Opportunities Taken - Chapter 14
"They what?" yipped Everest. "You're kidding... Well tell Zuma to expect a party when we get back... Love you, see you tomorrow."
"What did Zuma do now?" asked Skye, sitting at a table across from Everest who had just hung up with Marshall.
"Well apparently Cutter and Zuma are mates now," said Everest.
"Wow, she doesn't mess around," laughed Skye. "I could tell they really liked each other."
"Oh that's not all," laughed Everest. "Rocky apparently has been hiding a secret lover who happens to be a wolf. They are moving in with each other although Marshall said they called it officeing together, whatever that means."
"Rocky, has a girlfriend?" yipped Skye. "I've hoped for years, but I'll admit, I didn't see that one coming."
"It seems even Zuma didn't know," said Everest.
Chase and Rhonda came to the table and sat down.
"Whew, I'm glad this is done," laughed Chase.
"I like to teach but all the travel and three classes in a row wore me out," agreed Rhonda.
"So what have you two been up to?" asked Chase.
"Well we found a spa and got our nails done," said Skye. "Oh and Zuma and Cutter are mates now."
Chase choked on his drink, "What! I knew he liked her but wow."
"You could tell that pup was on the hunt," laughed Rhonda. "I like her. I think she'll be good for him."
"So is he moving to Hawaii?" asked Chase.
"Marshall wasn't sure," said Everest, "They apparently were more interested in the honeymoon part."
"Yeah, it's not like they waited for that," said Rhonda.
This time Skye choked laughing and held her paw up, Rhonda high pawed her.
"And Rocky is secretly shacking with a wolf," said Everest.
"Whoa, he's what?" laughed Chase.
"It seems we need to get home," laughed Skye, "Something is in the water in Adventure Bay. Best Marshall could understand was that Rocky and this mysterious co-worker have been seeing each other at work for a while and something happened that they decide to move in with each other."
"Marshall said they called it officeing together or some other weird nerd explanation," laughed Everest. "Either way it amounts to the same. Zuma's married and Rocky's shacking."
"But you said she's a wolf," said Rhonda.
"Yes, Marshall says she's really nice, " explained Everest, "but she's Russian and according to her she's mostly wolf but part shepherd."
"Yep, it sounds like Adventure Bay has lost its mind," laughed Chase. "Well we're done. Do you want to leave in the morning or this evening?"
"I'm rested, we can head to Adventure Bay tonight," said Skye. "Besides, Doug has been lounging all day at the apartment."
"I'm not going to whine or anything," laughed Everest, "but this is the longest I've been away from Marshall for a few years."
"Let's get packed and head home before anything else weird happens back in Adventure Bay," laughed Chase.
As they were at the flight line loading their bags in the plane a Hummer driven by an older looking Doberman came driving up.
"Captain Chase!" yelled the Doberman.
Chase looked and noted the Doberman was US Army and a Sergeant Major.
"Yes, Sergeant Major," said Chase, turning around. "Is there something I can do for you?"
"I have a document for you, Sir," said the Sgt. Major. "It just came in and I was hoping I could catch you."
"Thank you," said Chase, he saluted the Sergeant Major who jumped back in the Hummer and drove away.
"Chase?" asked Skye, "is everything ok?"
"I'm not sure," said Chase, "Let me step into the back and read this, it's classified."
Chase stepped up into the jet and walked to the rear seats sitting down to open and read the documents.
"W-what does that mean?" asked Skye. "Is he being deployed?"
"I-I'm not sure," said Rhonda. "Usually our messages from HQ come by currier, but something like that wouldn't be classified unless it's a mission which we don't really do those anymore."
A moment later, "Are they NUTS!" yelled Chase.
"Chase?" yipped Skye, "what is it?"
"They want to promote me!" yelled Chase, walking back out to the group.
"I-isn't that good?" asked Everest.
"No!" said Chase, "if they promote me to major, I'll be stuck on a desk. Hell, I might as well retire, I'll lose my mind!"
"Now Chase," said Rhonda. "It's not an automatic desk job."
"Oh by the way congratulations you made Captain officially," said Chase. "You know as well as I do, Major's and above are desk jockeys. They can't do this to me. Dammit!"
"Chase, does it say it's done deal?" asked Skye.
"No, I have a video call tomorrow morning," said Chase.
"Well, then I guess let's get back and let you rest a little, "said Skye, "before you have to declare war on the army. Congrats Rhonda, I'm sorry the circumstances got in the way."
"It's ok," said Rhonda. "I'm just confused why they would do this now. We're doing good and the classes are being received really well."
"I guess we'll know more tomorrow," said Chase, plopping down in a chair with a look of sheer aggravation on his face.
They took off and arrived in no time to Adventure Bay. As they arrived the tower cleared Skye to taxi to her hanger.
"Repeat tower," said Skye.
"You are cleared to taxi to Skye's The Limit Hanger One," said the traffic controller.
Skye looked over and saw two newly built hangers with her logo on them both.
"Chase!" yelled Skye from the cockpit. "Is there something you were supposed to tell me?"
"Crap!" said Chase, "I'm sorry honey, I had them build you a couple hangers here. There's also a helipad in case you want to station a chopper here to ferry back and forth to the lodge."
"Aw, that was sweet," said Skye.
"Sorry, I ruined the moment pouting," said Chase.
She taxied to the hanger and three pups wearing BDU's ran out and directed her to the stop point. She began shut down procedures and a knock on the passenger door gave Doug a signal to open and lower it.
"Doug, I know this isn't your primary shop," said Chase, "But I had them set up a basic avionics / mechanical package shop with tools."
"I-I don't know what to say Chase," said Doug, "Thanks, I joked about moving my operations here. Now I might just do that."
Everyone gathered their things and debarked the plane. Marshall was over near the hanger waiting. As soon as Everest came off the plane he sprinted over to her picking her up and kissing her.
"I missed you," said Marshall.
"I missed you too," giggled Everest.
"So it's Major now?" asked a rough looking Australian Shepherd.
"Nothing's official yet, Sergeant Major Blitz." said Chase. "Although Rhonda's Captain is."
"Congratulations Captain Rhonda," said Sgt. Blitz. "You definitely deserved the promotion for putting up with this old dog alone."
Chase turned to everyone, "Guys I'd like to introduce you to Sergeant Major Blitz. He was one of my techs from my first group. He wised up and moved to an easier MOS."
"I don't know that I'd say easier," laughed Blitz. "Avionics isn't so bad. Keeping up with all the inventory and personnel is a pain in the ass. Although I'm a lot less likely to be blown all over the tarmac."
"Regardless," said Chase, hugging the pup, "it's great to see you after all these years. So did you come to set up operations?"
"No, actually they made Adventure Bay an auxiliary field," said Blitz, "This is my horrible new assignment. Beaches and beautiful pups, the things I have to put up with to survive the Army these days."
"Well that's awesome," said Chase, "I guess I'll get to see you once in a while. This is Marshall, my best friend."
"Oh, please Chase," laughed Blitz. "I know by name, face, job assignment, and reputation every member of the Paw Patrol. If you remember, you wouldn't shut up about these guys. Once I looked into the team, well, let's just say anyone with a brain would have killed to be a part of the Paw Patrol. It is great to meet all of you though. Skye I know this is the first time we actually met, but I knew all but your body measurements. Chase, liked you a little and he constantly whined about not getting together with you before joining."
Chase was bright red, "Thank you so much Sergeant for embarrassing the crap out me."
"That's what I live for," laughed Blitz. "Guys? Did Chase tell you Rhonda beat the crap out of three guys one night when we came home on leave?"
"I did not," laughed Rhonda, "I tied one guy up and the others decided they didn't want to play anymore."
"Bullshit!" laughed Blitz, "you hurdled the table foot planting one pup and grabbed one more by the scruff before slamming him on the deck and then hog tying him. It took 8 seconds I swear. Gained you the name 'Rodeo' for what a year?"
"More or less," laughed Rhonda.
"Sure as hell gained my respect," laughed Blitz.
"He gave me a sanitized version of that story," laughed Skye.
"Well regardless, you got a hell of a pup here," laughed Blitz, "I'd willingly follow him into hell itself."
The Pup's loaded all of their stuff in the vehicles and headed out for the Lodge. Rocky and Zuma said they would come visit the next day once everyone was rested.