When Ryder told me about the FBI wanting to see me, I didn't have the faintest idea as to why.
I haven't stepped on the government's toes as of late and while the Paw Patrol and Uncle Sam have their fair share of differences, that was more on Ryder than us.
So I was pretty on edge when we arrived at RyderTech headquarters in Adventure City. Meeting them in Ryder's conference room and they were well dressed as any agent for the government would. Of course, badges in hand.
I just hope they don't have any reason to muzzle me.
Chapter 3: The Lost Ark of the Covenant
All the way in Adventure City, at RyderTech's headquarters, Ryder and Rocky walk into a midsized conference room where two FBI agents, a middle-aged man, and a young-looking woman, were patiently waiting for them.
The woman jumps up with an overjoyed smile. "Oh my goodness! It's you! I can't believe I'm finally meeting you!"
She could hardly contain herself at the entrance of the two. Going up to immediately shake Ryder's hand. "Ryder! Leader of the Paw Patrol! Your contributions to the rescue world and the canine community have been unmatched! Not to mention RyderTech is thriving more than ever! All from your genius mind!"
"Uhhh. Tha-Thanks….I guess." Ryder slurs.
She then switches to the mixed breed. Petting his head rapidly. "And Rocky! You were always my favorite. I swear! I live by your phrase "don't lose it, reuse it" every day!"
Rocky nervously twitches, no idea how to react.
"Jill, Contain yourself. This is no time to be geeking out." The other agent sternly states. "We have a job to do you know."
Upon that, the young FBI agent retracts and straightens herself. Doing her best to put her excitement aside and clearing her throat. "Uh r-right s-sorry" She straightens her shirt and her hair before going back to her seat. "Have a seat and we can begin."
Ryder and Rocky then take their seats with Rocky across from them and Ryder at the head.
The older gentlemen pushed up his glasses before he began. "I would like to apologize for my partner's enthusiastic manner. She's….a big fan."
The other agent crunches her lips and taps her finger on the table nervously.
"It's fine." Ryder assures. "We don't mind being recognized for the good we've done."
The agent nods in acknowledgement. "My name is Agent Jack Tunny. My partner here is Jill Gainey. We'll get straight to it. A few years ago, you had a dog in your ranks by the name of Zuma, am I correct?"
Both Ryder and Rocky reel at the mention of Zuma.
"Uh..sure. My father and I owned him for about twenty years." Ryder confirms.
"You have any idea of his current whereabouts?" Jill asks.
Ryder and Rocky exchange looks. Wondering why Zuma was randomly being brought up by two FBI agents.
Ryder answers. "Uhhhhh, no, I can't say that I'm really sure. Somewhere in Southern California last I heard. We used to be close but we….sorta had a falling out close to the end of the team. Uh…..may I ask why you are so curious about him?"
Jack sits up in his chair, resting his elbows on the table. "Now, Ryder, you have to understand, this is strictly confidential."
Ryder sits back. Crossing his arms himself while Rocky listens on intensely with him. "I understand."
"You see, ever since the Adventure City incident with Mayor Humdinger, we've been keeping a close eye on his endeavors and for the last few years or so, he's been gathering all sorts of religious artifacts." Jill informs. "For the most part, he's been in line, claiming to be sapping them up for his museum in Foggy Bottom. He's also been getting the necessary credentials to retrieve all these artifacts from different countries, so he hasn't been breaking any laws there. But here lately though, the recent artifacts he's been getting are powerful ones that's been concerning us to say the least."
"Yes, I've heard about it myself." Rocky speaks up. "In fact, I've recently had to snatch one away from him that would've been bad news if he did get it."
"Well apparently, he's at it again." Jack says as Jill pulls out and unravels a piece of paper. "There's some digging going on around the outskirts of Cairo."
"We've got some information from an email Humdinger sent out about a day ago. We can't make anything out of it, but maybe you can."
Ryder and Rocky listen closely as Jill reads…
"It pleases me that you all have found the city of Tanis. Thanks to your efforts, Foggy Bottom Museum will be the only museum anyone will ever come to."
Rocky and Ryder mouth the word Tanis at each other with smiles but then fades to horrid as Jill continues.
"As it so happens, I just found the location of the headpiece to the Staff of Ra. Wouldn't you know that one of Ryder's mutts, Zuma, has it in his possession. I'm having one of my trusty cats retrieve it from him so sit tight until I say otherwise."
Jill looks up from the paper and shrugs. "That's all."
Ryder and Rocky were still gawking at each other.
"Humdinger's discovered Tanis Ryder." Rocky inches out with little delight and terrified in context of what he just said.
"What does this mean to you guys." Jack curiously asks.
Ryder starts to answer but Rocky beats him to it. "Well, Tanis is one of the possible resting places of the lost ark."
"The lost ark?" Jill repeats cluelessly.
"You know, The Ark of the Covenant." Rocky illiterates. "The chest that the Hebrews used to carry the Ten Commandments in."
"Commandments? You mean THE Ten Commandments?" Jack inquired.
"Yes, the actual Ten Commandments. The original stone tablets that Moses brought down on Mount Sinai and smashed. If you believe in that sort of thing."
Rocky was getting a little more excited the more he went on, fascinated by the story of the Ark and what it would mean to find it.
However, the FBI agents looked totally oblivious to everything. Very intrigued, but clueless as ever.
Ryder pops and eyebrow at them. "Any of you go to Sunday School?"
The agents shuffle nervously with stutter before Rocky goes on.
"Well, the Hebrews took the pieces and put them in the ark. When they settled in Canaan, they put the ark in a place called the Temple of Solom, in Jerusalem. Where it stayed for many years. Until all of a sudden, poof, it's gone."
"Gone? Whe-Where'd it go?" Jack asks.
Rocky slightly chuckles at the innocent question. "Nobody knows where it went. That's what makes it lost. Right?"
"Oh…r-right?" Jack replies, slightly embarrassed, as Jill snickers a little. Earning a stern glance from her partner.
"Anyway, an Egyptian Pharaoh named Shishank invaded the city of Jerusalem around 980 BC and may have taken the ark back to the city of Tanis." Ryder picked up. "And hidden it in a secret chamber called the Well of Souls."
"Secret Chamber? In Tanis?" Jill repeats.
"However, about a year after he returned to Egypt, the city of Tanis was consumed in a sandstorm that lasted a whole year." Ryder chills. "Wiped clean by the wrath of god."
The two agents look at each other with frigid faces, before Jill slightly smiles. "We've clearly come to the right individuals. You seem to know all about this ark."
"No, not really. It was just a bedtime story for me." Ryder responds, faltering a little. "My mom used to tell it to me all the time."
"That's a chilling bedtime story to fall asleep to." Jill comments.
"I have to say. I am a little suspicious with Zuma being mentioned so prominently." Jack raises, prompting a dirty look from Jill.
However, Ryder chuckles at the suggestion. "Oh don't think much of that agent Jack, No matter what's happened between us, I seriously doubt Zuma would ever help Humdinger."
"Well what does the mayor want with him then?" Jill asks.
"Well, obviously, he's looking for the headpiece to the Staff of RA and he thinks Zuma's got it somehow." Rocky elaborates.
"What's the Staff of RA?" Jill asks.
"Well the Staff itself is just a regular staff. No one really knows how high it is, but the important part is the headpiece." Rocky explains. "A circular piece with a crystal in the center. What you did was you take the staff to a room with a model of the city laid out on the floor, and if you stick the staff in a certain place at a certain time of day, the sun catches the crystal and shoots a beam down on to the model, and gave you the exact location of the Well of the Souls."
"Where the Ark of the Covenant was kept, right?" Jill adds on.
Ryder nods. "That's exactly what Mayor Humdinger is after."
"Do you know what the ark looks like?" Jack requests.
"Well, yeah, in fact." Ryder begins as he turns to a bookcase in the room, eying the books until he pulls one of them out and opens it. "I've got a picture of it right in this book."
Ryder thumbs through it and finds the picture quickly, laying it on the table for the agents to see.
It's a clear drawn picture of a golden chest, carried by four ceremonial hooded figures. Standing on a large boulder admits an army that was seemingly being shredded apart by some force of light coming out of the ark. A gruesome but fascinating."
"Good god." Jack comments, stricken by the picture, while Jill looked shaken by it.
"Yeah. And all they did was just look at it." Rocky adds.
"Look at it?" Jill breathes.
Ryder nods. "Yes. According to the stories, the ark encases with it just a portion of god's power. It was never meant to be seen or felt. I can't possibly imagine what would happen if it fell in the wrong hands."
"I couldn't agree more with you Ryder." Jack replies with firmness. "We cannot let Humdinger even near this thing."
"My thoughts exactly." Ryder agrees.
Over in Ryder's office, Rocky is waiting patiently for Ryder to get done with the agents.
He can still hardly believe it. The lost ark of the covenant that no one has been able to find. Rocky knows if he's able to get the ark, it would be the most important artifact he'll ever find, which could mean that he may never have to worry about funding his inventions. Not to mention the good it will do for history, and most importantly, Humdinger to never lay a finger on it.
However, another thing was in the mixed breed's mind and that was Zuma. According to the agents, Zuma had somehow gotten possession of the headpiece to the Staff of RA and now Humdinger is looking to get it from him and he seriously doubts that he's going to just ask for it.
Rocky knows for sure that if he's going after the ark, he's going to have to reconnect with Zuma, which was impossible in Rocky's eyes.
He hadn't seen or even spoken to the dog since he left the team. As far as he knew, he hadn't been talking to anyone either. The lab has kept himself distant from the entire team. Even with the annual Christmas dinners at the lookout, Zuma has not shown up to any of them despite being invited every year.
It would always be the first topic brought up, with everyone saying how they've been trying to get in touch with him and not being successful. It is as if Zuma had simply vanished from everyone's lives.
Rocky doubts that even if he does find him, Zuma would listen to him. Especially after it's been five years since Rocky slashed the lab's heart. He'd be very surprised if Zuma doesn't straight up maw him the instant he sees him, and the depressing thing is that Rocky would let it happen.
The door opens and in walks Ryder with a gleam smile on his face.
Rocky wags. "Did you do it?"
Ryder smiles and nods. "They want you to go for it Rocky."
"Wah hoo! Yes!" Rocky howls in delight.
"Yep. They see how dangerous the ark can be and don't want to give Mayor Humdinger any chance to touch it. So, they want you to get the Ark before he does." Ryder adds. "They'll pay handsomely for it."
"That's all nice, but who gets it?" Rocky asks.
"Where else? Probably the Smithsonian." Ryder answers. "That relic will probably be the centerpiece for a long while, and you would be known as the one who found it."
"You know I don't really care about that Ryder, just as long as Humdinger doesn't get it." Rocky comments. He then shakes his head in surreal. "It's still the Ark of the Covenant though."
"Nothing really comes close Rock." Ryder replies. "It's probably the most sought-after artifact in human history, besides maybe the Holy Grail."
Rocky wags more. "You bet Ryder. That ark represents everything archeology is. I can't wait to find out if it really exists."
Ryder gave a delightful smile. "Me neither Rocky. You know what's funny is that Mom was actually on the ark's trail herself a few years ago. She was the first to do any sort of work on Tanis. She didn't find the city, but she did end up finding the headpiece. Unfortunately, it was stolen from her, and that's what stopped her pursuit of the ark."
"Yeah and somehow, it ended up with Zuma of all dogs." Rocky picks up, his exciting manner diminishing. "Which means I'm going to have to somehow…."
Rocky trails off as his mind drifts to Zuma and the state of their relationship. "You think he's still mad at me even after all this time?"
"I would say. He's had all this time to reconnect, but he still hasn't spoken a word to me, you, or anyone else." Ryder answers, his voice getting gravely low as his mind dwells on Zuma. "But believe me Rocky, Zuma's the least of your worries right now."
Rocky eyes Ryder. "What do you mean?"
"Well think about it Rock. This is the Ark of the Covenant were talking about." Ryder illiterates "Everyone's been searching for it for countless years, and no one knows it's secrets." The man suddenly has a tone of concern for Rocky. "Look, I know you have no problem taking care of yourself, but…..this isn't some random gold buried in the sand. It's like nothing you've gone after before."
Rocky snickers at Ryder's worries. "Ryder. Don't be like that. I'll be fine."
"I'm serious Rock….I cant help it." Ryder replies, seriously dwelling on Rocky's well being. "I just lost one of you a few days ago. I…..I don't want to lose you too."
Rocky solemnly looks at his longtime owner. He can feel the man's concern radiating out of him like a glow. "Ryder, it'll be okay. I promise, and to make it better, I'll try to get Zuma to talk to you again."
Ryder smirks and shakes his head. "Don't promise something that's impossible Rocky. You know that ship has long sailed away."
The sight of Zuma Beach in Malibu, California being covered with the haze of dawn was everything anyone could ask for a great evening at the beach.
The roaring waves, mid hot sand, and the sight of the sun looking straight towards the shore, the sound of waves clashing and the seagulls squawking only added to the relaxing mist that was the Pacific Ocean.
However, this wasn't what drew everyone's attention, at least not today. No, the annual surfing competition is what drew the sizable audience's attention, as a mix of humans and dogs all watched in anticipation of the last two competitors.
One of them, a French Bulldog, was just about ready to go. His confidence through the roof.
Having been in the California surfing scene for a while now, the bulldog thinks he has this in the bag. He knew he had a tough competitor after him, but that did not faze him in the slightest. He was confident enough to feel that whatever he had was a big act to follow.
He paddles around a little until he finally finds a wave he could work with. A big one forming that would be more than suitable for what he had planned.
As soon as he feels his board start to catch, he jumps to his fours and plants himself to ride the wall of the wave in clear view of the cheering audience, before he suddenly turns against it, launching him in the air over the wave about two times before landing back on his board.
The crowd cheered and wailed in response, not that he could hear them anyway, but he still smiles confidently to himself. He of course wasn't done yet, as he had one mighty trick up his sleeve.
The bulldog rode along the big wave that was surprisingly still roaring. He once again turns against the wave and jumps high in the air.
He then spreads his legs out like Apollo the Superdog, his surfboard jets out from under him, making the audience gasp. Then, before he could land in the water, the bulldog yanked his right hind where his surfboard was tethered, snapping it back under him, perfectly landing down on the wave, as it propelled him to words the shore.
The crowd pops as he surfs right on the sand. Giving a pompous bow to them before turning around towards the ocean with a snide grin, confident that no one could top what he just did.
However, there was still one last competitor left. A Chocolate Labrador whose life revolved around surfing, who funny enough bared the same name as the beach he was surfing on. Although it wasn't named after him, some would make the mistake that it was due to how well known he was in the community.
The dog was floating out in the ocean on his surfboard, watching the bulldog's routine unfold intently. Very impressed, but not intimidated.
The beach was his domain now and all eyes were on him. He had something that would defy their expectations and he knew they were expecting something big.
Zuma narrows his eyes on a growing wave suitable for his routine to commence.
He rises to his paws and rides along the wave, fighting with his board to keep his balance and make it look as smooth as possible.
The crowd looked on with bated breath as the Labrador made it look easy. The bulldog smirks as he watches.
Zuma then starts to snatch his board against the rapids. Throwing him in the air while rapidly, before landing on the water perfectly and maintained control to continue riding along the wave.
The crowd applauded this, but the bulldog watched, unturned by the display.
"Hm, if that's all that lab's got, then I have nothing to worry about." The bulldog says to himself. "That prize money is as good as mine."
That of course wasn't all Zuma had. There was one trick he wanted to try. A trick that he hasn't pulled off not even in practice, but this was the perfect wave to do it.
Zuma turned the nose towards the shore as the wave was now pushing him to it. Then, he stood up on his hind legs. One of his signature tricks where he was now surfing like a human.
The crowd stares in awe at the display. It was very difficult for a dog his size to surf on his hinds. Not that it hasn't been done before, but very few dogs can do it.
The bulldog's smirk shrinks. Feeling challenged for the first time.
However, Zuma wasn't done, he wanted to push it further. He then pulls up a leg behind him where he was now standing on his left hind leg only, fighting with the rough wave to keep his balance.
The crowd is amazed by this, as they erupt in thunderous cheers. The French Bulldog spins around with a displeased manner. Surfing on one foot is downright impossible for a dog to do and Zuma made it look easy as pie. Easily winning over the crowd.
Eventually, Zuma set back down on his fours, his surfboard flopping down on the water as he gets to shallow territory. He steps off his board, stands proudly in front of the crowd.
"A very radical display from one of the best to ever do it!" An announcer says in the microphone. "Give it up for Zuma!"
The crowd cheers louder, as Zuma bows to them with a proud smile.
"It seems the judges agree with you, because they just gave him a perfect ten across the board!" The announcer projects. "Making Zuma this year's annual winner for the second year in a row!"
The crowd somehow pops more as Zuma gains a flattered smile on him.
"He he. Thanks everyone." Zuma says out loud, though no one could hear him.
There was one dog who was not cheering and that was the French Bulldog.
"That wasn't so great! I bet I can do it myself! Even better!" He growls as he heads towards the water with his surfboard.
Eventually the dog catches sizable wave and proceeds to surf. Making sure he gets his balance right before he even attempts such a bold trick.
Zuma watches him with the crowd as the bulldog paddles back out to the roaring waves with purpose. Zuma shakes his head. "Geez, it's just a competition dude. Your gonna hurt yourself."
Once he felt he was ready, the dog lifts up on his hind legs to surf on them, just like Zuma, though he was a lot shakier with his balance, almost wiping out a time or two.
Zuma shook his head again. Although he was impressed a little, he could see from far away that he did not have full control. It won't end well for him unless the bulldog can right his balance.
A second later, the bulldog then took it further, as he shakingly rose to one leg. Now he was having a really tough time keeping his balance against the hard crashing waves.
Although he was looking really unstable, he actually managed a good few seconds until the inevitable happens with one thump down and he was off his board. Absorbed into the water as the waves tumbled over him.
The crowed awes at the wipe out as Zuma solemnly shake his head. At least he tried. But then he noticed after the wave diminished that the dog was suddenly thrashing around and howling for help. On pure instinct, Zuma rushes towards the water, diving through the waves and immediately pedaling. It was extremely rough due to the roaring rapids, but Zuma was a strong enough swimmer to overcome them.
The lab gets up to the bulldog who was still thrashing about.
"Help! Help! I can't swim!" The bulldog howls as he fights to keep his head afloat.
'Can't swim? What the? How did he become a surfer if he can't swim?'
Zuma shoot the weird thought off and grabbed his surfboard that was still tethered to him.
"Hey, hey. Calm down dude. Get on here and lay." Zuma instructed as he brought the door next to him.
The bulldog stopped thrashing when he felt the board and with Zuma's help, was able to climb up on it and laid on his belly.
Thankfully they were at a spot where the waves were relatively calm, allowing Zuma and the bulldog to be pushed to shore, immediately huddled by a crowd.
"You alright dude?" Zuma asks him.
"Ye-Yeah. I-I'm okay. Thanks." The bulldog replies. Catching his breath and spitting out any leftover water out of his mouth.
"Don't mention it dude." Zuma aknoledged. "You know, I don't think surfing's for you if you can't swim."
"You don't have to swim to surf Zuma." The bulldog gruffs. "You just gotta stay on the board."
Zuma rolls his eyes. "Whatever dude. You better stay on your board as much as possible I guess."
With that, Zuma walks away from the bulldog and up to a human who was the event promoter.
"Congratulations Zuma." He says as he hands Zuma an envelope. "A fine performance as always."
Zuma tears the envelope open to see his prize money. Clenching his face when he finds seven hundred dollars.
"Seven hundred? Really dude? This'll barley get me through the month." Zuma complains.
The man shrugs his shoulders. "Sorry man, but that's all I could muster up this year. You and Giff were the only ones competing in the canine division, you know. It's just not as popular as it once it was."
Zuma sighs in disappointment. "Whatever. I guess it's better than nothing."
The man shakes his head in sorrow. "It doesn't have to be this way Zuma. Especially for someone as talented as you. I'm telling you man, you need to branch out. Go pro."
"I already tried Cliff; you know that." Zuma replies. "I bombed at the Pawlympics harder than anyone could."
"That was two years ago Zuma." Cliff reminds him. "You can't let that keep you down."
Zuma didn't respond to that, picking up his board and walking away from Cliff who just shook his head in defeat.
In truth, Zuma has recently thought about going pro again, especially since he felt that he was a much better surfer than he was before, but he didn't know if he wanted to go through all of it again.
When Zuma left the Paw Patrol, his heart was in shambles. He felt unappreciated by his ex-owner and his best friend and lover at the time wanted nothing to do with him. The only thing he had left in his heart was surfing and he clung on to it for the past five years. Competing in many surfing competitions and being a big part of the surfing community on the west coast.
The first couple of years were pretty kind for the lab for the most part. Nabbing up small wins and gaining more skill of the waves. Gathering a great sum of money for his efforts, but it all went down him when he competed in the 2030 Pawlympics.
In parallel with the Olympic Games, the Pawlympics are a gathering of canines from all over the globe to compete in sports and games, held every four years. Only the best of the best could take part in the games on top of the fact that they didn't happen very often. It was a dream for Zuma to go there and compete to the highest level and showcase to the world what he does best. He didn't really care if he won as going to the games would've been enough.
However, that changed when he ended up going to the games and when was time to put up, Zuma choked and gave his worse performance ever. Not even making it to the semifinals, coming in dead last among tons of other dogs.
Truly humiliated by the events, Zuma tried to be optimistic in the few months that followed. Daring himself to go back and do much better. However, the abysmal effort at the games had a soul crushing effect on Zuma's mind as during that time, the lab's competitive edge seemed to diminish quickly.
He wasn't as successful as he was before the Pawlympics, getting bottom feeding scores from nearly every surfing event in the area, if he wasn't falling off his board left and right.
It all took a toll on him, to the point where he lost credibility and relevancy in the pro circuit. Not to mention, all the money Zuma had won and saved up over the years kept getting smaller and smaller.
Eventually, Zuma ended up denying he had any talent at all, and mercilessly stepped away from the circuit. Pouring all of what was left of his savings into a little rundown shack on Zuma Beach, opening it up as a surf shop. A dormant dream Zuma had that he never expected to act on so soon.
Zuma looks up to the shack itself with a slight sigh. Reflecting on how the past few years have been way challenging for himself.
"Home sweet home, I guess." Zuma sighs again, as he walks in, turning on the dim lights to reveal a medium sized rundown store that doubled as a home for the lab.
The Get-Wet Surf Shop wasn't the worst-looking shop in the world, but it definitely needs improvements. Being made of pure lumber and about as old as the sand it set upon, it of course wasn't up to standards. Many of its supports aged and being water damaged thanks to the holes in the roof that were hastily covered cheapily.
Despite this though, it was a cozy little store with various surfboards and accessories along the walls and little aisles containing knickknacks, food, and little mini coolers filled with sponsored drinks.
Believe it or not, the store has at least stabled Zuma's life as long as it could. Being moderately popular enough for him to stock the shelves at least. Though he wasn't getting much out of it, it was still enough to keep the lights on and stall his life until he could pick himself back up.
Zuma walks on over behind the counter in the back of the store, pulling out a dog bowl and a pint of Scruff Canine Whiskey. Using his forepaws to pour some into the bowl and began drinking.
He had a little buzz going thanks to some drinking at the surfing competition, so he wanted to go the distance and get a little drunk before going to bed.
Thanks to Ryder's vague lead and asking around, Rocky was able to pinpoint where Zuma might be. A rundown surf shop along Zuma Beach, as literal as that sounds.
When he came within eyesight of the shop, he stood there for what seemed like hours. Knowing for sure that he was at the right place thanks to the name, "Get-Wet Surf Shop."
What he didn't know was what was going to happen when he walks in the door. The two have never spoken to each other since Zuma left, and their friendship died dramatically.
He knew for sure that Zuma wasn't going to welcome him. The lab's heart was torn to pieces thanks to the mixed breed, and although time can heal wounds, Rocky doubted any healing has started.
Throughout the five years the mixed breed has constantly thought back to that day, where Rocky stood his ground and shoved Zuma away. Whether he was right in doing so remains in the air and now, he was about to take a knife and cut open an old wound that both Rocky and Zuma would rather remain closed. But thanks to what's at stake, Rocky has no say in the matter.
Drawing a huge breath, Rocky prepares to walk through the door, bracing himself for anything.
Here we go! A crucial moment for both Rocky and Zuma! How will Zuma react to Rocky showing up after his heart was ripped after so long, and will he even listen to him?
There's only one way to find out and that's to come back next week for Chapter 4: Opening Old Wounds!
Please review let me know what your favorite parts are and if you have any questions about the story or anything else, leave a comment or message me and I'll get back with you as soon as I can.
This is Sean Thames of DragonsFire Entertainment signing off