WITHIN A YEAR, Robo had secret bases in every part of the world, so many that sometimes he lost count. The wind currents and his recruiters had spread the serum, making millions of dogs smarter and stronger. Even water supplies across the world contained the serum, thanks to the engineering of Dr. John Fox.
Many had flocked to join Robo, with tens of thousands already living in the homes of their humans, now the enemy.
All was going as planned. Except for that stupid Husky who still had the orb.
Right now, he needed to rally the brand-new troops here at his mountain headquarters, and around the world. With live feeds and cameras set up with the help of sympathetic, well-paid humans, Robo was ready to introduce himself to his legions of followers.
With a graceful leap, Robo landed on the platform. “Brothers and sisters!” he commanded. Silence descended in the auditorium. “I am Robo.”
He grinned widely, his metallic teeth gleaming off the intense overhead lights. “What a sight I am,” he said loudly, cutting the tension as some dogs, seeing him for the first time, were visibly shaken. And he was a sight to see, thanks to the evil Dexter—titanium legs, titanium canines, a robotic tail, a glowing red eye, and his pointed, scarred ears. He was too skinny, and appeared old.
The new dogs rumbled loudly on the floor, some now nervous, some irritated.
“Is this some kind of joke?” asked an angry Pug. “You don’t look like a leader!”
The Pug continued, “What kind of cheap scare tactic is this? Just because you have robotic parts doesn’t mean you can lead this revolution.”
Robo’s mechanical eye focused on the Pug, scanning his size and other stats.
He made eye contact and winked at the first row. He laughed, and said, “Perhaps this will be more impressive.”
He dimmed the lights before filling the monitors with hundreds of other bases in different countries, all run by dogs. “No one has to be here,” he said in a low, steady voice. “You have all been given intelligence and strength, and you have also been given freedom. No longer do you need to be loyal to anyone merely because it is instinct. For the first time, you can be loyal because you have found something worth being loyal to.”
Robo cleared his throat, his voice rising louder, and more powerful.
“You might be confused or scared tonight,” he said. “But I am here to tell you it is time to take back our ancient rights. For thousands of years, people have abused us, forced us to fight, locked us in cages, and done horrible things.” He paused and turned his head toward the crowd.
“I have a proposition. I have the power—we have the power—to change our destiny. We do not need to be tied to that of humans, no longer will we be chained against our will!”
The dogs howled in agreement; even the Pug leapt up and down.
Robo motioned for Sabu to silence the crowd, and got on the scaffold to be lowered to the auditorium floor. The cameras followed him at close range for his majestic walk among the dogs.
Most parted to make a path for him, but others leaned in, trying to capture his attention. Robo stopped before a Pit Bull. “What’s your story, brother?” The Pit Bull, with a limp and a scarred face, said loudly, “I had an owner—a real nice guy—but he was a gambler. When things weren’t going so well, he lost a bet, and I was the prize.” The Pit Bull looked down. “This new owner. He liked to watch dog fights and make money off them. He hit me and forced me to do terrible things to other dogs. It was kill or be killed.”
Robo leaned in to him, placing his natural paw gently on top of that of the Pit Bull. He looked at the Pit Bull eye-to-eye, before turning away and raising his voice to the others.
“Look at this. Not even his ‘owner’ cared that much about him,” Robo said. “How many of us have been sold, and resold, or worse, abandoned. How many of us have seen this happen to our own pups?”
The dogs growled and howled their agreement and anger. Robo moved on through the crowd.
“What about you, big guy,” Robo gently asked a Saint
Bernard. “What’s your story?”
The dog looked confused and shy, glancing down at his furry paws. “My name ist Clover,” he said in a shaky voice and a thick accent.
“My human hasn’t really done anything wrong to me,” Clover said almost apologetically. “He has fed me and given me water, and when I have been good, I have slept next to his bed.”
Robo contained his disappointment, but said slowly, “So, Clover—our German friend, from your accent—you got to sleep in a bed, if you were ‘good.’” Robo laughed.
Clover now looked terrified. Robo nuzzled him good naturedly, and said loudly, “Well, we’re just glad you’re here,” before he climbed back on his scaffold.
“Look,” he said, addressing the crowd again, “I understand that life with the humans might seem great to you, when it’s all you have known. But I’m offering you a much better life, a life of the ruler instead of the servant.” He paused. “Brothers and sisters, join me!”
Robo turned to his pack and bellowed to them, “Help these recruits prepare for their new lives.” The pack immediately moved into the crowd, helping them find sleeping dens and food, as well as training them for their new jobs and roles.
In the confusion, Clover had stopped trembling. He suddenly felt sad as he thought about his youngling’s small bedroom, filled with homemade comforters and crayon drawings, hardly big enough for both the boy and the Saint Bernard.
“Come with me, recruit,” Savage barked at Clover, who hurriedly followed.
Meanwhile, Robo summoned Unknown, Splat, and Snow, a white wolf, to the control room. As he waited for their arrival, Robo peered at the largest monitor, tracking Blue. Today, she was traveling with a Bloodhound. Blue looked tired and skinny, covered in mud.
“Perfect,” he murmured, as he heard the steel doors open.
Unknown and Splat, whose face wound was still healing, arrived first, followed by Snow.
Robo cleared his throat. “I have a new opportunity for you to get things right,” he said to Unknown and Splat. “I want you to bring me Blue, unharmed.” He swiped the screen, bringing up Blue’s location. “Take what you need from the pack to get the job done right. If you fail again, at least get her to this meadow,” The monitor showed the map coordinates.
They hesitated.
“Well, GO. NOW!” he barked, and they scurried through the doors.
With the room still, he turned to Snow. She was beautiful and graceful, with sharp, perfect white teeth.
“We need more troops,” he said quietly to her. “However, these troops will be a different breed.”
She stared at him, her head cocked, failing to understand.
“Our friend John Fox has been able to recruit more scientists and engineers for our cause,” he said. “With their help, we have created a new prototype of dog.”
Robo swiped the screen again, and Snow stared at the new image before her. She realized she was looking at a new, sleeker version of Robo: a true hybrid of robot and dog. Snow looked back at him in admiration. “That is spectacular,” she said with appreciation.
He laughed. “Well, it’s been hard to get every dog to… cooperate.”
She nodded. “Always the way with progress.”
“Snow, I need you to go to this meadow and be the Alpha of a pack we will establish. If this Husky and the Bloodhound arrive, you will offer them shelter, and when they are comfortable, you will help Unknown and Splat capture her, and bring her to me.”
He looked at her, and she suddenly felt shy.
“Do this for me,” he said, gently, “and there will be a place by my side waiting for you. Now go,” he said, with a quick nod of his head. “Do not fail me.”
Snow bowed quickly. “Yes, Robo.”