Dragon
Wars
Episode 15: All About Trust
Act One
Not too long after Redman's escape from prison, a big snow storm is threatening all of eastern North America. Ottawa is currently suffering through the freeze, and the Alpha Team are forced to stay inside the Shelters to avoid the blizzard. They are in the conference room with Tyler, Gilbert, Rose and the Regges, where they begin a briefing session. Vanessa's hand is bandaged up due to Redman stepping on it, and she looks into it.
Drake: How is it?
Vanessa: It's fine. It's getting better.
Gilbert: Attention, troops. I know it's been six days since this snowstorm hit, but let's now begin the briefing.
Tyler puts Redman's pictured face on the whiteboard, along with several others from his past life.
Tyler: This is the man who escaped from prison last week. Dr. Redman. But in the beginning, he was known as Dr. Julian Norris, Nobel prize winner for advanced robotics and one of NATO's leading weapons designers. When the Ultimate War broke out, he began devising automatons that can slay a dragon faster than a human being could. So then began the Dragon Hunting Robotics System, or DHRS for short.
Quinton: Yeah, that we know now.
Rose: He was one of the brilliant minds. But covertly, he was selling arms to both sides. Both the military and others. Outlaws, terrorists, and more. I was the only person who discovered his secret, and I gave away his buying location. So after that, he was arrested, sent to Stonewall Prison.
Michael: Well, we took care of it. Because we demolished most of his robots, so that's a win-win.
Tyler: No. When it comes to building robots, he would never stop with just a few. Redman has a secret lab, which he uses as a factory, to build mass-produced robots to make a whole army. But after his arrest, the factory was never found, and neither were all of his creations.
Gilbert: All the information we needed to know was in that CD-ROM that was in that bunker, but it needed an access code that only the mad doctor would know.
Javelin: And now he's back to resume his business.
Ethan: But how did he escape? That's the real question.
Crossword: Nobody knows how it happened or who it was. The guards say it was some kind of ninja, so he's freed by someone in the shadows who's seeking to hire Redman.
Drake: So then… we're dealing with the Blackhawks and robots.
Stryker: Maybe not. What we can do is split ourselves in two. One for Chicago, and the other for Redman. But we haven't decided on that part yet.
Bazooka: I could go for the Redman-part.
Rose: Not yet. No one is deciding anything, because one of us has to go back to the training room for another session.
Drake: Hey, I made a mistake, I get it. I've learned my lesson well enough. It's not gonna happen again. But without me, you guys wouldn't have made it back.
Rose: You were reckless, and you almost got killed that day.
Drake: I'm fine. See? Me, here, alive? How are we supposed to work together if you won't trust me?
Tyler: That concludes the briefing. Dismissed.
Everyone exits the conference room. Rose is the last one to get out, but she runs into Jonathan who stands at the door.
Jonathan: That is a good question.
Later, the two of them are walking down the hallway to the lobby.
Rose: It's not that I don't trust him. It's just… he's over-eager, impulsive…. I can't trust him not to get hurt.
Jonathan: Perhaps the truth is you really don't trust anyone.
Rose: Oh, don't tell me you're on his side.
Jonathan: I am on nobody's side. Despite all your talents, you are still a novice in the ways of family. Drake Dalloway follows the same star as everyone else older than himself, but gets there by his own course. You must learn to trust him, for that is how a team works. His only goal is having a family, like everyone else who's gone through the hardships in war, but that also takes trust to measure.
Rose: I trusted you, and you're like an uncle to me.
Jonathan: But I can't be around forever. You know that. And most of all, you trusted a mad doctor consumed by greed.
Rose ponders about it, knowing that Jonathan is right. She looks away with her arms crossed, deep in thought, and she looks at her robotic arms.
Rose: So what if I have trust issues? That never stopped me from survival throughout the war to begin with, and I've been preparing for the future.
Jonathan: Perhaps, but you've been gripping to the past with your false hands, because you're thinking Bryon would still be with you. And if young Dalloway was not here, you wouldn't be having your little friend.
Right on cue, Nemo walks over to Rose, circling around her legs like a purring cat.
Jonathan: If I remember right, one of your friends back in the church dreamed about having a pet dragon.
Rose: That was a long time ago. But what would your suggestion be?
Jonathan: Have a better understanding about him. That's all I got to say.
Jonathan takes his leave out of the lobby and through the doors. Rose still ponders about it, then she bends over to scratch under Nemo's chin.
Rose: What do you think I should do?
[Nemo chirps]
Afterwards, the Alpha Team and their dragons are huddled up in the hockey rink, where Drake is giving a lesson in front of a written chalkboard.
Drake: So, as you can see by the chart, proper wing control can be-
Suddenly, a ball of fire hits the chalkboard, right where Hiccup was a few seconds ago. Hiccup is now clearly irritated.
Drake: Okay, who shot that?
He goes into a "scolding teacher mode", and stares directly at Michael, who is "innocently" whistling, as if he didn't do it, even though it's obvious he did.
Michael: What are you looking at?
But Ethan is reading an ancient book, performing hand signals.
Vanessa: What are you doing?
Ethan: Trying to perform a chi spell.
Drake: Come on, guys, I don't want to be here any more than you do. We don't have school today, but we can't just be goofing off all day. Can we just get back to training, please?
Michael: Sorry, Drake, but we all voted to be entertained. I say we play Twenty Questions instead. Vanessa, why do you love me so much?
Vanessa: [gags]
Rocky: Me, me, me. Okay, I'll go first. Question number one….
Then, Quinton signals Helios to hit Rocky with his tail, shutting him up for about two seconds.
Quinton: That's better.
Drake: Uh, can we try to stay focused for one second?
Vanessa: We've been stuck inside for a week straight because of this crazy weather. We're all starting to go a little nuts.
Quinton: Not literally, but still….
Dusty: Fin and Flip just found out they have a tail!
Dusty gestures to Fin and Flip, who are chasing after their tail like a dog.
Rocky: And it looks like they really hate that idea.
Rocky: Yeah, I got the same way when I found out I had a tail. You can't hide from me forever, invisible tail! I'll get you!
As Rocky starts chasing his butt, Dusty walks over to Drake, whispering.
Dusty: I may have told Rocky that he has a tail too.
Rocky: You can't hide from me for long!
Vanessa looks at the weather calendar on her phone to get any updates.
Vanessa: Ah-ha. The storm is going to settle down tonight. So… we might be able to leave.
Ethan: Good. Because I have to eat supper at home.
Suddenly, the Stilwells dump a barrel of fish on top of Ethan, and they laugh before giving themselves a high-five. But Clover begins eating them.
Ethan: I hate fish.
In Chicago, Hunter is fuming in the Field Museum. To relax himself, he starts using a shotgun to blast pictures of Stanley's face provided by Snoop.
Hunter: The hell with this storm and this winter. It's been raging out there for for days, and nothing's going on. When can those Canadian do anything this month? Does any- [to Snoop] A little to the left.
Snoop nudges the picture so Hunter can shoot it, continuing his fuming.
Hunter: Does anyone know how tired I am?! I practically waited twenty years to get my revenge, and here I am, isolated in this godforsaken city.
Snoop lays down another picture, which Hunter shoots.
Snoop: You could try relocatin' to the west. It would turn out better.
Hunter: [dryly] Yeah. Go all the way across the States, leaving my favourite hockey team, so far away from the capital city of Canada, where ALL the authorities reside.
Snoop: Well, I'm just sayin'. It's better here than there, against another.
Hunter: What do you mean another?
Snoop: Haven't you looked at the news? Someone's on the loose.
Hunter looks at the newspaper to see a photo of Drake smiling, winking, and giving a thumbs up on the front page. He gets irritated, but looks at another newspaper with Redman side by side with his robots. He looks at another one to see a photo of Drake and Redman engaged in a fight.
Hunter: REDMAN!?
He tosses the newspapers in the air with a growl, and grabs a remote control to turn a TV on. The TV screen displays a clip of Redman giving a wicked laughter. Hunter changes the channel to another clip of Drake, fending off the robots with the Alpha Team. He then changes the channel several more times with each channel showing clips of the scene.
Hunter: That robot monger is freed, and he's made Dalloway the hero?!
Snoop: That's what the news app said on the Ottawa Sun. Maybe it's time to let loose and wait for another-
But with a growl, Hunter grabs Snoop by the shirt and pulls him closer to his angry first.
Hunter: No! No more waiting! Storm or no storm, we're going to face our enemies off and we're going to take 'em on before any loose cannon of a doctor would do anything.
Snoop: So, how does that collaborate with us bein' in winter and all?
Hunter: Everything about what makes this a military junta. Because in my time in the Green Berets, we're trained to kill any enemy, and we're devoted to face that enemy in all of Earth's ecosystems. The Canadian Forces did it during the war, so the only ones who can do it are the five of us.
Snoop: And I'm one of those five, right?
Then, CD Fox and Wreck-it Rufus enter the hallway before they salute to their supreme leader.
Hunter: What's the problem?
Rufus: We're one man short, boss. We did a headcount like you told us, but this month we're down to just 319.
Fox: We thought you might want to hear about it.
Hunter: No matter. Get our dragons ready to go. Because at 0800 hours tomorrow, we're going to infiltrate the country.
Snoop: This time… downtown?
Hunter: Precisely. And with this storm, it will be a cover-up. So that we can sneak our way inside.
Act Two
Elsewhere, Redman's truck pulls over into a cave, before it retracts the staircase, letting him and his robot minions out. Then, lights in the ceiling switch on, revealing the cave to be a factory with various robots built or about to be.
Redman: Aw, yes. There's no place like lab. Now onto business.
Redman walks over into his office, which has a map of the Earth on the wall.
Black: So tell us, Doctor. What orders do we have?
White: Bee-bee-boop.
Redman: Only a few that I am due for. But for now, we need to focus on the ones we have available. What's the status on all the remaining Gunner models?
Black: As soon as we scan them, we'll be making new ones, sir.
But then, Redman finds a present on his desk. Curious about it, he opens it to find it contains dozens of orb-like pebbles, and a note.
White: Boo-boop, boo-boop.
Black: I don't know if those are pebbles. Because pebbles are supposed to be rocks, and they look well-orbed in the least.
Redman: Well, here's a note. "What you have in here are portal pebbles. Just name the place before you throw one, and they will take you or your robots anywhere on the planet. Use these to help test out your machines, and meet me in person when you have the chance. Signed, the Wizard King. PS, I was the one who freed you from prison." I don't know who this Wizard King is, but if he freed me, then he sounds like good money. Black, White, pull the switch!
Following his command, Black and White both pull the switch, turning on the factory, and it begins to manufacture the robots one by one.
At night, the storm has seized in Kingston, Ontario. But in a hospital, a old woman is sick in bed, and the doctor is checking up on her.
Doctor: [to the girl] You have a good night, ma'am. I have an electric blanket for you to borrow. Now, you stay warm and get some rest.
The doctor walks out of the room, and into his private office where he's addressing a man who could be the son of the old woman.
Doctor: Thank you for coming, Mr. Kyte.
Mr. Kyte: How is she?
Doctor: She's controlling her coughing. Her fever's getting worse. Plus, her throat is swelling up. After going through the test results, we got a hit. Looks like diphtheria.
He reaches upward to the shelves for diphtheria antitoxin, but it is vacant.
Doctor: She's the 32nd case this week, and… I'm out of antitoxin.
Mr. Kyte: You're out? But you could book a delivery.
Doctor: I could. The storm has stopped, but there's ninety inches of snow out there.
Mr. Kyte: Are you saying we're snowed in?
Doctor: That's pretty much the issue. But there is a way. The Canadian Forces have a medic named Tyler Jones who may have the antitoxin.
Mr. Kyte: No need. Just… find someone else. Thank you, doctor. [walks off]
Elsewhere, there is a house with the name "Kyte" on the mailbox. Inside was Mrs. Kyte, where she is cooking supper. Her daughter Mary rolls over in a wheelchair.
Mrs. Kyte: Mary, just wait over there, please. Supper will be ready shortly as soon as your father comes home.
Mary: Okay, mom. But I could set the table and-
Mrs. Kyte: No, no, no. You don't want to do that. Not with you on that chair.
Then, Mr. Kyte enters the house, barely getting the door closed due to the wind before he shuts it good.
Mr. Kyte: Good Lord, it's cold out there! It's gotta be the worst freeze in Canadian history. I…. I think my beard is frozen solid.
Mary: How's grandma doing?
Mr. Kyte: The doctor says she's suffering from diphtheria, and she has to stay in the hospital until they get the medicine.
Mrs. Kyte: But…. How much time does she have?
Mr. Kyte: We don't know. Then he says we should call Tyler Jones in the Army for help, but I refused. We don't need the military for everything.
Mary is concerned about what her father just said as she rolls away. But she hides behind a wall to eavesdrop on her parents.
Mrs. Kyte: Honey, I understand the Canadian Forces aren't trustworthy, but that doesn't make them unreliable.
Mr. Kyte: Well, they're still unsuitable in my book.
Mrs. Kyte: We tried everything we could to cure your mother. What more could we do?
Mary becomes uncomfortable during their arguing.
Mr. Kyte: [sighs] I'm afraid… we're gonna have to accept the facts. My mother won't have enough time to….
Mrs. Kyte: Oh, please don't. What could we tell Mary?
Mr. Kyte: [beat] The truth… when the time is right.
Mary ponders about what to do as well. She rolls over to the living room, staring at the front yard.
Mary: Well, that figures. There's nothing my parents could do.
Then, she gets an idea, when she sees a bus passing by.
Mary: Then I'm gonna do it myself.
Later when everyone is asleep, Mary sneaks her way out of the house and rolls over to the bus stop. She makes it to the opened bus, where the driver sees her coming.
Driver: Well, you want to hitch a ride?
Mary: Can this bus take me to Ottawa?
Driver: It can, but it will be a long drive. Just stay put and I'll get you inside.
The bus lowers its ramp, allowing Mary to get on it, and when she's inside, the driver steps on it, heading its way to Ottawa.
Act Three
The next morning, Drake and his friends are all in school, and they listen to Professor Miller as he gives a lecture.
Miller: Thank you all for coming back here. I know that we've had a bad storm for almost a week. But let me tell you something. It's not as bad as the North American Ice Storm of 1998. That was a real nightmare in my childhood. It affected a large part of eastern Ontario, southwest Quebec, and New York state, with about 44 fatalities. But this year wasn't as bad as it was before, because there's only snow, which can be shoveled. Do both ice and snow have one thing in common?
Miller waits for an answer, and the trio (Forsythe, Hutch and Oxy) raise their hands up.
Trio: Both made from water.
Miller: Very good, boys. So anyway, since today is the final week of January, that means Valentine's Day is around the corner, so the Billy Madison Centre will give you a little treat. All of you have got assignments to do. The boys will write love letters, and the girls will be giving away chocolate. All presenting them to the ones you like or into.
Students: [murmuring]
Oxy: [to Hutch; whispering] This could be a problem.
Hutch: [whispers] You're telling me.
Miller: [clears throat] Now class, this will not be a problem. Because with this assignment, it's all about showing us how matured you've been. So we shall begin with some history tests. Brynn.
Brynn: [stands up; nervously] Yes, Professor?
Miller: For the Canadian Pacific Railway, who came up with it and when did it take place? If you get this right, I'll take away half of the homework I assigned you as punishment. I hope you studied it.
Brynn: I did, sir. I…. [hesitating] Uh, it's um….
Miller: Come now. Or might assume something here.
Michael: [whispering] The professor looks ticked or something.
Ethan: That's because he's trying to-
Suddenly, Ethan is struck on the head by Miller, who flung an eraser at him.
Miller: No talking in class, please.
Brynn is stuttering, lost for words, until Quinton whispers the answers behind her back.
Brynn: It dates back to 1873, and it was originally undertaken as the "National Dream" by the first Prime Minister John A. Macdonald.
Miller: I guess you have paid attention. That's better. Now let's go with the next one. Samuel de Champlain, who first set foot in Quebec. Let's turn our history books to page 12 of Quebec's book.
As Miller wipes off some things on the whiteboard, everyone grabs their books to turn the pages. But with the professor distracted, Brynn leans over to Quinton for a whisper.
Brynn: Thank you.
Quinton: No problem.
After class, it was recess. Vanessa hangs out with Brynn and several other girls to have a private chat.
Vanessa: So we'd have to give away chocolate?
Girl 1: Yeah. That's what the professor says. Which may not be a problem. I have seen several anime shows where schoolgirls would give away chocolates to the boys they like. It's a fair trade, really.
Girl 2: I don't know. I absolutely love chocolate. So if I have some, I'll probably just keep it for myself.
Girl 3: Well, I'm down with that. [to Brynn] What about you?
Brynn: Uh…. Maybe. But I don't know what I could do. Whether I'd make it or just buy it.
Vanessa: Make it, girl. Because if you just buy the chocolate, it wouldn't make it more special to whoever you're giving it to.
Girl 3: Yeah, Brynn. Just make it. I'm sure you can make it.
Brynn: Uh, about that. [pauses] I can't, because my father's always in the kitchen, stinking up the place with his booze and cigars.
Girl 1: That sucks.
Vanessa thinks of a plan for Brynn, and she gets an idea.
Vanessa: How about this? You come over to my place and we'll make those chocolates together. My dad rarely works in the kitchen, so it's perfect for you.
Brynn: Really? You're inviting me?
[five second silence]
Brynn: Okay. Just give me the address and I'll be there.
Meanwhile, Drake is outside the building with Shadow, eating lunch together.
Drake: You know, we gotta cut short on the meeting-you part outdoors. It's getting super cold here nowadays.
[Shadow chirping]
Drake: Hey, I have less hair on my body. The least you could do is….
Then, Drake sees Mary on the sidewalk, but he notices her struggling with her wheelchair which is stuck in a snowbank. He walks over to her and helps her get out of the snow.
Drake: There you go.
Mary: Thank you. Oh! You're Sonic, aren't you?
Drake looks surprised, but he shrugs to know it wouldn't be.
Drake: So I guess you know who I am.
Mary: Of course! Everyone in Canada knows you. And Shadow.
Right on cue, Shadow walks over to sniff around Mary, tickling her as he digs his snout into her hair.
Drake: Okay. What's your name?
Mary: Mary. Mary Kyte, and I'm looking for…. [sneezes] Excuse me.
Drake: We should get inside. Hopefully the teachers don't mind a little company.
In the teachers' lounge, Miller is sitting on a couch, drinking a cup of coffee as he eats a Subway sandwich. But when the door is knocked, he walks over to answer it, seeing Drake standing there with Mary.
Miller: Drake? What are you…?
Drake: Sorry to disturb you professor, but this little girl been outside all day.
Miller: Oh my! All day outside?
Miller removes a handkerchief from his jacket pocket, and hands it to her.
Miller: Here, blow your nose.
Mary takes the handkerchief and blows her nose. She gives it back to Miller, and he puts it back in his pocket.
Miller: Ah, yes, that's better.
Drake: Now who are you looking for?
Mary: I'm looking for a medic named Tyler Jones. He lives around here, but I… don't know where to go. You see, Kingston is suffering.
Miller: You're from Kingston? Oh, I've heard of what's going on. It has dozens of victims of diphtheria. But, uh… surely your doctors are working on that.
Mary: They can't. They're out of medicine. That's why I must find Jones, because… my grandmother's one of those victims.
Miller: There, there, there. Now, now, now. If only we could, everyone is still doing school.
Drake looks at Mary, feeling sorry for her. Then, he comes up with a solution.
Drake: But we can meet him after school today.
Mary's face brightens a bit as Drake pats on her wheelchair.
Drake: Now let's take you to the nurse's office. She'll make you some hot chocolate while you're waiting for me.
Meanwhile in Kingston, Mrs. Kyte is looking around the house for Mary, but no luck in finding her, and Mr. Kyte drives over in his car.
Mr. Kyte: Nothing, honey. I've looked everywhere. There's no sign of Mary.
Mrs. Kyte: Why the hell would she leave us like this?
[five second silence]
Mrs. Kyte: [realizing] Wait. She must've overheard what we said last night.
Mr. Kyte: What do you mean?
Mrs. Kyte: She must be going to Ottawa and get the medicine.
Mr. Kyte: Augh! Of all the- [sighs] Heaven help us.
Up on the rooftops, something is staring at them, and lets out a hissing sound.
Act Four
Back in Ottawa, Drake and Mary are in the Shelters, speaking to Tyler and Rose about Kingston's condition.
Tyler: Kingston, eh? I don't see why not. We've got plenty of antitoxins, just in case we'd get a city-wide epidemic. So we're just gonna deliver it there?
Drake: That's the plan. I will fly over there and-
Rose: Denied.
Drake: Hey, I haven't even-
Rose: Soldier, that's an order. We've got enemies out there who wouldn't hesitate to hunt you down. You're staying here, while my team goes off to deliver the medicine. And besides, you still got training to do.
Drake: You think I don't know that already? All the time you've been training me, while I still got my own team to worry about.
Rose: You may be a national hero, but you still have much to learn.
Drake: That's the problem here. Not everyone thinks I am a hero. Because the Blackhawks have dragons, the citizens are blaming me for it. That's why I have to bring the medicine to Kingston, so it could prove them wrong.
Rose: My answer is still no.
Tyler: Rose, you don't make the demands on him. I do. We're both in the same rank, but as the commanding officer of the Alpha Team, I decide what to do with him. I say he goes to Kingston and delivers the antibodies, while you stay here and safeguard the city with the Regges.
Rose: [beat; glaring] If you were still a sergeant, I'd make you run right through the snow all day. [walks off]
Tyler: Anyway, Miss Kyte, you should call your parents while I go get the medicine.
Mary: Alright.
Tyler takes his leave, while Mary rolls over to the phone on the desk. She dials a number and tries to call her parents, but she gets only static. She dials it again, but it's still static.
Mary: I get through.
Drake: Well, we've had one heck of a storm yesterday. All the phones are dead until we can repair the poles. So you're on radio silence, which means there's no way to contact Kingstone from here.
Mary: [worried] Maybe you're right. My dad doesn't like Ottawa for some reason, so I… had to come here. I'd go back again but….
Mary looks down at her wheelchair, knowing what she was going to say.
Drake: That's why… Shadow and I can take you back. You're sitting on a collapsible chair, and my saddle has an extra seat. So we can both go there.
Mary: Really? Thank you.
Then, Tyler arrives back in the lobby with a gym bag, being stuffed with several antitoxins wrapped in cloth.
Tyler: Here we go. Seven jars of diphtheria antibodies. More than enough to cure all 32 victims in one city. Just try not to drop them.
Later, Shadow is wearing his saddle, ready to go. Drake lifts up Mary to sit onto the saddle, right before he collapses the wheelchair, attaching it to the side, then he mounts up as well. Lastly, he brings over his shield. Mary puts on the seatbelt, admiring it.
Mary: This is cool. Your saddle is like a bicycle, but with seatbelts.
Drake: Yeah, I came up with it myself. Now hang on tight, and keep the bag around us. Let's go fly!
Shadow spreads his wings and takes flight, on his way to Kingston. But Rose is watching them, deep in thought about whatever outcome may come to them, then she walks off to go somewhere.
In his factory, Redman is reading a website on the Internet about Drake's work.
Redman: "Ottawa Dragon Shelters. The Canadian Forces simply contain wild dragons in the streets/wilderness, train them with the utmost charms, and sell them off to any civilians in town with responsibilities. Resume and references required." Can you believe this?
Black: I don't see why not. Many people are taming more wild animals nowadays, sir.
White: Bee-bee-beep.
Redman slams his fist down, scaring Black and White into running in circles. He crumples a paper and throws it at them. But then, the TV screen beeps, showing Drake and Shadow flying away from Ottawa.
Redman: Ah, it looks like the Dragon King is off somewhere.
The doctor takes out a portfolio of images. He slouches on his chair, picking which one to send. Then he picks one: a walker.
Redman: VW-800 Behemoth. Perfect.
Act Five
Up high in the air, Shadow soars over the landscape, and Mary looks around with amazement.
Drake: Just in fifteen minutes, and we should be there anytime.
Mary: This is so cool! I've dreamed of flying like this! I wish I could do this all day.
Drake: You could. I mean, it is very possible.
Mary: [concerned] I don't think so. Because… the last time I met dragons, I was still walking. But then after…. After I was rescued, I became a cripple. I tried everything I could to help things out, but my parents just… kept telling me not to worry.
Drake: But… are you?
Mary: I am. Even though the war's over, everyone's having hard times. My father's trying to get a job, but no luck in finding one. Neither is my mom. So I just wanted to help them out… to make them happy.
Drake: Okay. But what about your grandmother? Is she worth saying too?
Mary: Yes. She's always been with me since before I lost my legs. I used to listen to her stories, about… before the Ultimate War. We used to think dragons were just fantasies. That is until summer 2036.
Drake: Yeah. [mournfully] I remember.
Drake remembers what happened ten years ago, when the C-Rex Goliath rose from that tunnel under construction. By the time he slashed his claws around, Drake's father Achilles protected him before he was attacked. When the memory ends, he is still in a mournful state.
Drake: I was there when it happened. My father died trying to save me. At that moment, I wished it-
Suddenly, a missile flies overhead, causing Drake and Mary to duck down.
[Shadow barks in alarm]
Drake: Mary, are you alright?
Mary: I am. But what was that?
Drake looks down at where that missile came from, and he finds a robot down there: the VW-800 Behemoth. A bipedal walker robot measuring 12 meters tall, mounted on two oversized servo enhanced legs with large triple claw pads. It has a M777 howitzer with optical fire control on its back and a powerful gatling gun below its cyclopean photoreceptor.
Mary: A robot?!
Drake: Hang on!
Shadow swoops down as the Behemoth opens fire at the dragon, failing to shoot him down. But then, the machine's gatling gun hits Shadow's wing shoulder, agonizing him which Drake reacts to feel it. Mary looks at Drake's bleeding shoulder in shock
Mary: You're hurt!
Drake: [in pain] Hold on… tight. Shadow!
Shadow roars with acknowledgement, and flies over to charge towards the Behemoth. From the machine's optic, Redman is watching the scene on TV.
Redman: That's it. Come to papa.
Then, Shadow blasts his Thunder Blasts at the Behemoth, destroying it and flipping it onto its side, before flying off. However, the doctor isn't fazed.
Redman: Please. There's always a backup.
Shadow uses all his strength to land on a snowy hill, breathing hard due to being in pain. But the Behemoth retracts the plating on both of its legs, meaning the chase is not over.
Drake: Shadow, run!
Shadow makes a run for it into the woods. Mary then notices two motorcycle-like drones that just deploy from the damaged Behemoth's legs. They are called Cycle units; they have red optic sensors, as well as FIM-92 stingers and AK-47 assault rifles on its sides.
Mary: I think that tank just had babies.
The Cycles prepare their weapons, the FIM-92 stingers, and shoot rockets at the dodging Shadow. Mary holds onto Drake's shield, blocking herself with it to avoid the fired bullets. Shadow zigzags among the trees. One of the Cycles crashes into a tree, but before it regains itself. The other passes him by. Shadow enters a clearing and keeps running with both Cycles in hot pursuit.
Drake: These guys just don't quit.
Mary: Drake, up ahead!
Looking ahead, they see a chasm up ahead. Instead of flying, Shadow runs at full speed and jumps. The Cycles hit the brakes, but the snow is too slippery for them, so they both lose control and fall down the cliff, crashing on impact, much to Redman's fury who saw it all.
Redman: AUGH! I TOLD YOU WE SHOULD'VE USE WINTER TIRES!
Shadow reaches the edge of a cliff. But he tilts backwards, and the three start rolling down the cliff towards the water. However, Shadow manages to run quickly enough to land on solid ground safely. Drake is relieved, minus the part where Shadow is shot, then he looks back at Mary with her head down.
Drake: Mary? It's alright to cry. It was….
But to his surprise, Mary is actually laughing.
Mary: Sorry, it's just that- Well, I feel so alive! I never thought somebody like me could have such an adventure!
Drake: Yeah? Well, some might say you'd get that when joining the Army, but it does have its downsides. Believe me, I know.
Drake looks over at Shadow's injured wing shoulder, feeling it.
Drake: He'll be alright. But as long as we have the medicine, that's the important thing. We just have to walk the rest of the way.
In the meantime, the Alpha Team is riding on their dragons towards Kingston, with only Rose who carries a crate on Ariel.
Ethan: I don't see Drake anywhere.
Quinton: Maybe he's already there?
Rose: Stay sharp, troops. We're almost there.
Vanessa: Captain, I still think we should've called Drake about this before-
Rose: This is worth it, Falcon. I suggest you go with it.
Michael: Town ahoy!
The team sees Kingston up ahead. All the city folk rush to the street as the team fly overhead. They stop in front of the hospital, and the doctor comes out, laughing with joy. Rose dismounts and opens the box to show the medicine inside in mint condition.
Doctor: Yes. The antitoxin. Just what we've been needing.
In the hospital, the doctor and nurses immediately start applying the medicine to the sick patients, save for Mary's grandmother. The parents look around, and they cannot find their daughter anywhere.
Mr. Kyte: What about Mary?
Outside, Vanessa looks around for Drake and Shadow. A snowball flies over her, and hits a nearby tree. Smiling and looking back, she sees that Rocky and Dusty are having a little snowball fight of their own.
Rocky: This is what I call a victory play.
A couple snowballs fly by, narrowly passing Ethan. Just when he shushes, a snowball hits him flat on the face, falling onto the snow.
Dusty: Bro, right on the kisser! What a bull's eye, hahahaha!
Ethan: That does it! Who did that?!
The Stilwells look at Ethan, who is drumming his fingers, and Dusty runs behind Rocky, gesturing to him.
Dusty: It, uh, it was him!
But then, the dragons are picking up a scent, alarmed about something. Vanessa gasps as she spots a large shadow move behind a tree. A small pile of snow falls from the branches. Then, Mr. and Mrs. Kyte both exit to meet the Alpha Team.
Mr. Kyte: Hey! Can someone tell me where the hell our daughter is?
Vanessa: That's what we're trying to find out. She should be here with Drake by now.
Mr. Kyte: Then where are they?!
Mrs. Kyte: Don't yell at them, dear. You'll get the dragons emotional.
Vanessa: That's not gonna happen. They're all brave enough to.
But then, the dragons all just fly away into the air. Vanessa looks ahead, seeing the Stilwells shivering in fear.
Vanessa: What did you two do? What made you send our…?
But she hears a hissing sound coming from above. Gulping, Vanessa looks up to stare at some kind of yellow dragon with the body of a Asian Lung, tiny wings and a tail full of spikes. It lets out a screech before pouncing.
Act Six
Back with Drake and Shadow, they begin walking along the way to Kingston, but the sun is setting and Mary shivering, right before she sneezes.
Mary: It's super cold out here. Maybe I should've worn snowpants.
Drake: I feel it too. But mastering all of Earth's ecosystems was part of my basic training. We just have to find someplace to camp, unless…. Uh…. When did your grandma get sick?
Mary: Only yesterday.
Drake: Well, we can make it. She'll only have a few days before….
But Drake looks out over the valley and sees a campfire.
Drake: Wait. There's a fire. Someone must be there. Let's go, Shadow.
Shadow runs over to the campsite, which only has a fire, a folding chair and a tent around a few trees. Drake dismounts Shadow, looking around the perimeter with a pistol in hand.
Drake: Hello. Anyone? Can you come out so I can say that… we need some-
Suddenly, he is unexpectedly tackled by someone. They stare at each other for a moment, and Drake realizes it is a Blackhawk trooper.
Drake: A Blackhawk!
But the trooper removes his ski mask, revealing himself to be the rookie who helped him escape. He picks up Drake and hugs him tightly.
Rookie: Mr. Dalloway! You made it out! [laughs]
Mary: You…. You know him?
Drake: Sorta. He's some guy I met during Christmas.
Rookie: More than that. I was the one who helped you escape from Chicago. I never mentioned my name because I was in a rush. Name's Bastion.
Drake: Bastion? Bastion who?
Bastion: [beat] Nothing else.
Drake: But you're in Canada?
Bastion: Not really. You two are in New York, so you're on the other side.
Mary: [sneezes] Excuse me.
Soon enough, everyone is sitting on a log by the fire. Mary is drinking some warm beverage, while Shadow eats a fish. Bastion is holding one of the antitoxin bottles, studying it.
Bastion: Diphtheria. That's serious. People can die from it. And she's doing it to save only her grandmother.
Drake: Not just her grandmother, everyone else. So that's all. [beat] Um…. Why did you help me out back then?
Bastion: I did it because… the Blackhawks mean nothing to me. No thanks to Hunter. When he took over Chicago, he changed it into a military junta, and he started rounding up all civilians he could find, including me.
Mary: How so?
Bastion: I was…. I was in an orphanage in my time. Even during the war, we'd get adopted. But when it was my turn, Hunter came along and he just… drafted us to be his foot soldiers. We were all trained to the bone to fight and, perhaps, die in the end. Depending on the situation. And we were made to kill some of the animals in the Lincoln Park Zoo.
Bastion pulls out a horn to show Drake and Mary.
Bastion: A rhinoceros? Proven to be… imposserous!
He throws the horn away and points to a skull stuck on an upright spear.
Bastion: The hippopotamus? Trashed him from top to bottom-us. And don't get me started on the elephant.
He pulls out a leg of meat, which Drake feels disturbed about looking at.
Drake: Is that…?
Bastion: No, this is boar. I would never kill an elephant. They're my favourite animals. Anyway, I escaped last week. I saved myself. I don't care about Hunter, so I wanted to leave for so long.
Drake: And here I thought all Blackhawks were on the same page.
Bastion: Not really. Some of us join in for survival. Many of us liked to side with what they think the Chicago Blackhawks as the winning side. I didn't think it was, but I kept it up so I could learn how to survive.
They hear a roar in the distance. Bastion drops the boar drumstick and jumps up from the log, picking up his assault rifle and aiming it at any moving target, ready for battle.
Mary: You're not gonna shoot a dragon, are you?
Bastion: I would if I have no choice. They'd like to pester around for your food, and we'd have to fight back. You carry-
Bastion turns back to Drake and frowns at his lack of weaponry.
Bastion: And you carry a shield?
Drake: It was… my choice.
Bastion: No, no, no, it's cool. Carrying a shield is not a bad thing. Captain America carries a shield, and he's also my favourite.
Drake: But anyway, we'll be out of your hair. As soon as we warm up.
Bastion: How come you're doing it on your own?
Drake: Because thinks I taught Hunter how to train dragons, so I-
Bastion: Well, no. You didn't…. [pauses] That man Gordon did.
Drake: Gordon? He died.
Bastion: [sighs] Clearly you didn't see or hear it all. Gordon was hired by Hunter during Christmas. He's the one who bailed him out. He used you to learn how to train a dragon, and he shared it all to the supreme leader. He did it all, so he could feed his kids and himself dragon meat.
After hearing that revelation, Drake is shocked as he sits still. He stands up and walks away into the trees, followed by Shadow.
Drake: He used me. I thought…. [beat] UGH!
He kicks a tree nearby, knocking it down, but he slowly calms down. But then, Shadow picks up a scent, and he growls at the sky. Then Drake hears something.
Drake: I hear it too.
At the campsite, Bastion and Mary look up to see an Apache helicopter flying overhead, and then comes Athena and Bloser, having their riders on their backs. On the ground are two Growlers, having several troopers. Bastion rolls Mary on her wheelchair and hides her in the tent.
Bastion: Stay in there and keep quiet.
Athena lands near the campsite, right before Hunter dismounts her, and he sees Bastion at the tank. Bloser lands over the tent, having Fox and Rufus on his back.
Fox: Hey, it's that rookie.
Hunter straightens up his shirt and walks towards Bastion.
Hunter: So this is where you've been. What is the idea of leaving your ranks?
Bastion: Unfortunately… abandonment.
Hunter: There's no abandoning from Chicago. Especially since it's the only working city around these States.
Rufus: It's even a family for yourself.
Bastion: [glaring] The Chicago Blackhawks are no family to me. I was supposed to have one, until you came along.
Hunter: You're blaming me? I taught you how to fight back. I showed you and other orphans like you to think about survival. Without me, you would've faced worse events in life during the war.
Bastion: I would've taken my chances.
In the woods, Shadow is curled up into a ball to blend in with the rocks to avoid detection. And since he's touching rocks, his skin is all rock and Drake is hiding inside with him.
Drake: [whispers] Okay. Nobody's noticing us. That's good. But we'd have to go get Mary and the medicine out of here.
A couple of troopers enter the woods, searching the place. Just as they are getting closer, Shadow leaps out of his hiding spot, fumbles away, and bumps into a tree.
Hunter: Compared to what I-
Everyone turns their heads to the source of the noise.
Bastion: Icicles.
Snoop: Yeah. Probably just the squirrels goin' nuts. Nothin' to see here!
But Snoop rushes inside the tent, and he comes out with Mary.
Snoop: Looky here. Ain't this dandy?
Hunter: [to Bastion] Who's the girl?
Bastion: Just someone… delivering a delivering medicine. She lost her way, and asked me for directions.
Fox: [laughs] When did you ever get to be a helping hand?
Hunter: That wouldn't matter. I'd like to deal with-
But then, Hunter finds something on the ground: Drake's shield. He picks it up, and a sinister smirk appears on his face.
Hunter: What… is… that?
Bastion: Uh…. A shield.
Hunter: Yes. But I'd know where this came from anywhere.
Hunter snaps his fingers, beckoning Athena to hover overhead of Mary, opening her jaws. He holds onto the shield as he inches closer to Bastion.
Hunter: I'm going to give you 5 seconds to tell me where Dalloway is. Five.
Rufus: Should there be a good cop bad cop routine?
Fox: Not with the boss.
Hunter: Four.
Bastion: Leave her alone. She's just a kid.
Hunter: So were we, until we grew up. Three. Come on, rack your brain! You might be able to come up with some lame excuse to go on living. In two…. One in three quarters!
Mary: Wait, he was here. But he just left. He's gone now. I don't know where.
Hunter: Then where is he?
Then, a snowball hits Hunter on the face. He looks to the right to see Drake there with Shadow.
Drake: Hey! Over here!
Snoop: There he is!
Shadow unleashes his Thunder Blast at a Growler, causing it to explode, which sends the Blackhawks scattered everywhere. Athena reacts by inhaling and about to breathe fire, until Bastion shoots her, sending her away. Shadow zooms over to the site, letting Bastion to mount on with Drake, and he grabs hold of Mary on the wheelchair before dashing off.
Hunter: After them!
Snoop: You heard him! Go, go, go!
On their remaining Growlers, the Blackhawks drive after the speeding Dark Saber, who's dragging along Mary's wheelchair like a sleigh. The chase takes them all onto the frozen river, where they cross the borders to get back to Canada, going onto Wolfe Island. The troopers open fire, and Mary covers herself with Drake's shield.
Drake: Are you okay, Mary?
Mary: I've got your shield!
Bastion: Keep going, I'll deal with them.
Bastion loads his gun and opens fire at the Blackhawks, trying to send them away. Up in the air, Bloser flies closer and unleashes his freezing breath at the runaway targets, until Hunter talks to Fox from his walkie-talkie.
Hunter: Hold your fire! I need him alive!
Fox: You got it, boss.
Bastion continues shooting, until he sees the Apache taking aim with a grappling hook launcher.
Bastion: They got grappling hooks.
Drake: Hooks? [beat] Got it!
Pilot: Target in range. Firing now!
The helicopter fires its hook at Shadow, but Drake hits the right brake, causing Drake to move to the right. The hook misses Shadow and Drake catches it, before tossing it to the lead Growler. The dog loses its balance, causing the both and the chopper to trip over one another, and smash into the ice. Then Bastion throws a fish to the side, and that causes Bloser to go after it, making Fox and Rufus fall down to the snow.
Hunter: [frustratedly] Oohhhh…. TRAAAIITOOORRR!
Now that the chase is over, Shadow proceeds with the running back on the ice, on his way to Kingston. Fox and Rufus stand up, looking at where they're going.
Fox: We're gonna have to follow them in.
Rufus: But every time we face him, we'd get our asses kicked.
But Tiger Blade walks over to the duo, along with a handful of troopers.
Tiger Blade: You haven't faced him… with me.
Act Seven
Finally, Drake makes it to Kingston, as he looks ahead.
Drake: We're almost there!
Mary is pleased to hear it, and she checks to make sure all of the medicine is intact.
Mary: We're almost there, grandma.
But by the time they arrive, the trio find most of the city is mysteriously silent and empty. Drake and Bastion dismount Shadow and Mary rolls over, looking around the vacant street.
Drake: Where is everyone?
Mary: [calling] Hello? Mom? Dad? Anybody?!
[five second silence]
Bastion: Maybe they're all staying home to warm up.
Mary: But it's never like this.
Drake: There has to be people around here. Look around, search the houses.
The trio go over to some of the houses nearby, but they cannot find anyone in them. Shadow picks up a scent of something, which causes him to growl. With no luck of finding any sign of life, the trio become suspicious.
Mary: No sign of anyone.
Bastion: Not even another dragon, if they have any.
Drake: Either way, let's be focused on the mission here. Is your grandma in the hospital?
Mary: She should be. The general hospital is down on King Street down this way.
Suddenly, they hear something inside a house behind their backs.
Drake: There's somebody. Shadow, stay here with Mary. Bastion, follow me.
With Shadow safeguarding Mary, Drake and Bastion go over to the house to check it out. They go into the house, and check the place. A figure suddenly falls from the loft, knocking him to the floor. Drake wakes up, moaning, and he sees Quinton right in front of his face, freaking him out.
Drake: YO! Don't ever do that again!
Quinton: Drake! Oh, thank God! I'm so sorry I fell on you!
Drake: Okay, Quinton.
Ethan walks out from the closet, and when he sees Bastion, he recognizes his uniform, so he pins him down with a knife.
Drake: Ethan, at ease. Bastion's with me.
Ethan: He's a Blackhawk. He should be executed.
Bastion: Look, I understand you don't like what I've done, but I saved your friend's ass twice, so gimme a break before you accuse me of a crime I didn't do yet.
Drake: Guys, let him go. And tell me what happened here.
Quinton: Fast, really fast, too fast. Speedy. Oh, and their tails, very toxic tails!
Drake: Whoa, hold on, Quinton. What are you talking about?
Quinton: [pauses] Spikerjets.
Drake: Spikerjets? Here?
Ethan: It's true. They showed up when we arrived, and they scared away our dragons before we would know.
Quinton: And Spikerjets are the most dangerous of all dragon species, just below the Calamitous Rex. One drop of their venom can kill a full-grown whale, and it's all stored in their spiked tails. They moved in a pack following a dominant one. By the time Rose ordered everybody to Fort Henry, the entire city had been overrun.
Mary rolls over into the house, while she overhears what the soldiers are talking about.
Drake: Where are the Spikerjets now?
Ethan: They're all looking for food. All three of them.
Drake: Okay, but how come you guys stayed here?
Ethan and Quinton both lead the others to the backyard, where they show both Helios and Clover, hiding behind the fence.
Quinton: Helios and Clover couldn't just leave us like this, so they just hid right here where we could see them.
Drake: That's loyalty for you.
Mary: What about all the sick people? Are they in Fort Henry too?
Ethan: Sadly, no. They're all still in the hospital. Well, just one. An old woman whose son is too stubborn to allow us to inject antitoxin into her veins.
Mary: [quietly] Grandma.
Drake: What do you mean injected? I thought Kingston was out of medicine.
Quinton: Yeah, but, uh…. Rose took matters into her own hands. She sent us to deliver the antibodies to the hospital.
Drake: WHAT?! [furiously] Augh, that woman!
In the meantime, the three Blackhawk operatives arrive in Kingston on their Growler with some of their troopers. But even they are puzzled by how vacant the streets are.
Rufus: I don't like this place. It's creepy as hell. Maybe… the Dragon King's not here, so we should get back.
Tiger Blade: Shhhh. Keep it down.
Fox takes out his phone to look at a GPS screen of the city.
Fox: They should be… right here at King Street. So we should reach them at City Park.
Tiger Blade: That's good. [to the troopers] One of you, guard the machine. The rest of you, with us.
So the Blackhawks venture forth into the streets in attempts to find Drake and his posse. But in the alleyway, something is spying on them, hissing. Rufus hears it, but when he looks to the alley, nothing is over there.
Rufus: Seriously, I don't like it.
Fox: Would you get a grip of yourself? Nothing is gonna happen.
Then, something flies overhead, and disappears before the operatives could see what it was. Tiger Blade becomes cautious; he holds onto his katana's hilt, ready to unsheathe it.
Tiger Blade: We're not alone here. Everyone, draw your weapons and fire in sight.
They all draw their weapons, ready to open fire. Something flies overhead again, and none of them can see what it was before it vanishes. Two more times it happens, while the troopers try to have a glimpse of whatever's surrounding them.
Trooper 1: I can't see anything.
Trooper 2: It's all around us.
Tiger Blade: They're distracting us.
Rufus: What if we can't fight it?
Tiger Blade: We must try, wrecker.
The Blackhawks look around, trying to see where the attackers might be about to ambush them.
Tiger Blade: Steady…. [pauses] Steadyyyyyyyy….
But in an act of fear, one trooper fires blindly at the buildings, followed by the others.
Fox: Hey! Hold your fire, you idiots!
The gunfire ceases, but so too do the noises. Now everything is silent.
Fox: It stopped.
Tiger Blade: [cautious] Now let's get out of here.
Suddenly, several spikes are fired from the sky, killing two troopers in an instant. Then, a Spikerjet jumps out of hiding, shrieking at the operatives before it pounces, causing the men to open fire.
Act Eight
Back in the house, Ethan is showing Drake and the others a video capture of the Spikerjets' attack earlier today.
Quinton: And that's what happened. We've counted at least four Spikerjets, so it's only a handful of them. But one of them would have to be the pack leader.
Bastion: Yeah, because it would have to be like wolves. If we take out the pack leader, the others will be vulnerable.
Drake: Wait. Quinton, can you zoom in that shot?
Quinton zooms the screen over to one of the Spikerjets' heads, where it shows its white eyes lacking pupils.
Drake: Something's not right. Those eyes are wrong.
Bastion: What do you mean?
Drake: You would've known. Some dragons have blue eyes, which indicates they see anything that moves. Spikerjets are supposed to have blues as well, but these ones don't have them.
Ethan: He's right. This could be the work of something we don't know. Either way, there's only four of them out there. So we're gonna have to deal with them.
Mary: But what about my grandmother? She still needs the medicine.
Drake ponders about a plan, and he gets one in mind.
Drake: We're gonna have to stick with the plan. Bastion, you take Mary to the hospital, medicine and all. The rest of us will deal with the dragons.
Bastion: Are you sure?
Drake: I am. But Shadow will have to take you both there, so that he will protect you.
Mary: Alright.
Drake: [to Quinton & Ethan] You guys have a walkie-talkie?
All of the city folk are inside Fort Henry, where the rest of the Alpha Team are safeguarding them from any Spikerjet that may enter. Rose is checking around at some of the people.
Rose: Is this all of them?
Michael: Not all of them. Some of the people are in the general hospital. We're trying to make contact with Ottawa, but nobody's bothered to fix the telephone poles.
Dusty: In other words, we have no signal. Not even on our phones.
Rocky: And it blows.
Vanessa: Guys, we have to get out there. It'll be dark soon, and our dragons are still out there.
Rose: Denied. If they're smart, they'll know when to come back.
Michael: Not Surfboard. He'd be a lost bird without me.
Then, the walkie-talkie beeps in Vanessa's belt, giving off Drake's voice.
Drake: Rouge leader to Rouge-2. Do you copy?
Vanessa: [answers] Drake?! Thank God you're okay. Where are you?
Drake: We just arrived in Kingston. I'm with Quinton and Ethan right now. We got our rides, so we're going to deal with the Spikerjets. Can you guys reach me at King Street?
Vanessa: We'll be there. Once we get a Jeep, we'll be there.
Drake: And while you're at it, don't bring along that backstabbing she-ogre with you.
Rocky: [worried] Ah… we're not on hold and she just heard you.
Rose: But he will hear me.
Back on King Street, Drake helps Mary on Shadow's back, and Bastion reloads his gun, ready for another go.
Bastion: So just four Spikerjets out there. But don't they breathe fire?
Quinton: Not really. All of their firepower is on their tails. Just six or seven flicks of their tails can send out all those poisonous darts.
Ethan: But once the tails are emptied, they'll be vulnerable. Unless they would try to bite you.
Bastion: I'm down with that.
Drake: But guys, there's something else. Redman's robots should be here as well, so we'd have to play it safe.
Ethan: If Redman's robots are here, he must not be far away. But yes, we'll play it safe.
Then, a beeping is heard, but it comes from Bastion's walkie-talkie. Drake knows what it would mean, so he takes it and answers it.
Drake: Hello?
Hunter's voice: Dalloway.
Hunter is on Wolfe Island with the remaining troops, talking to him.
Hunter: You just know when to know I'd be around, do you?
Drake: Eh, call it a hunch.
Hunter: Well, I gotta say… it was childish when you threw that snowball at my face, but not as bad as how you punched me on Christmas. The last person who punched me in the face was the school bully. He hit me in the cafeteria, causing my nose to bleed nonstop all over my lunch. Humiliated me in front of the entire school! And you know what I did?
Drake: I'm sure you would've told him off to the principal's office, because that kind of behavior is really unacceptable.
Hunter: No, I fought back. I snuck into his house, grabbed his baseball bat and bashed him on the face with it. I fought back, which was good news to me, so no one else has punched me ever again. Until you.
Drake: You can thank Rose Tymbark for that. Because I had to train through Hell with her. And that would've been worth it, since you enticed Gordon to trick me that day.
Hunter: [sighs] Well, no shit. You talked to him. Just to let you know, he wanted a better life with his children. I simply granted him hospitality, in exchange for knowledge, your knowledge. But I'm still going after you, because my daughter wants you in her life.
Drake: You can tell Empress that I refuse, because I'm already dating someone, and she's the best.
Hunter: That will not be your choice to make, boy. I'm gonna hunt you down, I will capture you, drag you back to Chicago, putting you into a deeper cell, but it will be coloured in Empress's liking, and the only time you'd get out is when you'd-
But Hunter hears a static on the walkie-talkie, meaning Drake hangs up.
Hunter: [stunned] He actually hung up on me.
Snoop: That boy's about as sharp as a bowlin' ball.
Blackhawk: Sir, our car's heading this way.
The remaining Growler drives over the ice and onto the ice, but in the vehicle is only the trio of operatives, all looking beaten.
Snoop: Great horny toads. Who nearly knocked y'all out?
Tiger Blade: Spikerjets.
Hunter: [disturbed] What? They never come this close to a human settlement.
Tiger Blade: The snowstorm must've driven them there.
[roars distantly]
Hunter: They're picking up our scent. DAMMIT! I hate it when a plan goes south! All units, back to Chicago! Double-time!
Snoop: You heard him. Let's book it!
Act Nine
Back in Kingston, Drake, Quinton and Ethan are off, looking for the Spikerjets in the neighbourhood. But they find no luck finding them anywhere, and it's already sundown.
Quinton: Uh, Drake? Do we have a plan or something? Because I'm starting to get goosebumps around here.
Drake: We do. We simply have to find all four of them, figure out which one is the pack leader, and, uh… neutralize it. Whatever we can do to do that.
Quinton: Well, um…. There might be a way. In the Dragon Journal, its says Spikerjets' weakness is the neck. So we could grab the neck and choke on it?
Ethan: Maybe not. We just need to hold onto it. That way, the Spikerjet will assume that we will choke on it.
Drake: Wait. Over there.
Drake finds something, pointing at an alleyway. He and the other two walk over to see the Spikerjets. All four of them, all asleep.
Ethan: Hey. They're all asleep.
Quinton: Well, it must be super cold for them. Maybe they're finally hibernating.
Ethan: But which one is the…?
Before he can answer, Ethan finds out that the one on a pile of tires is larger than the rest.
Ethan: There. On the tires. That one's bigger, so maybe he's the pack leader.
Drake: Alright. I'm going in. You two, guard my six. I'll be in and out right away.
Quinton: Be careful.
Drake: Hey, I used to sneak up on Shadow. Just stay quiet.
With silence, Drake approaches the sleeping dragons, avoiding himself from being punctured or poked by their poisonous spiked tails. He manages to reach the big one, and stealthily grabs him. He drags him quietly out of the alley, as the other two watch in worry that maybe Drake would or not make it out alive. But Ethan sees one of the Spikerjets waking up.
Ethan: Aiyah.
Then, the pack wakes up. Drake hastens to drag the pack leader away, but it breaks free and almost stings him, until Drake blocks it with his shield.
Quinton: I gotta get me one of those shields.
Drake tries to corner the Spikerjet, but it orders its pack to desperately come and help him. Two of them raise their tails up, spreading spikes out, and flings to fire. The boys quickly run out of the way and get themselves to hide inside a bus. The wild dragons swipe at the bus, overturning it.
In the meantime, Shadow runs all the way to the general hospital at last with Bastion and Mary. The doors open, letting them all in.
Mary: I've got the medicine. Right here.
Mary opens her bag, showing the doctor the antitoxin. As soon as Bastion sets her down on a chair, Mr. and Mrs. Kyte show up, shocked to see their daughter back.
Both: Mary!
Mr. Kyte: [upset] What do you think you're doing?! Don't you know better than to wander off at night alone? What if something happened to you?
Mary: I'm sorry, dad. I was trying to save grandma.
Mrs. Kyte: Oh, next time leave us a note, Mary. We were so scared.
Mary: Mom, no time to celebrate. Drake Dalloway's in trouble and he needs help.
Bastion: Yes. But this time, I'll go there. You stay here with your grandmother, and make sure she gets treated.
Now that this job is done, Bastion mounts up and Shadow and he takes out from the hospital to help the others.
Back at the street, the Spikerjets fling their tails at the bus, trying to get the three boys out of there. Then, Vanessa arrives at the scene, and fires her shotgun at them.
Vanessa: Hang on, Drake! I'm coming!
Quickly, the big one knocks away Vanessa, and she lands in the snow. She gets up, and starts running towards the dragons again. Michael and the twins arrive too, throwing bombs at the Spikerjets, sending them away, which allows the trio to walk out of the bus.
Michael: Somebody called in the cavalry?
Then, a spike flies right at Michael, but he ducks before it strikes his hair.
Michael: Aw, not my hair!
Rocky: Join the club. It could've been worse.
The big one advances towards the humans. He raises a claw to strike them with, but stops as Drake grabs him by the neck. It makes the big one to withdraw, making him tip over.
Drake: Hey. It's working.
But one of the Spikerjets grab him, and pins Drake down to the snow. Vanessa rushes over to save him, until another pins her down as well. The big one recovers, before pressing down Drake to the ground, making him lose his breath. As the big one is about to slash Drake, Bastion arrives on Shadow to open fire, before he jumps off. Shadow pounces on the big one, fighting him off.
Vanessa: Shadow?
The big one throws Shadow away, but he comes back and sinks his teeth into the Spikerjet's neck, strangling with it. The others let go of their human captives, rushing over to save the big one. Bastion keeps on shooting, but one of the bullets hits someone around one of their necks. He sees what looks like a black ring before it shatters into pieces.
Bastion: What was…?
Then, the Spikerjet who was shot recovers, but he reacts with his eyes reverting to blue with black slits; a normal eye form. Bastion looks around, noticing all the other dragons have the same rings, which gives him a thought.
Bastion: Drake! They're all wearing rings! Break 'em!
Drake: Rings? [realizing] Oh, got it!
Drake draws his pistol and fires at another Spikerjet's ring, shattering it and helping the dragon back to its sanity. Vanessa breaks the other with the stock of her shotgun, freeing the third dragon as well. For Shadow, he continues to wrestle with the big one, until bites down on the black ring, shattering it.
Act Ten
With all the rings destroyed, the entire pack of Spikerjets goes back to their senses, having their eyes normal. They look at Drake, and the first thing they did is cower in fear by the sight of him. He steps forward with a glare, right before the wild dragons bow their heads down to him.
Bastion: Whoa. You really are the Dragon King.
Drake: Just.
Drake simply waves his hand, beckoning the Spikerjets to fly away, which they do right away. And with that, the battle is over.
Michael: What was that all about?
Ethan: Could those rings be… Dr. Redman's doing?
Drake: I don't know. But whatever that was, it may not be the end of it.
Later, the Alpha Team are standing in front of the hospital, as all the city folk and the dragons are coming together, safe from the Spikerjets. But Drake is having a conversation with Rose, scolding at each other.
Drake: Yeah, I said it. And I'd take pride in it. You told me to stay put, and then you decided to take all the glory from me.
Rose: It was so you would be out of harm's way.
Drake: Let me tell you. Shadow and I were successful at survival, whenever we're out on the field. We had to trust each person to do their jobs. That's what being partners is all about. Sometimes, counting on someone else is the only way you win.
Rose: Your head was even on the job, mainly because you're at school. Second, you've done this because our enemy is learning your secrets.
Drake: You think I don't know that already? Because I did, thanks to Bastion who's the only guy who got me and Shadow out. And there's Mary, who came all the way from here to Ottawa, so she could save her grandmother. I trusted them both, whether or not they're in the military, and the mission would've been a success. But you just waltz into the arena, barking orders, listing rules, so I could be some hardcore right-hand man?
Rose: It has nothing to do with rules. It's all about protocols. My protocols has kept my team alive, and if you want to stay alive until you die of old age, you will abide by them!
Drake: You know, I was right not to join you. Because you don't know partnership. You're never gonna trust me!
Drake walks off to enter the hospital, leaving Rose alone, who is deep in thought about what he told her.
In her grandmother's room, Mary is having a chat with her parents.
Mary: So there we were, meeting Bastion in a campsite. All of a sudden, we looked saw the Chicago Blackhawks! Before I knew it was happening, Shadow was whirling into the forest with us, and onto the frozen river. They shot us, but I was protected by Drake's shield, and Bastion got the Blackhawks tangled in their own hook, causing them all to collide. It was really funny, though.
Mr. Kyte: Alright! So you survived as well.
Mrs. Kyte: But…. [tearfully] Look at yourself. You've changed. You sounds… so happy. I just want… to be there for you and…. [sniffles] Sorry.
Then, Mary's grandmother wakes up with a yawn, sitting up.
Grandma: What's this about shooting?
Mr. Kyte: Mom? You're awake.
Mary: Grandma!
Please, Mary rolls over and hugs her. Drake and Bastion walk into the room with a smile on their faces, which Mary notices.
Mary: That's them! Drake and Bastion! They helped me out.
Mr. Kyte: Corporal, I was… wrong not to call you. You two really saved my mother tonight.
Drake: Yeah, but you shouldn't thank me. It was Mary who came all the way to bring us here.
Grandma: He's right, Mary. I'd be lost without you.
Mary hugs her grandmother again. The scene is being watched by Redman on his TV screen, which he finds displeased.
Redman: Big deal. All they did was cure her, and she wouldn't have to die for Pete's sakes.
White: Boo-boo-boo-bee-beep.
Redman: Of course I had a grandma. But anyway, we need to come up with another plan to deal with those dragons. But more important, find out what made those Spikerjets go berserk like that.
All of a sudden, a whirling vortex opens from behind, grabbing Redman's attention, and someone steps out of it. It is the ninja who freed him from Stonewall prison.
Ninja: Glad I gave you my pebbles? Sorry that I never told you about my testing plan, but we both wanted to be sure.
Redman: So you're the one who freed me. Who are you?
Ninja: I'm the future king of all wizards.
The ninja removes his mask, revealing himself to be Saul Thorn.
Thorn: The name's Thorn. Saul Thorn.
The End