Rocky used to have everything, as a puppy being a member of the PAW Patrol set you for life. Hundreds of missions came and went, like a fearless warrior he dove into action to protect and serve the people of Adventure Bay time and time again. It was a life he never would've given up, nothing but him and his best friends saving the world.
Until everything was taken from him.
Years passed, time went on in a vicious cycle powerless to stop, Rocky walked the streets of Adventure Bay a puppy no more, but a fully grown dog. He nearly forgot how his uniform even felt as it had been ages since he wore it, but even if he had it now, he probably would've burned it.
Sneaking a look behind him, Rocky slipped through the door of a local cafe known for their service to animals. Adventure Bay was rather peculiar in their inclusion with dogs into daily life, but no one got anywhere questioning such things. It was a cafe he'd been to dozens of times, the cool atmosphere of its interior graciously greeting him upon entry, the sounds of milling conversation and people happy to share a cup of coffee crossing his ears.
He spotted the table due for the meeting, and swiftly took his place after grabbing a menu. Hunger pangs weren't on his mind, the small booklet was more to conceal his presence than to actually order anything.
Well, probably not nothing, he second-guessed himself once a whiff of coffee hit his nose. A drink wouldn't be too bad, a quick refresher as opposed to actually sitting down in front of a whole meal. He spent a while at the table; once he ordered his drink it was all just an impatient waiting game.
He felt exposed, uncomfortably so, reminding him of all the reasons he hated still going out in public. Nevermind it being flat out dangerous for him to do so, but the anxiety of stepping into the sunlight followed him after his leave from the PAW Patrol.
The contact finally entered the cafe, Rocky was moments away from calling the whole thing off and tearing hell out of there. The dog spotted him hiding his face with the menu and came over to greet him with rolled eyes.
"You don't need to hide your face," said a new voice meeting him at the table. "Plenty of strays around here look identical to you."
Rocky looked up from the menu, meeting the questioning gaze of a golden retriever sitting down across from him.
"I can't take any chances," Rocky said with a hissed voice. "You never know if someone's listening."
"I see you're still paranoid."
"It's not paranoia, Tuck," the grey dog pointed with his paw. "I wouldn't put it past them to lay eyes and ears everywhere."
Tuck rolled his eyes, gesturing for a waitress to come over. "So why did you call me here… in such a rather hushed phone call, I might add?"
"Listen, I need your help," Rocky hunched over slightly as a uniformed dog brought cups of coffee. He waited for them to leave before speaking again, "can I trust you?"
"I could ask you the same thing," Tuck cradled his mug of espresso. "You don't have the best reputation with the PAW Patrol right now. A lot of dogs have you on their shit-list."
"I'm aware, I just need someone to help me gather information, can you get into their central computer."
Raising his paw, Tuck sharply halted him. "Stop. You're asking me to invade their archives and… do what, steal data?"
Rocky leaned in, curling his lips in a quiet snarl. "Not data, Tuck. Evidence, something I could use against them."
"Sounds like you're just pissed they kicked you out," Tuck raised an eyebrow. "I'm starting to see why now."
"You don't know half of it."
"Then please, humor me."
"They-" Rocky stopped quickly, frantically looking around to anyone possibly listening in. "Look… I know things about them, I know what they do behind closed doors. I know what they really are, behind the public image they uphold." He lowered his voice a little more, "they've all gone off the deep end, every last one. I didn't agree with the shit they were doing, and they realized they couldn't turn me. So they kicked me out and hired some… nobody to replace me."
"Valor," Tuck said, remembering the name of the Patrol's newest member. "I wouldn't call him a nobody, dude's pretty interesting."
"Yeah and I'm willing to bet he's just as bad, worse even," Rocky almost spat. "I can't believe they just… turned into all that. I thought so highly of them as puppies and now they're just…"
Tuck tilted his head, awaiting the end of the sentence. "Just what?"
"... arrogant jerks who abuse their power."
"Do you have any actual evidence of that?"
"Well, no… but-"
"Exactly," Tuck said. "Look Rocky, you want my advice? Accept your reality and just move on, find something to do with your life." He tapped his paw, looking off and retracting old memories. "I know how it feels to be angry at the past, to feel spiteful of people you used to uphold… but it's all over now, why not just move on?"
"It's not over," Rocky almost growled, still trying to keep a low profile. "I know they're doing things behind people's backs, and if I could just get someone's help for their main computer, I could probably find something!"
"Rocky," Tuck straightened up. "I'm not doing it, I'm sorry. The PAW Patrol have been -and still are- my greatest friends. But you are too, so I won't tell them you were here."
"I don't need your sympathy Tuck, I just need… help."
"You do need help," the retriever stood up, leaving some money on the table. "Maybe see a therapist, that could be your next step. Enjoy a meal, on me."
Feeling anger bubbling inside him, Rocky called after his friend. "You don't know what they'll do next!"
Tuck stopped in the middle of the cafe, looking over his shoulder at him. "I do. They'll protect and serve… just as they always have for years."
Without another word, Tuck abandoned his friend alone in the cafe, leaving him to his melting pot of anger and stewing hatred. Rocky wanted to last at him, to run after the retriever and shake sense into him, but slowly his anger dissolved into broken sorrow. His claws retracted with defeat, and he rested his chin on the table. Mindless songs of the broken beat down into his body, he had to cover his face with the menu again to shield his tears.
The day went on in peaceful silence, until the sun fell to sleep and the moon rose beautifully into the sky. Deep in the calmest whispers of midnight, a single dog paced around her owner's house in a fit of anxiety. The lone Labrador stewed in fright, muttering questions and uncertainties under her breath. Unable to take it any longer, she sprinted out into the backyard where her little wooden den stood humbly waiting. Grabbing an emergency radio collar, she made a hesitant, frenzied phone call.
A short hour later, a fine German shepherd slipped through the bushes, his pawsteps muffled under the night's shadow.
The Labrador had been waiting for him in her den's doorway, kneading her paws in a nervous wreck. She lightened up once taking an eyeful of his handsome poise. "Oh Chase, I'm sorry for bringing you all the way out here…"
The mighty shepherd gave a sweet smile, putting a paw to his uniformed chest. "Don't worry sweetheart, the PAW Patrol is always here to help you. And besides, I tend to be nocturnal during my midnight shifts, heh." He let out a heart chuckle. "And you sounded so scared over the phone, how could I say no to a dog in need?"
"You always have been our savior," she sighed, blushing slightly under her blond fur. "It's… quite thrilling to see you up close."
"Awe, come on," Chase said with a charmed laugh. "You don't have to butter me up like that," he took a step closer, lowering his voice. "Although… you're welcome for a more… personal experience with me."
"Oh, no no I- I'm good," the Lab held up her paw, surprised he even offered such a thing. "But even I can't deny how… nicely you've grown up." She trailed her leg along the ground, struggling to hide the reddened flush across her face.
The officer dared to step forward, almost cornering her inside the kennel. "Sweet thing, did you call me all the way out here in the dreadful silence… just to have a night of-"
"No… Chase. Tempting… but no. I wanted to report a crime."
"Oh really now?" the officer tilted his head. "I suppose that's my field, heh. So what did you want to report? And… why the secrecy?"
No doubt the million dollar question, she already knew it was coming and nothing could've prepared her. Discomfort was well visible on her face, making Chase falter with concern for the poor animal. Something was up, something that brought fear to the weak canine, and Chase would stop at nothing to make things right.
"It's sort of the… nature of what I saw," she said, voice notably on edge.
"What's wrong?" asked the shepherd, lowering his voice softly.
"Do you… remember that house fire yesterday?" said the Lab, sitting back and looking to the wall. "There were like… some people inside, a dog, and…"
Chase put a paw to his chin, thinking back on their recent endeavors. "Hm, oh yeah, that one, I remember it," he immediately brightened up, puffing his fur in pride. "Me and Marshall got that whole thing solved in less than a few minutes! Let me tell you, that Dalmatian is the best firefighter this city has; dragged out those two kids like nothing."
"Yes, I recall it clearly, but here's the thing…" she hesitated, unsure of how to speak her truth. "I think I've learned something… significant about what caused the fire."
"The 'cause' was faulty wiring," Chase said dismissively. "That's done and over with."
"Y-yes I know, I'm not challenging that or anything, but I found footage that suggests… otherwise."
"Otherwise?" the shepherd echoed her words, his voice dropping in tone.
The Lab beckoned for him to enter her den, coming to a far shelf resting in her room. Atop the aged, handcrafted wood was a single tiny memory card, removed from a camera and housing whatever secrets it carried. Chase followed her in, great intrigue displayed on his face.
"I was in the area just before the fire started," she began, reaching toward the memory card. "I was standing sort of… behind the house-ish? Like I was in the backyard, I'm friends with the dog who lives there and we were playing."
"And?" Chase said.
"I keep a camera on my collar, I've been trying to pursue photography and I… really enjoy it. But I think I caught footage of…" she hesitated to speak, uncomfortable by what events she witnessed. "I caught video footage of Marshall, he was sort of… creeping around the area. Close too, I think he was within the property line."
The shepherd shrugged, wandering his vision to the polaroid photos of nature hanging on the walls. "Well that doesn't surprise me, we were the first responders, of course we'd be there."
"But you only arrived after the fire started," she turned to him. "This footage I got of him… it was like fifteen minutes before. I don't really know what to think about all this," she frowned with conflicted emotion clouding her head. "Why would Marshall be there just before the fire, disappear suddenly, then come back with you to put it out?"
It took Chase a moment to answer, a part of him wasn't even listening. "A rather jarring coincidence I agree, but it's largely nothing."
"Chase… I really hate to say this," her legs started quivering. "But… I think Marshall might've started the fire."
The police officer remained detached from the conversation, only giving her a single questioning look. "Well isn't that a serious accusation."
"I- I know, I'm sorry to say it, especially knowing how much the PAW Patrol puts on the line to keep us safe," she said, her voice stuttering over itself. "But I don't see any other way this can line up… I was hoping to give the evidence to you."
"I see," came the officer's muttered response. "This is… quite disturbing," he approached her with a puzzled expression, looking down in contemplation. "As a police officer, I can go over the evidence and…" he gave a defeated breath. "If Marshall really did start that, then we have a sticky situation on our paws. What's your name?"
"Chloe," she said nervously, sweat pooling under her paws.
"This footage, is it all on that memory card?"
"Yes, here," Chloe swiped the tiny data drive and placed it on the floor, pushing it to him with her nose. "I knew I could count on you to protect us."
The shepherd held his head high, looking down on her with a warming glow. "Chloe, you have my word as a police officer, I'll take this Ryder, and personally see through if Marshall was responsible. And if he was… then he'll be punished to the fullest extent of the law."
Chloe gave a sigh of relief, immeasurable weight lifted from her shoulders, all thanks to her childhood hero. "Thank you… Chase, I'll be sure to-"
Her words violently slurred as metal flicked through the air, gruesomely slicing across her throat in a single, merciless motion. Chloe shrieked in a bloodied gurgle as her throat spilled red across the floor, clenching both paws on her neck in a hopeless attempt to save herself. She fell to her knees, holding herself up for a single gurgling moment, before her corpse collapsed in a bloodsoaked heap. She died in seconds, bleeding out across her den until her body went completely still. A choked whisper was the final sound she made, consumed by the guarded science of the night.
With blood now splashed across his face and jacket, Chase retracted the hidden blade up his sleeve. He looked down at her with contempt, not a single emotion displayed on his blank, red-streaked face. Putting his paw down, he slowly crushed the memory card into the floor, shattering it beyond repair and erasing all footage contained on it. His work completed, a hateful sneer peeled across Chase's face, his eyes flaring with disgust at the worthless corpse lying before him. There was nothing to be said, he stood over the body in towering repulsion, scoffing at the puddles of red leaking around his paws. Another pathetic pest who strayed out of line, sharply put in her place just like the others.
The very next day, an inconsolable homeowner reported to the PAW Patrol that her pet dog Chloe was murdered. Chase arrived on scene, handsomely adorned in a brand new uniform. He consoled the poor woman, reassured her they would pursue the killer, collected "evidence" around Chloe's den, and departed into the afternoon, leaving nothing to the woman but false promises.
No one would ever know the truth, no one could see anything lying beneath their beloved heroes. They never considered their beloved defenders anything more than met the eye, never looking in on their true affairs.
But Rocky did.