Road Rovers characters, names, situations, and the Road Rovers universe are the property of Warner Brothers (Or is it Cartoon Network as they are now showing it?) Either way, they are not my property and neither myself or this writing are connected with WB or CN in any way, form or fashion. This writing features characters Dylan, Briggs, Zudnik, Ray, and Rune © Dylan Rinald. Sierra © Elista Atkins. Dervish and Val © Casey Johnson. (Thanks guys) Also featuring the original RR © WB, and DJ © myself. As far as I know, there is no such place as Dooston Montana

Authors notes.
(Fade...) Implies a passage of time that needs to be noted..

When an action involving only one character is followed directly by a quote, the quote is spoken by the character just described (if that makes any sense) example:

Dylan walks around to the passenger side of the car.
"Hey, what's the deal?"

the quote is spoken by Dylan.

Interior, RRMC, transformation room
Hunter, dressed casually in blue jeans and a green T-shirt, is standing by the transdogmafiers. DJ (in dog form) enters a transdogmafier and emerges as a cano-sapien. He steps out with a big smile on his face. The transdogmafier has automatically dressed him in a Road Rovers uniform. A blue jumpsuit with an armored vest, shoulder, and leg guards made from a sort of metalized rubber. Long gloves and boots made of the same stuff cover the forearms and lower legs. A red dog collar completes the uniform. Unlike most others who wear a single round tag on their collars, DJ is wearing two. His diamond shaped civilian tag has sentimental value to him so it hangs behind his Road Rover ID tag.

Hunter: (American accent, cheerful)
"Hey there bro, how's it waggin'?"

DJ: (Slight uhhh... rural American accent, cheerful)
"Feelin' this good should be against the law. So, did you guys miss me?"

Hunter grins
(teasing) "Sure did, the Street Rover's been needing an oil change."

DJ chuckles and looks Hunter up and down, taking note of his clothes.
"I take it things have been quiet around here."

Hunter nods
"Yep, even Parvo seems to be behaving himself. Why don't you change clothes and we'll shoot some hoops?"

DJ:
"Sounds like a plan to me."

They both leave the room.

Interior Road Rover Mission Control, hallway
DJ is walking down the hallway. He is now dressed in blue jeans and a grey T-shirt. He is still wearing his collar, his knife hangs from his belt in a leather case. Dylan steps out of a door a few yards ahead. He's wearing his trademark blue jersey and bluejeans. He too wears a Road Rovers collar.

DJ (Teasing)
"Hey! Who the heck let you in here? I thought we had rules about what kind of scurfy lookin' varmints were allowed inside mission control."

Dylan is startled and jumps slightly, then turns to face DJ and smiles and winks.
(American accent, cheerful) "Everybody loves a pretty face."

They shake hands.

Dylan:
"How you been plow boy?"

DJ slaps Dylan on the back
"Can't complain. So what brings you out of your den?"

Dylan:
"Hey somebody's gotta work around here."

DJ:
"I was just on my way down to play a little b-ball with Hunter, care to join us?"

Dylan pauses a moment and thinks. Despite his jersey he doesn't care much for sports
"I don't know..."

DJ: (Encouraging)
"Ah c'mon. Let's go down there and team up on Hunter, he could use a good tail whipping."

Dylan thinks a couple seconds longer.
"Well alright, let's go."

Interior Road Rover Mission Control, Gym
Dylan is trying desperately to keep Hunter away from DJ. DJ runs a wide curve around the two of them and shoots the ball, it drops perfectly through the center of the hoop.

DJ: (Triumphant)
"Nuthin' but net! That's game. So much for our fearless leader."

Hunter:
"Ah I let you win"

DJ:
"Yeah, you let us win just like Parvo let me blow the treads off his tank last month."

Hunter:
"I could have used my speed on you but I didn't want to burn the floor."

DJ:
"No you wouldn't, you're too good a sport for that."

Hunter: (Pretend threatening)
"You pups just wait, yours is coming."

DJ hi-fives Dylan
"Keep tryin'."

They exit the gym, DJ still ribbing Hunter.

Interior Road Rover Mission Control, kitchen
DJ takes two sodas out of the fridge and tosses one to Dylan. Hunter looks through the junk food.

Voice from behind DJ (heavy Russian accent)
"Hey! You try to sneak by without hello eh?"

DJ turns to see Exile seated at the counter with a technical manual. Exile is trying to look offended and is doing a bad job of it.

DJ walks over to where the Exile is sitting.
(Pretend sympathetic) "Now how could I forget you, my kindred spirit? You're the only one here who shares my love for tires, engines, and greasy things."

Exile stands and embraces DJ in a bear hug. A look of pain crosses DJ's face.

Exile: (happy)
"Is good to see you again comrade."

The shepard mix gasps for breath.

Exile realizes what he is doing and quickly releases DJ.
"Sorry comrade, I am not knowing my own strength."

DJ pants for a second then manages a weak smile
"I'm sure glad you're on our side buddy."

Interior Road Rover Mission Control, rec room.
DJ and Dylan are sitting on the couch, DJ has the tv remote and is channel surfing.

DJ:
"So how long you here for?"

Dylan:
"Original plan was for me to leave in the morning, but the Master's been fighting a cold for a couple days so I'll stick around for a while longer in case they need an extra hand."

DJ puts down the remote
"Supposed to leave tomorrow eh? Ding dang it, who's writing these duty rosters? I never see you any more."

Dylan gets a sly look
"Maybe that was the plan. I don't think they much cared for us shooting pool till all hours of the morning."

DJ cocks his head to the side.
(Confused) "Why not? Pool aint loud."

Dylan grins
(Teasing) "No, but you and your yee-ha's are enough to wake the dead."

DJ snickers and playfully socks Dylan in the shoulder, then looks around as if he's just noticed something missing.
"Where's Colleen and Blitz?"

Dylan:
"Oh they went off to attend the dedication of a war memorial or something."

DJ (Surprised)
"Just the two of them? Together?"

Dylan nods,
"Yup."

DJ:
"Well that being the case ya suppose I ought to go down to the hangar and get a first aid kit ready? Blitz will probably be needing it by the time they get back."

Dylan shakes his head.
"Naw, he's a tough guy, let him gut it out."

DJ is proceeding with his channel surfing when he hears footsteps approaching. His left ear pricks up and he glances over his shoulder. Then, curious, he stands and walks to the kitchen.

DJ enters the kitchen from one side as Colleen and Blitz enter from the other. Blitz is wearing a defeated expression. Before DJ can speak Colleen steps toward him and Exile.

Colleen (heavy English accent)
"Just the gents I wanted to see. The nose gear on the Sky Rover was rather sluggish going down just now, would one of you be good enough to have a look at it?"

DJ fishes a nickel out of his pocket and turns to Exile.

DJ (blunt)
"Call it."

Exile (blunt)
"Headski."

DJ tosses the coin in the air. It comes down and dances across the counter top before coming to rest, heads up. DJ sighs and retrieves his nickel.
"Ok Colleen, I'm on it."

Colleen and Blitz pull up chairs and sit next to Exile. Hunter takes a seat across from them.

Hunter:
"Well, how'd it go?"

Blitz points to a name badge on his uniform.
(Heavy German accent, dejected) "Just call me Fluffy."

Hunter laughs
"That bad huh?"

Colleen (frank)
"It was just another day at the office I suppose, though it's always touching when you attend a function like that. All went smoothly until we were coming in on final approach and the nose gear didn't want to drop."

A look of realization crosses Colleen's face.
(Mildly upset) "Oh Blimey! I sent DJ down to look at that thing and I didn't give him so much as a hello first, wouldn't blame the lad for thinking evil thoughts about me right now."

Blitz (annoyed)
"Why? You never say hello to me."

Colleen looks at him in mock surprise.
(sweet) "Oh, dreadfully sorry. Hello I'm Colleen, and who might you be?"

Hunter rolls his eyes.

Blitz stands and walks to the fridge.
(disgusted) "I need a drink"

Dylan enters the kitchen and looks around, confused.

Dylan (accusing)
"Ok, what did you guys do with DJ?"

Exile looks up from his book and grins
(amused) "He lost coin toss"

Dylan cocks his head.
(confused) "Huh?"

Exile:
"Coin toss, is highly scientific method of deciding who gets to check out mechanical problem"

Dylan laughs.

Interior Road Rover Mission Control, hangar
DJ pulls a pair of coveralls on over his clothes. It is essentially a baggy jump suit with many pockets, good for keeping tools handy and staying reasonably clean. He walks up to the Sky Rover and inspects the front landing gear. A thin trail of oil is running from a fitting joining the hydraulic line to the ram which raises and lowers the wheels. DJ looks a little closer and sees the fitting is cracked, the result of one too many rough landings. DJ spreads a cloth on the ground to catch any spilled hydraulic fluid, selects the proper size wrench from the tool tray, and loosens the bad fitting.

(Fade...)

DJ is crouched under the front of the Sky Rover, putting one last turn on a new hydraulic fitting. He finishes and glances at his watch.

DJ (voice over, happy)
"Twelve minutes, a new record."

DJ opens up the fluid reservoir and fills it to the mark, replacing the fluid that had leaked out. Before cleaning up he walks around and inspects the other planes for signs of the same problem. The Sonic Rover and the Turbo Jet Rover have weak hydraulic connections on their landing gears as well. He heads off toward the storage room and returns a few moments later with the proper replacement parts. Every vehicle in the hangar has a clip board hanging on it, as he is walking DJ notices a red check mark on the Air Rover's clip board. It reads Friction locks are causing throttle levers to stick. Signed by Colleen. Pulling a pen out of his chest pocked DJ writes That's what they're there for, and continues on his way.

(Fade...)

DJ is still at it. The hood is up on the Street Rover and he is leaning over the engine compartment.

Hunter, over intercom:
"DJ, you alive down there bro?"

DJ is startled, he stands up and bumps his head on the open hood of the Street Rover. (In pain) "OUCH! Ding dang it!"

Rubbing his head, DJ walks to the comm panel and presses the talk button.
"Just catching up on a little preventive maintenance. Everything down here needs something done to it, did Exile take the same week off that I did?"

Hunter, over intercom:
"Actually we had him on a short leash last week, he was upgrading the computer system. Why don't you call it a day and come on up? We're gonna eat in about a half hour."

DJ:
"That suits me just fine."

(Fade...)

Interior Road Rover Mission Control, kitchen.
It's after dinner and everybody is helping to get things straightened up. Colleen and Hunter are at the sink helping Shag with the dishes. Colleen rinses, Hunter drys.

Colleen:
"Well, what happens tomorrow?"

Hunter puts down the dish towel he was holding and picks up a clip board laying on the counter.
"Uhh lemme see..."

He leafs through the pages
"Nothing exciting, just another stand by day. We're supposed to send somebody to an air show in California, nothing fancy, they just want a fly-by and a stationary ground display. I thought I'd send Dylan and DJ with the Jet Rover. It's a good chance for them to get out on their own, do a little showing off. Sierra's shift starts tomorrow, she can go along too."

Interior Road Rover Mission Control, rec room.
After the dinner chores the Road Rovers engage in their usual evening card game. Hunter deals first.

Hunter (Happy)
"Ok, five card draw, duces wild, and the sky's the limit."

The Rovers examine their cards. Those who wish to take new cards do so, then the betting begins. It starts slow but Hunter decides to push his luck. He challenges the others by tossing two blue chips to the center of the table. Everybody meets his raise, then DJ hikes it further. Everybody is still in, until three blue chips from Hunter set off Dylan's warning system. He lays his cards face down on the table.

Dylan (resigned)
"Too rich for my blood."

The betting continues and one by one, Exile, Blitz, and Shag drop out as well. Hunter searches DJ's face for any sign of weakness, he doesn't see one. Colleen finally breaks the pattern.

Colleen (annoyed)
"Blimey, this could go on all night. I'm calling."

The three show their cards, DJ and Hunter had been bluffing, they have nothing. Colleen wins the hand with two pair.

(Fade...)

Two hours later the game is still going strong, small wins and losses have kept everybody alive this far. Exile deals the cards and Hunter receives a royal flush. He takes a sip of his soda and looks across the table at DJ

Hunter (voice over, smug)
"I've got you now kid."

The betting begins, DJ casts a quick look at Hunter and immediately folds

Hunter (voice over, astonished)
"How does he do that?"

(Fade...)

Like that annoying pink rabbit, the game is still going and going. Dylan and DJ finally tire of it. They divide their chips among the others and head outside for some fresh air. The more senior Rovers continue their playing. Blitz deals, Hunter picks up his cards and three jacks look back at him. He also holds a 3, the wild card for this hand. He takes a drink of his soda and tosses a couple chips onto the table.

Exterior, Road Rover Mission Control, grounds.
Dylan and DJ are walking along a foot path that winds around the large yellow buildings of the Mission Control complex. Dylan is now wearing a blue and red Road Rovers jacket and DJ has a grey and blue plad flannel to shield him from the cold night air.

DJ (friendly)
"So what's been going on lately? Anything worth mentioning?"

Dylan puts his hands in his pockets and shakes his head.
"Nothing, not even a bank robbery. It's been slow, but you won't hear me complain."

DJ (Concerned)
"You've been awful quiet today, is there something naggin' ya? Blitz being a pain?"

Dylan cracks a smile
"Blitz is always a pain to me, he doesn't much care for others does he?"

DJ:
"Blitz aint such a bad guy, he just needs a bit of an attitude adjustment."

The two dogs continue to walk along the path, DJ glances at his watch.

DJ:
"I'm wired tonight, wanna go for a ride?"

Dylan shrugs.
"Yeah."

Interior Road Rover Mission Control, hangar.
Dylan and DJ walk to an out of the way part of the hangar where the Road Rovers park their personal vehicles. DJ opens the driver door of his pickup, a mid ‘80's Ford F-250 4x4 extra-cab. He pops the hood and checks the oil, then closes the hood and starts the engine. A puff of black smoke blows out the exhaust. Dylan begins to open the passenger door, DJ stops him.

DJ:
"Oh no you don't, you drive."

Dylan (unsure)
"Me? You sure?"

DJ (blunt)
"Yes I'm sure, if I wasn't I wouldn't have told you to drive."

Dylan (nervous)
"But I can't drive a 5-speed."

DJ walks around to the passenger side of the truck.
"You can fly airplanes and drive the Street Rover, a plain boring old pickup truck shouldn't be a problem, don't worry about it."

Dylan walks to the driver side, get's in and closes the door. He buckles up, pushes the clutch to the floor and selects first gear. He starts to let the clutch out then the truck jerks sharply and the engine dies. Dylan sits rigidly with both hands on the wheel, DJ tries not to laugh.

DJ (encouraging)
"That's alright, just start her up again, this time let the clutch out a little slower and give her a little more gas."

Dylan (uneasy)
"You sure I won't hurt it?"

DJ (frank)
"You'd be hard pressed to hurt this old bucket, besides if you break it I can fix it, that's not a problem, now give it another shot."

Dylan restarts the engine and tries again, this time the truck moves, but it's a rough start.

DJ (encouraging)
"That's ok, keep goin'."

Dylan heads the truck for the huge swinging door that covers the exit tunnel. DJ directing him when to shift. The pickup accelerates and exits the hangar.

Exterior Surface, somewhere in the New Mexico desert.
It is a clear night, the moon and stars cast a soft dim light on the desert landscape. A section of the ground lifts up revealing a hidden tunnel, DJ's pickup emerges and the hatch closes behind it, blending perfectly with the ground. The truck accelerates into the night, leaving a dark cloud of dust in its wake.

Interior, cab of DJ's truck.
Dylan is getting the hang of it. He shifts up and floors it over a small rise, the truck catches air. He allows it to coast to a stop.

Dylan (thrilled)
"Whoa! That was cool!"

DJ smiles
"Told ya you could handle it, now let me show you something, switch with me."

Exterior
They get out of the truck and DJ get's in the driver side while Dylan takes the passenger seat. The engine revs and they take off, leaving a dust trail. DJ jumps the same rise Dylan just cleared, when he lands he stands on the brakes and spins the pickup a complete 180 before tearing off into the distance. Despite the speed and distance DJ can be heard.

DJ:
"YEEEEEEEEE HAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"

(Fade...)

Interior, Road Rover Mission Control, rec room.
Everybody else has gone to bed, DJ and Dylan are at the pool table.

Dylan:
"Eight ball in the side pocket."

Dylan gives the cue ball a firm tap and it rolls across the table and grazes the eight ball just barely hard enough to nudge it into the pocket. He looks up at DJ.

Dylan:
"Feel like another round?"

DJ:
"You better believe I do. You won't get rid of me that easy."

Dylan begins to set up a new game.
"So, you ready to tell me how you always know when to back out of a card game?"

DJ (Confused)
"Huh?"

Dylan looks him in the eye
"You know, when you folded at the beginning of that hand where Hunter won out with the flush. Hunter never manages to suck you in when he has something like that, what's your trick?"

DJ smiles innocently.
"Canine instinct."

Dylan (slightly annoyed)
"Everybody around that table tonight was just as much dog as you are, what's the real story?"

DJ's smile widens
"I think like a dog, I can tell who has treats in their pocket."

Dylan shakes his head
"Oh brother."

They continue playing until nearly 1a.m. when DJ finally has to call it quits. He is visibly struggling to keep himself awake. Dylan too is beginning to feel the late hour, so they say their goodnights and head for their quarters.

(Fade...)

Interior, Road Rover mission control, hangar, the next morning
DJ is here, wearing his uniform. He's walking around the Jet Rover performing a preflight inspection. The Jet Rover is a six seated, twin engine jet aircraft. There is an engine nacelle mounted on each wing tip, the plane is gloss black in color and teeth are painted on the front. DJ climbs up onto the left wing and walks back and forth looking over the ailerons and flaps, he then does the same on the right wing. In the back ground a door opens and Sierra and Dylan enter the hangar. Sierra wears the Road Rovers uniform, Dylan is dressed casualy in one of his blue jerseys and a pair of jeans.

Sierra (Cheerful)
"Well, is it gonna fly?"

DJ sits down on the wing with his legs hanging over the edge.
(Cheerful) "I think so."

DJ slides off the wing and walks to the nearest jet nacelle. He opens an inspection panel and makes a quick look inside.
(Under his breath, happy) "Oooooo... that's pretty."

Dylan (sarcastic)
"What's pretty? You paint the guts of this thing a new color?"

DJ grins
(happy) "Actually I got bored a couple weeks ago so I juiced up the fuel mixture and had Hubert whip me up a new pair of turbo fans with a sharper angle on the blades, each engine should have an extra thousand pounds of thrust now."

Sierra rolls her eyes
"Do you make a hot rod out of every vehicle you work on?"

DJ (honest)
"No, I haven't messed with the Street Rover and Sonic Rover... yet. So Dyl, why don't you fly today? I think you'll like it. Flying this baby's always been like drivin' a sports car, but now it's nothing short of an Indi racer."

Dylan (teasing)
"Do you really want me to try this out, or do you just want me to fly so you have somebody to blame if it flies apart?"

DJ (innocent)
"What? Don't you trust me?"

Sierra (teasing)
"No. You can't put a jigsaw puzzle together without loosing pieces, I'm not sure I want to fly in an airplane you've worked on."

DJ pretends to be hurt, but can't keep a smile from slipping onto his face.
"Well. I'm not gonna talk to you for a while."

Jet Rover, cockpit.
It's a typical jet cockpit. Two identical sets of controls in front of the two front seats. A large panel with many switches is on the ceiling. The engine controls are on a console between the front seats where they are easily reached from either side. Dylan is seated in the pilot seat, DJ takes the co-pilot's position next to him, Sierra sits in the seat directly behind DJ. DJ puts on his headset and begins flipping switches above his head. Dylan makes some last preflight system checks.

Dylan (into his headset)
"Jet Rover requesting departure clearance."

Colleen (over headset)
"Clearance granted, and boys, no crazy stunts."

DJ and Dylan in unison:
"Yes mamm."

Dylan (hopeful)
"Can I say it this time?"

Sierra:
"Ok, but say it like you mean it."

Dylan (happy)
"Let's hit the road Rovers!"

Dylan pulls full back on a red handle on the center console, next to the throttles. The Jet Rover's twin engine nacelles pivot downward. Before proceeding he glances at DJ. DJ nods and Dylan eases the throttles foreward. The engines roar and the aircraft begins to rise straight up. Once clear of the launch tunnle DJ takes hold of his steering yoke and guides their flight as Dylan works with the center console, returning the engines to their normal horizontal posture and applying power, propelling the plane forward in level flight.

Exterior of Jet Rover, over the desert.
The Jet Rover slices through the sky like a razor blade. The twin jet engines emit blue flares of superheated gas.

(Fade...)

Exterior, Miramar Naval Air Station.
The Jet Rover lands and taxies to a designated exhibit area. The Rovers exit the plane and begin setting up rope barriers and posters detailing other Road Rover vehicles. DJ and Dylan are setting up a portable sun shade. Sierra finishes with the ropes.

Sierra:
"Well, now what?"

DJ:
"Now we smile and look pretty."

Sierra smiles.
"I can handle that."

As Dylan and DJ finish setting up the shade a World War 2 era P-51 Mustang taxies up into the exhibit space next to them. DJ's eyes light up.

DJ (excited)
"Ooh, that's a classic."

Sierra (sarcastic)
"DJ, sit. I'm sure that guy doesn't want you drooling on his plane."

DJ puts his hand up to his mouth.

DJ:
"Hey! I aint droolin'."

Sierra shakes her head.

Throughout the morning many people come to admire the Jet Rover, and get a close up look at the Rovers themselves. Sierra, DJ, and Dylan are so busy answering questions and posing for pictures that they don't notice a blond headed young man in a worn out pair of jeans and a khaki shirt duck behind a nearby building and make a hurried call on his cell phone.

(Fade...)

Twelve noon, the Jet Rover is to be the featured performance. DJ does a quick walk-around inspection and pulls the blocks away from the wheels. Dylan and Sierra climb aboard but DJ hangs behind.

Dylan:
"You coming?"

DJ:
"No, you guys go show ‘em somethin' I'll stay and watch the stuff."

Dylan shrugs
"Ok, whatever."

Inside the Jet Rover Sierra sits in the copilot seat. While Dylan begins to taxi out to the runway Sierra watches out the window as DJ walks over and strikes up a conversation with the men displaying the P-51.

Sierra (voice over, amused)
"He is so predictable."

The Jet Rover taxies onto the runway.

Announcer, over loud speaker
"And now ladies and gentlemen, the moment you've all been waiting for. Here today, for one demonstration only, the Road Rovers!!"

They take off amid the enthusiastic cheers of the crowd

(Fade...)

The Jet Rover taxies back into the display area. DJ is sitting under the shade with his nose buried in a classic aircraft book. He lays the book on the ground and blocks the wheels as Dylan moves the plane into position. The whine of the jet engines dies away and Sierra and Dylan exit.

Sierra:
"Interesting book?"

DJ:
"Very."

Sierra
"You shop for souvenirs during your friend's performance?"

DJ (naive)
"Yea, I get to see that plane every day."

Sierra rolls her eyes.

(Fade...)

More...