In the streets of Adventure Bay
Late into the night, two Golden Retrievers were running down the streets of Adventure Bay, as a Dalmatian wielding a .44 was following behind them. The older retriever was carrying a briefcase, which was the reason they were being attacked.
The two retrievers decided to try to lose them in a nearby alleyway. But as the older one was turning the corner into the alleyway, they were struck by a bullet and fell to the ground, luckily now out of sight of their attacker.
"Mom!" The younger retriever yelled as she ran to her mother's side, holding her.
"A-Angel, take this-s and run." The older retriever told the other, handing the briefcase to her.
"And what about you?" The younger one asked, staring at her mother.
"Leave me. Just, d-don't let them get to that briefcase." The older one replied, trying her best to convince her daughter to just run away.
They both then heard footsteps around the corner. The younger retriever glanced at her mother one more time, who simply nodded in response. She then stood up and began running. But soon, she realized she wouldn't make it to the other end in time. So she dove behind a dumpster and hid, just as the Dalmatian turned the corner into the alleyway.
They approached the retriever that was lying on the ground, clearly annoyed. "Where is the briefcase?" The Dalmatian asked, looking around the area.
"Why should I tell you? You'll kill me no matter what I say." The retriever replied, the Dalmatian replied by walking up to her, and raising the .44
"Maybe I will, maybe I won't. Give me an answer, and we'll find out." The Dalmatian replied, giving the retriever a choice to make.
"I'll die before I tell you where she is!" The Retriever exclaimed, chosing to protect her daughters life over her own.
"How unfortunate." The Dalmatian said before cocking the hammer on the revolver. The younger Dalmatian glanced around the dumpster to see, hoping that her mother somehow survived.
*Bang*
but instead, she saw a flash of light, and her mother lying motionless on the ground. The Dalmatian looked around one more time, before leaving the alleyway, cursing his failures to secure this damn briefcase. The younger retriever knew this was her time to escape, and ran to the opposite side from where they entered, finally entering the streets again, and making her way back to her home.
The next day...
At the lookout
Zuma was in the main room, hanging out with Rocky and Skye as they all watched the TV. Chase and Ace had already left, called away to help investigate another crime scene. Everest had also left, on her way back to the resort. And Marshall was upstairs, discussing something important with Ryder. None of them knew what it was, but it wasn't their place to ask, so they just ignored it.
Eventually, Zuma was getting bored of the show that was playing, and he could tell Rocky was as well. Zuma got up, making sure not to bother Skye, who was focused completely on the show, and went over to Rocky. He tapped the mixed breed to get his attention and asked him if he wanted to go do something else.
"Like what?" Rocky asked, having trouble thinking about what else to do.
"I dunno, take a walk awound the town? Just something othew than sitting here." Zuma replied.
Rocky thought about it for a moment before deciding. "Sure, it's something at least." Rocky accepted as he stood up.
He and Zuma then left the lookout, glancing at their vehicles for a moment before deciding to just walk to the town, then began their walk to the town of Adventure Bay.
As they walked over the large bridge that separated the lookout from the rest of Adventure Bay, they looked out at the horizon. The water was calm and sparkling, while the sky was clear of any clouds, much different from what it was during the storm only a couple days before.
"It's a beautiful view, I have to admit." Rocky said, admiring the bay.
"I know, I have functioning eyes Wocky, believe it or not." Zuma responded, smiling at the mixed breed.
"Zuma..." Rocky said, glaring at the Labrador. Zuma laughed before both of them continued on their way.
As they entered the town of Adventure Bay itself, the two canines began discussing what their future goals in life were. Zuma wasn't hunting for anything specific, preferring to just stay as a part-time lifeguard.
"I'm probably just going to found my own company whenever I do resign. I mean, one thing I'm good at is building and inventing, so I'd just continue to build and invent. Also, Zuma, you used to be all about theatre and stuff. Why don't you go back to acting? With your fame from the PAW Patrol, I bet you'd be pretty successful." Rocky told him, genuinely thinking he'd be good at it.
"Ehh, I still am. It's just, theatre and acting is kind of closed off at this point ,thanks to that Juniper guy. Everyone wants him, anyone else is just a substitute in the directors eyes." Zuma responded, holding resentment for Juniper.
Rocky stood quiet, trying to think of a way to respond, but coming up with nothing. He then continued walking before Zuma got too far away from him for him to catch up.
Back at the lookout
Ryder and Marshall were in Ryder's office on the top floor, discussing the events that occured recently. Normally, Ryder would speak to Chase about this. But Chase was currently on a mission, so Marshall, being the third-in-command, was with him instead.
As they were speaking to one another about Tuck and Ella, who Marshall had actually forgotten about until Artemis mentioned them the day before, Ryder received a call on his puppad. He picked up his puppad and answered, wondering who it could be.
"Hello, this is Ryder from the PAW Patrol, what is your emergency?" Ryder asked, using his standard greeting.
"Hello Ryder, could I have one of you visit me? I need someone to give something to Chase." The person on the other end replied.
"Uhh, sure thing. Where are you? And who is this exactly?" Ryder asked, a bit confused now.
"I'm at the...apartment complex...on the other end of town, and my name is Angel." Angel replied, a little hesitant to give out her exact location over the phone.
Ryder then used his puppad to check where all the pups were located (Using the tracking data from the puptags). "Alright, Zuma is the one closest to you, so I'll send him to pick it up." Ryder informed the pup.
"Alright, thanks sir." Angel thanked him.
"No problem ma'am." Ryder responded before ending the call. He then opened a small display, before calling Zuma.
"Hey Wydew, what is it that you need?" Zuma asked, wondering why his leader was calling him.
"Hey Zuma, can you go pick up something from someone for me?" Ryder asked the Labrador.
"Suwe thing Wydew, whewe awe they? Ow, whewe is it?" Zuma asked, Ryder had a bit of trouble understanding him for a moment, but eventually responded.
"I'll send you the location." Ryder replied before doing just that, Zuma then received them and began traveling to the location given.
"Alwight, I'll be back soon, bye Wydew." Zuma said before ending the call.
Ryder then placed the puppad back onto his desk before turning back to the Dalmatian next to him and continuing their conversation.
Back In Adventure Bay
Zuma and Rocky were making their way through Adventure Bay, heading toward the coordinates that Ryder sent them. They didn't know what they were picking up, or who they were getting it from, but they assumed those questions would be answered when they got there.
"Hey Zuma, don't you think this is a bit suspicious?" Rocky asked his friend.
"Not really, why do you say that?" Zuma asked, raising an eyebrow, not understanding what seemed off about this task.
"I mean, an unknown person wants us to go pick up an unknown object from them? Then bring it back to the lookout, our main base. Why wouldn't they just bring it to us if it was urgent?" Rocky replied, clearly very suspicious of the situation.
"You have a point. But also, we've done stuff like this before. This definitely isn't the first time we've had to go collect something that ends up helping us later on." Zuma pointed out.
The two pups continued their walk until they arrived at the location, a large apartment complex near the edge of town. They both looked up at it for a moment before walking up to the door, and entering.
Upon entering, they were greeted by a spacious lobby, floors covered in red carpet, and a large chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The two admired the room for a second before Zuma began approaching the front desk. However, he was stopped halfway there by a familiar Golden Retriever, who he clearly recognized from somewhere. Then it clicked.
"Oh, sup Angel." Zuma greeted the pup.
"Hey again Angel!" Rocky also greeted her as he approached the two.
"Hey guys, I assume you're here because of my call?" Angel asked, tilting her head as she did.
"You'we the pewson we'we supposed to be picking up something fwom?" Zuma asked, confirming if she was the right one.
"Yep, that's me." Angel replied, nodding. She then told them to follow her as she began walking toward the elevator. Zuma and Rocky shared a glance before following behind her.
Upon entering the elevator, they all three just stared ahead at the door in silence as they slowly rose up to the floor Angel's room was on. The only sound that was audible was the elevator music, playing it's calm tune.
Zuma began silently humming the tune of the music as they rose, hoping for the doors to open soon so they weren't trapped in the iron maiden that was this elevator any longer. Luckily, his wish would be granted as the elevator stopped and the doors began to open.
Angel led the two out of the elevator and down the hall. Eventually, they arrived at her room. After a short moment, the Golden Retriever opened the door, and the three of them entered.
"You could've just gotten, whatevew we'we picking up fwom you, and bwought it to the lobby y'know." Zuma pointed out, wondering why she brought them all the way to her room to give them one object to bring back to the lookout.
"Trust me, this is very important. I can't be seen with it in my possession." Angel replied, insisting that something bad would've happened to her if she did.
"Alwight..." Zuma said, a bit confused now.
Angel then ran off to her room, leaving Rocky and Zuma standing there, looking around while waiting for Angel to return. Angel grabbed a large briefcase that was hidden under her bed then looked around at the windows, before heading back to the main room and giving the briefcase to Zuma.
"Is this it?" Zuma asked as he grabbed the briefcase from her.
"Yeah. I know it doesn't seem like much, but this must get to Chase. Don't let anyone take it from you two." Angel stressed to him.
"Don't wowwy, we won't." Zuma told her.
"Yeah, it's safe with us." Rocky added.
"Alright, thanks you two." Angel thanked them.
"No pwoblem!" Zuma said back as he left the room, with Rocky following behind.
Back at the lookout
A police truck arrived back at the lookout, with the second-in-command driving it. Ace was still out, helping Artemis and Magnum at the station. So Chase arrived home alone.
The shepherd pulled into the parking lot and parked his truck in it's usual spot, before hopping out. Chase approached the doors of the lookout, silently entering and seeing Skye sitting down, watching TV.
Chase walked over to the Cockapoo and laid his head on her shoulder, while glancing up at the TV.
"Hello Skye." Chase whispered, smiling at the Cockapoo.
"Hé Beau." Skye whispered back, in her natural language. Chase glanced over at her, which caused Skye to silently giggle before pushing her head against his while smiling. "So, how did it go?" Skye asked, wondering if he finally made progress.
"The same as usual. We get there, investigate the scene, and there's no evidence of a killers existence except for a body. They even picked up the bullet casing before leaving the scene. Whoever this killer is, they've thought of everything." Chase replied, explaining the struggles the ABPD were facing.
"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll catch them eventually." Skye said, trying to calm down the shepherd.
I hope we do. Chase thought to himself. "Do you want to go on a walk through the woods? Y'know, just admire nature for a bit?" Chase asked her, wanting to just take a relaxing walk.
"Sure!" Skye replied, hopping up and turning off the TV, before following Chase as they left the lookout.
Back with Zuma and Rocky
The two canines left the apartment complex, having a short discussion before separating. With Rocky heading to the lookout, while Zuma began heading to the police station, which is where he assumed Chase was.
As he was walking down the sidewalk, he thought about what could possibly be in the briefcase that could be so important. Maybe it was evidence on the current case Chase was on, maybe it was a gift of some sort, he didn't know.
Eventually, when he was about halfway to the police station. His puptag started making a weird sound, like it was glitching out. By the time he glanced down at it and grabbed it however, it went back to normal. He then heard a familiar voice talking to him, Chase's.
"Chase? What do you need dude?" Zuma asked, a bit confused why he used the override to call him when he knew he'd accept a standard call.
"Hey Zuma, do you got that case?" Chase asked, something about his voice sounded...off, but Zuma couldn't quite put his paw on what it was.
"Uhh yeah dude, I'm on the way to the station now actually to bwing it to you." Zuma replied.
"I'm not at the station, I'm near the crime scene. Can you bring it over here?" Chase asked.
"Uhh, suwe thing dude. I'll be thewe soon." Zuma replied. "Could you send me your current location?"
"Sure, thanks!" Chase thanked him before ending the call.
Zuma stood there, even more confused now. Something seemed extremely off about Chase to him, and he was quite hesitant to actually go meet him for some reason. But he told himself that this was one of his friends, and began making his way to the location Chase sent him.
15 minutes later...
As Zuma arrived at the location, he noticed it led to a large warehouse type building. He walked around the outside of the building until he found an entrance. He pushed open the large, heavy door and entered, still confused as to why Chase was here of all places.
When he made it inside, he saw a large, empty room, with a small table and chair near the center. He also saw Chase, standing at the table.
"Hey Chase." Zuma greeted the shepherd, Chase immediately turned to look at him, a bit surprised.
"Hello Zuma." Chase responded, something still seemed off about him. But Zuma brushed it off. "You have the briefcase?" Chase asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yep, right hewe." Zuma replied, giving him the briefcase. Chase took the briefcase from him and dropped it onto the table, before picking up a crowbar.
Zuma turned away and looked around the large room, wondering what this place was used for. He then decided to ask Chase what was in the briefcase that was so important. As he turned to look at the shepherd however, he saw something fly toward him, before everything went dark.
That's the end of Chapter 10.
Updates will likely pause here for a week or two as I'm currently working on a project and don't have much time to write. When that project is complete, I'll continue posting.
Anyway, thank you all for reading so far, until the next chapter, bye everyone.
-König der Könige