THE NEXT DAY, the SAD army approached the mountains, accompanied by Clover’s officers. The resistance slipped quietly through the hallways. The water dogs slid through sewer tunnel openings, hiding in the shadows and waiting for Blue’s signal.
“Remember, we don’t kill civilians,” Blue said to the troops. “our goals are for them to surrender, and to retrieve the orb.” She took a deep breath and howled, “Attack!”
Dogs were everywhere, through the halls, in the tunnels, running across the auditorium, setting upon Robo’s forces.
Blue walked through the door, her heart pounding as adrenaline shook her feet. Her eyes grew sharp. She knew that her only mission—her destiny—was to find Robo.
She didn’t have to search for long. Robo sat there, a crazed smile on his face as he watched his armies attack the SAD troops. He turned and stared at her in disbelief.
“Why won’t you just die?” he snarled. He quickly regained his composure.
“Oh Blue, missing something?”
He held up the orb.
“Come and get it!” he yelled, as he turned and leapt over the fighting dogs and disappeared into the tunnels.
Blue’s ears lowered as she realized that the auditorium was complete chaos, packed with injured and slain dogs. Jenny limped toward her.
“Look around, Blue,” Jenny rasped. “We are taking casualties, but his armies are taking more.”
Blue followed her gaze, looking out at a sea of titanium dogs. Looking closer, she noticed that many had battle wounds, but also infected cuts, torn skin, and malnourished bodies.
“Get as many as possible to surrender as we originally planned,” Blue said to Jenny. “Kill them if you must—they could still be dangerous—but try to take prisoners insteaad.”
Jenny nodded and headed back into battle, snarling and nipping as titanium claws tried to cut her.
Blue saw an opening, sprinted through the auditorium, and slid into the hallway to the right of the control room, hoping to find a back entrance. It was dimly lit, but she was able to pick up a familiar scent. There was a cage to the right of her. Blue quickly ran forward to unlock the bars.
“Max! Oh Max!” she cried, as the golden lab—no longer a puppy—cowered in fear. He was starving, with matted fur, and dark circles under his eyes.
“Blue?” he asked hesitantly. “BLUE!” Max limped foward, bursting into tears.
Blue whimpered when he fell into her fur, her eyes burned with tears.
“Yes, honey, it’s really me,” Blue whispered in his ear, her voice tender. Never had she been so happy to see anyone in her life.
“You came back for me?” Max asked haltingly, his tears making her fur damp.
“Of course,” she said. “I will always come back for you. Always.”
Max moved away from her, back into his cage. “I’ll be safe for now,” he said. “Nobody cares about me to bother me. But you must go stop Robo, Blue.”
“Be careful, Max,” Blue said. Max joyfully barked, and for the first time in months, slowly wagged his tail.