RRMC briefing room. Master, Hubert, Hunter and Wesley Hawk are here.

"I'm rather concerned about the recent equipment break-downs." says Hubert

"As am I." says Hunter

"What kind of break-downs?" says Master

"Cloak belts, laser pistols, monitoring devices, communicators prototypes, even a couple vehicles. We've lost six operatives in the last two months."

"And all the equipment breaking down is manufactured by Hawk Technologies Inc."

They turn to Wesley.

"I've had a talk with the new CEO of HTI" says Wesley "He's as baffled as we are."

"Who's the new CEO again?"

"My nephew Randy DeFalco."

"Isn't his father a state senator?" says Hunter

"Oh, yeah. And to hear my sister Caroline talk, Steven DeFalco will become the next president."

"Gentlemen." says Master

"Sorry, sir." says Wesley "Anyway, my nephew said he's willing to let us bring in some undercover operatives. The Rovers are his biggest cash cow, and he'd hate to lose us."

"But who are we going to send?" says Hubert

"The Rangers." says Hunter "They're a fairly new team, so their profile hasn't been expanded like other teams."

"Excellent idea, Hunter" says Master "I'll contact them."

*****

Hawk Technologies Inc. Blackjack, Cody, Samson and Rommel are meeting with CEO Randy DeFalco.

"Welcome gentledogs. I understand you've just been hired."

"Yes sir." says Blackjack "Myself, Cody and Samson are going to join your custodial staff. Rommel will be working in your computer division."

"Ugh, janitor duty." mutters Samson

"Very good. But I thought you had joined a team?"

"We did." says Cody "But it was disbanded after the Human First crisis. Our leader was so distraught over what happened to his family that he went back to Australia."

"And this is my punishment for questioning the Master's decisions during the Human First crisis." says Samson

"I see. Well, good luck on your new positions."

******

Later that day, the four of them have gathered at HTI's cafeteria for dinner.

"Find anything?" says Blackjack

"Have I ever." says Rommel

He takes out a piece of paper with the ID's of three employee's. One human, a wolf-sapien, and a female doberman."

"Office scuttlebutt is a goldmine of information, and Yoshi Ozawa seems to know everyone who works here."

"Who?"

"He runs the day-to-day operations of Hawk Inc. The human is Alexander Kali-Baba."

"Kali-Baba?" says Samson "Isn't that---"

"Hassan Kali-Baba was his uncle, for which he is deeply ashamed. He's gotten a lot of grief ever since 9/11 and from his uncle's rampage. To hear Yoshi talk, the kids got a chip on his shoulder a mile wide. At the drop of a hat he'll fight anyone who slanders his family or his nationality. He's thinking about changing his name."

"And the others?" says Blackjack

"Thunder is the wolf-sapien and a defector from the KH Military."

"Isn't he one of Delta's tech-heads?" says Cody

"Correct. He's kept his nose clean so far. Xandi, the female Doberman, and get this, Blitz's step-sister. Unfortunately she has a very low IQ and has trouble concentrating."

"My name's Forrest, Forrest Gump." kids Samson

"Hey! None of that in front of her." says Blackjack

"She's tried to join the Strayers" says Rommel "the Pouncers, the Space Rovers, even our short-lived navy. She's failed at every turn and she's understandably angry about it."

"What's her job here?" says Cody

"Bacically she's a floater, does what needs to be done. And Blitz is the one who got the job for her."

"My money's on Thunder." says Samson

"Kali-Baba." says Cody

"Either way, we need to watch all three of them." says Blackjack

"That won't be easy." says Rommel

"I know. Still it has to be done."

*****

Corridors of Hawk Inc, night. Samson is pushing a broom down a corridor when Thunder walks out of a work room.

"All yours."

"Working late aren't we?"

"I always work late. You must be the new guy."

"Samson."

"Thunder."

"I know, the former KH Military wolf."

"I see you've heard of me. Don't worry, I know about the equipment breakdowns also, and none of them came from my section."

"Oh, that's good to know."

"You think I want to mess up what I got here? This is so much easier than working with those fanatics."

Thunder looks at his watch.

"Well, I gotta go. See you tomorrow."

"Good night."

*****

Next day. Computer labratory. Rommel is here working on a computer when Xandi walks in.

"R-rommel, here the uh....papers you asked for."

"Ah, thank you Xandi. You can go now."

"Thank you sir."

"By the way, how are you doing settling in here?"

Xandi takes a moment before answering.

"I don't like it. A l-lot of people t-treat me like I'm dumb. I was too s-slow to join any of the b-big groups so they put me here."

"Sorry to hear that."

Xandi walks out and down the hall.

"And they're all going to pay for it." she whispers coldly.

Later Xandi is inside an office going through a file cabinet when the door opens and a female DSH black cat walks in. Xandi turns suddenly, slams the cabinet closed and gives a deer-in-headlights look.

"Morning Xandi."

"Good m-morning Miss Shade."

"Sorry to startle you. Need anything in particular?"

"Uh...no ma'am. Just....keeping the cabinet in order."

"Very good. Carry on."

Xandi's cell phone rings and she dives into the bathroom before opening it.

"Hello M-mister A. Yes, I almost have everything you asked for. But things are g-geting too uh.....hot for me. You said my talents would be usable elsewhere. Yes, I think I can get it b-blamed on K-kali-baba, but I'll need some help there. Understood sir. G-good-bye."

*****

Work room. Alexander Kali-Baba, Shade and a coyote-sapien are here working on some equipment. Alex is a young man in his twenties of Middle Eastern descent.

"Hand my that screwdriver, Mikasi?"

"Sure thing."

Yoshi Ozawa enter the room.

"Mr. Ozawa." says Shade

"Shade. Mister Kali-Baba, you mind explaining this?"

He hands him some papers.

"These look like plans for a new Road Rover vehicle we're developing."

"Correct. So why were they in your locker?"

"My locker? I have no idea."

"Alex, providing information to our enemies is a serious offense."

Alex gets up from his chair and confronts Yoshi

"This is because I'm Middle Eastern isn't it?"

"Not at all."

"Says you!"

Mikasi tries to get in between them.

"Whoa, there Alex, cool it."

"Your right, why get angry. Ozawa, I've gotten nothing but grief for years and I will not stand for it any longer."

"Alex, please! We've got a spy working for the Rover's enemies."

"So you say. And it seems this spy is targeting me to be the scapegoat. So, until this spy is caught, I'm going on vacation, just as soon as I'm done here today."

"That.....sounds resonable." says Yoshi

"Yes it does."

*****

Cafeteria. Blackjack, Cody, Samson and Rommel are here.

"Well, I guess we can rule Kali-Baba out." says Cody

"Maybe." says Rommel "What about Thunder?"

"I talked to him last night." says Samson "He doesn't want to mess up what he's got here, and none of the breakdowns came from his area."

"I'll keep a watch on Xandi." says Blackjack

****

Late night. Xandi is walking down an alley carrying a briefcase. Blackjack tags behind her. She stops at a corner and waits, looking nervous. An all black Hummer drives up and a window lowers, but it's too dark to see inside. Blackjack points a mini-cam in their direction.

"Mister A?"

"He couldn't make it." says a voice inside the Hummer "Do you have them?"

"No, I c-couldn't get all of it. Kali-Baba decided to take a uh.....vacation until the spy is um.....caught. It's getting too hot for me."

"Hand it over."

"Please, I have to get out of there!"

"Now!"

Xandi hands the briefcase over.

"Keep at it. We need it all."

"B-but..."

The Hummer's window goes back up and it drives away, leaving Xandi behind. She groans and heads for home.The next day Yoshi summons Xandi into his office. Already waiting there are Shade, Kali-Baba and Blackjack. Without preamble, Yoshi turns to Blackjack who switches on a tv screen and her conversation with Mister A is played. Xandi visibly blanches.

"Care to explain yourself Miss Xandi?" says Blackjack

"I-I-I-I..."

"I think you owe me an apology." says Alex

"How could you Xandi?" says Shade

"I-I-I...."

"Sit down and start from the beginning." says Yoshi

"D-do you know how h-hard I've t-tried to make B-blitz proud of me? He t-told me himself he w-was disap-pointed in me. Do you know how hard I t-tried? Do you? M-mister A thought my t-talants would be useful elsewhere?"

"Who is Mister A?" says Blackjack

"I-I d-don't know. I've n-never seen his face."

"Blitz will be even more disapointed in you when he finds this out." says Yoshi

Xandi sighs with frustration.

"So, turn me b-back into a regular d-dog. T-that's what you do to c-cano-sapiens who d-don't measure up isn't it?"

"That is the Master's policy on first generation cano's." says Blackjack "Guards!"

Two Pouncers enter the room.

"You know what to do with her."

"Yes sir."

They take Xandi out of the room but not before she gives them all a look of pure venom in her eyes. Blackjack sighs.

"She's the sixth sapien I've had to discipline in my career."

"Now what?" says Shade.

"I have an idea." says Kali-Baba.

*****

That night, Xandi is once again on the same street corner. The same Hummer approaches and stops, the window rolls down.

"I'm told you have it all?"

"Y-yes sir."

"Hand them over."

She give the driver her briefcase, then his hand comes out the window with a laser pistol.

"Your services are no longer required."

The pistol fires and the Hummer peals out in a cloud of smoke. Suddenly Sheila lands in front of the Hummer and she whirls around and slams her tail into the front of the Hummer. The vehicle flies backward and lands on it's roof. A door is kicked open and a figure runs into the night, but is stopped in his track by Ling.

"Going somewhere?"

With a kung fu yell she attacks the figure. beating him senseless until he slumps against the wall of a building. He seems to shimmer for a second and it turns out to be Cutter of Obsidian Unit.

Taj has grabbed the second person in the Hummer and phases him out into the open. It's Akira, also of Obsidian Unit.

Rommel steps up to Xandi's still form.

"Alex, talk to me."

Alex turns over and turns off his changeling belt.

"No problem. These laser-proof vests are a wonder."

Taj and Ling bring Akira and Cutter to the wrecked Hummer where the rest of the Rangers converge.

"Where's Ulrik?" says Tex

The two share a look.

"Long live the KH Military." says Cutter

They close they're eyes, grimace and then slump over.

"They're dead." says Alex

"I guess we've reached a deadend."

"Not quite." says Rommel climbing out of the Hummer "I found this card."

"What's Amalgatronics Corp?" says Rio

"Don't know, but I'm going to find out." says Rommel.

*****

RRMC briefing room. The Rangers, Rovers and Master are here.

"Well done, Rangers." says Master "But tell me more of this Amalgatronics Corp."

"I wish we could, sir." says Rommel "There's no reference to it on the Internet."

"Hmm, well we'll just have to keep our ears opens then. By the way, how's it go with Alex?"

"He's Hawk Inc's golden boy." says Blackjack "I hear a raise and promotion are in his future."

"Good for him. Very well, dismissed."

The sabotage and spying at Hawk Inc has stopped, Alex Kali-Baba is a hero, but what is the mysterious Amalgatronics Corp, and where is the rest of Obsidian Unit?

The End.