Jenna from him.

                   When Steele had finished, the labrador was shaking his head disappointedly. "Young one, you clearly still have so much to learn." he looked up at Steele. "There's more to life than fame. I'm ashamed of you for your selfish acts, and to be honest, I'm glad Balto showed up when he did. You didn't deserve the fame you had wanted so desperately, that you went to the extremes to use the advantage of the serum run to save the sick children in Nome."

                    Steele looked at the dog calmly, letting out a small chuckle of amusement. The labrador stared at him. "What's so funny?" Steele let out another chuckle before responding. "You think I haven't realized my mistake by now?" he was now staring at the labrador, speaking in all the seriousness he could muster. "That mutt didn't ruin my life. If anything, he improved it for me."

                     The labrador stared at Steele in complete confusion. "But... how...?" Steele interrupted. "Balto made me realize what a fool I've been. I was being an idiot. I used my friends, took the diptheria epidemic to my advantage, nearly causing the death of hundreds of children. I was wrong to put fame before everything else in life, and to go to such extremes to aqcuire my desire. I realize that now."

                    The confusion that once occupied the labrador's expression was replaced with a look of understanding and pride. "That's good." he said simply. "I'm proud of you for your realization, and your change in demeanor." Steele looked at the dog. "By the way, I never caught your name."

                    "My name," the dog responded. "Is Ayreon. And yours would be?" Steele nodded in acknowledgement before replying. "Steele." Ayreon nodded at the pedigree. The room suddenly went quiet. Confused, Steele approached his cage door and looked at the horror stricken faces of all the animals. Following their gazes, he too was struck with terror as he watched a flame colored cat slowly being disected.

                   He froze in place, realization hitting him like a brick. 'That's why everyone was angry with me for failing to escape,' Steele thought. 'If I don't make it out of here, that'll be me soon, along with everyone else here!'

                  Steele now knew that he needed to find a way out of this horrid facility, along with the others. And fast.

End of part 1! Watch out for part 2!