As Blitz packed up his things that night, he was smiling after what he had to top off his Hawaiian vacation.
"Oh, what a luau.", he sighed as he slumped into a chair contently, "The limbo, the fire dancing, the shaved ice. I should really do this more often."
Just when it looked like his night was over, Blitz suddenly remembered his brief encounter earlier that very afternoon which replaced his fun with dread.
"He… he's a rover also?", he thought to himself, "But how did he get the treatment?"
As Blitz then took a walk outside for a final jog, something near the beach caught his eye and carefully, he made his way there to see a couple of other rovers that were clearly not Shepherd's or any ally he could recall, but something was up and luckily he had his equipment with him so he got out a special device to pick up far off sounds and a conversation came through.
"Too bad the core was taken."
"Don't be stupid. He knew it was going to go down. Besides, the core was just the bait for the special research we needed here."
Blitz's heart skipped a beat again. That whole core being stolen was all a phase? Now he was really feeling more than a bit anxious.
"Good thing our spy is so good at what they do. Those two idiots Parlov and Groomer make good scapegoats."
Blitz's eyes went bigger. Parlov and Groomer were in this also which ment big trouble.
"Hey, you want to get on her bad side?! Charae is not one to take a comment like that from us."
Blitz recalled that grey hound from before and realization came to his mind's eye. The core may have been a red herring, but what could be here in Hawaii that they could steal? Blitz pondered as he observed the two rovers walk off clearly under orders before putting his special gadget away. Just as he got a few feet away, his Rover communicator went off startling him for a moment, but relaxed when he found out who it was.
"Hey Theo, why are you calling?", he asked as he was walking back to his hotel.
"Oh, just thought I'd check in on how you're doing.", Theo answered casually, "Colleen might be on to me, but as far as the rest know, she's gone off the deep end and needs therapy."
Blitz felt some satisfaction at that news. Colleen had been rejecting and making fun of him for a little too long and it was about time that English collie got a taste of her own medicine. Still, he now started thinking that he may have come on to her too strong and through some group gatherings here on his vacation, he had learned some humility which also helped his aggression problems also.
"Blitz?"
Blitz snapped out of his daze as he slapped on a smile.
"Sorry, I just… remembered something."
Theo looked understanding.
"Hey, everyone has issues Blitz, but we can learn how to maintain them."
Blitz felt happy that he finally had someone he could talk to open up and be non-judgmental before he got back to his hotel and heading to his room.
"Thanks Theo. I'll be back in Germany tomorrow if I use the special system that we use back at the base."
Theo nodded.
"Glad to be of help Blitz.", he answered, "You'll be expected at the base tomorrow actually."
Blitz looked a bit embarrassed.
"Oh, sorry.", he admitted.
"It's okay.", Theo answered, "See you soon."
When Blitz hung up, he then flopped into bed content and was out like a light. His flight back was after breakfast tomorrow and he didn't want to be late.
/
Colleen wasn't feeling any less tense as she came into the base that morning. She knew what she saw and was determined to show the others.
"Colleen?"
Colleen was temporarily brought out of her trance as she saw Exile walking up to her looking worried.
"You okay?"
Colleen sighed and tried to cover up her troubled look, but knew that her friend would probably know if she was lying.
"Yeah, I'm just a bit tense about yesterday."
Exile then looked a bit less tense as he had news about Muzzle.
"Well, Muzzle's okay. He wasn't banged up too bad as doc told us."
Colleen felt relieved to hear that. Muzzle may be a crazed rover who attacked on sight, but he was still useful and handy in times of need, but she was still a bit miffed at Blitz for that reckless plan he had. Still, she was obliged to Exile to let him know her feelings though she would be more open up to Hunter.
"Exile, I know what I saw yesterday. Blitz is not himself."
Exile looked her way funny.
"Colleen, Blitz may be reckless and not as arrogant as he used to be, but maybe if we talk to him-"
"Talk to him?!", Colleen snapped as her mixed emotions got to her, "After all those times he did to us?!"
Exile was surprised by his friend's outburst, but had noticed that they had gone into the main room where the rest (excluding Blitz) had gathered and were now listening as Colleen continued to rant.
"We have tried just about everything, and still he doesn't yield! Blitz has no right to-"
She stopped suddenly as she saw Hunter and Shag were looking her way surprised.
"Hunter, how much did you hear?", she asked.
"We heard enough.", Hunter said to her as he tried to calm down, "Look, I know Blitz can be… difficult, but he's still our teammate. Shepherd made him a member for a reason and maybe we've got some amends to make with him."
Colleen raised an eyebrow as if interested.
"How so?"
Hunter sighed as he looked her way.
"Like tell him that you're sorry for all those times you made fun of him and he apologizes for being so arrogant and intrusive?"
Shag saw Colleen look more confused, but also noticed Blitz come into the room wearing a Hawaiian shirt, shorts and sandals. Blitz just went by and to his room without anyone else noticing for a moment, but he soon appeared again in his Rover uniform though Blitz looked a bit more humbled than he usually did. Colleen noticed too and looked annoyed.
"Oh, it's you again.", she sneered.
Blitz flinched, but then sighed.
"Hello Colleen.", he said before turning to Hunter looking a bit curious, "Miss me?"
Hunter was a little taken aback with Blitz's mood, but he then looked firm.
"Blitz, there's something we need to talk about."
"You want me to turn down the ego and apologize for my behavior.", Blitz said casually, "Okay, I'm sorry."
The team was totally surprised. Blitz wasn't one to apologize, but now he just did. Before Colleen knew it, she felt guilt well up in herself and felt obliged to make amends as Hunter said.
"I'm sorry too.", she admitted, "I just wanted you to back off and maybe went about it the wrong way. I never should have made fun of you the way I did. It was wrong."
Blitz looked a bit more at ease as Colleen was apologizing. Shag then babbled something, but they knew what it was.
"Okay, I'll stop making fun of Blitz and hitting him if he tones down the ego.", Colleen admitted.
"And I'll back off more often and respect the team more often.", Blitz put in.
Hunter felt happy that Blitz and Colleen would get along better. Maybe Blitz's new persona was what the team needed to function better.
/
Parvo rubbed his backside while looking annoyed and insulted.
"I can't believe we just got our butts kicked by those Rovers again.", he grouched.
Groomer tried to still her superior's tension as he started hacking and coughed up a hairball. Then they felt a presence and turned to see the Rover from before with his metal mask gleaming. Surprisingly, he was smiling as if they had succeeded.
"You have a nerve to do what you did.", Parvo snapped, "You clearly don't know what-"
"Parvo, I leave nothing to chance.", the Rover answered calmly, "It was a distraction and it worked."
Groomer looked interested.
"In what way?", she asked.
The Rover moved to the side to reveal a cart with some machine parts that looked high-tech.
"The laboratory in that part of Hawaii was developing a special form of metal that was needed for our plan. And this tech will help us channel the necessary energy waves."
Parvo noticed a large sphere that looked full of something and suddenly grew suspicious.
"What exactly is this stuff for Mr. Whatever your name is?"
The Rover looked his way.
"Call me Marauder.", he answered cooly, "Know it, fear it, obey it."
Groomer looked to see Charae in her true Ibizan form as she walked up to Marauder's side as if she was his wife.
"Who's this?", Parvo asked in confusion, "Isn't she some kind of-"
"I'm afraid that certain people had to drop Parvo.", Marauder answered calmly, "But I've had Charae here keep up appearances. She takes so many forms which fits in with my requirements for my goals."
Groomer was now more interested than ever.
"How did you get Shepherd's Rover technology?", she asked.
"We have our sources.", Marauder answered before looking Charae's way smiling, "Could you give us a moment dearest?"
Charae returned the smile as she strode off and a couple more Rovers were nearby looking eager and deadly.
"Whiplash provides insight while being a martial arts master, Garrett gives the extra muscle to any shake down, and the rest will be revealed in time.", Marauder stated calmly, "Now to work."
Whiplash (the Whippet from earlier) pulled out a file and opened it before Garrett (a muscular Pit Bull) looked interested.
"Unfortunately sir, the proper generator needed for our operation is in a high security facility in Paris in which we have no access."
Marauder didn't look worried (then again with a scary metal mask covering the top half of his face, he hardly did).
"Nothing is inaccessible to me.", he answered.
He went over to a computer and punched in a number which rang for a couple times before the other end picked up.
"Yeah?"
"Your talents are needed.", Marauder informed, "There's a special generator I want you to retrieve for me."
"When do I start?"
/
As the Rovers started making amends for the past, Blitz felt like he should explain what he had come face to face with.
"Guys, there's something I need to tell you."
Colleen looked firm.
"Blitz, I already told you that-"
"No, not that.", Blitz stated, "I'm talking about-"
Just then the alarm rang out.
"Hold that thought.", Hunter said, "We have to get to work."
Hunter led the team to the main room with Shag bringing up the rear with Muzzle. Shepherd was already there and looking curious.
"Blitz, I feel a change in you."
Blitz looked confused for a moment, but he remembered Theo so he pulled it together.
"I… thought I'd step up."
Colleen rolled her eyes. Blitz wasn't so forward with her, but there were some things about that Rover that couldn't change. Still, as talk went on, she noticed Blitz's reflection in a reflective surface and it only showed Blitz's reflection which made her grow tense. Did she really just see something and overreacted?
"Colleen?"
Colleen came out of her daze as she turned to Shepherd.
"Yes Master?", she asked.
"You seem distant.", Exile answered before turning to Hunter, "First Blitz is acting off and now Colleen? What's going on?"
Shepherd looked firm.
"Never mind that. We got trouble in France. Something is going on and you need to find out what."
Hunter nodded and turned to the team.
"Okay, let's roll."
Blitz felt a surge of eagerness on top of his timidness. He didn't know what, but he suddenly felt like he was on the team and not just physically, but for real. And as the team got into the jet, the others noticed, but were a bit more at ease. Colleen was thankful that Blitz was giving her a little space and respecting her so she felt obliged to respect him, but why couldn't she forget what she saw?
"Engines online.", Blitz reported.
Colleen quickly pulled herself together and did a once over.
"Everything checks out Hunty.", she told Hunter.
Hunter blushed a bit, but quickly got over it.
"Okay, off to Paris."
As the jet took off, Blitz remembered Theo and felt thankful for the opportunity for a break. He even recalled the supportive talk some of his fellow group members gave him.
"Never be afraid to do what you know is right."
"You have potential Blitz, but it will only prosper if you use it fairly and wisely."
"You only live once, but how do you want to be remembered?"
Blitz readied his station, but smiled as he looked out on the wide-open world below as Theo's song echoed in his ears. Colleen had apologized and though he did still like her, he wanted to prove he could be a true Rover and Theo gave him a chance to do so.
"Thanks Theo.", he said quietly to himself, "Thanks for the chance."
As the jet flew off towards France, Theo was observing the whole thing in his mirror as he sat on a ledge in the open air.
"Well, Colleen and Blitz have made up and now respect each other enough to forgive the sins of their past, but France will provide a new challenge if the team doesn't come together."
Theo observed as he noticed Muzzle still recovering and waved a finger. Muzzle's injuries healed quickly before anyone else noticed, but as Shag noticed, he looked a bit spooked.
"Hmm, this one seems promising.", Theo continued as he observed Muzzle, "A former pet of Shepherd's who wasn't mutated properly. Well, we can't have that now can we? But that's an event for another time."
He got up and brushed his shoulder before pocketing his mirror.
"So, a team finally coming together, another team set on creating trouble while making a name for itself.", he told himself as he recalled seeing Marauder with Parvo and Groomer, "And an old enemy allied with it. Guess I'll be in for quite a story for the bookshelf back in Subspace."
And with a turn and as he started walking off, he chuckled as he recalled the book back in Subspace.
"One more series after this one.", he reminded himself, "One more."
