Hunter, Exile, Colleen, Blitz, Shag, Parvo, Master, Zachary Storm, Groomer © WB Animation
Alethia © Kylen Miles
Bayson © Eric Hunter
Bear © Steven Today
Cobber © Mike Browner
Cricket © Emma Brown
Dawn © Dianne L.
Dervish © Casey Johnson
DJ © Jake Williams
Nitro © Amanda Stephenson
Dylan, Jake, Pitch, Alan, Jamie, Julie, Shawn, Edge © Dylan Rinald
 
 

RRMC, two days later, 7 AM. We see Hunter and Exile looking over some files on the database computers in the tech lab.
Exile’s typing rather slowly on the keyboard while Hunter presses keys blindingly fast. Exile stops and looks at Hunter, rather
amazed.
 

EXILE:  Comrade, you type the board keys like Superdupermanski downing many hypers of coffee beans. HUNTER: *stopping, looking at Exile, confused* Remind me to write a translation manual later... He goes back to what he’s doing, but pauses for a moment. Exile notices.

EXILE: Hunter?

Hunter says nothing, then begins to type again. Seconds later, Dylan’s file and picture appear on the screen...

DYLAN ALEXANDER THOMPSON
AGE 17 (HUMAN STANDARD)
EYES GOLD
BREED RETRIEVER/DOBERMAN/SHEPHERD
RANK CLASSIFIED
POWERS UNKNOWN?

Hunter remains silent, staring at the screen. Exile fills with worry.

EXILE: Comrade??

HUNTER: ......I don’t understand it....

EXILE: Understand whatski?

He looks at the screen...

EXILE: Oh.....Dylan....

HUNTER: I just wish I knew why...*hangs head* ...Just why....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dining hall. Many Rovers are eating breakfast and such, but things remain a bit low in terms of conversation and emotion.
Indeed a sullen setting...We see Dervish slowly munching on some toast, not really making much in the way of socializing. He
looks rather depressed, judging from the look in his eyes...and the fact that he looks incredibly tired and his furry white hair
being out of the usual ponytail (a rare sight). He sighs...Alethia enters the dining hall and sees Dervish in his morning slump.
Concerned, she approaches him.

ALETHIA - Derv?

DERVISH - ....Hmm?

ALETHIA - What’s wrong?

DERVISH - .......

ALETHIA - *crossing her arms, worried* It’s about Dylan, isn’t it?

DERVISH - .......Yeah...Maybe a little, but not much.

ALETHIA - *hanging her head for a moment, then putting a hand on his shoulder* That’s what I thought. It’ll be okay,
somehow...*looks down at the floor and says nothing else*

DERVISH – Hmm…*sighing* Wait till Cobb hears about this. He’s not gonna like it...

ALETHIA - You mean he doesn’t know?

DERVISH - *nods* He wasn’t around when it happened and no one informed him about it.

ALETHIA - *sighs* You’re right...

DERVISH - *looking away * This isn’t gonna set well with him...especially since it was Dyl...

He drops his head on the table and lets out a deep sigh.

DERVISH – I still can’t figure out why this is bothering me as much as it is...Eh well…

ALETHIA - *pats him on the back* Sometimes tragedy doesn’t sink in fully until later...

DERVISH - ........

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Communications room. The Master is viewing a large screen above the main terminal. Bear and Nitro are on the screen.

MASTER - How do things look out there?

BEAR - Well, we’re not fully done surveying the wreckage yet, but so far there seems to be little remaining.

MASTER - There aren’t any casualties found, are there?

Nitro shakes her head.

NITRO - Not one, fortunately...

BEAR - And unfortunately as well. There’s no sign of Dylan’s body anywhere so far...

NITRO - Well, so far, that is. There’s still a significant amount we have yet to look over. Shouldn’t take TOO long, I hope.

MASTER - *thinks* There has to be something...

BEAR - We’ll keep looking. We Strayers don’t give up easily.

NITRO - *looking at Bear* First time I’ve actually heard you say that, you know?

BEAR - *cheesy grin* Well it WAS a given...wasn’t it?

NITRO - Mmm hmm...

BEAR - *turning red, scratching his head* Heh, um, nevermind. *looking back* Bear and Nitro, over and out!

The screen turns off.

MASTER - *confused* What was that all about?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Residential Hall. 9 AM. Dervish is seen talking with Dawn and DJ. Dawn seems a little nervous since last night.

DAWN - I just can’t shake that dream I had, you guys. It’s been bothering me all night and all morning.

DJ - *putting a hand on her shoulder, trying to be optimistic* It’ll be okay, Dawn. We’ll pull through one way or another.

DERVISH - No it’s not gonna be okay, Deej! True, Dylan’s gone and there’s nothing we can do about it, but just stop
thinking about it. *eyes burn a little*

DJ - Derv, don’t think I’m not as affected by this as you are, okay? It bothers me as much, if not more, that you. He was a
good friend to me!

DERVISH - He was to me too.

DJ - Then why are we arguing about this?!

Dervish runs a hand through his top fur and sighs deeply.

DERVISH - Look, I’m sorry, okay? I’m just a little overtired today, all right? *blinks hard and turns head away*

DAWN - *looks at Derv, concerned* Derv?

DERVISH - *rubs his eyes* Oh, nothing. Just...had something in my eye....*faces them again* I think I’m gonna go for a walk.
I’ll see you later.

Dervish turns and walks away down the hall. Dawn looks back at DJ.

DAWN - Was he...?

DJ - *shrugs* Dunno, truthfully.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Farther down the hall, a short while later. Dervish walks swiftly down the hall, but not quite with a clear mind.

DERVISH - Man....what the heck are we supposed to do now? He’s gone and...

VOICE - Who is, Orange Boy?
 

Dervish turns to see Cobber coming the same way from behind. The sheltie stops. DERVISH - Oh...you... COBBER - *annoyed* I have a name, you know. DERVISH - Whatever...

COBBER - What’s up your butt today, Fluoro Boy? Your shades?

He smirks a bit. Derv gets annoyed.

DERVISH - How about your head, for starters?

COBBER - *blinks* You know that made no bloody sense?

DERVISH - Well excuse me!

COBBER - ‘Fraid not. Still stupid remarks coming from your trap like always, of course.

DERVISH - Look, would you just clam it for once?!

COBBER - Why? Huh? Huh? Why?!

DERVISH - *ticked off* Because!

COBBER - *grinning* Because why?

Dervish snaps.

DERVISH - *yelling in Cobber’s face* BECAUSE DYLAN’S DEAD!!!!!! GEEZ!!

He breathes heavily, watching Cobber, who just blinks.

COBBER - .....What???

DERVISH - *calming down a bit* Dylan’s dead, Aussie boy. He’s d-e-a-d. Dead.

Cobber’s expression goes lifeless...

COBBER - ...D...Dead...?

DERVISH - Look, sorry, but I don’t want to talk any more of it. That’s all, Cobber. Dylan’s dead., and frankly I can’t think
right anymore!

Dervish races off down the hallway. Cobber just stands there. His face is emotionless. He makes no movement, for reality has
started to come to light.

COBBER - ..........Dylan..............dead........? .......No........

Reality sinks in too deeply, and his heart shatters...

COBBER - ...........No.........

DAWN - Cobber!!

Dawn runs up the hall towards him, but he makes no effort to look at her, much less face her.

DAWN - Cobb, you okay?

COBBER - ........

DAWN - Cobber?

COBBER - *emotionless* I just want to be left alone for a while....

DAWN - What’s wrong?

COBBER - Nothing....I just....want to be alone...

He takes off past Dawn quickly, saying nothing more. She looks on after him, a bit afraid...

DAWN - He knows.....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Motor pool, 10:30 AM. Blitz is just pulling up in the Street Rover. He steps out with a few cups of coffee, a box of donuts, and
a smile on his face. He whistles to himself as he walks to the hallway, but then bumps smack into Cricket! A little coffee spills
on his armor.

BLITZ - Hey! Watch it, Crick! I just had this cleaned!

CRICKET - *sternly* Try thinking of something other than yourself for once!

She turns and walks off. Blitz shakes his head and wipes his chest with a napkin.

BLITZ - Geez! Vat’s vith her??!

He finishes and continues down the hallway.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Parvo’s base, 2 miles north of Were-Mountain. Slowly we see the interior, in a huge room full of monitors, high-tech equipment
and gadgets. Boxes of heavy artillery lie opened. A hand reaches down and picks up a machine gun. It is Parvo...

PARVO - Hmm...nice when you can get the simplest things so cheaply. In fact, free! *laughs* So, what else do you have to
offer me?

We see Zachary Storm standing on the other side of the crate, his hands behind his back.

STORM - Much more, General. I just want my chance to destroy those meddling Road Rovers.

PARVO - And you will get that chance, Storm. Very soon. But I warn you. You double-cross me, and you will be terminated!

Many canomutants around ready their firearms. Storm swallows hard and laughs nervously.

STORM - Yes yes, of course! All will be fine.

PARVO - *grinning* Oh they will....they will....

They laugh maniacally. Jake enters from behind them. He wears a dark blue tank top, black pants, and black combat boots.
He has a severe look on his face.

JAKE - Parvo! I want my shot at those mutts!

PARVO - You will, Jake. When we’re through with them. You are to follow orders until then.
 

JAKE - Why?! I hate them just as much as you do! I DESERVE my chance to obliterate them! You know what I’m capable of doing to them! PARVO - *shaking head* That I do, but that matters not. JAKE - Just give me my chance! I know I can at least hinder them enough for all of us to destroy them!

PARVO - *thinking for a moment* And how do you intend to do that?

Jake flashes a vile grin.

JAKE - Oh I have my ways...They’ll live in fear before they can ever stand a chance against us!

PARVO - Is that so? Explain yourself.

JAKE - Grant me my chance and I will.

PARVO - ............Fine. I’ll let you join in their destruction this time. *grins* Now what do you have in mind?

Jake comes over to Parvo and places a paw on his shoulder. He grins.

JAKE - I think you’re going to like this a lot...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Boston, Massachusetts. Outside his home we see Alan Cook sitting on the porch, looking rather distressed and somber. On a
table next to him are folders of medical documents. At his side is his 5-year-old daughter Jamie, reading a book. Moments later
his wife Julie comes from the front door, dressed in a long skirt and a blue blouse. She dries her wet hands off with a towel and
sits next to her husband. She rests a hand on his and he looks at her, saddened.

JULIE - Alan...We’re doing all we can. You know that as well as I do.

ALAN - *sighing* I know, I know...but....I can’t bear to lose him...

JULIE - *touching Alan’s face gently* Dear...please...Shawn wouldn’t want you to be sad.

ALAN - Julie...*tearing up* He’s our son. Maybe a foster son for a year, yes, but I love him like he was my own real son.
I....*choked up* ...I can’t...

JULIE - *taking his arm* The doctors are doing all they can...*tears* We knew he had HIV when we adopted him a year
ago...his time was to come sooner or later...but....I didn’t think this soon....

Alan swallows hard and starts to cry.

ALAN - I can’t....I don’t want to lose him, Julie. I’ve lost too many people in my life. I lost my parents in a car accident when I
was 17 and almost you in the Oklahoma City bombing...My heart can’t take another wound...

He breaks down and bawls. Julie wraps her arms around him, tearing sadly.

JULIE - Alan.....*softly* God will take care of us all....He always has and always will....I promise you he will....*kisses Alan
on the cheek*

Alan turns to his wife and hugs her tightly.

ALAN - *sniffles* I know he will.........yet.......*swallows* My only regret....

JULIE - Yes...?

ALAN - *sniffle* Is that….our boy will never get the one thing he always wanted.....

Julie rocks her husband back and forth slowly, rubbing his back, in tears....

JULIE - *nodding slowly* I know....I wish he could too.....

She looks to the side at the newspaper on the ground. On the cover are the Road Rovers...A tear from her eye lands on the
page...Jamie gets up and hugs her parents.

JAMIE - Don’t be sad, Daddy. Shawnie’s a big boy.

ALAN - *looking at Jamie a bit, sniffling* Yeah...

The tear absorbs into the newspaper...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RRMC, Cobber’s room. Cobber is sitting on his bed, making little attempt at movement. We’re guessing he’s lost in thought,
but who know...

COBBER - ...............Dyl........................................................

He stares off....A knock at the door is heard...

COBBER - .....Yes...?

ALETHIA - *from outside* It’s just me, Cobber. May I come in?

COBBER - ...................All right.

Alethia opens the door and enters the room. She takes a single look at Cobber and knows something is wrong. She grows
concerned.

ALETHIA - ......It’s troubling you too, isn’t it?

COBBER - Why would I be troubled by anything?

ALETHIA - *a bit taken back* Well I assumed....well...

COBBER - *realizing his small attitude* .....Sorry. Didn’t mean to sound offensive like that...Yes, I’m bothered by it....if it’s
Dylan being gone that you’re referring to.

ALETHIA - *nods* Yes, that’s what I was getting at.

She walks to Cobber and sits on the bed next to him.

ALETHIA - Remember the small talk we had when you first came here?

COBBER - About the idea that the ones we love and care about never truly die? Yeah...

ALETHIA - Well....the same applies to the current situation we are facing...although.....*stops*

COBBER - *raised eyebrows* Although what?

ALETHIA - *sigh* I’m not sure....Guess it’s just that it hit too close to home, really....*looks away* I partly blame myself still
for it happening...

COBBER - *confused* You??? Why???

ALETHIA - I should’ve seen it coming but I doubted a bit. Maybe if --

COBBER - *shaking his head* Things happen beyond our control sometimes. It’s not your fault any more than it is
mine.....*looks away* Heh, kinda funny. You come here to help me and it goes the other way...

ALETHIA - *looking at the floor* ........Yeah......but I’m more concerned about you. What are you thinking or feeling right
now?

COBBER - .......Wish I knew.

ALETHIA - *blinks* Pardon?

COBBER - To be honest, I don’t really know what I’m feeling right now. I know there is something there, but at the same
time, there isn’t. I’m just confused I guess.... *sighs*

Alethia puts a hand on Cobber’s shoulder and looks at him. He returns the glance.

ALETHIA - We will pull through this........ I think.

COBBER - *weak nod* Yeah...we will...

Alethia gets up and goes to the door. She turns back to look at Cobber again and leaves. Cobber remains seated on his bed.

COBBER - We will......maybe someday.....