HOSTAGE SITUATION
By Desert Eagle
The Characters Bullet and Buck Smith are my characters and not to be used with out my permission
The Characters Band, Bitey, and Draco are copyright Jason Wolfman and are not to be used without his permission
The Characters Balto, Steele, Jenna, Star, Kaltag, Nikki, Dixie, and Sylvia are copyright Universal Studios
The Story takes place sometime after J. Wolfman's "Newcomer From The Shadows" and the story would be much easier to understand if you read that story first.
CHAPTER I THE DOGNAPPING
Nome is calm again (or so they think). Band and Bitey have been banished from the town. Draco has become accepted among the community. Everything seems to be peaceful. Until a new human resident comes to Nome. His name is Buck Smith. He drives a van (yeah, in the snow), and nobody knows his business.
Draco and Jenna are walking down an alley at night. Everything seems so calm.
Suddenly, a large man appears. He is about six foot and four inches tall. He is barrel-chested, weighs about 290 pounds, and has a long gray beard. His name is Buck Smith.
Jenna and Draco are surprised to see the man, and instinctively back away.
"Here, doggie." The man says.
Jenna backs away.
Suddenly, the man grabs Jenna and throws her in the back of his van.
"Help! Draco, help!" Jenna yells in terror.
Draco begins to bark. This causes Buck to become angry. He grabs Draco by the throat, and begins to choke him.
Suddenly, Buck says "I have more use for you alive, dog." And he throws Draco in the back of his van.
The man then drives off in the van, to a stone building beside the woods.
CHAPTER II THE SITUATION IS DISCOVERED
"Balto! Balto!" Star had been running so hard, he was about ready to collapse. Star finally caught up with Balto, who was beside the butcher shop.
"Balto….Jenna….a man…..Draco….." Star gasped.
"Slow down, Star." Balto said, "I can't understand a word you are saying.
Star sat down to rest for a minute. He was panting heavily, and his tongue looked like it was going to fall out of his mouth. "Balto! Jenna and Draco have been kidnapped!"
"By who?" Balto asked, growing very concerned.
"By that new guy in town." Star answered, "He drives that thing they call a van. I believe his name is B…B…"
"Buck Smith." Balto finished Star's sentence for him. "I wonder what he wants with them?"
"I do not know," Star commented, beginning to look very worried, "But it can not be good."
"Let's get Kaltag and Nikki, and go find out what he is up to." Balto decided. He was beginning to become very anxious, and wanted to get to the bottom of the situation.
Balto, Kaltag, Nikki, and Star are all gathered together in a dark alley.
"This is where it happened." Star explained.
"But how are we going to find them?" Kaltag asked, having no clue how to proceed.
"Easy," Nikki answered, "Yous just follow da tire tracks."
"You're a genius, Nikki!" Kaltag exclaimed.
"Well, I don't want to brag about it." Said Nikki, becoming embarrassed.
"I do not mean to be rude guys," Star suddenly butted in, "But shouldn't we be starting on the trail?"
"Star is right." Balto agreed. "We can not afford to waste time. We do not know what the man's intentions are. Let's get going."
The dogs started following the tire tracks.
After about 30 minutes of walking, the dogs find the van. It is parked beside a stone building. The front window of the building is opened, and there is a light shining out. A man can also be seen through the window. It was Buck Smith. He was muttering something. The dogs got close enough to the window to hear what he was saying.
"These two dogs should make a pretty price for a ransom. This is too easy." The man said.
Suddenly, Balto accidentally knocked over a piece of wood at the bottom of a big pile. It caused all the other pieces of wood to fall, and make a loud noise.
"Who is there?" Buck shouted. He grabbed his rifle and ran outside. "If there is anyone spying on me, I will fill them full of lead." Buck shot his rifle in the air as a warning, and then went back inside.
"We better get out of here." Balto said.
The other dogs nodded, and they all ran back to town.
CHAPTER III ASSESSING THE SITUATION
Back in the Broiler Room, all of the dogs have gathered around. There was a lot of chatter. Suddenly, Balto spoke up.
"Jenna and Draco have been kidnapped." Balto said. "The man that drives that van, Buck Smith, is behind it. And he has a gun, and want hesitate to use it."
"But how will we rescue them?" asked Sylvia.
"Yeah." Dixie added, "Someone might get shot"
"We only have five dogs that can participate in a rescue operation." Balto explained. "They would be Steele, Nikki, Kaltag, Star, and Myself. But we do not have any experience in hostage situations."
"Perhaps I can help." A voice said from the crowd. A black German Shepherd stepped out of the crowd. :My name is Bullet. I used to be a police dog."
"We would appreciate the help," Balto replied, "But we still do not have enough dogs."
"But where are we going to find more dogs?" Kaltag asked.
"As much as I hate to say it, we need Band and Bitey." Balto replied hesitantly.
"But we can not trust them." Star exclaimed.
"I know," Balto answered, "But we have no choice."
"But how will we get them to cooperate?" Nikki asked.
"Anything that involves Jenna will get Band's attention." Balto explains, "And anywhere Band goes, Bitey follows."
Balto paces around. "I do not like it either," he goes on, "But it is our only chance to rescue Jenna and Draco."
The crowd nodded.
"Then it is agreed." Balto concludes.
Back at the stone building, Jenna and Draco are in a cage.
"Jenna," Draco says, "Are you okay?"
"I think so." Jenna answers, "But I hope Balto will rescue us soon."
"Don't worry," Draco assured her, "Of that I am sure."
CHAPTER IV TIME TO MAKE A TACTICAL TASK GROUP
Balto, Steele, Nikki, Kaltag, Star, and Bullet are walking in the snow on the outskirts of Nome. Steele suddenly turns towards Balto.
"How are we going to find Band and Bitey?" Steele asked Balto.
"Well, it can't be too hard to find." Balto replied.
Steele looked at Balto. "I see that look in our eyes," Steele snarled, "You know where they are, don't you?"
"Well, uh.." Balto stuttered.
Steele growled. "Why did you not tell us?" Steele snapped.
"I did not want anymore bloodshed." Balto quickly replied.
"It is this way." Balto said, leading the way
Up in a cave in the side of a hill, Band and Bitey are sleeping. Suddenly Bitey's ears perked up, and he walked to the edge of the cave.
"Attention!" Bitey announced. "Intruders. Balto and five more."
Band quickly got up and joined Bitey at the edge of the cave.
"Oh, great." Band growled, "Now they know our hideout."
Balto and his group came to the bottom of the hill. "Band," Balto shouted, "We need to talk to you."
Band starts to growl. "Have you come to kill me?" He snarled.
"No." Balto answered. "We come in peace."
"Yeah, right." Band mocked. "Do you expect me to fall for that?"
"No really." Balto reassured him. "We need your help. Two of our dogs are being held hostage by a man with a gun."
"Why should I help you?" Band questioned him.
"One of the dogs is Jenna." Balto replied.
Band stopped and thought for a second. "If I help you," Band asks, "Can I see Jenna?"
Balto stops and thinks for a second. "I guess so," Balto reluctantly replied, "But you must promise not to harm her."
Band smiles. "Agreed." He says.
"Good." Balto remarks, "Then let's get going."
Band and Bitey join Balto's team, and the seven dogs started towards the stone building. Bitey is walking beside Bullet.
"Who are you?" Bitey asked.
"I am Bullet. I am a retired Police Dog." Bullet answered. "Who are you?"
"I am Bitey." Bitey answered. "Band's Bodyguard."
"Ah." Replied Bullet. "We are more alike than you think. You protect Band with your life, and I protect the public with my life. You don't have to be an outlaw. You can reform."
"I am warrior." Bitey replied, kind of confused.
"A real warrior does not look for fights and glorious battles outside;" Bullet answered, "A true warrior conquers the struggles within."
"What you mean?" Bitey asked, now very confused.
"You do not have to get into fights with other dogs," Bullet explained, "You learn to accept your surroundings and control your feelings. For example; your friend Band has some serious violence control problems, and is a control freak; he is mentally insane."
"Mentally insane?" Bitey laughed, "Yeah, right."
"Think about it. What have you and he been doing all your lives? What is his purpose?"
"Jenna." Bitey replied.
"But that has not been his only goal in life. Was she the only one?" Bullet asked.
"No. Has been others." Bitey replied.
"You see?" Bullet explains. "He sees something he wants, and becomes obsessed with it. He will go to any length to get what he wants, no matter how immoral he has to be to achieve that goal. And if the dog that he wants begins to break off the relationship, he will kill her."
"Not true." Bitey snapped, half angry and half confused.
"These are all classic signs of a control freak and a sociopath." Bullet explains, "The reason why you are both outlaws is because Band tries to make enemies. He is a danger to the town."
Bitey rolls his eyes.
"You still do not believe me." Bullet explains, "Let me tell you what it looks like through the eyes of a total stranger. The other dogs don't hate you because of who you are, it is because of what you do. They don't want any of their friends to get killed. How many will he kill before it is wrong? Ten? Twenty? A hundred?" Bullet pauses for a second. "Do you not have a conscience?"
"I have a conscience." Bitey answers.
"Yeah," Bullet remarks, "You have a conscience all right. His name is Band. Why do you follow him around all the time, anyways. What does he have on you?"
"My friend." Bitey answers.
"Does a real friend put his best friend in constant danger?" Bullet asks. "Why don't you try and make friends with the other dogs in town.
"I don't know." Said Bitey.
"Why don't you think about it?" Bullet continues. Bullet is skilled in negotiations, and can be very persuasive. "You could have a real purpose in life; to protect and to serve others. Why don't you do that? It would be a much greater challenge, and you wouldn't have to always be on the run."
"Will think about it." Bitey answered.
"You do that. You would make a great police dog; you are very loyal." Bullet replied.
Nikki and Kaltag are walking beside each other
"Do yous really think we can trust him?" Nikki asked Kaltag.
"No." Answered Kaltag, "But Band was are only choice. We had no where else to go. But if we are lucky, maybe he will end up getting shot."
"If we could be so lucky." Chuckled Nikki.
Steele and Band are walking beside one another.
"I can't wait until I get to whip you." Steele taunts Band.
"Anytime your ready." Band replies.
"Knock it off, guys." Balto butts in. "We promised Band safe passage if he helped us. He may not be honest, but I am."
Steele growled. "Fine. But someday the time will come." Steele mutters. The dogs continue on the trail.
CHAPTER V THE AMBUSH
The seven dogs are walking through a dense part of the woods. Star is at the end of the pack. He had not been saying much (for fear of being bonked on the head by Kaltag). But suddenly, he spoke up.
"Hey." Star whined, "Don't look now guys, but I think we're about to get killed."
All the dogs turned around just in time to see a grizzly bear bust out of the woods, and he didn't look very happy.
The bear started towards the dogs, but soon found itself surrounded by the barking dogs. The bear stopped to think for a second and then decided to make a run for it.
"That was a close one." Said Balto.
"Well," replied Kaltag, "you know what they say: there is strength in numbers."
And the dogs continued walking. They come up to a dense patch of bushes, and see the stone building on the other side.
"We're there." Balto announces. "Now we need to come up with a plan."
"I don't need a plan." Band growls. "Jenna!" He yells as he charges out of the bushes.
"NO!" Yells Balto, knocking Band to the ground as a bullet goes flying only a few feet above of both of the dogs' heads.
"Why did you stop me, wolfdog?" Band snapped at Balto.
"I just saved your life." Balto snapped back.
Just at that moment, Buck steps out of the building with his lever-action, Wincester rifle. "Next dog that moves is a dead dog." He yells, cocking the lever on his gun.
'He must be stopped, no matter the cost.' Bullet thought to himself. And with that, he took off running.
"Bullet! NO!" Balto yells.
Buck laughs. "You have a death wish, dog?" He aims his rifle at Bullet, and fires.
BANG! The bullet passes right through the black German Shepherd, drawing blood with it. But the dog is still running!
Bullet was too determined. He could only think of protecting the lives of others. And through it all, he continuously said to himself; 'It is a far better thing I do now than I have ever done before, a far better resting place I will come to, than I have ever known.'
Buck began to get scared. "No!" he exclaimed, "This is impossible. No dog can take a 30-30 bullet like that and still run!"
The man nervously fumbled to cock his gun, and get a good aim again, but it was too late. Bullet had already got to him.
"NOOO!" Cried Buck as the dog bit his gun hand, causing him to drop the rifle. The rifle hits the ground and goes off harmlessly in the air. Buck violently shakes the dog off his hand, causing Bullet to land seven feet away in the snow.
Buck runs, his hand bleeding, to his van and drives off.
Bullet is lying there in the snow. The bullet may not have been enough to stop him from his charge, but it would be enough to kill him in the end. He looks up and sees the distorted faces of Balto and Bitey. He tries to grin.
"Do not grieve," Bullet says, "It was necessary."
"Why?" Asked Bitey, who was becoming very concerned.
"Because the lives of others must be preserved." Bullet answered. "I am proud to give my life in the line of duty."
"But you said you were retired." Said Balto
"Being a police dog is something that you never retire from." Bullet explained, "Until now; when I die."
"No!" Cried Bitey, who had become Bullet's friend, "Don't die!"
"I am sorry, but it is not something that I can prevent. When I die, I die." Bullet replies, he tries to smile. "This town is still going to need someone to take my place. Why not you, Bitey?"
Bitey was too sad to answer. Balto looked over at him, and for a second he was sure he saw a tear.
"Just remember," Bullet continued, each breath becoming harder, "The needs of the many… outweighs….the needs of the few, or the one."
Bullet's vision started to become very dim, and he seemed to be losing awareness of his surrounding. He began muttering, "To….serve…..and…..pr..ote…ct." That was the last thing that ever came out of his mouth, and he became still.
Bitey looked over at Band. "He's dead." The white Samoyed said to his friend.
"Too bad for him." Band replied, with little care of what just happened.
Elsewhere, Buck was driving along in his van, when suddenly the engine went dead. He hopped out of his van and kicked the front tire.
"Stupid van!" He grumbled.
"Need a lift?" Said a voice out of nowhere. "How about a one way trip too jail."
Buck looked over and saw a U.S. Marshall behind him.
"Well, well, well." Said the Marshall, "If it isn't Buck Smith; wanted in five states."
"Wait a minute officer," Said Buck, "I can explain…"
"Tell it to the court." The Marshall answered, "I am placing you under arrest."
And that is just what the Marshall did.
CHAPTER VI THE FUNERAL
Jenna and Draco had been freed from their cage, and the nine dogs were gathered around a mound of snow where they had just buried bullet.
"All in all," Balto said, "He was a dog of the likes I will never see again. He gave his life doing what he loved the most; protecting others. We shall miss you, Bullet, but we shall never forget what you have done for us. Amen."
"Amen." Repeat all the other dogs in respect.
Band walks up to Jenna.
"Hey, Jenna." He says.
"Get lost, Band." She replies.
Band stomps towards Balto. "I thought you said I could see her!" he yells.
"You just did." Replies Balto.
Band growls. "I don't have to take this kind of abuse." He complains, "Come on Bitey, we're leaving."
"No." The white Samoyed replies.
"What did you say?" Band asks, clearly becoming angry.
"I quit." Bitey answers.
Band starts to get very angry. "WHAT!?" Band shouts, "You can't quit! You are my bodyguard, remember?"
"Was your bodyguard." Bitey corrects him.
"FINE!" Band shouts. "Be a wimp, like Draco. I don't need you, anyways."
And with that, Band storms off without his friend (or any friend for that matter).
Draco walks up beside Bitey.
"Will he come back?" Bitey asks Draco.
"Probably." Draco replies. "Of all the enemies in the world, loneliness is one of the greatest."
"How so?" Asks Bitey.
"Sooner or later, he will no longer be able to stand being alone." Draco explains. "Then, if he is a smart dog, he will swallow his pride and come back. Steele did, remember?"
"Yes." Replied Bitey.
"Welcome home, Bitey." Draco said to his old friend. "Bullet would be proud of you."
Bitey smiled. "I know," he answered.
And with their business finished there, Balto, Steele, Jenna, Nikki, Kaltag, Star, Draco, and Bitey all head back towards Nome.
THE END