Road Rovers: The Iron Fist Episode 10: Secret Of Atlantis By Gerhard Naudé All Road Rover names (c) Warner Brothers and rightful owners. Striker, Illanov, Ortega, Wolfeye, Oqulus and all others related to the KH Military (c) Gerhard Naudé Strayers (c) Steven Today Nitro, Dixie (c) Amanda Stephenson Huntress, Silver (c) Greywolf Lupous Star (c) Kathrine Gore Outlaw, Saphire (c) Greg Williams Shadow (c) Talon Saurn Indiana Dog, Clara (c) Daniel Morales Any question, comments, complaints, feedback or suggestions can be sent to gnaude_@hotmail.com. Bear's and Nitro's Quarters, Road Rover Mission Control, 22 July, 9:04 AM: Bear and Nitro were busy packing suitcases. Everywhere there is items and clothes that suggest that they are going for a trip. Nitro has just finished packing. Nitro:"There we go. I'm all set." Bear:"I'm almost done here." Nitro:"It sure was a wonderful idea of yours to take us on cruise. And on the USS Love Boat." Bear:"Hey, I figured that we need some time alone. Especially after two months of taking part in the war in Colombia." Nitro wraps her arms around him. Nitro:"Ooo, Bear. You do know how to spoil me." Bear:"Anything for my true love." Bear and Nitro kiss each other long and passionately. Just then Silver walks into the room. Silver:"Hey, you two. You...Oops!" Bear and Nitro stop kissing each other and look at Silver. She begins to leave. Silver:"Sorry. I was just leaving." Nitro:"It's okay, ma. What is it?" Silver:"You two should hurry up. The ship leaves in an hour and a half." Bear:"We're almost done here." Nitro and Silver take the packed suitcases and walk out. Bear is just about to close his when Shadow appears in the vent. Shadow:"Where are you going, little ant?" Bear:"Far away from you." Shadow:"On a cruise with your wife?" Bear:"Yes. On a cruise without you around." Shadow:"You think you can run away from trouble, but you cannot, little ant." Bear closes his suitcase and turns to Shadow. Bear:"And what makes you say that, little fly?" Shadow:"Because I know that your cruise is going to end prematurely." Bear:"If you so much as show your face on the ship I will kill you." Shadow:"It isn't me you should worry about." Bear:"Then who?" Shadow:"The KH Military and Francisco Ortega." Bear:"Them? What are they going to do?" Shadow:"Striker was right. You are completely unaware of your new enemies' powers." Bear:"You spoke to Striker?" Shadow:"No, but I overheard him talking to himself about you all. He doesn't approve of the way you all work. You think you know him, but he's hiding a lot of secrets from you. Secrets that you couldn't possibly believe." Bear:"You're right. He's not a good social character, but I think he's over exaggerating about the might of these new foes." Shadow:"Suit yourself. Remember: you will regret underestimating the might of Stalker and Ortega." Bear:"Stalker? What are you talking about? Shadow?" Shadow is already gone. Bear takes his suitcases and walks towards the hangar. Hangar, 9:10 AM: The TurboJet Rover was on the runway. Silver and Nitro had just gotten the luggage into the plane. Everyone else was standing around them. Bear comes into the hangar. Hunter walks up to him. Hunter:"Let me help you carry the luggage." Bear:"Thanks." Hunter takes one suitcase and they climb into the TurboJet Rover. They then climb out again. Everyone is bidding Bear and Nitro a good trip. Everyone but Striker, who is looking rather annoyed. Striker:"To think I joined because I thought they we're disciplined." Bear and Nitro walk to him. Bear:"Aren't you going to say goodbye?" Striker:"Yes, I will. But I must warn you that you two are making a mistake of going on this cruise." Nitro:"Striker. You're always the pessimist. Or are you just jealous?" Striker:"No, I'm not. It's because you're making yourselves vulnerable to the KH Military. If they discover that you are on the Love Boat they will come and destroy both of you." Bear:"Drop it, Striker. You worry too much." Striker:"Worry too much? How about I tell I got a phone call a few minutes ago from the Pentagon." Hunter:"Good news or bad?" Striker:"Bad news. The KH Military attacked the Sunnyville Sanatorium and have freed Zachary Storm, Eugene Atwater and Jeffrey Otitus. They also attacked the prison compound in which Matthew Slyness, Ross Dole and Candice Waken were held and freed them and all their side kicks." Everyone:"What?!" Striker impersonates M. Striker:"I like the American Government. I prefer not to get my bad news from CNN." Outlaw:"Oh bother. After all that hard work of getting them into a prison or sanatorium here comes the KH Army and frees them all." Master:"This does not sound good. The KH Military has obviously freed them because they are all enemies of the Rovers and Strayers." Striker:"Indeed, but they are just unwitting pawns in the hands of the KH Military who will be forced to work for them." Blitz:"Pawns? They don't take orders from anybody, Striker." Striker:"Really? All your enemies put together doesn't even come anywhere near to how much power the KH Military has. They'll be forced to work for them or they will become cannon fodder." Colleen:"Well, with us around they'll back in jail in no time." Bear:"She's right. It's time for us to go." Striker:"I wish the best of luck to you." Bear, Nitro and Hunter climb into the TurboJet Rover. The main hangar door opens and they take off towards New York. New York City, United States, 10:28 AM: The USS Love Boat is docked at the city harbour. In the background is the skyline along with the partly rebuilt World Trade Center tower. At the docks Nitro and Bear were saying goodbye to Hunter. Hunter:"Hope you two have a nice trip." Nitro:"Thanks, Hunter. Goodbye." Bear:"Goodbye." Bear and Nitro board the ship. Up on the ship's bridge Captain Johnson was making final checks on the status of the ship. He turns to the first officer and navigator. Johnson:"How is everything looking?" Navigator:"Course is set. We should have smooth sailing all the way, sir." Officer:"All engines report normal and all passengers are on board." Navigator:"I heard we have that couple Bear and Nitro on board the ship." Johnson:"Indeed we do. As soon as I get the chance I will welcome them in person. Right. Take us out." Officer:"Aye, sir." In a few minutes the ship leaves the harbour. It sails past the Statue of Liberty into the great big ocean. In their cabin Bear and Nitro had just finished unpacking. Nitro smiles at Bear. Nitro:"We're on our way on a romantic cruise. You're the best, Bear." Bear smiles. Bear:"Thanks, love." Nitro comes up to Bear and gives him a passionate kiss. But in the waters no far off a periscope was watching the ship. High Orbit, Earth, at that moment: A KH spy satellite was also tracking the Love Boat. Road Rover Mission Control, 10:59 AM: Everyone was busy minding his or her own business when Hubert calls on the intercom. Hubert:"Would everyone come to the laboratory immediately." Soon almost everyone was gathered in Hubert's lab. Amani is the last to come in. Amani:"Sorry I'm late, Hubbie." Striker and Illanov look confused at Amani, then at Hubert. Striker, Illanov:"Hubbie?" Hubert becomes uneasy. Amani comes up to Hubert and wraps her arms around him. Amani:"That's my pet name for my boyfriend." Hubert:"Amani, please." Striker and Illanov begin to laugh but manage to hold themselves in, barely. Illanov:"Forgive us, comrade Hubbie." This makes both of them burst into laughter. Even the others begin to chuckle as Hubert becomes very, very embarrass. Amani smiles. Once everyone settled down Hubert speaks up. Hubert:"I called you because I wanted to show you something about that story Striker told about the Covert Troopers at the wedding." Hubert walks to a control panel and pushes a button. On the screen appears a map of the redwood forest where Bear and Nitro wed (see "Wedding Bell Blues"). Hubert:"This map will show the locations of any individual speaking at any given moment. This was two hours before the baptism took place. Listen." Hubert pushes another button and a red dot appears ten miles north of the clearing. Oqulus' voice can be heard over the speakers. Oqulus:"All right, troops. Listen up! Our objective is to assassinate Striker. Our intelligence sources say that he will probably show his face at the wedding. If he appears you are ordered to take him out and all the Strayers, Rovers and guests, but make sure you do not shoot any civilians. But until he arrives no one can fire a shot. Is that understood?" Soldiers:"Yes, sir!" Oqulus:"Right. Everyone to their assigned tree! Let's move it!" Hubert pushes another button and the speakers go dead. Hubert:"The next sound clip is just seconds after you've captured the Eliminator." Hubert pushes another button and Oqulus' voice can once again be heard. Oqulus:"All squads! Striker is not here! We've been had! We are ordered to pull out immediately! Regroup at primary LZ! Repeat! We are abandoning Operation Wedding Fire! Get your gear and evacuate immediately to primary LZ!" The speakers go dead again. Hubert:"I analysed all the sounds in the time between those two sound clip and I've discovered that seven percent of all spoken sounds was radio chatter between Oqulus and the troops." Everyone looks at Striker. Colleen:"Blimey. So you weren't lying." Striker:"I told you. So you can see: no matter what you did, the KH Military would have slaughtered us if I had appeared at the wedding." Outlaw:"Hang on! The whole area, even the airspace, had been given control to us. Only those with an invitation was allowed there." Striker:"Outlaw, those precautions mean nothing to the KH Military. H***, if needed they would have sent the entire army there." Outlaw:"So what? Let them come! We are prepared to take them on." Striker:"All twenty-five thousand of them, including ground, naval and air weaponry?" Everyone:"WHAT?!" Striker:"You heard me correctly." Huntress:"Is there THAT much of those bad wolves?" Striker:"That's what I heard at Alcatraz." Star:"Cleo was right. How in the world are we going to put this lot into a prison?" Saphire:"Seems like this KH Military is going to be a tough case." Voice:"You are right, Saphire." Everyone turns around. The Master was standing in the doorway. Master:"We have made a dangerously powerful foe who's leader we don't even know what his identity is. And if they are able to carry out such an operation during the wedding who knows what they will do next." Puffball looks at Striker. Puffball:"Where you during wedding anyway?" Striker:"What?" Blitz:"She's right. I mean, you said that you were captured three months before we met you, but the wedding was also three months before and the KH Military was searching for you there so that means you were captured shortly after that. So where were you?" Striker takes a deep breath. Striker:"I was being held as a slave by a group of farmers in South Africa." Blitz:"A slave? How?" Striker:"After the KH Military vanished I found myself at the wrong place at the wrong time. A group of farmers came to where I was and found me. They captured me and forced me to do heavy work for no pay what so ever." Exile:"But Cano-sapiens are stronger than the average human. Why didn't you fightski back?" Striker:"Because these muscles you see here I got from the hard work I did, not of my transformation. Besides, they had rifles and I was unarmed." Exile:"Oh." Hubert:"By the way, my boy, how did you change into a Cano-sapien?" Striker:"Sorry. I cannot tell you that just yet. I've already told you a bit more of my past. Maybe I tell you more later." Voice (from behind):"You will tell us now, no?" Everyone looks around. Lydia walks into the room and up to Striker. He turns to the others. Striker:"Who is this?" Master:"That's Lydia. She is with internal affairs." Striker looks at Lydia. Striker:"Internal affairs, né? And what you want?" Lydia:"That you tell me everything about you, your past and other information right now or I will launch an investigation." Striker:"I hate you already. No, that is classified information, especially those that regard the Pentagon and the United Nations." Lydia:"Very well. I will launch investigation. She will find out everything about you." Striker:"And if it does I will have CIA cleaner squads sent here to terminate you and your investigation." Lydia doesn't respond and leaves the room. Colleen walks up to Striker. Colleen:"Nice trick, guv." Striker:"Trick? What trick?" Colleen:"That about the cleaner squads. It was a smart idea." Striker:"Aikona. That wasn't a trick. I really meant it." Master:"So you will really call the CIA if she finds out your past?" Striker:"Well, not my past. That's my personal problem, but if she finds out the secret of the Pentagon and UN I have every right as an EDF agent to call them. Luckily she won't find out those secrets since they are all in my head. As for my personal life, now that's a different story." Just then Hunter walks in. He looks at the others. Hunter:"Hi, guys. How's it wagging?" Huntress:"Oh, we just had a very interesting lecture here." Hunter:"Awww man. And I missed it." Colleen:"Don't worry. I will tell you everything what happened here." Colleen proceeds to tell Hunter what has been going in the lab. Colleen:"...then you came in." Hunter:"Cool. Thanks." Colleen:"Me pleasure, Huntie Wuntie." Everyone but Hubert and Amani leave the lab. Illanov leans over to Striker and wishpers. Illanov:"Seems to me our comrades love to call each other pet names." Striker:"You're right. I despise it." Illanov:"Me too." They continue down the hall to the training room. Bear's and Nitro's Cabin, USS Love Boat, Mid Atlantic, 12:15 PM: Bear and Nitro are relaxing in their cabin's Jacuzzi and drinking champagne. Bear pours some more into their glasses and then they raise them. Nitro:"To our love." Bear:"To our love." They drink. Bear:"Was sure nice of the captain to come and welcome us personally and to congratulate us for our successes in Colombia." Nitro:"Yes, it sure a stressful eight weeks of missions against Ortega and Black. It's protect this dam, blow up that bridge, destroy this laser weapon, capture that KH commander..." Bear:"Let's try to put that behind us, shall we?" Nitro giggles and then they kiss. But not far off under the surface of the ocean a group of three nuclear submarines was watching and waitng while the KH spy satellite was also watching the ship. Road Rover Mission Control, 12:18 PM: Everyone was busy doing something. In the training area Striker and Illanov was busy doing target practicing. Illanov has a strange gun with him. It looked like a silver rifle. He fires a shot at a dummy made up like Parvo. From the rifle barrel comes a ball of plasma. When it hits the dummy explodes into a fireball. Striker walks up to him. Striker:"You are getting good at it, Alex." Illanov:"Thanks, comrade. I truly love this weapon. I just want to know where you got it." Striker:"Oh, I had a little talk to the fellows at the Pentagon and they gave me this plasma rifle for you to use. What is even better is that you can keep it." Illanov:"Seriously?" Striker:"Seriously." Illanov:"Thank you, comrade." Illanov gives him a bear hug. Striker:"You know you, Exile and I need to have a talk about giving me bear hugs." Illanov:"Oh, sorry." Just then Indiana Dog, a German Shepherd in the Indiana Jones look complete with whip, walks in along with Clara, another German Shepherd only a female. Striker and Illanov turn towards them. Striker:"Who are you?" Indy:"I'm Indiana Dog and this is my wife Clara." Clara:"Hello, you two. Are you those new recruits here?" Striker:"That's correct. I'm Striker, and this is Alexander Illanov." Indy:"Oh. So you're Striker and Illanov? Pleased to meet you both." Indy holds his hand out and Striker shakes it, followed by Illanov. Indy:"The Master told us about you two. Congratulations. You've been quite the heroes against the...the...what are those wolf-sapien terrorists called?" Striker:"The KH Military." Indy:"The KH Military. Thanks. You sure helped the Rovers and Strayers kick their butts in Colombia." Striker:"It's not the first time." Suddenly a voice can be heard over the intercom system throughout Mission Control. It is the announcer from the KH controlled base in Brazil and various other bases the Rovers were in. Announcer:"Hello. The automatic diagnostic and announcement system welcomes you to Road Rover Mission Control. Remember: have a secure day." This takes everyone by surprise. Silver:"What the heck? Where did this guy come from?" Hunter:"I would not have predicted this." Hubert:"I don't remember installing such a system." Amani:"That's because you didn't. We heard this thing at the KH bases in Colombia." In the briefing room the Master tries to call everyone over the intercom. Master:"Rovers! Strayers! Come to the briefing room quick." However, instead of the Master's voice the announcer takes over. Announcer:"Attention. All personnel to briefing room immediately." Soon everyone is gathered in the briefing room. The Master looks at professor Hubert. Master:"Professor, can you quickly check if someone had tampered with the intercom system?" Hubert:"I already done that, Master. Someone has uploaded this system into our computer databanks." Announcer:"Important incoming transmission. Stand by..." Suddenly a mysterious voice speaks over the intercom. Voice:"Don't be alarmed. I upload this system. It will be of great help to you." Dixie:"Hey! It's that guy who told us about the laser cannon in Ovitznia." Master:"Who are you and what do you want?" Voice:"I cannot reveal my identity as it will mean my death. All that I can tell you is that I'm your most important link to the KH Military." Master:"Are you a spy or a KH traitor of some kind?" Voice:"Maybe. Maybe not." Master:"What do you want?" Voice:"I don't want anything, yet. I think that it is you who need to know something. Look at your main view screen." Everyone reluctantly turns to the view screen. It then shows the Love Boat sailing in the ocean. Voice:"Do you know that ship?" Blitz:"Yah. It's the one Bear and Nitro is taking a cruise on." Voice:"Correct, Blitz." Blitz is taken back. Blitz:"How did you know my name?" The voice chuckles. Voice:"I have connections. Now we zoom to this area." The screen moves to an empty part of the ocean south of the ship. Nothing but water can be seen. Huntress:"I don't see a thing. What's so special about the water?" Voice:"It's not the water. It's what is under the water. I'm switching to enhanced imaging." The screen then shows a grid. In the middle the red outlines of the submarines can be clearly seen. Everyone gasps. Indy:"This doesn't look good." Outlaw:"Who's subs is that?" Voice:"Francisco Ortega." Everyone gasps some more. Two red object appear from the central sub. Voice:"Class four torpedoes, I believe." Striker:"Ai yai yai! How much time before it strikes the ship?" Voice:"ETA is less than a minute." Everyone watches in horror as the torpedoes head for the ship. Bridge, USS Love Boat, at that moment: The captain runs into the bridge. Johnson:"What's wrong?" The navigator points at the radar screen, the two torpedoes can be clearly seen along with the subs. Navigator:"Sir! We just had two torpedoes fired at us from three submarines south of our location!" Johnson:"Impossible!" Navigator:"See for yourself, sir!" Johnson:"Evasive action, now! First Officer! Send out an SOS and sound the alarm immediately!" Officer:"Yes, sir!" The First Officer pushes a button. A blaring alarm can be heard throughout the ship. In their cabin Bear and Nitro hear the alarm. Nitro:"What the? What's going on?" Bear:"I'll go check." Bear gets out of the Jacuzzi, wraps a towel around his wraist and opens the cabin door. He stops a crewmember. Bear:"What's going on?" Crewmember:"I don't know, sir! Just remain calm and stay in your cabin!" The crewmember runs onwards while Bear goes back in. Nitro:"What's going on?" Bear:"I just asked. They have no idea yet. They said that we should stay in our cabin." Up on the bridge the First Officer was making an SOS call. Officer:"SOS! SOS! This is the USS Love Boat to any friendly navy warship! We are under attack from three unidentified submarines! SOS! SOS!" Johnson:"How much time before the torpedoes hit?" Navigator:"Twenty seconds!" The captain picks up the intercom. Johnson:"Attention all crew and passengers! Brace yourselves for imminent impact from torpedoes immediately!" In their cabin Bear and Nitro hear the announcement. Nitro:"Did he say torpedoes?" Bear:"Yes, he did! In the corner with me! Quick!" Bear and Nitro huddle in a corner. Just a few hundred meters away the two torpedoes approach the ship. Mission Control: Everyone is watching the screen in waiting for the impact. USS Love Boat: The two torpedoes slam into the foward bow of the ship. Two massive water sprouts appear as the explosion rips apart the front section of the ship. It lurches violently to the one side. On the bridge the captain, navigator and First Officer fall to their feet. In Bear's and Nitro's cabin various loose object fall. Soon the ship settles. The First Officer gets up and makes damage checks. Officer:"Dammit! We've taken too much damage! This ship is going to sink!" Johnson:"How much time for us to lower lifeboats?" Officer:"About....thirty minutes, sir." Johnson:"That's enough time for us to abandon ship." He picks up the intercom again, the alarm still blaring. Johnson:"Attention all crews and passengers! Proceed to the nearest lifeboat station! The Love Boat is to be abandoned! All crewmember abandon your posts and assist in evacuation!" In their cabin Bear and Nitro hears the announcement. Nitro:"This isn't fair! We're on vacation!" Bear:"Come on, honey! Let's get something decent on and leave!" Soon the ship in an uproar. On the bridge the captain recieves a response to their distress call. Voice:"USS Love Boat. This is the USS Eisenhower. We've recieved your distress call and are on our way to assist you. ETA is two hours. Over." Johnson:"This is Captain Johnson. We are abandoning ship and lowering life boats. Over." Mission Control, at that moment: Everyone has just witnessed the scene and are in a state of shock. Voice:"I just heard. An aircraft carrier is on its way, but they will be too late to catch the subs. I would recommend that you leave right away to help your friends and stop Francisco Ortega. Goodbye and good luck." The speakers go dead. Master:"He's right. Go immediately, Rovers!" Hunter:"Right, Master. Let's roll!" The Rovers and Strayers run towards the hangar. Mid Atlantic Ocean, 12:58 PM: All the lifeboats have been launched while the ship's stern is still above water. Bear, Nitro and all the other survivors watch as the ship's stern lifts into the air before disappearing under the waves. Nitro:"So much for our romantic cruise. Things can't possibly get worse, can it?" Suddenly nearby the three submarines surface and surround the lifeboat with Bear and Nitro in it. The subs stop and several soldiers appear on the decks. They aim their rifles at Bear and Nitro. Johnson:"I'm afraid it can get worse." Bear, Nitro:"This sucks." Voice (from behind):"Si, senyor Bear and senyores Nitro." They look behind them. On one of the submarine's decks stands Francisco Ortega. Bear and Nitro are very annoyed. Bear, Nitro:"Francisco Ortega." Ortega:"Si. Sorry about sending your cruise to Davy Jones' locker." Nitro:"You must be a riot at parties." Bear:"What do you want with us?" Ortega:"Just a moment." Ortega turns to one of the soldiers and says something in Spanish. He heads back into the sub and soon reappears. With him is Sydney (from "Gold and Retrievers"), holding a book of some kind. Bear, Nitro:"Sydney?!" Ortega:"Si. Ever since senyor Parvo fired her she's been looking for work. Now I've given her one." Sydney walks up to Ortega. Syndey:"Mister Ortega! Torpedoing ships wasn't part of the arrangement!" Ortega:"Then you'd better get used to my methods. Now tell me again which one of these two Strayers are we supposed to take." Sydney opens the book, scans a few pages and then reads. Sydney:"According to Plato's third dialogue, the Hermocrates, is that the only way to get into the inner circle of Atlantis is if we use the Strayer who fits this description. It is Nitro." Nitro:"What use am I to you?" Bear:"Besides, Atlantis is just a myth." Ortega:"Really? Ask your amigo Striker and he will tell you that he had been in Atlantis itself." Bear:"Striker? In Atlantis? How?" Ortega grins. Ortega:"Ask him. Right, take senyores Nitro into our custody." Bear turns to Nitro. Bear:"Honey, you what to do..." Nitro:"I sure do." Nitro prepares to unleash her Banshee Howl, but a tranquilizer dart hits her and Bear in the neck. They both fall unconscious. Next the soldiers put a gangplank between the sub and the lifeboat, pick up Nitro and then takes her into the sub. The gangplank is taken away. Ortega, Sydney and the others climb back into the subs and soon they disappear under the waves, heading for Atlantis. 2:31 PM: The lifeboats continue to drift in the water. Bear was beginning to recover from the effects of the tranquilizer. Johnson:"Come on. Wake up." Bear:"What....what happened?" Johnson:"Ortega captured your wife and took her to Atlantis." Bear:"The son of a..." Survivor:"Look!" Everyone looks into the direction the survivor was pointing. The Ocean Rover and the TurboJet Rover (in sub mode) sufaces. The Ocean Rover and TurboJet Rover pulls up along the lifeboat. The Rovers and Strayers climb out. Dixie:"Hey! Bear! Are you all right?" Bear:"Yes, I'm fine." Silver:"Where's Nitro?" Johnson:"Francisco Ortega captured her and took her to Atlantis." Striker:"Atlantis? Did he really say that?" Bear:"Yes, he did. He also said that you know something about it. Is that true?" Striker:"Yes, it's true. Let's get Bear onboard and head to Atlantis as quickly as possible." Indy:"You know where the sunken city is? How?" Striker:"I will tell you later. Let's just get moving first." Hunter:"He's right, gang. Let's roll!" Once Bear is onboard they leave. In the distance the USS Eisenhower comes into view of the survivors. Meanwhile the Ocean and TurboJet Rover head for Atlantis. Inside everyone listens to Striker. Striker:"Right. Let me tell you what I know about Atlantis. The city lies in the area between the islands of Crete and Santorini. It is built out of domes that keeps the air in and the ocean out." Indy:"Domes? How can that be when the city had disappeared beneath the waves?" Amani:"Yeah, how?" Striker:"The Atlantian priests had forseen that the city would sink. The king of Atlantis had ordered airtight domes to be built should the city sink. This plan worked and when Atlantis sank the people were saved." Outlaw:"You mean that Atlantis is still inhabited?" Striker:"That's the strange part, Outlaw. When I first arrived at the city there were skeletons everywhere, not a single person left alive." Clara:"What happened to them?" Huntress:"That's easy. They suffocated." Striker:"No, they did not. From the evidence I've seen it would appear something had destroyed them. I don't what it was, but I for one don't want to find out." Bear:"Sydney has some kind of book with her called the Hemi...Hera....Hemra...." Striker:"The Hermocrates?" Bear:"Yes. How'd you know?" Striker:"I had that book in my hands before. What did she say?" Bear:"She said something about using Nitro to get into the inner circle of Atlantis. What is the inner circle?" Striker:"The inner circle is the central dome of Atlantis. There are, or rather were five domes; one large central one and four smaller ones on the northen, southern, eastern and western part of the larger one. The one on the west had caved in. I was only in that dome." Hunter:"What were you doing there anyway?" Striker:"That is the bad part. The KH Military was also in that dome to steal a large crystal to power the Ion Cannon I told you about. I tried to stop them but the only thing I succeeded in was to cause the dome to cave in." Exile:"The KH Military also knowski where Atlantis is?" Striker:"Yes, and if they find out what is going on they will return...in full force." Hunter:"So we better move quickly. Let's move!" The Rovers and Strayers continue onward. Outskirts of Atlantis, Mediterranean Sea, 3:41 PM: The Ocean and TurboJet Rover go over a few hills before seeing an amazing sight in front of them. Atlantis stands proudly on the ocean floor. A large doom stands in the center, with four smaller domes around it. One fo the domes had caved. Everyone but Striker look in awe at the city. Striker:"Welcome to Atlantis, everyone." Colleen:"Absobloomilootly fantastic." Hunter, Huntress:"Whoa. Cool." Blitz:"It so pretty, just like you, pretty she dog." Colleen turns around. Colleen:"Excuse me. Are you talking to me?" Blitz sighs. Indy:"All my life I've dreamed of seeing this magnificent city, and now it has finally come true." Shag takes out a camera and begins snapping away. He mumbles something and Exile translates. Exile:"You're right, Shagster. We need pictures to prove Atlantis excists." Star:"Is this thing about us seeing Altantis and taking pictures of it going be sweeped under the rug by the EDF, Striker?" Striker:"No, because Atlantis is too big to be 'sweeped under the rug'." Amani:"I've finished scanning the domes and I've detected Ortega's three submarines in the northern dome. Unfortunately I've also found that a KH Tiger Submarine has just entered the southern dome." Colleen:"Only one? I was expecting a lot more of them." Bear:"Yeah. This is rather odd, isn't it?" Striker whispers to himself. Striker:"Halleluja. They are finally learning." Hunter:"Exile, can you see who's onboard that KH sub?" Exile picks up a pair of binoculars and then uses his x-ray vision. He looks at the dome. Through his eyes one can see several KH battle troopers and flame troopers climbing off the sub. Flame troopers look just like the battle troopers except they have large tanks attached to their backs and have flame throwers in their hands. Suddenly the Eliminator climbs out of the sub. Exile:"Bolshoi! The Eliminator is among those baddest KH wolves!" Hunter:"Yet another unexpected twist. Bummer." Exile:"I see that she's making a call to someone." Bear:"Amani. Can you intercept it?" Amani:"Nothing to it. Just tune your radio's to the right station, sit back and listen." They tune their radio's and wait. A few seconds later they heard the call the Eliminator is making. Eliminator:"This is Eliminator, Wolfeye." Wolfeye:"That's GENERAL Wolfeye, Eliminator. You need some hard training in good old fashioned Cold War military disipline, you disrespectful human." Eliminator:"Don't you dare talk to me like that or I will..." Wolfeye:"I will talk to you in any way that I want! I'm in charge of this operation and you will take orders from me! If you do not agree with this I will feed you to the sharks! Is that understood?!" Eliminator:"Yes......General." Wolfeye:"Good. Now, what is your current status?" Eliminator:"I'm in the southern dome of Atlantis. We have Ortega in the northern dome." Wolfeye:"You know what your orders are: take out Ortega and anyone else who tries to stop you. If you succeed we will pay you and let you go free." Eliminator:"Consider it done, sir. Eliminator out." The radio goes dead. Bear:"Shame. Poor Candice. These wolves think they can push anybody around." Striker:"Told you." Colleen:"The KH Military must have hired her to kill Ortega." Silver:"But if she finds Nitro she will kill her too." Hunter:"You're right. Which way now?" Striker:"To the eastern dome. We can enter through there." Hunter:"Cool. To the eastern dome!" They head towards the eastern dome. Once they get there they go into an opening that leads to a dock inside the dome and climb out. Inside the dome there are several magnificent buildings and streets. Amani:"Whoa, man. What a sight." Hunter:"Cool." Bear:"Double cool here." Striker:"Have to admit: even after all these years this place continues to impress me." Hunter:"Which way now?" Striker points down a street that goes towards the large dome. Hunter:"Right, let's roll." They begin to walk, but Striker stays behind. Illanov:"Aren't you coming, comrade?" Striker:"You go on. I'll be with you in a few minutes." They continue walking onwards. Northen Dome: Ortega, Nitro, Sydney and several soldiers come to two large doors that block the way into the inner circle. Ortega turns to Sydney. Ortega:"What next?" Sydney:"According to the Hermocrates these doors can only be opened by a high pitched howl of any wolf." Ortega:"Bring Nitro here." Two soldiers force Nitro in front of the doors. They then aim their guns at her. Ortega:"Right then, senyores Nitro. We all know that your Banshee Howl is only thing that can open these doors. Do it, or will I have you shot." Nitro:"I you shoot me, then I won't be able to open the doors, now would I?" Ortega thinks for a moment. Ortega:"You're absolutely right." Ortega says something in Spanish and they aim their guns at Sydney. Ortega:"Now do it, or she dies." Sydney:"Don't do it, Nitro!" Ortega:"Remember: you Strayers have also sworn to protect the innocent. That makes you think, doesn't it?" Nitro looks at Sydney, then at Ortega. Nitro:"I will do it." Ortega smiles. Southern Dome: The Eliminator and the KH soldiers have also made it to the same large doors. They search for a way to open it, but find nothing. Eliminator:"Blow it open, you fools." KH Soldiers:"EXCUSE ME???" Eliminator:"All right! All right! You're not fools. Just blow the doors open." The soldiers line up and take aim with their gauss rifles. They then each fire a rocket at the doors that explode, but do nothing against the doors. Eliminator:"Search in the buildings! There must be a way to open these doors!" The soldiers run off in all directions. Eastern Dome: The Rovers and Strayers were making slow progress when Bear's ears perk up. Bear:"I hear something...Behind us!" They quickly turn around. Coming towards them is Striker, riding on some kind of vehicle that looks like a tram. He stops next to them. Striker:"Climb on." Huntress:"Atlantis Transportation. The best way to travel in the city." They climb onboard and soon they make it to the same doors. They try to open but their efforts are in vain. Star:"Perhaps we should just knock." Northern Dome: Nitro uses her Banshee Howl on the doors. They begin to vibrate and then suddenly opens. Southern Dome: The doors here also do the same. Once they open the Eliminator and the KH soldiers proceed through. Eastern Dome: The doors also vibrate, but instead of opening they fall part. A large piece falls on top of the tram and it is destroyed. The Rovers and Strayers look down the streets. Bear:"We'll have to go foot from now on." Colleen:"Darn. I was starting to like riding that tram." They continue into the inner circle. Northern Dome: Ortega looks in awe at the incredible sight before him. In the center of the large dome stands an enormous silver tower. He turns to Sydney. Ortega:"Is that it?" Sydney:"Yes, it's the Tower of Control." Ortega:"Let's go!" They begin to walk down the street. Then all of the sudden Nitro grabs Sydney's arm and ducks into an alley. The soldiers fire at them, but miss as they disappear around a bend. Ortega (Spanish):"Leave them, amigos. Let's just get to the Tower." They continue towards the tower. Meanwhile Nitro and Sydney continue to run through the alleyways. They then come into another street and turn left, right in front of the Eliminator and the KH soldiers. Nitro:"The Eliminator!" Eliminator:"Nitro! Get her!" Nitro:"Run!" Sydney and Nitro duck into another alley with the Eliminator and the KH soldiers right behind them firing at them. Not far off the Rovers and Strayers stop and listen. Hunter:"Gunshots. That way." They head into the direction from the which the shots were coming from. After a while Nitro and Sydney run into the Rovers and Strayers. Bear:"Nitro!" Nitro:"Bear!" Bear and Nitro rush up to each other and hug. Striker runs up to Sydney. Striker:"Do you still the Hermocrates, miss...er?" Sydney:"Sydney. And yes, I still have it. But we have a bigger problem." The Eliminator and the KH soldiers appear from the alleyways. Eliminator:"Aha! Isn't this a pleasent surprise. The Rovers and Strayers." Hunter:"Eliminator. Long time no see?" Eliminator:"Rather." She turns to the KH soldiers. Eliminator:"Kill them!" Hunter turns to the others. Hunter:"Run!" Suddenly Wolfeye's voice can be heard over the radio's. Wolfeye:"Belay those orders immediately!" KH soldiers:"Yes, sir!" Eliminator:"What? Are you crazy?" Wolfeye:"No, I'm not. Listen. Rovers. Strayers. Eliminator. You may be enemies, but you have bigger worries other than each other. At this very moment Ortega is going up the Tower of Control. He's your enemy for the moment." Hunter:"What are you saying?" Wolfeye:"What I'm saying is that you must join forces to stop Ortega from using Atlantis' power against the world...and us." Eliminator:"No way!" Bear:"Ditto!" Wolfeye:"Do you rather want Ortega to rule the world?" Eliminator:"No way!" Bear:"Ditto!" Wolfeye:"I thought so. Now shake hands and take Ortega out. That's an order." The radio's go dead. The Eliminator and Bear walk up to each other. They hesitate for a moment, then shake hands. Eliminator:"Me, working alongside my worst enemy. This sucks." Bear:"I have a feeling I'm going to regret this." Hunter:"Me too, but we have no other choice." Striker was paging through the Hermocrates, stops at a page and reads it. Striker:"It says here that the Atlantians were killed by their own creations of machines." Puffball:"Like those?" Puffball points towards the Tower. In the street a large group of silver robots are running towards them. Sydney:"I think so." The robots fire lasers at them. Hunter:"Fire at will!" Everyone draws their weapons and open fire. The robot are blown to pieces in the first wave. Amani:"Well, that wasn't so hard." Suddenly the robot pieces come back together to their robotic states and resume their laser fire. Amani:"I could be wrong." Striker:"Ai yai yai." Another group of robots appear behind them. The flame troopers open fire and melt the robots while the others shoot the front robots. The melted robots just mold back into robots and fire back. The Rovers and Strayers look in every direction. There are hordes of robots coming at them. Only the street towards the Tower is clear for the moment. Hunter, Bear, Eliminator:"RUN!!!" Everyone begins to run towards the tower. In every street they pass there are more and more robots. Soon they enter the tower, the streets behind packed shoulder-to-shoulder with laser toting robots. The KH soldiers stop in the doorway and turn around, the flame troopers in front and the battle troopers right behind them. They open fire and bring down hordes of robots while the others go up in some kind of Atlantian elevator. Soon the KH soldiers are overrun and killed while the Rovers and Strayers get into the top of the tower. It is a large room with windows all around. Everywhere there are soldiers at the controls panels while Ortega sits in a throne. He turns to the Rovers and Strayers. Ortega:"Welcome to the throne room of the king of Atlantis. It is nice to meet you again." Hunter:"Surrender, Ortega. We have you now." Ortega:"Not quite, senyor Hunter." He pushes a button and a blue force field appears around the Rovers and Strayers. They try to shoot their way out, but are unsuccessful. Ortega:"Ha. Ha. Ha. Now then, senyors Sydney. Tell them what this tower is." Sydney:"This is the Tower of Control where the king of Atlantis ruled the city. Here he controlled the robots who served the Atlantians." Ortega:"Unfortunately the king made an error that caused the robots to turn on their masters. Just before he managed to bring the city back to surface." Outlaw:"To the surface? How?" Ortega:"Watch." Ortega pushes a button. Suddenly the ground begins to shake. Atlantis: The city suddenly begins to lift out of the ocean floor with massive airbags that had appeared under it and heads towards the surface. Soon it breaks the surface. Tower of Control: Ortega pushes another button and the domes begin to fold away, making the sunlight enter the city. Ortega smiles. Ortega:"Now I will use my robot armies to destroy the KH Military and the United Nations once and for all." Eliminator:"Really? Look over there." Everyone looks into the direction the Eliminator was pointing. Not far from the city is a large fleet of KH Battlecruisers, Landing Craft and Hover Tanks. The Landing Craft are large hover craft transports while the Hover Tanks are armored hover craft with two turbines on the sides of the cockpit and two large cannons attached to the sides. Wolfeye's voice can once again be heard over the radio's. Wolfeye:"This is General Wolfeye of the KH Omega Squadron to Francisco Ortega. Surrender to our forces or we will attack." Ortega:"No, I think that you should surrender." Wolfeye:"This means war." The radios go dead. The Hover Tanks and Landing craft head for the central dome. Ortega says something to his soldiers and they begin to push buttons. Suddenly the robots begin to head to the area where the KH attack force is about to land. Soon a massive battle ensues as dozens of KH troopers and Hover Tanks open fire on the overwhelming tide of robots. Striker goes up to the Eliminator and whispers. Striker:"Why aren't they attack with their warships?" Eliminator:"I don't know. Wolfeye didn't tell me." Bear:"Why did the KH Army release you?" Eliminator:"Because, Bear, I'm the best assassin in the world. That Malcolm guy also promised me two million dollars hard currency." She pauses for a moment. Eliminator:"Oh yeah. And because they said they would hand me over to the execution squads if didn't agree with them or didn't do my job." Exile:"Where is Ross, Storm, the Admiral and the other baddest guys?" Eliminator:"How should I know? They've been scattered all across the globe. I don't know where they are." Puffball and Blitz show their claws at her. Hunter:"You're lying. Tell us now or our two friends here will give you a facelift." Eliminator:"Okay! Okay! Storm is somewhere in the British Isles, the Admiral in Australia and Ross in China! They are with the KH forces that are based there." Colleen:"And where is Atwater and Otitus?" Eliminator:"Don't know." Blitz and Puffball bring their claws closer. Blitz:"You're lying again!" Eliminator:"I swear! I don't where they are!" Meanwhile the KH attack was beginning to retreat from the legions of robots that were decending on them. Ortega laughs in victory. Ortega:"Now no one can stop me and my forces." Voice (from behind):"Except us." Everyone looks round. In the elevator stands General Wolfeye. Ortega gasps. Ortega:"How did you get in here?!" Wolfeye:"Simple. While my troops were busy tying down your robots I snuck into Atlantis from behind. Now it is judgement time for you." Wolfeye's suit's TOW rocket launchers appear and he fires one at Ortega. He jumps away just as the rocket destroys the throne. The force field around the Rovers and Strayers disappear. Wolfeye turns to them. Wolfeye:"Well, don't just stand there! Fight!" Soon a fight ensues between them and Ortega's soldiers. Indy uses his whip to disarm his opponents, Illanov fires his plasma rifle at them, making them fly through the air and Blitz is enjoying himself by biting the rear ends of those caught unaware. Soon all the soldiers are lying about unconcious. Only Ortega and Wolfeye are still fighting. Wolfeye:"Now you will pay for stealing our money and your treachery." Ortega:"I don't think so, senyor." Suddenly a mass of robots appear in the elevators. Shag takes out his missile launcher and instead of a missile he accidentally puts a bottle of soda into it. He fires, backwards as usual, at a robot. The bottle breaks, releasing its contents over the robot. The robot short circuits and falls on its back. Everyone is stunned. Indy:"Well, I'll be damned. They're not waterproof!" Hunter:"Shag, do you have more bottles of soda?" Shag takes out bottles and hands them to each of them. Hunter:"Ready?" They shake the bottles for a few moments. Everyone:"Ready!" Hunter:"Take aim!" They points the bottle's openings at the robots. Hunter:"SQUIRT!" They pop the caps off, spraying soda all over the robots. They all short circuit and collapse. Soon all the robots are lying about on the floor. Wolfeye blows open a window, his suit sprouts wings just like Black's did and gets airborne. The Eliminator turns towards him. Eliminator:"Wait! You can't leave me here!" Wolfeye:"You failed to keep your end of the deal. Now you will die along the others." He radios the Battlecruiser captain from St. Martin, who's Battlecruiser (now fully repaired) is the commanding warship of the fleet. Wolfeye:"Commence the bombardment!" Captain:"Yes, sir!" Wolfeye flies away. The Eliminator turns to Bear and aims her weapon at him. Eliminator:"It's your fault! You'll pay for this!" Nitro:"NNNNOOOOO!!!" Suddenly an invisible hand takes her weapon and aims it at her. Illanov reappears. Bear:"Thanks, man. I owe you my live." Illanov:"No, I'm just repaying my debt to you all for letting me join you." Silver:"We better leave! Those ships are about to open fire!" Hunter:"Let's beat it!" Shag goes over to the Eliminator, ties her up and puts her under his shoulder. They begin to go down the elevator. Meanwhile the Battlecruisers aim their massive cannons at Atlantis and then open fire. The shells blow part large sections of buildings. The Rovers and Strayers continue their way to the Ocean and TurboJet Rover, closely followed by the swarms of robots, who are literally running over everything in an attempt to catch them. A badly aimed shell blows a hole in the airbags. The city begins to sink, the water rushing up from the western side, sweeping over buildings and robots as a giant tidal wave. The Rovers and Strayers jump into the subs and just barely manage to get away. They watch as the Tower of Control, the only building still standing above the water, begins to sink faster and faster until it disappears under the waves. A realisation suddenly fills them. Amani:"We left Ortega in the tower. Shame." Everyone but Blitz:"Shame." Blitz:"Yah, too bad for him. He and his plans have been washed out." Puffball:"At least have pictures." Indy:"Hey! That's right! Shag, you're the best!" Shag:"Rhank rhu." Dixie:"Those pictures are going to make us rich!" Bear:"I don't like the idea." Nitro:"Me too." Colleen:"Shag, the camera." Shag:"Rha!" Everyone but Bear, Nitro and Striker wait anxiously while Shag begins to dig in his fur. After a moment of searching he screams in horror. Exile:"What is wrongski, Shagster?" Shag mumbles something. Everyone but Striker, Bear, Nitro:"YOU LEFT THE CAMERA IN THE TOWER?!!" Bear, Nitro and Striker burst out laughing. Striker:"Star, you were right. Ha. Ha. Ha. The truth of Atlantis can be sweeped under the rug." Nitro:"Or in this case, under the waves." Everyone else looks angry at Shag, who just shrugs. Amani:"We could have made millions." Sydney:"And proved Atlantis' existence." Hunter:"I guess its back to the old routine again." Nitro and Bear look lovingly at each other. Nitro:"You were right, honey. This was a great cruise, despite the little mishaps here and there." Bear:"You're not angry?" Nitro:"Let me show you how angry I am." Nitro gives Bear a long, passionate kiss which takes him completely by surprise. Briefing room, Road Rover Mission Control, 7:01 PM: The Rovers and Strayers were standing in front of the Master, who was on the balcony. Master:"You did a great job. You're good, good dogs, cats and humans. And I'm sorry about your cruise, Bear and Nitro." Bear:"That's okay. Besides, we did have a great sight seeing tour of Atlantis, the Eliminator is behind bars and Ortega's mad plans have bitten the dust." Master:"But I only know that the Eliminator is behind bars. Where is Francisco Ortega?" Sydney:"He's fish food, hopefully." Striker:"You said it." Master:"Now then, Sydney. You will keep the location of Mission Control a secret, I trust?" Sydney:"After what you've done for me, I'll be glad to." Hunter:"To the power of the pack!" The Rovers all howl. Bear and Nitro have been rescued, Atlantis has been destroyed and the Eliminator is in jail. Now they must track down the other villains that have escaped, capture them and battle the might of the KH Military forces. The Rovers now turn their attention to those issues and no longer worry about Ortega, who is now dead. Or is he?... Mediterranean Sea, at that moment: The KH Battlecruisers, Landing Craft and Hover Tanks are gone and there is only a few debris floating about in the water. On one piece, surrounded by sharks, is Francisco Ortega. Ortega:"I do hate sharks." He takes out a bunch of tarantulas from his pocket and pets them. Ortega:"At least I have some friends with me here." He then looks up at the sky. Ortega:"Revenge. I will get my revenge someday. On the Road Rovers, the Strayers, the United Nations and the KH Military. They will all pay. He then turns his attention back to the sharks and his spiders. He keeps on floating in the middle of nowhere. THE END.