Family Ties

Fort Wainwright, Fairbanks, Alaska. The Ursa Majors have just driven their Tundra Buggy through a side entrance and are escorted to a small hangar. A young male human waits for them. The Ursa Majors park their vehicle and get off.

"Professor Wesley Hawk." says Adak "This is an honor sir."

"You know him?" says Yukon "And professor? But he's so young."

"Not as young as you think." says Wesley "Nice to see you again Adak. I hope my lecture at the time was informative."

"It sure was sir."

Adak notices the others looking on and explains.

"Professor Hawk lectured at the Double R, S and P Academy when I was learning the ropes of being a Rover operative. He and his team have become a legend of sorts."

"A human professor, a Road Rover operative?" says Yukon.

"Ah, now I recognize you." says Iceberg "The Maddog Bounty Hunters."

"That's right." says Wesley "Now step inside please, we have a lot to discuss."

They enter the hangar usually used for civilian prop planes. Inside its more of an office than a hangar. Seated at a large couch are four cano-sapiens. A rust colored mutt with a black leather jacket, white shirt, blue jeans and cowboy boots; a grey, almost silver colored coyote, a female husky with dark fur, blue eyes, red shirt, blue jeans and a khaki jacket, and one-eyed great dane. Wesley joins them as they stand up. Behind a desk, a malamute cano-sapien also stands, with a female wolf-sapien in a chair behind him.

"As Adak said before." says Wesley "My name is Wesley Hawk. I'd like you to meet the team I'm a member of. This is Outlaw, leader of the Maddogs. His wife Saphire, Silver, and Beowulf. I would also like to introduce to you, Bear and Nitro, formerly of the Grizzly Strayer unit."

"Such an original name." says Chiniak to himself.

Togiak elbows him in the ribs.

"Thank you." says Bear "I wanted something that would stand out. Though I must admit, I never would have thought that a team made up of my name would be formed."

"Life's full of surprises, dear." says Nitro

"True." says Bear "Now then, have a seat, my friends."

The Ursa Majors sit down on oversized chairs.

"I have seen your reconds since you team was formed." says Bear "Your previous missions have been exemplary. I understand that you met Bengal from the U.S.S. Retriever."

"We did." says Iceberg "You know him?"

"Know him?" says Bear "We're the ones who rescued him from Parvo. And I also sponsored him at the academy."

"He's been promoted you know." says Yukon "He's first officer of the ship."

"I heard. But that's not why I asked you to come. Yukon, in your human life you were married, correct?"

"That's right. Tallulah and I got divorced several years ago. It was by mutual consent. We're still friends, she and our son are now living in Seattle.

"Why did you divorce?"

"I was gone for long stretches at a time. My work on the pipeline kept me away for most of the year. What's this all about?"

Bear turns to Nitro and nods. She grabs a tape player from under her seat and puts it on the desk. She presses the play button.

"Russell, please help me!" says a woman in a distressed voice.

Yukon bolts out of his chair and listen intently to the tape.

"I've been kidnapped by some very nasty people. They tell me you interfered in someone else's business. A woman named Ruth is very upset with you. She and her friends want you to surrender to them. And Russell, its not only her, but a squad of those wolf terrorists. Please do what they say, I don't want to die!"

"Hey little brother, how's it going?"

"Jeremy too?!" says Yukon

Bear nods.

"I don't know what you got involved in, but its serious for us. Don't let them scare you. See you soon, hopefully."

The tape ends.

"Ruth Gabriel and a squad of KH Military troopers have taken my ex-wife and brother hostage?!" says Yukon

"How did she escape that Russian gulag they were sent to?" says Iceberg

"The KH Military freed them." says Bear

"That's why were going with you." says Outlaw "Ruth Gabriel and her gang are wanted criminals, and we're bounty hunters. Its our job to bring them in."

"What about the KH Troopers?" says Togiak

"Yours to do with as you want." says Outlaw.

Yukon is so furious he smashes his paw on Bear's desk, splintering it.

"I am going to make that witch pay! And those terrorist! No one messes with my family!"

Yukons suddenly looks up with alarm.

"My son! Is he also---"

"No. And we have a Pouncer unit to make sure he won't be." says Bear

"Where are they being held?" says Iceberg

"An abandoned gold mining town along the Alaska/Yukon border." says Nitro "Rock's Corner."

"I know the place." says Saphire "My former master camped there many times."

"Then let's get moving!" says Yukon.

"Good luck" says Bear "And God speed."

*****

On board a cloud rover, both groups are strapped in for the flight, Wesley is flying.

"I know how you feel Yukon." says Outlaw "My brother was once the target of an assassin. John barely got away."

Yukon looks up at Outlaw

"John? Don't tell me you were human once too?"

"Me and Silver, actually. Greg Willis, college student, at the time."

"Thomas Greystone, former FBI agent and wandering drifter."

"I suppose your going to tell us Bear was also human once too." says Katmai

Outlaw and Silver share a look.

"He was, wasn't he?" says Yukon "Oh, boy its an epidemic!"

"Sure seems like it at times." says Silver

"Yeah, and being called back into duty stir's memories." says Beowulf

"You guys retired?" says Iceberg

"For a few years." says Silver "Then we got tired of it and rejoined. We've been bounty hunting for years."

"Including Wesley?" says Yukon "But he looks so young."

"There's a reason for that." says Saphire

Outlaw relates the story of how the Maddogs got immortality from an alien gem that was later destroyed.

"The fountain of youth, in a gem?" says Kiska

"The famed Immortal Gem." says Yukon "I'd heard the stories on it."

"And to top it off" says Outlaw "My power is the ability to heal myself and others quickly."

"Get out!" says Togiak

Outlaw takes out a pocket knife, impales his hand on it; while the others watch as the wound heals with a minimum of blood loss.

"Now there's a superpower!" says Adak

"So, are any of you computer geeks?" says Chiniak

"That's me." says Wesley from the front

"Excellent. Corsair of Unit Strike taught me a thing or two, maybe you could give me some more pointers."

"Be happy to. I'm taking us down, we're near the town."

"This is it." says Outlaw "Get ready."

*****

The grounds outside the abandoned town. The Maddogs have their laser pistols drawn, Silver bends down and checks the ground.

"Yeah, they've been here all right. A lone patrol was by here a few hours ago."

"What about the road?" says Iceberg

"Standard KH Military troop transport headed into town."

"The troopers are yours." says Outlaw "We want Ruth and her cronies."

"Its a good thing Isaac Industries has collapsed." says Yukon "We don't need companies like that hanging around."

They get near the town and spot a lone patrol along the road. Iceberg motions for Katmai. He comes up, and when the trooper's back is turned, Katmai give him his psychic punch and he goes down. They drag him into the bush and Yukon grabs him by his shirt.

"Where are Tallulah and Jeremy?!"

The trooper merely spits in his face. Yukon gets up and stomps on his neck.

"The old fashioned way it is then." says Saphire

"Wesley, you got extra cloak belts?" says Outlaw

"Like you need to ask."

Wesley grabs seven more belts from a backpack and hands them to the Ursa Majors.

"OK, I'll bite. What's it for." says Togiak

"It makes you invisible." says Wesley.

"How?"

"It's a little complicated to explain in five minutes. I'll give you a crash course. Put it on, and to activate it, press the button on the buckle there. Do the same thing to turn it off."

"Angel, give us a bird's eye view." says Outlaw

"You got it honey."

Saphire turns on her cloak belt and disappears.

"Since you've been here before" says Outlaw into a mike "Give us some info on the town."

"Right. Rock's Corner is a ghost town that saw its heyday during the gold rush. Now the buildings are crumbling, rotting and falling apart. I can see a platoon's worth of patrol around the town, also some humans as well. Obviously Miss Gabriel's cohorts. On the north side of town is an abandoned mine where two KH guards stand. The Watkins' must be held in there."

"Yukon, Adak, Katmai, Beowulf, go take the mine." says Outlaw "The rest of us will take on the town."

Mine entrance. Two wolf-sapien troopers guard the entrance. One of them spots footprints headed for them. Before he can tell his partner, both are taken down. Yukon, Adak, Katmai and Beowulf reappear. Beowulf puts away his bo staff while Adak and Katmai bound and gag the guards. Yukon sniffs the mine entrance.

"I can smell her perfume. She's in here all right. Let's go."

"Easy buddy." says Adak "Don't rush into things, or you might endanger her."

"He's right." says Beowulf "Let's take it slow."

The four of them make their way slowly down the mine shaft. They soom come across a kind of dug out room, where Tallulah and Jeremy are bound, sitting on the floor guarded by four guards; two human, and two wolf.

"Katmai, let's take 'em together." says Beowulf

"You got it."

Beowulf and Katmai step out in front of them. Beowulf lets loose a directed sonic boom clap at the humans while Katmai gives a psychic punch to the troopers.

"Oh, thank goodness!" says Tallulah "Where's Russell?"

"No time, miss! We got to get out of here!" says Beowulf

They get the two of them free and head for the mine entrance. One of the humans that Beowulf took down gets up groggily and hits a button on the wall. An ear splitting alarm goes off through the entire abandoned town.

Ruth Gabriel, Quinn, and a KH Colonel come out of a building.

"Colonel Titan, get your men moving!" says Ruth

"I give the orders here Miss Gabriel! Troopers! Get to the mine and quickly!"

From behind them, Iceberg turns off his cloak belt and ignites his paw sword. Quinn has enough time to notice before Iceberg decapitates Colonel Titan.

"Your not going anywhere!" says Iceberg

Outlaw also turns off his cloak belt and aims his laser pistol.

"Your under arrest!"

The alarm is cut off and KH troopers and human goons alike crowd into their troop transport and drive off. Saphire lands on the hood of the vehicle, pistol unholstered.

"Driver's license please?"

The human driver is startled by her appearance and swerves violently. Saphire goes airborn again and the vehicle slams into a tree. Silver throws a stun grenade into the vehicle and everyone is knocked out.

Back in the town, Tallulah and Jeremy are escorted to the Cloud Rover.

"But Russell, where is he?" says Tallulah "Is he all right?"

"Hello Tally." says Yukon

Tallulah and Jeremy drop their jaws upon hearing Russell's voice in Yukon's body.

"It can't be!" says Jeremy

"Russell what--?"

"I go by Yukon now. But yes, it is me."

"The only person who could have done this is General Parvo." says Jeremy "But why would he do this to you?"

"Because he can." says Yukon "I'll explain on the cloud rover."

*****

Fort Wainwright, Fairbanks. The Ursa Majors and the Maddogs get off as a team of Pouncers take away the KH troopers and cops take away Ruth and her people. Bear and Nitro join them.

"Well done, all of you." says Bear "So how did Tallulah take it?"

"About the same reaction." says Outlaw

Yukon, Tally and Jeremy walk out of the cloud rover.

"I still can't believe it." says Tally

"I'm having a hard time believing it myself." says Jeremy.

"Believe me, it hasn't been easy." says Yukon "But I've come to accept it."

"I guess I can't call you little brother anymore?" says Jeremy with a smirk.

"That would be my suggestion, you big dork."

"Mrs. Watkins, there are a couple people who'd like to see you." says Bear.

A man and young boy appear.

"Mom!"

"Derek! Oh, Xander! It's good to see you again!"

Derek, the boy, notices Yukon watching.

"Uh, mom?"

"Hello Derek." says Yukon who holds up a finger with a grin "And if you make a single Brother Bear joke, I'll swipe you!"

"Oh, wow! My dad is now a bear! General Parvo?"

"That obvious huh?"

"Shoot, most of us are here because of General Parvo." says Outlaw

"Xander, take care of them both you hear me." says Yukon

"I will. We're engaged to be married in two months."

"I was going to tell you, but you dropped away." says Tally "Now I know why."

"Congratulations to the both of you. Excuse me."

Yukon walks away a little sad.

"Bye dad." says Derek.

*****

On a rocky ledge, later that night, Yukon sits on the edge watching the aurora blaze overhead.

"Would you like some company?"

Yukon turns and finds Kiska standing a few feet away.

"Grab a rock."

Kiska sits down next to him and they watch the aurora.

"Tally and Xander's marriage was a shock I suppose?"

Yukon nods.

"I can understand. Derek seemed to take you pretty well."

"Derek's a strong boy. Always was."

After the silence stretches, Yukon puts his head on Kiska's shoulder.

"Hey, I'm here for you. And so are the others."

"Thanks Kiska. This means a lot to me."

"What are friends for?"

The two of them watch the night sky into the wee hours of the morning.....

The End


Epilogue

"We really need to stop wasting our troopers like this." says General Stalker

"I agree sir." says Trigger "Colonel Titan threw his life away."

"I tell you Trigger, these 'Ursa Majors' are becoming more of a nuisance than Unit Strike."

"You think so?"

"Yes. Anyway, how's Luna's work going?"

"Slowly, but surely, she tells me. And we got several idea's on how to really get at the Ursa Majors."

"Show me."

Stalker leans back in his chair and grins after Trigger reveals his ideas.

"Perfect"...........