As Balto and Cole came upon the plane, Balto started sniffing around while Cole observed the plane's design and wondered.
"Must be one of the old types of planes.", he thought to himself.
A sound reached his ears and clearly Balto heard it too cause they paused and looked around a bit.
"Did you hear something?", Cole asked.
Balto soon forgot about it as he went back to sniffing the plane. Cole then noticed Duke walk out and head over while Balto paused to notice his friend was watching something. They watched over the wing as Duke came up to the plane's cockpit and seemed to be trying to clean a smudge on the windshield. After trying on one side of it, he then tried on the other side of the windshield and wiped it away cleanly. Duke then noticed Balto and Cole looking over the wing at him and while Balto ducked, Cole stood his ground though he tried to look calm. Duke ducked down and saw Balto from under the wing and smiled.
"It's okay boy, I'm not gonna hurt you.", he said kindly before looking a bit awestruck when he saw Cole's collar when Cole ducked down to see what was going on, "Wait a minute, I saw you both this morning. Togo?"
Cole blushed as Duke looked Balto's way.
"And if I'm right, the only dog Togo hangs out with while he's here is Balto?"
Now Balto smiled shyly as Duke continued.
"I've heard a lot about you two.", he said as he took some jerky from his pocket as if to offer it, "Quite a pair of heroes."
Balto took a step back as Duke held out the jerky, but Cole could tell he was just trying to be friendly so he took a step forward under the wing. Seeing his friend so at ease, Balto decided to follow along as they were both soon at Duke's side while the pilot continued.
"You both saved a lot of lives during the diphtheria scare. I can't figure out how you and your team found your way back here with the medicine."
Balto happily accepted the jerky while Cole took a pet from Duke's other hand. Duke then rubbed Balto's head softly before he lifted his hands off.
"That was some storm.", he said before looking Cole's way a bit curious, "Seppala sure took a risk when he chose you to be his lead dog Togo."
Cole felt the memory of his musher's death flicker in his mind and he looked a bit down at first, but Duke could tell he needed a little assurance and petted him again which helped Cole forget about it and smile again. Duke then walked over to the plane and Balto followed. Cole saw Balto hop up and place his front paws on the wing while still sniffing around. Duke then casually tapped the wing with his open palm.
"It's okay boy.", he said as if encouraging.
/
Balto then got himself on the wing and after sniffing around further, came to the cockpit and jumped in smiling. Cole looked Duke's way as if to ask if he could get up too and the pilot seemed to know what he was thinking so he nodded and Cole got himself on the wing also.
"Yep, definitely an old model.", Cole thought to himself as he got to the cockpit and looked in from the side and saw the controls.
"You both seem to like my plane, huh, boys?", Duke asked as he got into the cockpit himself.
Fortunately for Cole, there was enough room for Balto and Duke as the pilot looked Balto's way.
"I call her the Tundra Express.", he said looking upward, "Nothing can beat being up there, soaring above the clouds, free."
Cole paused as Balto had said something similar just yesterday. Balto seemed surprised as well for Duke seemed to feel the same way he did. Cole then sniffed something and looked in time to see Steele strut out looking a bit snide.
"Uh-oh, I smell trouble.", Cole thought as he got off the wing.
Balto and Duke were too busy watching the sky together to notice, but Cole intercepted Steele just as the malamute had come a short way from the buildings.
"Togo.", he said smiling ghoulishly.
Cole frowned.
"Balto and I are trying to have a moment with the pilot Steele.", he said firmly, "What do you want?"
"Just thought I'd check out the competition.", Steele answered now looking annoyed, "But I wouldn't think you and Balto there would care enough to relate to the enemy."
"Duke is not a foe.", Cole countered, "He just has ideas and in the race tomorrow, we'll see which way the mail will be delivered."
Steele then chuckled and then laughed cruelly which made Cole more annoyed.
"What's so funny?", he asked, "I think I missed the joke."
"You are the joke Togo.", Steele said still keeping his cruel streak going, "Do you really believe that Kodi is going to side with his old man if by some miracle the dogs do win?"
"He's his father.", Cole answered, "What would you know about a parent's love?"
Steele's expression flinched for a bit, but he quickly covered it.
"Well, I know mine was exceptionally proud once I showed what I had.", he retorted, "But if I had to guess, I'm just going to guess that Kodi is just going to go against Balto. No contest."
"For your information Steele, Balto and I will give our best and the results will speak for us. You won't even be on the team so stop pretending that you are."
Steele's expression quickly melted into a cold sneer.
"Your attitude is really starting to bug me."
"And I thought I bugged you before when we first met.", Cole shot back, "When will you ever learn humility and just accept the fact that you're over the hill?"
Steele's sneer darkened further.
"Just so we're clear, being nice doesn't earn you glory.", he said darkly, "Only the best deserve it."
He then turned and started to leave, but then paused to look over his shoulder at Cole before giving a cruel smile again.
"Have a nice night.", he said before turning back.
As he headed back to Nome, he paused to kick some snow again at Cole, but Cole just backed up so it missed as he watched the mean dog strut back to Nome as if the diphtheria epidemic had never happened.
"Jerk.", he muttered to himself as he turned away to walk back to the plane, "That injury may have cost him his status, but I think it also took what was left of his dignity if he had any."
/
Cole walked over to the plane just as Balto and Duke were getting out.
"You okay there Togo?"
Cole then noticed he was still wearing his annoyed expression and quickly pulled a smile together when he noticed Balto was heading over to him.
"Yeah.", Cole answered taking a breath to calm himself, "Just had to chase off an oversized buzzard."
Balto rolled his eyes as he and Cole started toward home.
"Let me guess, Steele again?"
"Yep.", Cole answered growing irritated, "Why can't that dog learn that when you've reached your limit and you're out of the sport, you play dead?"
Balto shrugged.
"Guess his musher didn't teach him that lesson."
Cole then noticed Stella flying off and thought fast.
"Balto, can I catch up a bit? There's a new friend I was hoping to visit."
"Sure.", Balto answered.
Cole went off aways and Stella noticed him also and came down so the two could talk.
"You okay there?", Cole asked her.
Stella sighed.
"Yeah, I guess.", she answered looking a bit disappointed, "Boris and I had a date with seeds and I finished with a massage which he enjoyed."
"So, why are you so down?", Cole asked curious.
"I've been thinking about what you said Togo.", she said, "And I was starting to doubt you, but after tonight, I'm not sure that migratory injury Boris has will make him worth it."
Cole rolled his eyes.
"You actually bought that lie?", he asked.
Stella looked shocked.
"He what?", he asked.
"Boris can fly Ms. Stella, but he's scared of heights."
Stella looked annoyed.
"Really?", she said a bit angry, "We'll see what kind of goose he is when-"
"Ms. Stella, I know you're a bit upset now, but maybe there's a better way to let him know he hurt you?", Cole said quickly cutting her off and hoping to make peace.
Stella then smiled sneakily.
"Okay Togo, I'll do it your way.", she said, "Tomorrow when that race starts, I'll surprise him and let him know how I feel about him lying to me."
She flew off and Cole then started wondering if he had made a mistake. He didn't have time to wonder cause another voice caught his ears.
"Togo?"
Cole turned to see Fox coming out looking a bit tired and curious.
"You okay there?", he asked.
Cole smiled.
"Yeah, just talking with a new friend."
Fox chuckled jovially.
"You always were good at making friends with others.", he said, "Seppala must have seen it in you when you ran alongside the team he had in your puppy days."
Cole couldn't help but smile at the good old days.
"Yeah, I guess he did."
/
Fox then tensed as a trio of voices came out behind him. He and Cole turned to see Nikki, Kaltag, and Star make their way out to them while still in conversation.
"Hey, what do you think about tomorrow?"
"It'll be the most daring, the most reckless, the most-"
"It'll be something."
They all paused when they saw Fox and Cole looking their way and instantly straightened up.
"Evening boys.", Fox said calmly, "How much did you hear?"
Nikki looked a bit embarrassed.
"Nothing boss.", he answered.
"Not a thing.", Kaltag added, "We just came to offer some support."
Star nodded eagerly.
"And wish you luck Togo."
Cole looked surprised.
"You three aren't trying out for the team?", he asked.
"Nah, we're over the hill.", Nikki said plainly.
"We're done, we're overworked, we're-", Kaltag started.
"We're getting a little too old.", Star piped up.
Cole raised an eyebrow.
"I don't know, I think you three and Fox have a few runs left in you."
The trio brightened up and Fox looked complimented.
"We'll be there to cheer you on.", Fox assured before looking back to the trio, "Okay boys, time to hit the hay."
As Fox headed out with his teammates, Cole yawned and thought it was time for him to hit the hay as well. He had made it to the boat just in time for Boris to come out and look firm his way.
"Togo, where were you, it's past bedtime.", he honked.
Cole looked firm.
"Boris, I just had a talk with the most downtrodden, black-hearted, ill conceived, ungrateful, disruptive, manipulative, cold-blooded, thoughtless jerk in the history of Nome and I just want to go to bed."
That shut Boris up as Cole went up to Balto and his blanket which he lifted up a bit so he could slide in alongside his friend. Soon, he was out like a light and deep in dreamland. He found himself back on the beach once more.
"What now?", Cole asked, "Three times so far?"
"Cause there is something you need to know."
Cole looked to see Nava looking his way calmly.
"Be brave my brother.", he said as he started vanishing, "Vile forces lurk in the natural world."
Cole awoke, but he wasn't scared this time. Could the three visions have a meaning?
/
The following morning, all of Nome had gathered to watch the event as Duke got his plane ready and Mr. Simpson was hitching up Balto and Cole as the lead dogs with Kodi and Dusty behind them and finally Kirby and Ralph behind them.
"Are you ready? Cause I'm ready.", Ralph said excitedly, "Are you ready?"
Cole and Balto couldn't help but smile.
"Something tells me he's ready.", Balto joked.
"This is going to be great Dad.", Kodi said happily.
Balto looked away so Kodi wouldn't see his worry, but he forgot it as Jenna came over with Steele not far behind her.
"Good luck you three.", she said.
Cole was comforted by Jenna, but he frowned when Steele spoke as he looked him and Balto's way.
"Don't lose this race wolfdogs.", Steele said smiling smugly, "Cause I won't let either of you live it down if you do."
Jenna had already left and Steele turned to walk away also just as Boris came up to Balto and Cole.
"Luck? Ha!", the goose honked, "Like that will make a difference."
"Mr. Optimism.", Balto said smiling, "That's why I like having you around Boris."
"Always a pleasure.", Boris said.
Cole then noticed Stella fly down and land right in front of them as Boris was getting into talk about how he had Stella eating out of his wing and she certainly didn't look happy as she came over. Balto and Cole tried getting his attention, but Boris kept talking until Stella came up and he suddenly found himself dancing with her before he pulled away from her when seeing how angry she looked.
"It is a miracle!", Boris said thinking fast, "I am suddenly-"
"Knock it off Boris.", Stella snapped, "Your friend Togo told me everything."
Boris looked alarmed, but Stella kept coming advancing on him.
"Stella, please, I can explain.", he said desperately.
"No way, your goose is cooked!", Stella honked angrily.
She then chased Boris around which Cole found amusing until Boris fell into the mail bag and Mr. Conner picked it up and handed it to Duke who put it in his plane.
"Well, well, couldn't happen to a nicer bird.", Stella said looking more at ease and turning before flying away, "Have a good ride flyboy."
Mr. Simpson got his mail before Mr. Conner got everyone's attention.
"The U.S. mail is now aboard both the dogsled and the bush plane. The winner will be the competitor who is first to deliver the mail safely to the town of White Mountain then returns to Nome with the new bag of mail."
Cole felt his heart race. He hadn't felt like this since the time he faced his old teammates from Idaho.
"All right teams.", Mr. Conner called out, "On your marks."
Cole, Balto, and the dogs tensed as Duke prepared the plane.
"Get set."
Mr. Conner then lifted a flare gun, pointed it at the sky, and after a moment's pause, fired it. The race had officially begun!