The fourth chapter.

   Napalm wakes up to his internal clock as the sun begins peaking through the windows. He immediatly begins making coffee, extra strong as always.      Blue moans, opens an eye and wonders, "Is that more of that coffee?"
   "What else?" Napalm winks.
   "You have a death wish you know that. and don't you ever sleep."
   "Well, I doubt the first phoenix fatality will be caused by coffee, and as to the sleep, I do on occasion. Passes time while I'm among mortals and all. I've found it quite pleasant."
   The dog throws a pillow at the wolf, then gets up. "Well..do you have a cup for me ready?" The wolf catches the pillow without turning his head, tossing it leasurely on the dogs bed. He turns around hold a cup in each hand, smiling. The dog takes the cup and downs it deeply. He shudders. Napalm chugs back one, pouring another without hesitation.
   "Think you can handle another?" Blue_Heel nods. Napalm refills the cup. The dog takes it and drinks it deeply. "Well," the wolf questions, "Whats the plan for today, Blue?"
   "Lets get some breakfast."
   "Good idea, but I mean after that."
   "Well...I don't think there is anything else to do in town..so compound."
   "Alright, I hope we're up to it."
   "We have to be."
   "Then I suppose we will be. One way to find out eh?" Napalm downs the coffee and heads out of the room quickly.
   "Yea...we can talk over breakfast..I dont' think there's anyone else up at this hour."
   "No sane people anyhow."
   "I didn't know the sun could be that colour." Blue looks out the window.
   Napalm pauses and looks out the window. "What color?" The dog walks down, grabbing a pitcher of oj and a tray of donuts; and walks to a table.
   "That pinkish redish colour." Napalm walks into the main room, getting yet more coffee and several packages of cereal and milk.
   "Not a moring person?"
   Blue looks up halfway thorough the pitcher of oj, "What is morning...and what is it's purpose." He goes back to eating. Napalm smirks and dumps all the cereal into his bowl, followed by some milk. "Okay..the compounds is on an island."
   "Ok, that will be no problem, we can fly in."
   "Nope..they have the skies and the water guarded."
   "You wanna dig a tunnel maybe?"
   "What about your teleport trick..and yes I know it isn't teleporting."
   "Well, that could work, assuming I'd been to the island before, or had an exactly mental picture of it somehow, which I don't. I can teleport us out, but not in."
   "Okay..then it's under water..how fast could you swim me over?"
   "How far is it to the island?"
   "Uh.." Blue gets up, walks over to the desk, and returns with a map. "Here...This is the capital..here is the compound. And this is the lake."
   "Ok, let me do some figuring." Napalm looks over the map, checks the scale, and then half closes his eyes, going into the same trance-like state he was in before. Napalm snaps out of it just as his eyes begin to blaze red. "9 minutes 36 seconds."
   "GAH..I can't hold my breath for that long."
   "Well, as coming up for air defeats the purpose, I suppose SCUBA gear is in order."
   "Yea..and only enough for that..because you can get us back so."
   "We just need the breathing apartatus, and a small tank of air, though that will slow me a bit, put it around..." he pauses to figure out the new amount. "9 minutes 58 seconds, roughly, so we need around 10 minutes of air."
   "Okay..you done?" Blue downs the last of the oj.
   "Done what?" Napalm looks up from his untouched cereal.
   "Oh forget it you probalby don't have to eat either." The wolf looks down at his bowl. The dog gets up and walks towards the door.
   "Oh! well no..but I hate to waste it."
   "Don't worry bout it ..come one." Napalm picks up the bowl and follows the dog out ther door. He rapidly eats as they walk.
   "Know any good early moring wet suit shops?"
   "Uh...no..guess we could ask."
   "Don't bother, knowing mortals there aren't any. I don't like the idea but I suppose we could just take one and leave the money. It IS an emergency."
   "Oh thanks..insult my mortality."
   "Well, it does make you an easy target." Blue walks a ways into the merchent area. Napalm grins evily.
   "I'm an easy target?? I beg to differ." The wolf sucks down the milk and tosses the styrofoam bowl in a trash can they pass.
   "What? Are you kidding? Mortality is the easiest thing of all, to poke fun at."
   Blue pokes the wolf, "Who you kidding." Napalm pokes back playfully. Then shakes his head.
   "I think we better keep our minds on the matter at hand..."
   The dog looks up at a shop, "Here's one I think."
   "Lets go around back then." The wolf follows the dog around to the back of the store. As they round the corner, they see someone opening the door. "Hey! Wait!"
   "Yes." an old man states. Napalm walks up to the man in a friendly manner. The man is wearing old ragged clothing, his hair unkept, but there is still a twinkle in his eye. "Can I help you, sonny?"
   "Hi, I'm afriad you'll have to undulge us, we're tourists from Valenti and we just got here. We REALLY need some SCUBA gear and were ReALLY need it now, we can pay."
   "Ahh.....well follow me in. and watch your step." Napalm thanks the man profusely as he follows in behind him. Blue walks in and almost trips over the boxes in the back. Looking around he realizes that this man has been collecting stuff for a very long time. He follows the old man and the wolf up to the front part.
   "Ok, we need one small tank with ten minutes of air."
   "Ahhh the special...okay" the man winks at Napalm.
   "The special..I me yes, the special, of course." They watch the guy look all around shop coming back with a very small tank.
   "Excellent, that will be perfect, how much do we owe you?"
   "40 gold...if you have it" the man proposes looking at the wolf.
   Napalm looks at Blue, "Well, do we have it?"
   Blue turns away from looking around and back to the conversation,
   "What, oh yea." He hands the man 40 gold. Napalm picks up the tank
and heads for the back door, thanking the old man as he goes. Blue follows looking at the tank. "That looks smaller than what you were talking about."
   Napalm shrugs, going trance-like for a few moments, almost running into a telephone pole, snapping out of it inches away and stopping. "9 minutes 46.5 seconds."
   "Hey.."
   "Yes, it is more aerodynamic"
   Blue grabs the wolf, "There are people around now." Napalm shrugs again and hands the tank over to the dog. "Come on..we need to get out of town."
   "Yes...do we have to take a taxi again though?"
   "No..but we can't fly all the way..they could spot us miles away in the air."
   "True, we'll stay low to the ground, don't worry, I haven't run into a tree in milenia." Napalm looks around, seeing an opportunity, grabs the dog and takes off.
   "Oh..you only run into poles." the dog giggles. Napalm flies off to where the map showed the compound. As they leave the city, he lowers to only a few feet off the ground, their true speed now greatly apparent. They enter a forest shortly, trees whizzing by at a blur, the wolf dodging most by mere inches.
   "I did NOT hit that pole"
   "Sure..okay..whatever you say." The dog holds tight to the wolf. Napalm slams to a half a few inches in front of a VERY large oak.
   "We are here..." The wolf sets down and points to the lake beyond the tree. The dog looks across and growls slightly.
   "Yes we are here..it's been 14 years since I was here last.."
   "You were here before?"
   "Some WatchDog event that dad brought us to, but it's all changed."
   "Hmm...well, they can't alter the island itself, that's one thing at least."
   "No..they have built up more."
   "Onto the actual island?"
   "Yea..that wall wasn't there before."
   The wolf baps the dog. "Not buildings ON the island, I meant the island itself."
   "No..the island looks the same."
   Napalm shakes his head a bit then goes on. "Well, let's hope the Awardings havent had their coffee yet...you can get that tank fixed up and we can get going." Blue pulls the tank on, putting the mask on, and holding his paw on the on valve
   "Okay..lets go." Blue turns the valve on. Napalm grabs the dog from behind, the tank making it less comforable than usual, and slips quietly into the water. He dives deeply, keeping a watch for any underwater traps or alarms. Blue takes slow breaths to conserve air. The wolf continues to rush forward at a good underwater speed for some time. Finally they arrive at the island, after an uneventful underwater trip. The wolf pokes his head above the surface on the islands shore. The dog turns the air off and takes
the mask off.
   The wolf winks at the dog, "9 minutes 46 seconds, I made good time"
   "I think I was close to the end." the dog whispers.
   "You should have been, but we made it, thats what counts."
   Napalm whispers back. "Well, now what?
   Blue points to an opening in the wall where a pipe used to be. "Over there? as good a place as any." he whispers
   "How convenient, don't guess its a trap do you?"
   "Of course it is."
   "Nothing like stating the obvious I suppose." Napalm heads reluctantly for the pipe. Blue takes a piece of driftwood and presses it through the hole. They watches as spikes hit the wood.
   "Crude, but efficient."
   "Okay .. here we go." Blue bends the spikes back and enters a small store room. Napalm finds the Blue is significantly smaller than he is, and has to melt the bars slightly to fit. Blue grins back at the wolf..as he looks around the storeroom.
   "Make one comment about me putting on weight...." the wolf threatens. The dog turns away from the wolf as he is smiling. The dog carefully walks through the storeroom to the door, and listens to it. Napalm looks around the store room, noticing a large red letter near the door. "Ground floor I believe." Blue looks, then opens the door and steps out into the hall.
   "Clear at the moment."
   "Lucky us..." Napalm follows, alert to their rear.
   "Which way?" the dog looks.
   "Down, of course," the wolf starts getting a slight growl from the dog, "Stairs are as likely one way as another, just pick one." Blue walks to the left, alert. Napalm floats silently behind the dog, flying to asure he won't make noise. Blue pads quietly past some doors and comes to one at the end of the hall. He listens, and walks through. Napalm rushes through silently, right behind him. Blue turns as the door slams shut. The wolf grabs the door handle, finding it, not surprisingly, locked. "Figures..." Blue looks
around as the room starts to heat up, then looks at the wolf and almost laughs. The wolf looks at the dog, "Let's hope you're immune to more than MY flames." The dog sees flames shoot out of jets all over. Napalm talks above the roar of the flames, "You holding up ok?" Blue feels the fire and the heat, yet, doesn't feel pain or isn't burning at all.
   "Yea, I'm fine"
   Napalm breaths a sigh of relief. Blue decides enough of this and pads over to the door, grabs it with his claws and pulls at it. Napalm grabs the other side and adds his strength to the dogs. The dog pulls harder, as his muscles strain and the door pulls off. The wolf stumbles backwards as the door gives way, then follows the dog out quickly. Blue looks around and runs down the corridor, as he hears feet coming. Napalm floats along right behind the dog, hearing a large force coming up behind them. Blue dives in a door. Napalm is through the door a second later.
   "Uh...you sure this was a good idea?" The wolf asks as the dog closes the door then looks around. Napalm looks at the many sharp objects it the room, all facing the door! "Ok, you decide, impalement or troups?" He backs agianst the door as the wall of sharp objects advances.
   "Uh..hmmm out of the kettle into the fire."
   "Something like that..."
   Blue pulls at the door, "Hmmm." Napalm gets fed up with this door thing. Growling he hits the knob with his fist, punching clean through it.
   "Yeeeooow! that hurt." Napalm shakes his paw. Blue hears something on the other side of the door.
   Blue looks through the knob. "And it didn't do much good."
   Napalm curses. "Damned reinfoced steel walls. Plan B I suppose...." Napalm moves in front of the dog and throws up a barrier of incredible heat directly in front of the advancing spikes.
   "Wow." the dog states as he watches.
   "That will buy us time..but we'll be crushed if we don't get out soon..and I fear that steel panel is air tight."
   "That's what I was afraid of."
   "Wait a minute...I have one idea still" Napalm rushes to the left side of the room, placing a glowing paw against the wall, smiling as it goes completely through, into the adjoining room. "They didn't reinforce the side walls! I dont believe it!"
   "Great..get us through here" Napalm steps back and tosses a fireball casually at the wall, blowing a nice sized hole in it.
   "After you." the wolf directs.
   "Why, thank you." Blue steps through the hole. into the machine room. Napalm step quickly through the hole just as the wall overtakes his barrier and begins to cover the hole. Blue walks to the door and listens. "They are out there...waiting."
   "Yes, they haven't bothered to disguise their heat signitures this time." The wolf turns to the dog. The dog opens the door a little and tosses a mini sun out in the hall.
   "Come on."
   Napalm smiles, "Bout time we got some action." Blue runs out and down the hall away from the crowd. Napalm flies quickly by the stunned guards grabbing one by the neck and carrying him along. Blue then stops dead as his vision turns red. He turns around and starts to run back snarling. The wolf looks at the dog, recognizes the mood and scoops him up in his other arm rounding a corner with them both. "We don't have time for this!" Blue growls at the wolf, scratching to get back as the redness lifts the farther away from them they get. The wolf growls as the dogs claws catch him on his side and back. "BLUE! snap out of it! its me!"
   Blue slowly regains control, "I hate that." Napalm goes around a few more corners then sets down both of his packages.
   "Makes two of us..." Napalm doesn't waste time, grabbing the weasely he slams him against the wall.
   "Where'd you grab him?"
   "In the hallway, but I don't have time for that now." Blue growls at the weasel.
   Napalm glares at the weasel. "Stairs! Now!" The weasel slowly comes around, and points weakly to the end of the hallway, where a sign indicates stairs on the other side of the door. Napalm tosses the weasel aside quickly and rushes for the door. Blue growls at the weasel, but manages to retain control and run after the wolf. The weasel cringes but stays put, thankful for his life. Napalm rushes through the double doors, waiting on the dog. "How do we want to do this? We need to get the lab and the
jail, do we split or stay together?"
   Blue grabs the wolf, "Fly down. Jail first."
   Napalm descends all the way down. "I agree. Subfloor three, Toys, games, womens lingere and Prisoners." He looks apologetically at the dog. "I always wanted to say that." Blue growls at the wolf. Napalm looks the security door in front of them. "I don't guess you have your clearance card on you?" The dog runs and kicks through the door. The wolf shrugs and runs through after him, into a guard room full of weasels. Blue pounces on the weasels, redness closing on his eyes, as he tears into the group. Napalm takes down the weasels at a distance, launching a stream of fire at any that attempt take aim, before he is jumped by three from behind. The dog howls as a shot hits him..as he turns, grabs the weasels arm and
breaks it. The wolf growls loudly beneath the weasels. They scream horribly as all four are hidden in a ball of flame. He walks forward form the flame, leaving the weasels to burn. Blue pounces on three as he claws them across the chests. He looks up with fangs exposed hissing as he looks for more. Napalm looks sadly at his friend as their eyes meet but he knows the dog doesn't see him. Blue looks past the wolf, somehow knowing he's an friend. Napalm waits patiently for the dog to calm down again. Blue shakes his head to clear the thoughts.
   The dog looks at the wolf, "What is happening to me...it is getting worse each time."
   "We have got to get that taken care of. "Yes, if I weren't omnipotent I'd fear for my safety. Now, before you rush into the next room, there are supposed to be 20 more there but if its like this room...then I can flood the room with flame and save us both some trouble."
   "Yes...you better take the lead."
   Napalm places his finger at the seam of the door, melting a small hole in it. He places his palm over it and concentrates. The rush of flame and screams are heard for several minutes.
   "This is too easy." the dog remarks
   "It's not over yet." The wolf prys the hot door back and steps casually through, only to rush backwards trailed by laser fire.
   "This isn't good!"
   Blue growls as the bloodlust takes over. Napalm frowns and disappears, concentrating on his short vision of the room. Blue pounces in the room and starts tearing throguth the suits, clawing and biting the figures. Napalm appears behind the back line of weasels, tearing into them with almost reckless abanodon, wishing he had spent more time training with the other warriors of his kind.
   The dog grunts as he is hit by fire but doesn't register the damage, just turning and pouncing on the individual. The wolf cracks the face mask of one unfortunate, flooding his suit with flame, only to be struck from behind by several weasels at once. Blue howls loudly as he gets hit by some weasels with guns. Napalm falls to the ground, rolling out of the way as a benette hits the ground where he was. He grabs the gun away, swinging it into the face of its owner. The dog turns with his eyes as red as his friend's, grabbing the two, procedes to toss them across the room leaving dents in the wall.
   "Ok, lets see if these things protect you from laser fire too."
   Napalm dives out of the way of a flying weasel, turns and rapidly fires at the confused group of weasels. He wings several, his aim terrible, but others start take aim at him. Blue pounces on the weasels that have guns, chewing at them. Napalm continually misses one weasel and throws down the laser rifle in frustration. He hurls himself at the weasel and buries his claws in the creatures chest. Napalm allows his anger to fade quickly and lets the weasel fall to the floor, looking around at the carnage. Blue looks up and around for any moving bodies, as the red falls from his eyes. He looks at the carnaage and whimpers.
   Napalm goes over to his friend. "It's ok, we'll find a way."
   Blue holds into the fur of the wolf. "It's not okay."
   Napalm pats the dogs back softly, but whispers to him more firmly, "We don't have time for this now, your brothers pilot is counting on us. You have to be strong, for his sake at least."
   Blue looks up and nods. "Let's go."
   Napalm looks to the third door, places his hand over the locking mechanism and opens it noislessly. He enters first. The dog follows behind. The wolf turns a corner and looks over a rough map of the prison level on the wall. He considers for a moment then walks down the right hallway. Blue looks at the map.
   "Come on." The wolf whispers. Blue then follows the wolf, silently walking down the coridor. Napalm follows the hall as it bends right, they walk past several cells, some emtpy, others still bearing their occupants remains.
   "We need to free all of them." the dog whispers fearcly.
   "I don't see any live ones yet...I don't think the Awardings were big on long prison sentances." Blue growls. Napalm hears voices echoing along the corridor. Blue hisses at the voices.
   "Ok, Mr. Cherok," one voice was saying, "I have all the time in the world here. How about you fill me in on a few things, eh?"
   "Never, scum." Cherok responded.
   "Now, now, let's not be so hasty. You SAW what happened to that
lizard I was talking to yestarday. I'll bet he misses that tail of his...."
   "I won't talk, I don't know anything. I'm just a pilot."
   "Oh, of course you don't. You wouldn't know anything about a Mr. Blue Sunfire or any friends he might have. Of course, thats your loss I'm afriad. Are you certain there isn't something you'd like to tell me?"
   "I know that Mr. SunFire is my employers brother, but that's it. I was flying back from a cargo run when I was shot down."
   Blue glances at the wolf. Napalm nods. The dog starts padding down the hall closer to the cell. The wolf follows silently.
   "Good, good," the first voice continued, "now, perhaps you could tell me more about him. How tall is he? What does he look like?
   "What, my boss?" Cherok responded.
   "No, your employer is insignificant. I 'm talking about his brother, Blue."
   Blue growls and flies in the room. "My brother is not insignificant." He grabs the dog that was the first speaker and slams him up against the wall. Napalm follows around the corner, certain that Blue can handle the dog, he melts through the lock on the cell door and releases the pilot.
   "Dont worry, we're here to help you." the wolf says.
   "Ack!" the dog says in a fearful voice, "Its YOU!!!!! But HOW?!?!?!"
   Blue growls as he slams the dog against the wall again. "NOW..you talk."
   "ARGGGG! What do you want?"
   "Tell me about the labs."
   "Yes." Cherok starts, "I recognize Mr. SunFire, but his brother never said he was this angry." Napalm_looks slyly at Cherok. "Has what I've been hearing done to him really been done?"
   "Ssshhh, dont say that too loud. He's been on edge the past few days. Don't wanna set him off." Napalm nods sadly.
   "What?!?!" the dog continues to squirm, "You expect ME to tell YOU anything? HA!"
   Blue throws the dog across the hall, and picks him up again. "YES!"
   "Wow," Cherok whispers, "he is on edge."
   "AIIEEE!" the dog yells as he flys across the hall. He then smiles weakly as he says, "I've interogated the hardest willed prisoners around. It'll take more than that to get me to talk."
   "Heh, wait till you see what he did in the first two guard rooms." Napalm shudders. "It's messy in there."
   Blue picks up the dog holding him eye level, the grey eyes flashing. "You Will tell me now." He slams the dog against the wall again.
   "Really," Cherok states quietly to Napalm as he watches, "this is not good news."
   The dog begins to quiver slightly. "Uff! I...I...I'm..not tell..telling you any..thing"
   "How's that?" Napalm asks back of Cherok.
   Blue puts a mini sun right in the eys of the dog. "TALK NOW!"
   The dog howls out, "AIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!"
   The fox piliot moves behind Napalm. "Not good at all."
   "Anything you say!" the dog whimpers out. "I'll talk! I'll talk! AIEEEEEE!"
   Napalm looks behind him at the pilot. "Don't worry. He hasn't attacked me yet. I dont think he'll go after you."
   "I know that," Cherok whispers back, "but that is scary."
   "Tell me about the labs" Blue asks forcefully.
   "GRAA! They are one level up." the dog whimpers out. "One large
security door blocks the entrance. Its only lightly guarded."
   "This had better be the truth, dog." Blue threatens.
   "True...I liked him better before." Napalm states as he watches.
   "ARG! I swear it is!" the dog whimpers more.
   "Now..where can I find the lab to reverse this bloodlust." Blue asks.
   "Wha?!?" the dog whimpers in confusion, "Reverse it? You've got to be joking!"
   Blue tosses the dog back to the first side of the hall. "Do I look like i'm joking."
   "Ufff..." the dog moans out as he hits the wall and sinks down it.
   "I think you over did it." Napalm mentions.
   Blue growls at Napalm, "I can see that."
   "Well, I suppose its off to the labs then, you don't know of anymore prisoners do you Cherok?" Napalm asks the fox.
   "Nope, none." The fox stays on the far side of the wolf, away from Blue.
   "Ok, then on to the laboratory." Napalm starts leading the way.
   "We had better get going, it's not going to take them long to figure out where we went."
   "Yea..lead on." Blue responds, half heartly as he sees the dog laying in the hall. Cherok follows on the other side of the wolf. Napalm hurries off down the corridor, the others on either side of him. Blue follows the wolf. Napalm comes to the guard rooms, gliding over the piles of bodies.
   "Oh my." Cherok shudders and walks quickly through both rooms.
Napalm mutters to the fox, "I told you it wasn't pretty." The wolf quickly exits the room. "Well, take an arm you two, we're going up."
   "We're ..going up how?" the fox questions.
   Blue grabs an arm. "Just grab on."
   Napalm grabs the fox with his free arm. "You'll see." Cherok erfs. Napalm rushes upward with incredible velocity, coming to a jarring stop on the next floor. The wolf sets the fox down.
   Cherok shudders. "If you liked that, you should have seen the trip we took through the forest." Napalm examines the door in front of them.
   "Uh..no." Blue says as he kicks the door in. He pounces through to the empty hall. Napalm shrugs and follows.
   "Hmm..I expected more resistance..."
   Blue looks both ways. "What lab did we need to go to?"
   Napalm looks around for another convenient floor map along a wall. "Looks like we're out of luck, just pick a direction. Blue walks to the left. Napalm follos, keeping one eye on the smaller fox. Cherok follows the wolf. Blue steps through some double doors and keeps walking. Napalm follows, smelling the sterile nature of this floor.
   "This place is like a hospital." the wolf quips.
   Blue sniffs, then sniffs deeper, as a growl starts.
   "You smell something?" Napalm places a hand back to halt the fox. Blue turns on the wolf clawing his chest and biting at his neck, his eyes red. Blue snarls loudly. Cherok shrinks back against the wall, watching and very scared. Napalm growls in surprised pain, placing his hand under the dogs neck, forcing him away.
   "Blue! What the Hell are you doing?!?!" Blue pounces on the wolf, knocking him over as he tries to bite the neck, paws raking across his chest. Blue snarls louder. Napalm uses the dogs momentum against him, catching the dog and sending him hurtling down the hallway against the double doors. Cherok dives out of the way of the flying dog, moving to the other side of the hall. "Alright, enough of this!" Napalm commands. The dog tumbles onto all fours and pounces back towards the wolf. The wolf holds both hands in front of him, an incredible gust of scorching air
blows the dog back through the doorway. Napalm looks at the fox uncertainly, before catiously approaching the doors. The dog falls back to the ground again, and starts to move against the wind, getting closer to the wolf. The wolf stands his ground fearlessly, waiting for the dog to move within reach. "Blue! Don't you know who I am? Whats wrong with you?" The dog stops short, growling, then pounces at the right moment onto the wolf, again clawing and biting at the neck. The wolf isn't one to be surprised twice, one paw clamps onto the dogs muzzle, keeping it closed, the other grabs around him firmly. They both disappear in whirl of flame, leaving the scared fox temporarily alone. The fox shudders as he looks
around.
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   Napalm and Blue come into existance in the middle of the lake, both locked in combat. Blue claws at the paws on him, scoring deeply. Napalm begins to lose his temper, striking the dog firmly in the head with his free paw, letting the other one go. The wolf speaks without moving his lips. "I dont want to hurt you Blue." The dog snarls and bits at the paw that struck him, sinking the teeth in. The wolf growls, driving the flat of his other paw
agianst the dogs head, hoping to knock him out without damaging him.
   The dog growls louder as he grabs the paw in his own paw closing on
it with his paw holding it as he sinks deeper on the paw in his muzzle. The dog kicks hard to the surface. The wolf forces the dog to remain in place. His flight ability not giving even agaist the pain in his paw. Blue shakes violently and kicks to the wolf in the groin then kicking to the surface. Napalm uses one of the fighting moves he was taught earlier to turn the dogs arm around behind him, tears nearly forming as he is kicked. He bends the dogs arm around hard wrapping his legs around the dogs, forcing him into near imobility. The dog uses a fighting move he didn't know he had as he cracks his head back into the wolfs, using the moment to pull out of the legs. The wolf lets the dog go temporarily, recovers quickly as he heads for the surface, catching one leg and holding it in a death grib, pulling them both down deeper. The dog growls, looking at the
wolf, then loses all fight; the oxygen leaving him and the redness. The wolf prepares for whatever attack the dog had planned, then notices the sudden change. He decides to take the chance and they both disappear again, finding themselves on the shore near the pipe the originally entered the compound. The dog gasps for breath. Napalm whirls away from the dog and stares at him, ready.
   "Now you wanna tell me what the HELL just happened?" Napalm
demands.
   "I ...I just smelled some gas." Blue looks at the wolf's damage. "Did, I do that?"
   The wolf looks at his paw and shrugs. "You had a hand...paw in it." Blue whimpers, as he hears Napalm say that, and starts to cry. Napalm kneels next to the dog and shakes him.
   "How can you trust me around?" the dog whimpers out.
   "Snap out of this will you?"
   "WHAT, you want me to attack you again..with no warning?"
   "We dont have this kind of time, we have one scared little fox we left in that lab, and who knows what he went and did by now. I don't need warning anymore...I know what to do with you next time. Now, I think that gas was contained in the area beyond the doors we passed." Blue whimpers more as the feelings hit him. "If you don't enter them you should be ok. I'll teleport us just before that and see if I can find Cherok. Can you handle that?" Napalm looks the dog directly in the eyes.
   "Yes." Blue answers softly as he looks back at the wolf.
   "Ok...now lets see if we can get you fixed up ok?" Napalm takes the dogs paw in his hand that, by all rights should be bleeding and nearly useless by now. He smiles and they teleport to the hallway a few feet from the door. Blue looks slightly at the wolf's unhurt paw. "Ok, now get back a bit, I don't want a repeat of what just happened, k?"
   Blue backs up. "Okay..I'll hold my breath. I'll run through the doors if I have to." Napalm slips quickly through the doors and rushes down the hallway. He returns in a few short minutes, practically dragging a very frightened Cherok behind him.
   "You..your back." the fox shudders out.
   "No, I suggest he try the other hallway, this one doesn't apear to be the right one anyhow.
    "Okay..fine..lets go that way." Blue mumbles out. The fox trembles as the dogs speaks and moves farther away from Blue.
   "Don't worry Cherok," the wolf states, "He didn't hurt me, see."
   "He...he's totally different." Cherok blurts out. Blue glares at the fox, then takes off walking down the hall.
   "Yes, he's been changed alright..but thats why we're here. We're going to fix that." The wolf says as Cherok shudders behind him. Blue growls as he sniffs and listens ahead.
   "Great," the dog says ruefully, "Now they send the troups."
   "You better stand back Cherok, this could get ugly." the wolf motions to the fox. Napalm takes a position next to the dog and awaits their arrival. Blue crouches down and growls loudly, watching the approaching troups stop dead in their tracks. He pounces forward as the troups scatter back down the hall. The wolf motions for the fox to keep up as rushes after the dog. The dog bites through a leg of one of the fleeing figures. Napalm stops just behind the dog, sending a heat beam down the center of the
hall, indiscriminantly cutting through anything it hits. Blue looks up as the red leaves his eyes, slumping down, whimpering more. Napalm places as paw on the dogs shoulder as the few unharmed troops round a corner. The wolf half frowns and ends the suffering of those still living.
   "I've got to get rid of this." the dog whimpers.
   "Yes, your better judgement isn't working. I'm afraid you'll get in over your head." the wolf answers.
   "I"m afraid of what I will do when that happens. Will I go totally bloodlusty?" Napalm tries not to smile at the odd word the dog uses. "Will I be under their control?" the dog continues, "Maybe this is what they want from me."
   "I think if you get in over your head, you won't live long enough to care." The wolf says, then notices the fox standing uncertainly a few feet behind him.
   "I'm really sorry Mr. SunFire." Cherok starts, "They have the information here somewhere, I don't know where"
   "Then we had better get looking for it. There must be some information storage area on this level." Napalm indicates the fox to move closer for easier talking.
   "My guess is that lab there, it says genetics" the fox says as he reads the foreign words.
   Napalm rolls his eyes and walks through the double doors.
   "Figures." Blue follows the wolf and fox. Napalm looks around the laboratory, various white coats and lab equip scattered about. The wolf spots a computer in the back corner. Blue moves to the desk and starts to look through the papers.
   "Aha!" the wolf looks gleefully. "Maybe there is something in there." Cherok follows the wolf to the computer. "Cherok, you know anything about these? I'm a little...behind the times you might say." Napalm motions for the fox to be seated. The fox grins for the first time and sits down at the computer, turning it on and starts to type in some letters.
   "I've had a little experience." the fox states as he moves his fingers over the keyboard with obvious practice. Napalm watches in wrap curiousity as the fox moves quickly about the system. The fox looks at a password screen, typing in variious keys, then watching it move on to the next screen. Napalm vaguely recognizes the screen and wonders just how much the fox really knows.
   "Just what kind of pilot are you anyway?" the wolf asks. The fox doesn't answer as he moves through some screens. Blue ignores them both as he looks through the papers on the desk.
   The fox finally gets an entry screen. "What do you want?" he asks as he turns to the wolf.
   "All information on Blue and what they did to him." the wolf responds, as Blue picks up some papers.
   The fox types in Blue Heeler SunFire. "Damn, they have another set of passwords, give me a sec."
   "Yes, I imagine they locked it up pretty well." The wolf continues to watch the fox type. The dog puts some papers in his pouch as he opens the drawers. The fox types in more words getting occasional beeps until a screen opens up.
   "Here we go." Cherok sounds triumphant.
   "Great...they could find us any minute." Napalm warns. Blue pulls some vials out of the desk keeping them. The fox looks over and press the print record button, hearing the printer print. Napalm jumps a bit as the printer begins working, then shakes his head. "I'm getting too jumpy."
   The fox notices something on the screen. "Uh oh, I think we are in trouble."
   "Hows that?" the wolf quickly says looking around. The fox points to the self destruct in 1 min flashing on the screen. "That mean the computer or the compound?" the wolf asks.
   "I don't know, but I think we should grab the paper and leave." Cherok says as he moves towards the printer. Napalm pulls the fox back out of his seat and starts backing for the door.
   "Agreed, and in one minute or less would be good. C'mon Blue, we're getting outta here." Blue looks up, seeing this, and grabs everything in the desk and follows the two out. Napalm rushes toward the stairs. Blue follows hearing some troups coming behind them; he tosses a mini sun back. He then grabs the wolf.
   "Fly like you never have before." Blue says.
   "Fly where? We got what we came for didn't we?" the wolf asks.
Napalm takes the fox under one arm and waits for some inspiration.
   "Well, up is looking good right now." They hears the explostion rack the lab floor explodes. Napalm rushes upward passing floors rapidly. He stops at the top floor and looks down just soon enough to see flames rush out from the doorway of the science level, as he sets both furs down on the landing. They hears the sirens go off.
   "Guess they know we are here." the dog says.
   "I would say thats a good guess." Napalm replies.
   Blue looks at the door on the landing. "Anything behind it?"
   "Well, odds say yes, but what is anyones guess. One way to find out."
   "Can't you see through it?"
   "I can't see any heat signitures on the other side."
   Blue kicks the door in. Napalm looks down the straight hallway. The dog groans out as he is hit by laser fire. The wolf pushes the dog and fox to the side of the door tossing a fireball through the doorway as he crosses it. Blue feels the bloodlust coming and charges down the hall getting hit by fire, but not slowing down. Napalm growls as the dog escapes him, rushing after him.
   "Stay here Cherok!" the wolf growls out. The dog snarls and pounces on the lead figure, taring the weapon away and breaking the arm.
   "You got it" the fox says thankfully, but can't help but watch. Napalm feels a stray shot hit his side, but responds with a fireball that leaves little of one unlucky soldier. Blue grabs anther figure and flings him against the wall as more shots hit him enraging him further. The wolf teleports to the back of the troops, taking out the weasels taking aim at the incoherent dog. The dog snarls as he rips into another one. Napalm uses his glowing claws to quickly and effieciently kill those near him, before firing streams of flame down the hallway. Blue gets hit by another gun as he rips into that figure breaking both arms and kicking in the chest. The wolf stops and looks around, suddenly caught off guard by a shot in the back.
   "Arg!" the wolf howls out. Blue sags a little as he pounces on another figure, ripping claws into the throat. The fox gasps at the carnage. Napalm slowly stands, teeth gritted, eyes blazing. He turns, growling in increasing volume. The figure behind him begins to shake. The wolf places both hands in front of him and sends a storm of fire down the rest of the hall. Blue pounces on the last figure on front of the wolf, and tears him. Napalm calms down slowly. He breifly notices that the fire didnt damage the walls.
The dog snarls at the only figure remaining standing. The wolf feels the walls, still warm. he looks up mildly at the dog. The dog snarls at the wolf again, then shudders and collapses on the ground. The wolf stares wide eyed for a moment, before rushing to his side. He notices that the dog took more damage than he had realized. Blue lays there unconcious. The fox runs over to the dog.
   "I don't guess your employer had you carry any kind of healing potion did he?" Napalm asks as he looks between Cherok and Blue.
   Yea, but they took them, but..." Cherok mentions.
   "But what?" the wolf looks at the fox.
   The fox grabs something out of a hidden pocket. "My last one."
   Napalm holds the dogs mouth open. "Well, don't waste any time, we sure can't have much of it left." The fox pours the vial in as he hears people coming. Blue moans as thee potion releavs some of the hurts. Napalm throws up a heat barrier in the doorway, cringing as the first weasel rushes it blindly, incinerated without a trace. Blue blinks up as he moves a little. Napalm picks up the healing dog and runs for the door at the end of the hall. "Come on Cherok, I don't know how long that will hold them." The fox follows him.
   Blue looks up at the wolf. "What happend?"
   "You're mothers recipe saves you again. You should thank her next time you see her." the wolf replies.
   No, before that..and this was a small...field ration one." The dog looks at the fox. "Yours?" The fox nods at the dog. "Thanks." Blue replies. Napalm sets the dog down as he reaches the huge oaken doors at the end of the long hall.
   "We...encountered some resistance..."
   "I can see that. put me down..I can run now." Blue tries to move off but nearly collapses. He leans against the wall for a second, slightly dizzy.
   "You ok Blue?" Napalm hears a voice from the other side of the door, that by now even he has come to hate. Blue looks at the wolf and hisses at the voice.
   "Come in," the voice states with mock warmth, "come in. I've been expecting you." The doors open by no visible means. Napalm walks slowly forward into an elaborate office. Blue follows limping but still hissing, and Cherok just follows. "Glad to see you could make it. A shame you won't be going any farther. I was beginning to enjoy this little game. I hope you have as well."
   Blue growls loudly at the figure behind the desk and starts to close on him. Napalm cringes as the dog is thrown back by an invisible force.
   "Hehehe." the figure laughs loudly. "You didn't expect me to leave myself so vulnerable did you?" Blue hisses even louder red coming to his eyes. The fox tentitively steps in behind the wolf. "You'll find a similar forcefield in place around the entire room. You arn't going anywhere, are you Napalm. That is what they call you isn't it?"
   "Your information is partially correct. You did get my name correct." Napalm responds. Awardings smirks at the wolf's impudence. Blue pounces at the forcefield as it bounces him back.
   "You phoenix really are as arrogant as he said you were. Oh yes, we know ALL about you and your kind. You might say and old aquaintance of yours, filled us in. Now, now, Blue. I know the bloodlust combined with your hatred of me must be making this difficult, but you really won't accomplish anything by that."
   Blue gets back up and hisses not hearing the words. The fox whispers something to the wolf.
   "And you, Cherok," Awardings states as he looks upon the fox.
   "I hope you enjoyed your brief reprieve from our questioning. It will be the last of such breaks you recieve."
   "Sorry, Awardings, I'm leaving with them." the fox states matter of factly. Napalm doesn't betray any emotion at the news but his mind immediately starts to process the implications.
   "Ahh...so like the others we have taken. I will give you credit. The Sunfire spies were always tough to crack, but we have our ways....messy as they can be." Blue pounces on the shield again being thrown off and hitting the wall with a grunt. The fox retreats behind the wolf again under the cold Awardings stare.
   Napalm comes to some preliminary conclusions and uses them to stall while his mind races for options. "So, you've met our enemies have you? I hope they informed you as to the fate they suffered."
   Blue slowly gets on all fours as he looks at the man with full hatred, growling louder. The fox looks over at the dog with concern.
   "Oh yes, he told us about you. He told us every power and every
weakness you possessed."
   "Really, and let me guess. You agreed to destroy us in exchange for what?" Blue growls louder as he slams into the shield, flying back in the exact same force and denting the wall back to the outer shield; falling to the ground with a groan. "Immortality? Magical abilities? I'm not certain what, but I hope its forth dying for." Napalm looks at the dog and decides he had better hurry. The dog groans in pain, yet starts to get back up, slowly, unable to not try to kill the Awardings.
   "Hehe." Awardings chuckles as he enjoys the game. "I bet you would like to know. But I have more important things to worry about. Blue, I do hope you don't injure yourself too greatly. The control sequencer is all prepared and ready for you. We wouldn't want that to go to waste now would we?" Blue gets to all fours snarling as he gathers strength. Napalm sees himself running out of time, them spots the one thing he might be able to turn to his advantage. Awardings takes out a cigar and prepares to light it. Blue snarls as he pounces yet again on the shield only to be thrown
back against the wall, collapsing and not getting up. Napalm tenses and awaits the opportunity. Praying he doesnt miss time this. As the cigarette lighter ignites, Napalm dissappears. Flames lauch from the lighter and form an enormess bird, nearly filling the office. Napalm kicks the human out of the way with a talon and returns to wolf form, outside the force field. He quickly rushes to the desk, finding the switch and turning the field off. The fox looks around, seeing a water cooler, grabs it and dumps water on the
dog.
   "Arg!" Awardings howls out, "HoW??!?! You can't do that?!?!"
   "I guess you don't know everything yet do you, Mr. Awardings."
Napalm smirks. Blue whimpers as he regains conciousness. The human
looks at the dog, a fear on his face that none have ever seen before.
   "You can't let him near me! He'll kill me! You can't let him do that!" Blue looks over at the human and stars to crawl on the ground to get to him, eyes red and flashing, fangs bared.
   "You seemed quite happy wishing the end of my race. You should be thankful I don't do the job myself." The fox attempts to grab the dog, but gets other ideas as Blue nips at him.
   "Sorry, but I'm not stoping him" the fox says as he looks at his nipped paw. Napalm turns his back on the dog and human, walking over to the fox, and covering his eyes.
   "This isn't going to be pretty." the wolf says.
   "NOOOO!!!!!!!!!! HEEELLLPPPP!!!!!" the human yells out. The human cringes, sliding back against the wall, then moving along it, soon finding himself trapped in a corner. "NNNNOOO!!!" Blue snarls louder as the human crawls away. He finds the energy to pounce on the figure, gripping the throut in his muzzle and not letting go. "ACK!! NO! NO! ARCKKKKK....ark!...." Blue continues to hold on even after the figure has stopped struggling. The fox whimpers as he hears the death throws. The human body goes limp, the tongue laying out one side. Slowly the form begins to shimmer and fade, revealing a scaled face and forked tongue. The dog continues to hold the neck.A scaled tail sprouts from the back completing the transformation.
   "Ugh...what is it..." Napalm goes over and looks closer. "I would swear its part dragon..and some other reptile....a snake maybe? Yes..that would make sense. It all makes sense now." Blue snarls at the wolf a little as he holds the neck. "Thats why I never sensed any body heat. He's cold-blooded. And the draconic blood allowed him the extended lifespan." The wolf hardly notices the dog as his mind races forward. "And if he's part dragon...that might explain..but no. He couldn't have know him..he's been dead for milenia!" The fox is at the desk writing all the Napalm is
saying down. Napalm shakes his head and turns away. Blue starts to come out of the bloodlust groaning loudly and dropping the body.
   "Hey, what are you doing?" Napalm asks as he notices the fox.
   "Nothing." The fox puts the paper in his fur. The wolf stares at the fox intently. "Nothing really."
   "Don't think I'm stupid. I'll see that paper before we leave."
   Blue groans louder then pulls himself up.
   "Sorry, it's already gone. It is now at the office of his brother."
   "You saw what happened to that last fur who crossed me." The fox shrinks back. "Then perhaps you'd like to tell me what it said."
   "Water..." Blue gasps as he spitts out fluid, "..is there more water." He looks around.
   "Just what you said, that's it." the fox answers as he shakes before the wolf.
   "And when did my words become so important to your employer?"
   Napalm leans closer, his eyes beginning to glow.
   "Uh.." Cherok shakes even more. "Since you hooked up with his
brother."
   "So you spy on Blue as well?"
   "Nonono you misunderstand, I don't spy on anyone, I collect any
information my boss wants" The fox shakes even more. Blue grabs the bottle of water drinking what remains, spitting a couple of times.
   "Leave," the dog pants, "him alone, Nap." Napalm growls once more at the fox before backing off. "Let's search this place."
   "My race values secrecy. If you value your life, you'll take this knowledge to your grave. That's not a personal threat. But my race has killed many with less reason." Napalm is about to agree with the dog when he hears a siren go off. A speaker announces "Self destruct in one minute."
"Perhaps not...." Napalm grabs the still shaking fox under his arm and reaches for the dog. "Let's go!" Blue groans as he is grabed. Napalm closes his eyes and they wink out of existence.
   The speaker announces "30 second to self destruct."
   Napalm and the others appear shortly on the shore, facing the
compound. "This should be quite a show." The dog falls to the ground bearly able to watch. The fox moves to the other side of the dog, and slightly behind the wolf as he pulls an object out taking pictures of the compound. Clearly not aiming it at the wolf. Napalm sits down next to the dog, placing an arm around him. He smiles as the ground is shaken by a tremendous explosion. Blue looks up and smiles as he sees the compound start to explode. The wolf watches the explosion send a pillar of flame high into the air. A wave of heat is felt, even at this distance. It is followed
by the smell of smoke.
   Napalm looks up at the fox, still snapping pictures. "Anyway I can get a copy of those? I'd like something to remember this by."
   "Only if I can take one of you." the fox replies with more strength than he had shown before. The dog looks at another shaft of flame shooting out the side of the wall.
   The wolf shrugs. "Deal." Napalm extends his hand. Cherok shakes the paw, then lines up the wolf and dog for a shot, and clicks. "I get a copy of that one too right?"
   "OH, yes of course, sir." The fox backs up some. Blue laughs softly. Napalm nods and smiles, turning back to the burning compound.
   "Well, I think this has been a very productive day." the wolf says. The fox puts the camera in his fur and mumbles something.
   "Lets go," Blue starts then groans loudly, "inn."
   "Well, enough site seeing," the wolf states, "I need to get Blue to the hotel, where do you want me to drop you Cherok?"
   "Take me back to the hotel, by then I'll have your pics foryou." the fox smiles slyly.
   Napalm shrugs, "Ok.." Napalm picks up the dog gently under one arm, and grabs the fox under the other, flying off to the hotel at a leisurely pace. The dog groans as he is picked up. The wolf lands just behind the hotel and sets the fox down. He walks around and into the hotel, going directly to the room. Napalm lays the dog down on his bed as he enters. Blue groans as he is layed down. The fox stops at the counter, then walks to the room, knocking on the door. The wolf causes a slight breeze to open the door while he examines the dog.
   "Come on in."
   The fox walks in concerned with the dog, but holding some pics.
   "Where ...." the dog says very softly.
   "Here's the pics." the fox says, missing the real question.
   "You're safe, back at the hotel, just rest for now. We're safe." the wolf says. Napalm pauses a second before accepting the pictures. Napalm looks them over absently and drops them into a nightstand drawer. "Good, thanks Cherok." The fox walks out the room. "Where you going?"
   "Back to report in to Mr. SunFire." the fox replys eyes widening.
   Blue moans more on the bed. Napalm glances uncertainly at the dog.
   "I'd offer you a ride but."
   "No, Mr. Napalm, I am fine."
   "Ok, take care of yourself...I don't want to have to rescue you twice today." Napalm smiles and winks.
   "Don't worry about me now, Mr. Napalm." The fox walks off. Napalm sends another breeze to close the door, not wanting to leave the dog's side unless necessary. Blue whimpers on the bed. The wolf sits on his own bed, picking up the remote and channel surfing a minute. He finds little on and settles on the news.
   "....and here on the scene of the fire is the head of the security, Ralph Nesmex." The tv shows the fire on the island.
   Napalm raises his eyebrows and sits forward. "Heh, cool, we made the news.." he says outloud.
   "What caused this fire, Mr. Nesmex?" the reporter was saying.
   "We are unsure, it just occured. I am sure that it is just an accident." Ralph replied.
   "Ha! Accident my tail feathers!" the wolf snorts out.
   The screen pans back to the reporter. "Have they found Mr. Awardings?"
   "Not as of yet. However we are conducting a full search of the wreckage and hope to locate him shortly." Ralph continued.
   "What is going to happen to the WatchDogs now that the head is missing?" the reporter continued.
   "We DO know that his son has safely excaped the compound, however, and, if the worst has happened, he will inherit the leadership of the WatchDogs." Ralph answered.
   "Grrrrr....so THATS who caused the self destruct." Napalm growled out.
   "What about the other people in the WatchDogs." the reporter asked. Blue whimpers on the bed.
   "All of the current WatchDog employees and agents will retain their current positions. As for all those in the compound at the time. A severe...interigation will have to passed before they can re-enter service." Ralph concluded.
   "Okay, that is it from here, this has been Jill Compter. Back to the studio." Jill finished. The guard returns to barking orders to his crew in the background.
   "Thank you, Jill. We will bring you updatess as we hear more." the news anchor wrapped up. Blue moans more. Napalm turns the volume down on the news report and glances over at the dog.
   "Need help," the wolf states. "Blue? You ok?"
   "I need help, a potion or such." the dog whimpers out.
   "We don't have any left do we?"
   "No...just help me some." Napalm looks into the box and determines there aren't any there.
   "How?" Blue shrugs slightly. The wolf looks helplessly at the dog. The wolf grits his teeth and thinks. He hurries into the bathroom and comes back with a wet rag and a bottle of aspirin. "This is all I've got for now...I may be able to find something else..but I'd have to leave you for it." He lays the rag over the dogs forehead and gives the dog two aspirins and a glass of water.Blue passes out. Napalm frowns and thinks a second, before picking up the phone. Blue wakes breifly, looks at the water and asprin."Yes, front desk? This is room 134. Do you know of a local store
that sells healing supplies. Pharmacuticals and such..." Blue downs the whole bottle and drinks the water. "...Ahh, thanks, you're a life saver." Napalm sets down the phone. "Literally. I'll be RIGHT back." The dog passes out again. "Not that you would know..." Napalm rushes out of the room in a firely blur and returns only a few minutes later with an arm load of various bottles and vials. He takes one fairly plain looking vial and pours it down the dogs throat. "That should help a little anyway." Blue drinks it groaning. The wolf takes some bandages from his pile and covers the dog's various wounds. The dog falls to a deep sleep as he heals. The wolf frowns at the dog, but feels more comfortable that Blue will heal on his own now. He sigh deeply and leans back, allowing himself to hover on the edge of a light sleep.