just… Really really stupid."

Gasket: "But he got a passion and a fire you can't deny."

Chase: "How exactly is he able to lead a gang of motorcyclists?"

Gasket: "Stupidity finds a way, Chase."

Tracker: "He is kinda stupid…"

Gasket: "Ya gotta yell that out so everyone can hear TRACKER! Damn, that Hubcap is stupid!"

Hubcap: "HUH?!"

Chase: "Okay Marshall, that's enough of that! Come on! No room for conflict! They'll figure it out!"

Marshall: "I– But–Good luck! We'll talk more later!"

Chocolate Labrador: "Eyy party people!"

We suddenly felt a chocolate-colored labrador wedging in between us, nonchalantly taking a seat next to the two. Large floppy ears, amber eyes, and the fur on his head curling out into wild directions. A sleeveless orange wetsuit covers his body.

Chocolate Labrador: "Sup dudes! You two give me the good mojo, so I decided: Let me just wedge myself in between those stiff tails of yours. The name's Zuma! Ultimate Diver!"

Zuma - The Ultimate Diver

Marshall: "Woah… A diver, that's awesome!"

Zuma: "Aww, Thanks dude!"

Zuma gently shakes Marshall around, causing them to chuckle. I can only roll my eyes at this, but somehow it brings a slight smirk to my face.

Chase: "You're surprisingly energetic in a situation like this."

Zuma: "Well, y'know. I'm not the type to be moping around. I got some pretty cool dudes here, I got a bed… I hung out with Rocky, he's pretty cool."

Zuma: "Albeit he seems to have a chew-toy up his a–"

Chase: "Anyway I'm Chase! The ultimate police officer!"

Marshall: "And I'm Marshall! The ultimate firefighter!"

Zuma: "Those are some cool talents dudes, you helping lots of people with those."

Marshall: "I know right!-"

Zuma: "Cuz every life is worth fighting for, y'know? I used to dive for fun, but it transpired into rescue missions quite fast."

Chase: (I can't shake off this feeling…)

Chase: (There's something about Zuma… Something that just draws you closer.)

Chase: (He might have a bit of an odd attitude, but he's friendly and seems to be surprisingly intelligent.)

Zuma: "Chasey! Caught you staring dude! What's on your mind?"

Chase: "Huh? How did you?–"

Zuma: "I'm good at reading people's feelings. I call it the Zuma Intuition Meter!"

Marshall: "The Zuma Intuition Meter!"

Chase: "Well just… Just this whole situation is dawning on me. What if we're really stuck?"

Zuma: "Then we get going in here! No biggie!"

Chase: "Yeah… Yeah, I suppose so."

Marshall and I left Zuma and went on to the Highland Terrier. Snow white fur with curly bangs trimmed to perfection. Pointy triangular ears wedging a pink crown in between. She seemed expensive, but very sharp.

Highland Terrier: "Oh fuckin.. Why does no one… Ugh!"

Chase: "Um… Hi?"

Highland Terrier: "Ah, finally there you two are!"

Marshall: "Were you waiting for us? Um… Why?"

Highland Terrier: "I suppose learning about my identity should clear things up. Listen well, peasants. I am Sweetie, known as the Ultimate Princess."

Sweetie - The Ultimate Princess

Chase: "Chase, ultimate peasant."

Marshall: "And I'm Marshall, Ultimate firef–huh?!"

Sweetie: "Are you fucking mocking me, Chase?!"

Chase: "... Sorry."

Sweetie: "I'll make sure you fucking regret that! You have no right mocking someone as superior as me!"

Chase: (Geez! Talk about a superiority problem.)

Chase: (I can already tell that I'm not going to like her…)

Marshall: "S-So! Y-Your majesty! Or… Urhm… W-What suffices miss?"

Sweetie: "Just Sweetie is fine. You don't have to address any fancy titles. I know I'm above you anyway."

Sweetie: "I don't mean that in a bad sense, don't worry. It's just a fact of life. Just like how we will all die one day."

Marshall: "..."

Chase: (Yeah... One unlucky country that must be.)

Marshall: "W-Well we'll see you a-around!"

Marshall and I left Sweetie alone to walk over toward the last person. An English bulldog with brown fur and a white belly that stretches to the top of his head. With a yellow sweater over his body and one of his lower canine teeth covering his top lip.

English Bulldog: "Finally! I was already wondering if you guys would show up here! I've been waiting to talk to you!"

The bulldog eagerly taps his paws on the floor

English Bulldog: "I'm Rubble! The ultimate… *Yawn*...

Chase: "..."

Marshall: "Eh…"

Rubble: "S-Sorry! I'm Rubble the ultimate construction worker!"

Rubble - The ultimate construction worker

Rubble: "I get kind of sleepy when I haven't eaten in a while…"

Rubble: "But all good! My senses are tingling! I'm sure we'll get some grub soon!"

Marshall: "Oooaah… Now that you mention it… I skipped over breakfast today…"

Chase: "Huh? Why would you do that? Breakfast is the most important meal of the day."

Marshall: "I wanted to sleep in… Is that such a crime…?"

Marshall puts his paws behind his head and smiles

Marshall: "Am I being arrested now?"

Rubble: "SKIPPING BREAKFAST?! I would never!"

Rubble: "Even if work would start at four in the morning I would get up at two just to enjoy the moment!"

Chase: "What exactly is that moment..?"

Rubble: "Grub and superheroes!"

Marshall: "So even if you would have to get up at four in the morning… You take two hours just for breakfast and… Superheroes?"

Rubble: "You don't understand! My favorite is Apollo and for the best reasons! You see Apollo has been quickly climbing to the top due to its–"

We proceeded to get a bold lecture on a superhero show Rubble liked. After the lecture, Marshall starts searching for Rocky.

Marshall: "So what's Rocky like?"

Chase: "I don't know I've only talked to him for a good ten minutes."

Marshall: "Oh…"

Chase: "... He's quite calm actually. Seems brain-smart but not very street-smart."

Chase: "He also loves to recycle."

Marshall: "Recycling…?"

Chase: "... You have the better social skills of us two, you'll manage. I'm sure."

Marshall: "Heh… Thanks."

With a gentle smile, Marshall sends himself off to find Rocky. Leaving me alone in this group of ultimates.

Skye: "So we're just going to wait here?"

Skye steps into the middle of the group with a worried expression on her face, raising her voice loud and clear.

Skye: "This feels weird, even for an entrance ceremony!"

Sweetie: "Oh please. This isn't all about you."

Wild: "The worst thing that could happen is us being in the wrong place, how extremely distressful!~"

Skye: "..."

Chase: (I should say something…)

Chase: "Come on guys–"

Suddenly, a familiar cartoony voice blasts through the speakers. Catching the entire group off-guard.

?: "Upupupu!"

Zuma: "Finally dudes! It's starting!"

With that said, Zuma immediately takes a seat in one of the chairs and crosses his legs over one another.

We all turned around to the source of the voice, coming from the main stage.

?: Hey there! Howdy! Hello! Is everyone finally done chit-chatting? Good! Then let's get this ball rolling!"

While the voice is lingering in the room, a small creature jumps up on the lecture table. A robotic dog with its color split down the middle. First half black and the other half white. His face is a screen with eyes, one black and one red eye in the shape of a sharp crescent wing.

Rocky: "A toy dog?"

?: How dare you insult me with those words! I'm not a toy! I'm Monopaw! The headmaster of the Patrollers Academy for Gifted Animals!"

Chase: (This is the strangest thing I've ever seen.)

Chase: (What I'm seeing in front of my eyes right now…)

Chase: (Is beyond Impossible! Far beyond!)

Monopaw: "Nice to meet you all!"

This voice matched with the bright and cheerful attitude that was completely out of place. My already present nerves are now in the process of growing into a burst of anxiety.

Hubcap: "HOLY HELL! THAT THING TOY CAN TALK!"

Gasket: "Oh please, there must be a fucking speaker inside that thing."

Monopaw: "I told you already I. Am. Not. A. Toy!"

Monopaw: "I'm your headmaster! Monopaw!"

Moby: "... Huh?"

Monopaw: "Are we awake ultimate inventor?! MAN! Your attitude cuts me deep! Deeper than the seven layers of hell…"

Chase: (Wait, nothing about this is normal…)

Chase: (My sense of danger is kicking in!)

Al: "... Chase. Your fur is standing upright."

Chase: (Shit! Is it that obvious! Am I really that tense?)

Al: "I can't blame you… Nothing about this is right."

Monopaw: "Listen up here and listen up good! Today marked your first steps in this academy! These first steps will be the start of your academy life! An academy life lasting forever!"

Everest: "Forever?"

Rubble: "Forever! Ehehe you really are a funny robot!"

Monopaw: "Let us commence with a most noteworthy and memorable entrance ceremony! First, let's talk a bit about what your school life here will be like. Now, ah, make no mistake-you few students, so full of potential, represent the hope of the world."

Monopaw: "You will all live a communal life together solely within the confines of this school. Everyone will live in harmony together, and adhere to the rules and regulations of the school.

Chase: (Huh?)

Monopaw: "And for the ones thinking that forever is a joke, you'll all be here until the day you die! Such is the school life you've been assigned."

Skye: "Wait w-what? D-Did he really say until t-the day we d-die?"

Monopaw: "But no fear! Monopaw is here! The merch sales of you guys have given us plenty of budget for any convenience you need!"

…

Chase: (It wasn't like I was worrying about that… Not yet at least.)

Gasket: "Good try doggie, you're screwing with us!"

Monopaw: "I don't screw around! I am 100% serious!"

Monopaw: "Every exit from this school has been blocked off from the outside world! No more spending your days worrying about society, the world around you, or any of the filth in it!"

Chase: (Cut off… Ah those metal plates! They're there to keep us trapped here?)

Chase: (And the cameras are to keep us in line?!)

Marshall: "C-Come on… T-This is just a really bad joke right?"

Monopaw: "No matter how much you may yell and scream for help...help will not come. So with all of that in mind, feel free to live out your life here with reckless abandon!"

Sweetie: "Tough shit you bucket of bolts! You claim to have hand-picked me?! Then you know what kind of importance I have on the world!"

Sweetie: "Let me go before I swing your pathetic little metal body at the windows until they break!"

Monopaw: "Come, now. What's the matter with all of you? You decided of your own free will to attend the Patrollers Academy, didn't you? And now, before the entrance ceremony is even finished, you've already decided you want to leave?"

Monopaw: "Well you're in luck! I guess I did forget to mention one thing. There *is* one way for you to leave the school…"

Chase: "What is it!"

Monopaw: "As headmaster, I've crafted a special clause for those of you who would like to leave! I call it...the Graduation Clause!"

Monopaw: "Now, let me tell you about this fun little rule. As I mentioned, in order to maintain an environment of harmony here, we rely on a communal lifestyle. And if someone were to disrupt that harmony, they and they alone would be allowed to leave the school. That, my students, is the Graduation Clause!"

Rocky: "And what exactly do you mean by disrupting the harmony?"

Rex: "I can cause a ruckus if I want to y'know."

Monopaw: "Puhuhu... Well, you know... If one person were to murder another."

…

Chase: "M-Murder!?"

Chase: "W-What kind of s-sick freak are you?!"

Monopaw: "Stabbing, strangling, bludgeoning, crushing, hacking, drowning, igniting, how you do it doesn't matter. You must kill someone if you want to leave. It's as simple as that."

A chill runs down my spine... "You must kill someone if you want to leave." My blood went cold the moment I hear those words.

Monopaw: "PUHUHU! I bet that got your brain juices flowing real nice and good, didn't it? You lot are supposed to be the hope and future of the patrollers unit but here you are with looks of despair painted all over your faces!"

Tracker: "..."

Tracker: "E-Excuse me…"

Tracker: "But I d-don't remember being part of a patrollers unit…"

Gasket: "That's not the damn problem is it?! To kill each other is… It's!"

Monopaw: "To kill each other is to kill each other. I'm sure there's a dictionary here somewhere if you need it."

Everest: "We know what it means, that's not the problem! Why do we have to kill each other?!"

Rubble: "YEAH! Stop blabbering with all this nonsense! Just let us go home already!"

Monopaw: "...Blabbering?"

Monopaw: "Blabbering, blabbering, what do you mean blabbering!? Stop blabbering on about blabbering on! You guys just don't get it, do you? "Let us go, let us go!" You keep on saying the same thing over and over and over and over...! Listen. From this moment on, this school is your home, your life, your world. Got it?"

Monopaw: "You can kill as much as you want to kill! Go ahead! Create a new legacy the world has never seen before!"

Zuma: "Alright dude, how long are you planning to keep this up?"

Monopaw: "Ehh?"

Zuma: "You got me, I'm a scared lil doggie but go ahead and reveal the trick now–"

Hubcap: "SHUT YOUR TRAP AND GET THE HELL OUT OF MY AWAY!"

Hubcap pushed Zuma from the side, breaking through the wall created by him and Gasket. Jumping onto the podium.

Hubcap: "YE THINK YOU CAN JUST TOY WITH ME LIKE THAT?! I'LL TEACH YER SCRAPPY ASS TO NOT MAKE JOKES LIKE THIS!"

With a swift swoop, Hubcap stood next to Monopaw, shaking the lecture stand violently.

Monopaw: "HUHWHA– A joke? Just like your helmet?"

Hubcap: "HUH?! YOU WANT ME TO KILL THAT BADLY?!"

Hubcap let out a roar, taking Monopaw's collar into his grip. Pulling on it violently until he was dragging the robot all over the stage.

Hubcap: "Imma rip you to FUCKING shreds!"

Monopaw: "WAAH! HELP ME! HELP ME!"

Hubcap: "SHUT UP BUCKET OF BOLTS!"

Monopaw: "WAAAAAH! Violence against the headmaster is in violation of school regulations!"

Hubcap: "Nobody's coming to save you now huh?!"

Monopaw: "..."

Beep. Beep.

Hubcap: "Calculating some sort of witty comeback again huh?!"

Beep beep. Beep beep.

Monopaw: "..."

Hubcap: "SAY SOMETHING!"

I heard a gasp next to me.

Moby: "T-Throw! B-b-backward!"

Beep beep beep beep beep beep.

Hubcap: "Huh?!"

Rocky: "..! Hurry up and throw it to the back of the stage!"

Whatever caused Hubcap to make the toss doesn't matter. Without a word, he did what he was told. His body jolted backward and let go of Monopaws collar. And as soon as he did…!

KABOOM!

Hubcap: "OH FUCK! OH SHIT! OH FUCKSHIT!"

Claw: "WHAT DID YOU DO?!"

Sweetie: "... Rather him than I…"

Hubcap: "T-The hell… That wasn't a joke… It blew up…"

…

Hubcap: "Hehe… YOU SEE THAT?! ME! THE GREAT HUBCAP CLAIMS VICTORY OVER THIS TOY–

Monopaw: I told you! I'm not a toy! I'm monopaw!

We all look in shock at the lecture pedestal where another one of the robots was standing.

Rex: "T-There's another one…?"

Hubcap: "YOU TRIED KILLING ME!"

Monopaw: "Well, yes. I was serious about trying to kill you. You did violate one of the school regulations, after all. I'll let you off with a warning this time, but you'd better be careful from now on. Any naughty boy or girl who violates my rules won't get off with just a little swat on the butt."

Tracker: "H-Hey wait… Does this mean there's a bunch more of you around here somewhere…?"

Monopaw: "Monopaws have been placed all throughout the school, yes. Plus, don't forget the cameras installed everywhere! And if you're caught breaking any rules, well… You all saw what happened, right?"

Zuma: "Hrngh…"

Zuma: "D-Damn…"

Without a warning, Zuma held onto his neck and dropped to his knees.

Chase: "Zuma…?"

Claw: "WAH! HE'S BLEEDING!"

Sweetie: "Fuckin– Aren't you a knight?"

Claw: "It was an observation!"

Marshall: "Let me see! I've had medical training!"

Without a single warning, Marshall pushes himself through the crowd and gently removes Zuma's hand. A large slice appeared on the side of the labrador's neck. Leaking blood from the wound.

Gasket: "Shit! That's not a little slice!"

Skye: "When Robodog exploded a scrap part must've sliced his neck!"

Sweetie: "So that piece of shit on the stage is responsible for this!"

Zuma: "I'm okay… I'm okay dudes…"

Marshall: "No you're not. Come on, I'll bring you to the infirmary."

Gasket: "Shit… Marshall you shouldn't go alone."

Marshall: "Well then, you go with me."

Zuma: "Heh… Walked right into that one…"

Marshall: "Stop talking Zuma. Conserve your energy."

Gasket and Marshall help Zuma stand back up on his feet. With the help of the two Zuma stumbles off toward the infirmary.

Claw: "And we almost have our first victim on the name of Hubcap!"

Al: "Come on Hubcap was just trying to do what's right."

Hubcap: "... Fuck I didn't…"

Al: "I know you didn't lad. It happened. Don't beat yourself up over it."

Chase: "..."

Chase: (Al really is an admirable person.)

Monopaw: "Now then, lastly... To commemorate your joyous entry into our school, I have a little something for you…"

Monopaw: "In your rooms, you will find our official ID tags! Fully digital so natural we call it the e-Tag!"

Monopaw: "Ahem. Yes, well, moving on... This handbook is vital to a healthy school life, so don't lose it! When you start it up, it will display your name. Always make sure you have the right one!"

Monopaw: "Now, this is not your everyday notebook. It has so many more uses than that!"

Monopaw: "Also, it's completely waterproof. Splash it, wash it, drown it, it'll keep on ticking! And thanks to its space-age design, it can withstand an impact force of up to ten tons. Very resistant! It contains all of our school regulations, so make sure you review them thoroughly!"

Monopaw: "Well! That brings our extra special entrance ceremony to a close! Please enjoy your abundantly dreary school life! And… see ya!"

And with that, he was gone, leaving us all in a state of shock.

Rex: "So…"

Everest: "B-But how… Why…? I don't understand any of this…"

Rubble: "We have to live here forever…? Or… K-Kill?"

Rubble: "Just what the heck happened?!"

Tracker: "L-Let's all calm down… Based on what Monopaw said we have two choices… Either we stay here and live our lives…"

Rocky: "And if we want to get out alive, we have to kill someone."

Skye: "But killing someone… That's…"

Rubble: "THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE! APOLLO WOULD NEVER APPROVE OF ANY OF THIS!"

Rex: "A lie! That is what it is! All these ridiculous things– It's definitely fake!"

Wild: "Right now it doesn't matter if it's real or fake."

Wild: "Chances are, there's somebody here who's seriously considering all this."

Wild: "We're only people after all."

To that, nobody had a response… Keeping quiet I looked around at the others.

They all stared at one another, trying to read each other, making predictions. I could almost taste the hostility.

"You must kill someone if you want to leave." Those words had planted vicious thoughts deep within each of us. Each of us became suspicious of everyone else. We were forced to wonder, "Is somebody going to betray us?"

It's...a school of despair.

Prologue: END

Surviving Students: 16

To be continued in Chapter 1