Prologue
Duke pulled the handbrake on his old sedan, his eyes looking out to a trail in the countryside of Queensland. He got a call to investigate not even twenty minutes ago, as he looked out to the treeline. Some kind of strange aircraft has popped up out in the trails and he was closest in the area after an old dog at a nearby servo dialed triple zero.
He wasn't a police officer, however. He worked for an organization interested in strange happenings and a plant at the dispatch center intercepted and thus there he was.
A fire truck was already at the scene, with a few police cars at a trail. An English bulldog with sunglasses looked at Duke as the Saint Bernard stepped out of his car and away from his air-conditioned cabin, slamming the door behind him.
He already regretted stepping out into the humidity of Queensland and it felt like he was already melting. "Maybe I ought to invest in a canteen," he thought to himself. "How do people bloody live here in this prawn boil?"
"I've arrived at the scene," Duke from his belt took out his walkie-talkie. "We got a red and some blues here."
"Copy that," An older woman's voice buzzed through. "Proceed to the scene."
"Roger," Duke said, smiling. "After this, I'm definitely getting me a cold one, Nala."
"Oh, you poor charmer." Nala's snicker came from the other end. "But please, focus."
"Excuse me, sir," The bulldog approached him, Duke looking down as he towered over the officer. "We're having an official investigation here-"
From the pouch on his belt, he pulled out an oblong golden badge with a barcode on it.
The bulldog's eyes squinted as he looked at it and then at Duke nervously.
"Hmph, go ahead." The bulldog scowled, as Duke ducked under some yellow tape wrapped around some trees. "Freaking zebras."
It was ten minutes before Duke came across quite the scene. Something that reminded him of a car from a subway train buried halfway into the ground, firefighters surrounding it as a faint plume of smoke rose from various parts of the strange vehicle. Its silvery shell had no windows, as Duke approached its door.
"Oi, you're the zebra they sent?" A Dalmatian wearing the gear of a fireman, with a Halligan bar in his hands.
"That's me." Duke nodded, his voice deep and gravelly as he held up his badge. "What happened here?"
"We got a call from some old kook," The fireman from his jacket took out a small scanner for the barcode. "And fire lookout rung us up," He put the Halligan bar in both hands, as he looked to Duke. "And we found this."
"I see." Duke's eyes wandered around. Burn marks marred some nearby trees, the burnt bark still moist. "Did you give this thing a once over? Made sure it's not irradiated to hell?"
The fireman nodded. "It's clean. We just waited for one of you as this," He approached and he glanced at the odd vehicle. "Well, I think this hunk of junk speaks for itself."
"Indeed." Duke looked at the door as he looked at him. "Can you pry this open, mate?"
"I can try." The fireman put the adze end of his Halligan bar swung it into the gap of the door and pulled, as the door swung outward gently as the fireman grabbed it.
Duke peaked inside. It was dark, as he reached into his pouch and found a small flashlight and shone it inside.
Duke's eyes widened at what he saw at the end.
Hanging limply, with a five-point harness keeping him in his seat. He seemed no older than eight, by Duke's estimate. His fur was brindled brown and white, his eyes closed, the young Akita standing there.
Duke ran into the pod, ignoring anything else around him as his footsteps echoed on a metal aisle, he knelt down to the boy to free him from his seat, the harness clicking and releasing him. Duke quietly thanked whatever higher power was there as he heard the boy breathe as he checked him over.
No bleeding, merely unconscious.
Duke looked down as he saw a pair of worn, brown work boots laying in front of the boy and he knelt down to grab a gray jumpsuit with various insignia on its right arm, most of which Duke didn't recognize save for a lone American flag patch that made his eyebrow raise, along with a pair of bright yellow work gloves.
The fireman's steps rung out behind Duke.
"He's alive. I'll contact a medic." Duke said, looking back at the fireman as he nodded and left. He reached into his pouch and pulled out a walkie-talkie. "I've arrived at the scene. The site is secured. There is a lone survivor who is alive but unconscious. Requesting medical assistance ASAP."
"Ten-four. Sending out an ambulance your way, Agent Duke." Nala said. "A clean-up crew will arrive ASAP as well."
"Affirmative." Duke put his walkie-talkie back into his pouch and came out of the pod, as he grabbed the young boy and held him close as if he were Duke's own child. The firefighters gathered around the entrance of the pod as he said, "Alright, people. We have this under control. An ambulance will be here to pick up this young man." The fireman looked at the young boy in his hands. "We have it handled from here, you may leave."
The firefighters left, as Duke watched them and he looked to the young boy in his arms.
"Don't worry, little guy," Duke's voice was soft to the Akita pup in his hands. "We'll take care of you."
Soon enough, paramedics carrying a stretcher put the boy on it and carried him out. Close behind them was a team of dogs who ran up to Duke, attentive, all carrying bags full of various tools.
"Alright, folks," Duke's voice rang out to the team. "Search this thing high and low and leave no stone unturned." He pointed to the door. "I expect this pod to be carried out by the end of the week, the sooner the better."
"Roger that, Agent Duke!" The crew said as they got to work as Duke would leave them behind. Duke would take his walkie-talkie off of his belt. "The crew has arrived. Leaving scene."
"Copy that," Nala's keyboard clacked from behind the transceiver. "We have one final task for you to perform before you are free to go."
"Ten-four, what is it?" Duke asked.
"Go back to HQ," Duke's eyebrow raised. "For debriefing."
"Affirmative. Headed there now." Duke nodded, belting his walkie-talkie and heading to his old sedan. Approaching, he realized how drenched with sweat he was. He cursed himself for being stationed in Queensland, hot and humid compared to his hometown of Canberra.
It was soon sunset, the harsh humidity while clinging to Duke's fur, the harsh rays of the summer sun faded as he got his phone out from his glove box looked through his contacts, and sent out a call.
Ring, ring...
Ring, ring...
"Hello?" An old, shaky voice asked.
"Hey Dad, it's me," Duke said, looking at the setting sun, juxtaposed by the silhouettes of the skyscrapers of Brisbane as he looked out to the horizon. "Just checking to see if you're okay."
Dad barked out in laughter before turning into a coughing fit, Duke wincing. "Ah, I appreciate it, Duke," The creak of his father's armchair was audible over the speaker. "I trust your job in Brisbane is going well?"
"Been hectic. Wish I could tell you," Duke rubbed the back of his head. "But you know, NDAs."
"I get ya, I used to work for them too, ya know!" Dad said. "Don't worry. You'll be reassigned soon and well, when you do, I'll make sure ya get home."
"Or I sent to Darwin and I feel like I am dying every day." Duke's mouth hardened into a line.
"Don't be like that, son." Duke could imagine his Dad waggling his finger at him. "I got your back, just do what you're told and you'll be fine."
"I know, just, what if something happens?" Duke asked.
"I'll be fine," Dad said. "You found future husband material yet?"
Duke sighed, shaking his head. "Not yet."
"Well," Dad said. "You're twenty-seven. You aren't getting any younger! Life can't be all about work!"
"I know. I just wanted to check on ya." Duke smiled. "Just make sure to take it easy. Don't ya-"
"I know, don't croak before you're back!" Dad laughed, albeit quietly.
"Alright, Dad." Duke frowned. "Love ya."
"Love you too, Duke." Dad said.
Duke hung up and looked out to the city. He wondered about a lot in his life as he looked at the skyline.
He wondered how that boy was doing, muttering a silent prayer that he was okay.
