Road Rovers: The Iron Fist Episode 4: From Friend To Foe By Gerhard Naudé All Road Rover names (c) Warner Brothers and rightful owners. Striker and all other related to the KH Army (c) Gerhard Naudé Nitro, Prowler, Dixie (c) Amanda Stephenson Huntress (c) Greywolf Lupous Ricky (c) Ricky Galahad Alethia (c) Kylen Miles Strayers (c) Steven Today Any question, comments, complaints, feedback or suggestions can be sent to gnaude_@hotmail.com. CNN News Centre, Atlanta, 26 June, 12:30: A newscaster is busy reporting on today's stories, the main one being the arrival of the KH Military strike force at the drug lord's fortress in Colombia. Newscaster:"Following the landing of the KH strike force the United Nations have sent a peacekeeping force to help prevent the war and to protect innocent civilians from both parties. The peacekeeping force, lead by the United States, was launched moments after the KH strike force was spotted by satellite. The strike force is believed to be commanded by the CEO of Malcolm Industries, Malcolm, who has just recently bought Perris Park for an extremely high price. Meanwhile the presidents of the U.S., Japan and Russia, the main parties involved with the peacekeeping effort, are currently onboard Air Force One en route to Geneva after a meeting in New York. There they will discuss a possible cease-fire between the drug lord Francisco Ortega and the KH leader Malcolm." Road Rover Mission Control, at the same time: Striker, Blitz and the Master was watching the news and had just heard what the newscaster had just said. Striker:"I wish them good luck." Master:"So do I." Striker:"That was not what I meant. I mean the chances of brokering a cease-fire with the KH Army is about the same as finding an ice cube in the middle of the Gobi Desert. Those KH soldiers never will accept a cease-fire and I think neither will Francisco Ortega." Master:"Are you sure?" Striker:"Positive." Blitz:"So when will we go to start biting tooshies?" Master:"As soon as Hunter, Exile and Alethia get off Air Force One and back to Mission Control you will leave to join the peacekeepers." Striker:"Good thing Exile isn't here. He would called you weird boy as usual." Blitz:"Do you think I'm weird?" Striker:"No, just mentally challenged." Blitz:"Oh." Colleen then walks in. She had just arrived to Mission Control. Colleen:"Hello, everyone." Striker:"Hello." Blitz:"Hello, pretty female dog." Colleen:"Do I know you?" Blitz:"We have gone through this..." Blitz thinks for a moment. Blitz:"...four hundred and nine times, Colleen. My is Blitz. B-L-I-T-Z. Blitz." Colleen:"No. No. No. That's not how I remember it. It has to be Blinky or Blister. No, wait! I remember now: it's mister Stoffington Fluffypants!" Striker, who had been watching this, could no longer contain himself and begins to laugh. Colleen is still teasing Blitz. Colleen:"We should register that name so that we don't forget it." Blitz:"I think that shouldn't." Colleen:"Yes, we must. Think of all the happy faces when they read about us in the papers." Striker:"Ha. Ha. Ha. You're right. They will sure like his name. Ha. Ha. Ha." Blitz:"That's it! I will bite you if it's the last thing I will do!" Colleen:"Which probably will be." Blitz storms out furiously while Striker begins to calm himself. Colleen makes a cup of tea and then sits down next to Striker. He has finished wiping the tears from his eyes. Striker:"You sure love to tease him, don't you?" Colleen:"Who?" Striker:"The Doberman." Colleen:"Oh, him. Yes." Striker:"I also see that you love to tease Hunter as well." Colleen:"Actually, I'm not really teasing him." Striker looks at Colleen and grins. Striker:"Oh, I see. You're in love with him, aren't you?" Colleen smiles. Colleen:"Yes. I'm in love with him." Colleen loses her smile. Striker notices this. Striker:"Is there something wrong?" Colleen:"Yes. He just doesn't seem to notice even one bit that I love him. I even wonder if he really even loves me." Striker:"So that's the problem, isn't it?" Colleen:"Afraid so, guv. I sometimes wonder I he already has a girlfriend." Striker:"I see. Perhaps when he gets back I will talk to him about that." Colleen:"You really think you can make him notice me?" Striker:"Sure. Just because I'm forty-two years old doesn't mean I...." Striker suddenly stops talking. Colleen and the Master look both shocked at him. Striker:"I did not say that." Master:"That proves you're hiding something and we want to know what it is." Colleen:"So out with it." Striker:"I will not talk about it." Colleen:"You better talk NOW!" Striker:"That is classified! Read my lips!" Colleen:"Tell or I will...." Master:"Please! Please! Calm down. Striker, we are your friends. You can trust us." Striker:"I am sorry, but I cannot and I won't release that information, period." Colleen:"Why won't you tell us?" Striker:"All I can say is that it will hurt. I have to go outside. I'll be doing a little target practice." Striker gets up and walks out. Colleen and the Master look at each other. Colleen:"What kind of information is he hiding that is so sensitive?" Master:"I don't believe we won't be able to get it from him. He seems determined not to tell." Colleen thinks for a moment, then gets up. Colleen:"I'm going to sneak into his room. Perhaps I can find something that can give us some kind of clue." Master:"No, Colleen. It is best that you leave him alone. Besides, you cannot simply sneak into his quarters. He might get angry." Colleen:"Yes, Master." The Master heads back into his room. Blitz and Huntress appear from the corridor. They both look at Colleen. Huntress:"We heard it all." Blitz:"Ja. Striker is strange." Colleen:"Not strange. I just think that he's hiding from us, his friends. Friends can share secrets, but Striker doesn't want to." Huntress:"Yeah. He doesn't talk much to us except about missions, the KH Army's strenghts and stuff like that. Come to think of it, why does he know so much about them? Ricky said that Striker told him that he faced them before. When did he face them? What did they do to him?" Colleen:"That's what I'm going to find out." Huntress:"Hang on, Colleen. You heard what the Master said: you cannot go into his room. That's his territory." Colleen:"Who's going to know? You two must just keep your mouths shut about this, understood?" Blitz and Huntress:"Okay." Colleen:"Good." Air Force One, somewhere over the Atlantic, 1:00 PM: The plane is halfway across the ocean, escorted by a group of F-16's. Inside the crew where going their assigned duties. In the conference room the presidents were busy discussing the UN peacekeeping forces' plans. Under the table Hunter, Exile and Alethia were sleeping. In the cockpit the pilot is busy radioing that all is well onboard. In the cargo hold something strange was going on. Shadows moved sinisterly about near the escape pod. A hand then puts a device on the control console and activates it. It then types something in and the alarm goes off. The escape pod was being deployed. In the cockpit the crew has just received the alarm. AF1 Pilot:"What the h***?! The escape pod is being deployed!" AF1 Co-pilot:"I'll go and check it out." He then gets up and goes down to the middle deck where the security agents have just heard the alarm. One agent walks up. Agent:"What's going on?" AF1 Co-pilot:"The escape pod has been launched!" Agent:"What?!? Who dares do that?" AF1 Co-pilot:"That's what I'm going to find out. Come on!" The co-pilot walks to the cargo hatch just behind the stairs and opens it. A shot rings out and bullet goes through the co-pilot. A voice shouts out. Voice:"ATTACK!!!!" Suddenly there they where: several KH-soldiers with battle-suit and rifles similar to Oqulus' climb out and begin to open fire. Soon the agents begin to fire back. In the conferences room the presidents and the Rovers hear the shots. Clinton:"What was that?" An agent runs in. Agent:"Sir! KH soldiers have gotten onboard the plane! We have to get you to a safe part of the....." Suddenly a soldier shoots the agent. Two of them come into the conference room and take the presidents hostage. The other agents grab guns and kelvar fests from the plane's armoury. Soon a massive battle ensues between the agents and the KH soldiers. In the cockpit the pilot was radioing for help. AF1 Pilot:"This is Air Force One calling! We are code red! Shots fired onboard! Escape pod lost! Requesting immediate backup!" A soldier comes and puts his rifle against the pilot's head. He speaks with a familiar voice. Soldier:"Do exactly as we say and we will not shoot you. Tell the U.S. government that the KH Army is taking control of Air Force One and the escorts to back off unless you want a headshot." AF1 Pilot:"Without me you have no one to fly the plane!" Soldier:"Oh yes we do! One of my men is a pilot. Get it now?" AF1 Pilot:"All right I'll do it." Soldier:"Good for you." In the middle deck the soldiers have killed the resisting agents. Those that were still alive is taken hostage as well. The crews, agents and passengers are taken to the conference room. Hunter, Alethia and Exile manage to sneak out, only to get caught again. The escorts back off. When all is over the commanding soldier walks in. Soldier:"Ladies and gentlemen. This your new captain speaking. We have taken control of Air Force One and will be diverting from our usual flight plan. If you behave yourselves no one will get hurt. That goes especially for those dogs there." The hostages look confused at the soldier. Boris Yeltsin speaks up. Yeltsin:"The dogs? What's so dangerous about them?" Soldiers:"Oh, don't you all know? Hunter, Exile and Alethia are Road Rovers. Currently they can't help you because they are unable to change to cano-sapiens and I don't think their friends will be of much help either. Good day." The soldiers walk out and lock the door. Everyone looks at the Rovers. Hostage:"They're the Road Rovers?! I would not have predicted this." Clinton:"I hate to admit it everyone, but he's right. If our dogs are truly the Road Rovers they can't help us." Everyone sighs. They are all disappointed and scared. Alethia cuddles next to Hunter for support while Hunter and Exile look at each other with despair. They knew that their only hope is that the others come to their aid. Road Rover Mission Control, 1:14 PM: Huntress and Blitz were busy eating lunch that Shag had prepared. Soon Colleen comes in and takes her bowl of food. Striker also comes in and turns the television on to watch for news about the war. As he was watching a breaking news story appears. Newscaster:"We interrupt our regular broadcasting to bring this breaking news bulletin. CNN has received unconfirmed reports that Air Force One has been hijacked by KH terrorists. The presidential plane was on its way to Geneva when it began it's mayday hail. It is unknown if the presidents of the U.S., Japan or Russia are being held hostage. The vice-president will soon call a press conference." Everyone looks at each other with shock. Huntress:"How the h*** did they get Air Force One?" Striker:"The bad thing is that Alethia, Hunter and Exile is also onboard. If the soldiers find out who they really are they will have them shot." Colleen:"We'd better call the Master." Blitz runs off to get the Master. On the screen the camera had changed to the press room in the White House. Vice-president Albright was speaking. Albright:"Ladies and gentleman. The president's plane, Air Force One, has indeed been hijacked as was reported. For now we don't know what the demand of the hijackers is or what they plan to do. We still need to...." The otherhead speakers crackle and a voice speaks up. Voice:"This is the soldier who commands Air Force One. I want to speak to the vice-president." Albright:"This is Vice-president Albright. What is the condition of the people onboard?" Soldier:"Some are dead. We have the presidents of the United States, Russia and Japan and others as hostages." Albright:"What is your demands?" Soldier:"That the UN peacekeepers stay away from our operations in Colombia. If you decline we execute the presidents. You have one hour to decide." Albright:"You must understand that we.... Hello...hello?" The speakers become silent. The press begins to bombard with questions as the Vice-president walks off. The Master had been watching with the others at the press conference. Master:"We are in a corner, Rovers." Colleen:"That voice sounds familiar." Huntress:"WAY too familiar." Striker:"They cannot recall the peacekeepers. The United Nations will fall if that happens." Blitz:"We must call Ricky. It's Alethia that's up there with those bad wolves." Voice:"Don't bother, Blitz. I'm already here." Everyone turns around. Ricky has just appeared from the corridor to the hangar. Ricky:"I came here as soon as I heard about the hijacking. How's Alethia? Is she still alive?" Striker:"We don't know. They might be holding them hostage as well." Hubert walks in. Hubert:"Guys! We have direct transmission coming from Air Force One to Mission Control." Blitz:"What? How did know to send a transmission like that?" Master:"Put it through, professor." Hubert pushes a button and the main screen activates. The view is of the conference room of the plane. The commanding soldier is standing in front. Soldier:"Hi, guys. Miss me?" Striker:"Miss you? What are you babbling about?" Ricky:"Who are you?" Soldier:"Don't you recognise me? Oh I guess my helmet is hiding my identity. I'll take it off." The soldier takes his helmet off. All the Rovers except Striker could hardly believe when they saw who it was. They were completely shocked. Ricky:"It...it...can't be!!!!" Colleen:"Blimey!!! Me eyes are deceiving me, isn't it?!?!" Huntress:"I'm afraid it isn't!!!" They all gasped in horror. The soldier in command.... was Prowler. Everyone except Striker:"PROWLER!!!!" Prowler:"Yes. Back from the dead." Striker:"You all know him?" Master:"He was a Strayer. He died just after Nitro and Bear got married." Striker:"Dead, eh? Doesn't seem that way." Prowler:"I was reincarnated by my new leaders. They saw the potential you guys never even realised. I'm no longer Prowler the Strayer. I'm now First Sergeant Prowler of the Alpha Squadron. And you are?" Striker:"I'm Striker. Road Rover and Earth Defence Force soldier." Ricky:"We knew you didn't like being part of the Grizzlies, but becoming a KH soldier was the last thing on our minds." Prowler:"You guys don't think much, do you?" Striker:"Just why did you call us, anyway?" Prowler:"I've called to warn you that must not attempt any rescue attempt, or else." Striker:"Or else what?" Prowler picks Alethia up by the neck and holds his rifle against her. Prowler:"Or else your friends will be executed." Ricky:"Please, don't! Leave her alone!" Prowler:"He. He. He. I know that you will do anything to keep her alive. Don't you, Alethia?" Alethia looks at Ricky with puppy eyes. Ricky looks at Alethia. Ricky:"Don't worry, Alethia. I will not let this monster harm you." Prowler:"Brave words. Well, I hope you stay put. Otherwise she, Hunter and Exile will die. See ya, guys!" The screen goes blank. Everyone looks at each other with shock. Striker is rather surprised. Striker:"Ai yai yai. As Hunter would say: yet another unexpected twist. Bummer." Colleen:"I'm completely dumbstruck. Prowler? Alive? And with the KH Army? Its unbelievable." Master:"This creates a grave problem: if Prowler is a KH soldier that means he might tell them where Mission Control is." Striker:"If that was true, we'd be dead by now." Huntress:"What do you mean?" Striker:"I mean that if Prowler had known about Mission Control he would have told them and they would have been here long ago." Huntress:"You're thinking that he doesn't remember where Mission Control is?" Striker:"That's my hunch. He may be suffering memory loss from his reincarnation." Master:"I'm going to call the Grizzlies." Colleen:"I wonder if they will believe this." Diner somewhere along highway in America, at that moment: Bear, Nitro, Amani, Dixie and Puffball are busy eating snacks in the diner. There is no television in the diner, so they are oblivious of what is going on. The Cyclborg charges into the diner. Bear looks at him. Bear:"Cyc. How many times have I...." Cyc:"Sorry, but you guys have an emergency transmission coming from Mission Control." Nitro:"Here we go." Everyone turns around as the Cyclborg activates its viewing screen. The screen shows the Master with the Rovers standing next to him. Bear:"Hello, Master. Why the emergency?" Master:"You obviously saw the news broadcast on CNN, didn't you?" Bear:"No, there is no TV here. What happened?" Amani:"It be about that KH strike force." Master:"No. It's something more serious than that." Bear:"What?" Striker steps up. Striker:"We have good news and bad. You know who Prowler was, right?" Dixie:"I don't want to hear more about him." Bear:"Yes. Why?" Striker:"That's the good news. He is alive. Reincarnated." Strayers:"What????" Striker:"I'm telling the truth." Nitro:"Prowler? Alive? I can't believe it." Bear:"That's great! I should thank him for saving us." Dixie:"I guess so. What he did was very brave." Nitro:"We are all grateful for what he done. Where is he?" Amani:"Yeah. I must see him despite his ego." Striker:"That's the bad news. He, along with a group of KH soldiers, has hijacked Air Force One." Strayers:"WHAT?!?!?!?!" Striker:"He's holding the presidents of the U.S., Japan and Russia as well as Hunter, Exile, Alethia and a number of passengers hostage. He threatens to kill them if the UN peacekeeping forces doesn't fall back." Dixie:"What?? That's unbelievable!" Amani:"Prowler? A bad guy?" Bear:"Whatever drove him into becoming a KH soldier and hijacking the world's most secure plane?" Colleen:"He says that you never gave him the appreciation he thinks he should have deserved. He..." The screen suddenly switches to Prowler. He is seated in the control room of the plane. He is grinning evily at the Strayers. Prowler:"Hi, guys. Surprised, aren't you?" Bear:"I...I...am..." Prowler:"Stumped. I know." Nitro:"Prowler. How could you?" Prowler:"Hey. It's better to be a KH soldier than a Strayer." Amani:"Traitor! You're a Strayer, Prowler." Prowler:"First Sergeant Prowler, Amani. And I've given my Strayer rank for something worthwhile." Bear:"All right, First Sergeant Prowler. As your leader I..." Prowler laughs. Prowler:"You? My leader?! That's a good one." Puffball:"Why have you hijacked Air Force One?" Prowler:"Orders, my dear Puffball. Orders from the Supreme General himself." The Strayers turn away to discuss their current situation. Bear:"We can't let Prowler do this! We must try to persuade him to leave the KH Army and come back to the Grizzlies. Dixie, try to talk to him." Dixie:"Why me?" Bear:"Because we all know that he tried to get you to fall in love with him. Perhaps you might be able to talk him out of it." Dixie:"All right. I'll try." They then turn around to face Prowler. Dixie:"Prowler, please. If you come to the Grizzlies we might go easy on you." Prowler:"And what reason do I have?" Dixie:"I might go out with you, you...err...gorgeous hunk of muscle." Prowler:"Sorry Dixie, but you're too late. I already have a chick who likes me and is a lot sexier than you. It's Elexis, the Supreme General's daughter." Amani:"And does the General know that you are..." Prowler:"That's why I'm here. The General said if I perform my duties he let me have Elexis. Oh, by the way. If you try to come anywhere near Air Force One I will kill your friends and you will have live with that mistake..." A soldier walks up and whispers something in his ear. Prowler:"Sorry, guys. I have to go. See you later." Bear:"Wait! Prowler, I..." The screen then switches back to Mission Control. Master:"We saw the whole thing. We're sorry, but I'm afraid he can no longer be on our side." Nitro:"What are we to do?" Bear:"We must go and rescue the hostages and our friends even if it means fighting Prowler himself." Striker:"No, we can't." Everyone looks at him. Amani:"And why not?" Striker:"That plane is being watched by KH spy satellites. If they see us coming we will plane full of dead people and an international incident on our hands. There is nothing we can do while those soldiers are onboard. The bastards have us in corner." Colleen:"Hold on. Let's see if we can work out a plan." Ricky:"She's right. We can't just sit here. Let's work something out." Striker:"All right." Everyone starts working on plans for a rescue of their friends. Air Force One, at that moment: Prowler has just made his to the cockpit where the pilot was flying the plane. He points his finger at a screen that shows the planes total fuel. AF1 Pilot:"While you were making a speech someone has electronically pumped half our fuel out of avionics. We can't make it to the destination you've given me." Prowler:"Don't worry. This plane will get fuel." He then walks over the soldier serving as the communication officer to the White House. Prowler:"Put me through." White House, Washington DC, United States: In the White House the Secretary of Defence and other Generals were working on a possible airborne scenario, but they could not get one done. The phone then rings and Albright answers. Albright:"This is the vice president." Prowler:"We have had a little problem and we lost some fuel. I believe that Air Force One can refuel in mid-air, right?" Albright:"I'm sure we can come to some sort of arrangement. If you land the plane we'll trade fuel for hostages." Prowler:"No! No! No! I said mid-air! Can't you listen? If you don't send a refuelling plane on its way we will shoot one of the hostages. Do you understand?" Albright:"Listen, we...." Prowler:"No, you listen! Either we get fuel or else you get a dead hostage every minute. What do you say?" The vice president hesitates for a moment, then answers. Albright:"The fuel is on its way." Prowler:"Thank you." The line goes dead. Mission Control, 1:31 PM: Everyone was trying to come up with a plan. The main screen has been activated to show a satellite image of the area in which AF1 was. Colleen throws another useless plan on the table and walks to the screen. Colleen:"Its hopeless. There is no possible way we can get to Air Force One without being seen." Ricky:"I'm hate to agree with her but she's right. They have us in a corner." On the screen a blip has just appeared off the edge of the map. Blitz points at it. Blitz:"What is that?" Striker:"Blitz, that dot represents a U.S. plane." Colleen:"What the bloomin' h*** are they doing?" Huntress:"They're crazy! They're heading towards Air Force One!" Striker:"I'm going to call the Pentagon." Striker takes out a cell phone and dials a number. A moment later someone on the other end answers it. Striker:"Hello, this Striker. Who are those fools who are heading towards Air Force One? ...What?...A tanker?" Striker lowers the phone, turns it off and looks at the screen. Everyone is looking at him. He grins. Ricky:"What? What's up?" Striker:"I just found a way how we can get to Air Force One without being detected." He turns to the others. Striker:"Get your weapons and prepare for a rescue mission. Prep the Sonic Rover." Soon Striker, Colleen, Blitz, Ricky, Huntress and Shag climb onboard the Sonic Rover. Colleen is at the controls. She guides the Sonic Rover out of the underground hangar. Once in the air Striker pushes a button and the Sonic Rover goes into super sonic speed. After a moment they slow down in the area the refueling tanker is. Striker:"Colleen, fly the Sonic Rover under the tanker and match its speed." Colleen:"Whatever for?" Striker:"Just do it!" Colleen flies the Sonic Rover towards the tanker and then they are flying right under it. Colleen sets the autopilot. Colleen:"Now explain to me what we are doing under a plane?" Striker:"The tanker is going to refuel Air Force One. While we are under it the KH radar and satellite systems won't be able to spot us, allowing us to get up close to the president's plane. We can attach the Sonic Rover to Air Force One via tunnel connection between the Sonic Rover's top hatch and Air Force One's bottom cargo hatch. We can get onboard that way and retake the plane." Huntress:"Are you sure it is going to work?" Striker:"Do you have a better plan?" Huntress:"Sounds good." Blitz:"Ja. I hope the tooshies are good today." Striker:"I think you're going to have a field day." Ricky:"What about Prowler?" Striker:"I'm sorry to say this, Ricky, but we have to battle him and arrest him for his crimes. The U.S. government will probably put him to sleep, if you know what I mean. If necessary we have permission to kill him." Ricky:"Is that his fate? Can't we bring him back to Mission Control and try to make him become a good guy again?" Striker:"What? Are you insane? If we take him back he will backstab us. He will reveal the location of Mission Control to his superiors and they come and slaughter us. Is that what you want?" Ricky:"Well...no, but.." Striker:"That settles it. I'm truly sorry." Ricky looks down slightly concerned. Air Force One, 1:45 PM: Prowler and several of his troops are in the control room. Prowler is busy cleaning his gun while the soldiers are busy playing cards. Down below a single soldier is watching the conference room door. The pilot calls Prowler. Prowler gets up and walks to the cockpit. Prowler:"What's up?" AF1 Pilot:"The tanker has arrived." The tanker was flying overhead, but the Sonic Rover has gotten under AF1. As soon as it got under the plane's cargo door they attach the transfer tunnel to it. The tanker has just come into view of the pilot. They radio to him. Tanker Pilot:"Air Force One. Air Force One. Do you read?" AF1 Pilot:"Yes, we read. Go ahead." Tanker Pilot:"Air Force One, we have been instructed to refuel you. Open the fuel pipe." AF1 Pilot:"Acknowleged." Prowler grins. Down below Ricky has just opened the hatch into the hold of the plane. He then climbs out, followed by Striker, Colleen, Shag and Blitz. Huntress starts to come up but Striker stops her. Striker:"Sorry Huntress, but you have to stay in the Sonic Rover." Huntress:"What? I'm old enough! Why does everybody pick on me because of my age?" Striker:"It has nothing to do with your age. We need someone at the controls to keep the Sonic Rover stable and to make a quick escape if necessary." Huntress:"Oh, it that case I'll stay! I always wanted to fly this thing!" Huntress goes down again while the others make their way to the stairs that lead up to the middle deck. Ricky peeps over the rim to look for soldiers and sees the one in front of the conference room. He ducks down and whispers to the others. Ricky:"There is one soldier guarding the conference door. That must be where the hostages are being held." Striker:"Only one?" Ricky:"Yes." Striker thinks for a moment and then looks at Colleen. Striker:"Colleen, how about helping us draw his attention?" Colleen:"Draw his attention? Why me?" Striker:"Just listen. I have a plan." Striker begins to tell them of his plan. After a while on the upper deck the soldier was still watching the door when he hears something fall. He gets up and walks to the source of the noise. Behind the open hatch door he finds Colleen, apparently lying unconscious on the floor. He bends down to check the body, his back to the stairs leading down. Just as he begins to check for a pulse Ricky and Blitz come up from behind and grab him. Ricky covers his mouth to stop him from calling the others. As soon as they get him down they tie him up and gag him with rope Shag had taken out of his furr. Striker searches and finds the conference room keys while Colleen gets up. They then get out and creep to the door. Striker begins to open the door while the others keep watch. Blitz, however, had stayed behind to guard the stairs to the hold. In the conference room the hostages hear the turning of keys and opening of the locks. Some of them begin to slightly panic, thinking that the soldiers have come to execute them and back off from the door. Hunter and Exile get up and growl at the door. When the door opens they suddenly become suprised when they see the Road Rovers. Hostage:"Hey! It's the Road Rovers! Were saved!" Striker:"Hey! Shut up! You want to give us away?" They quickly quiet down as Ricky closes the door. Alethia runs up to Ricky and begins to lick his face. Colleen runs over to Hunter, who is wagging his tail in happiness, and hugs him. Clinton gets up. Clinton:"Thank goodness you managed to get here." Striker:"No problem, Mister President. Where are the other soldiers?" Yeltsin:"They're upstairs, in the control room." Major Cadwell gets up. Cadwell:"We have weapons now. We should try to retake the plane." Suddenly the door is kicked open. Prowler and his troops have their guns on the Rovers. Prowler:"So, you think I didn't hear the shouts of joy of the hostage? It's amazing how useful they are." Ricky:"Prowler! So you really are alive." Prowler:"Nice to meet you guys again but I'm afraid I will have to kill you." Ricky:"Prowler, please. Stop this crazy idea. You're a good guy. A Strayer. One who serves all that is good and protects the innocent." Prowler:"Sorry, Ricky. This job is MUCH better than being a Strayer. Now prepare to die." Prowler gets behind his troops while they ready their weapons. Prowler:"Ready?" Soldiers:"Ready!" Prowler:"Take aim!" The soldiers take aim. Colleen gives Hunter one last loving look. Colleen:"I love you, Hunter." Prowler is opening his mouth to shout the final command, but it is cut short by the sound of jaws closing, followed by the scream of Prowler. He looks behind him and sees Blitz, his jaws buried in his buttocks. The other soldiers turn around. Striker and five other hostages run up and tackle the soldiers, grabbing their guns. Meanwhile Prowler is running around in pain, followed closely by Blitz. Soon more soldiers appear and ready their guns. Shag gets his missle launcher and takes aim the wrong way. Striker:"Shag! They other way!" Shag:"Rhar!" Shag turns around and fires. The missile misses the soldiers and blows a hole in the side. The sudden pressure differences sucks the soldiers out into the atmosphere. After falling a while they open their parachutes. Meanwhile the pilot has begun to dive the plane to get to a lower altitude. In this attempt the plane rips the tanker's fuel rod loose and it flies into the fourth engine. The engine gets jammed and explodes. Down below the others held on to anything they could find. Blitz and Prowler fall to their feet due to the steep incline created by the sudden dive of the plane. Prowler grabs a seat but Blitz keeps sliding to the opening. Just before he goes airborne Colleen grabs his by the foot. Huntress is struggling to keep the Sonic Rover stable. Huntress:"Man! Now I know why they don't let me fly! It's tricky!" After a while the plane reaches a level that stops the sucking throught the opening. Striker runs up to the cockpit. Striker:"What's wrong?" AF1 Pilot:"We lost the fourth engine and we are losing fuel because the fuel lines have been severed. We can stay in the air for about another ten minutes." Striker:"Just keep us going." Striker then runs down to the others. Colleen:"What did the pilot say, guv?" Striker:"This plane is going to crash in the sea in about ten minutes." Colleen:"Yet another unexpected twist. Bummer." Hunter barks at Colleen. Colleen:"I know it's your line, Huntie, but the people reading this won't be able to understand what you barked." Ricky:"We better get the people off into the Sonic Rover. We can use it as a life boat." Unseen to them Prowler had gotten up and prepared to fire his pistol at Colleen. An agent sees this and just as Prowler fires a shot jumps in the line of fire, taking the bullet in the place of Colleen. He falls to the floor, dead. Ricky runs up to Prowler and knock his gun out. Soon they begin to fight. Meanwhile the Road Rovers were busying guiding the presidents, agents, staff and the passengers to the Sonic Rover. Blitz carries Exile under his one arm down the hatch and Colleen's carrying Hunter. She smiles at him. Colleen:"Guess now we're even." Striker carries Alethia down and is followed by the agents. Soon the only ones onboard is the Pilot, Ricky and Prowler. The pilot sets the plane to autopilot and climbs down to the middle deck where Striker is busy coming up from the hold. AF1 Pilot:"Three minutes to inpact!" Striker:"Go down to the hold and get onboard the Sonic Rover!" Striker then turns to Ricky, who was still fighting Prowler. Striker:"Ricky! Leave him! We have to get out, now!" Ricky pins Prowler to the floor with a suitcase. Ricky:"I hate to do this!" Ricky takes the suitcase and brings it down on Prowler's head, knocking him out. He then throws him over his shoulder and runs down the hold, followed by Striker. They climb down into the Sonic Rover and close the top hatch. Ricky and Striker ties Prowler up while Huntress takes the Sonic Rover from under Air Force One. A few minutes later the plane crashes into the sea, breaks up and sinks. Striker and Ricky come up to the main cabin where the other Rovers and the presidents. Alethia comes to Ricky. Ricky:"We're back together again, my love." Alethia barks in response. As Striker walks in the presidents gets up. Clinton:"I would like to thank you for coming to our rescue, Road Rovers. You saved our lives and the world." Yeltin:"All of Russia is grateful for your help." Striker:"Anything to help against the KH Army." Colleen:"Where's Prowler?" Ricky:"He's in the hold. We tied him up." Huntress:"Boy. Bear and the others are really going to mad at him." Striker:"Mister President. What is your government going to do with him?" Clinton:"He will stand trail and be sent to prison." Ricky:"You mean they won't execute him?" Clinton:"No, but he's going to stay in prison for a very long time." The Master appears on the screen. Master:"Rovers, we lost Air Force One from the radar. Have you got the presidents?" Colleen:"Yes, Master. The presidents and the other hostages are save. Hunter, Alethia and Exile is okay too." Master:"And Prowler?" Colleen:"On ice. He's taking a big nap-nap. Shall we bring him to Mission Control before handing him over to the U.S. government?" Master:"Yes, Colleen. I'll call the Grizzlies to headquaters. They probably want to talk to him." Colleen:"Right, Master." Hunter barks something at Colleen. Colleen:"Really, Huntie? I really can?" Hunter barks again. Colleen:"Thanks. To the power of the pack!" The Rovers howl while the Sonic Rover flies to a friendly airbase. Mission Control, 5:01 PM: The Grizzlies, Hubert and the Master is in the briefing room waiting for the Rovers to come in. They had just landed the Sonic Rover in the hangar and Hunter, Alethia and Exile has been changed to their cano-sapien forms. When they get to the briefing room the Master smiles. Master:"You did well, Rovers. You good, good dogs." The Master loses his smile. Master:"Though I can't say the same for one specific individual." Bear:"Where's Prowler?" Amani:"Yeah, where is the traitor?" Shag walks in, carrying Prowler. Prowler is blindfolded and tied up. Shag puts him on his feet and takes the blindfold off. Prowler sees everyone is looking at him. Prowler:"WHAT? You look at me as if you never seen a KH cano-sapien soldier." Nitro:"Prowler. What has happened to you?" Bear:"Why are you doing this?" Dixie:"You sacrificed your life to save mine, and now you want to destroy all that we had fought to protect. Why?" Prowler:"Why? That's a weird question, coming from a tramp. You see, when I was reincarnated by my superiors they made me an offer I couldn't refuse. The Supreme General offer me his daughter, Elexis, in exchange for my services and skills. When I saw that Elexis was such a hot chick I decided to join in. After a few months of training I was given the job of hijacking Air Force One. And let me tell you: the KH Army is alot more exciting than the Grizzlies. And I got a hot girlfiend who loves me in the bargain. That's why, Dixie." Hunter:"Prowler, please. We're your friends. Your buds. Your comrades. Come back to us and we might get the U.S. government to let you go." Prowler:"Go back? Never!" Master:"Prowler. If the U.S. Department of Justice trials you you will go to prison for life." Prowler:"So I'll go to jail. Big deal." Bear:"You may have had a heart of stone, but now you have a heart filled with corrupt..." Prowler:"Put a sock in it, Bear! I'll will not, repeat not, come back! That's my last word!" Striker:"So be it. I'll take you to Washington to stand trial for your crimes, and not a moment too soon. Shag." Shag blindfolds Prowler and picks him up. Striker and Shag make their way to the hangar. Everyone else look down in dismay. Dixie looks at Bear. Dixie:"Do you think he will ever come back?" Bear:"If what Prowler says is true, then I fear he is lost to us. He will never be a defender of truth and justice, but a defender of a mad, militaristic power." Dixie begins to slightly cry. Puffball comes and comforts her. She, like everybody else now has to accept Prowler's loyalty to the KH Army. Despite the success of their rescue mission the Rovers and Grizzlies feel as if they had lost to the enemy. What will happen to Prowler in the KH Army? Is he truly a soldier? Or is he, like Striker, hiding a dark secret? And who is this Elexis, who has managed to alter Prowler's loyalty? THE END