fell down to her shoulders. The red part of her fur was on the top of her head, made up her hair, and ran down her back. Her paws, muzzle, neck, and top of her chest were pure white, and Balto guessed that the rest of her front was white as well. She had beautiful amber eyes that seemed to keep him completely stunned and her face was as soft and gentle as silk.

Balto was snapped out of his trance when he felt another blow land on the side of his muzzle, sending him stumbling back into the metal crate again. The four male dogs laughed again, enjoying Balto’s pain.

“Figures you couldn’t beat me…” Steele said viciously, “Half-breeds can only do things halfway…”

At those words, Nikki, Kaltag, and Star began to laugh again. Balto’s blood began to boil and he spun around, whacking Steele in the side of his face with one of his ammo clips. Steele grunted and fell to the concrete, his accomplices quickly shutting up. Despite the pain and blood streaming down his face, Balto stayed on his feet. As Steele got up, Balto dove for his dagger, but Star drew his one of his various handguns, this one a Colt Single Action Army, pulled the hammer back, and shot the dagger away from Balto.

Steele got up and growled angrily. He drew out his pistol and kicked Balto roughly in the side of his stomach. Balto groaned in agony and curled up, trying to avoid the pain. Steele aimed his gun at Balto’s head and growled again.

“Half-breed…” he muttered and tightened his grip on the trigger until Jenna ran up and pushed his hand out of the way, the bullet hitting the concrete only inches away from Balto’s head.

“Stop!” Jenna said suddenly, staring into Steele’s cold blue eyes, “He could become a bargaining chip… He’s worth more alive than he is dead…” Steele thought for a moment, and then holstered his gun again.

“Yeah, you’re right Jenna… Fine, we’ll keep him alive… For now…” Steele said and kicked Balto again, bringing another cry of pain from the beaten wolfdog, “Jenna, you come with me. Nikki, Kaltag, Star, knock this guy out and lock him up. I’ll see to him later…”

“No problem, boss! Star, go ahead,” Nikki said.

Star pulled out a Glock from his belt and placed a sedative in the chamber. He pulled the hammer back and fired it at Balto, the sedative bullet hitting him in his shoulder. Balto moaned again, suddenly feeling very weak and fatigued. Before he knew it, everything went black.

Chapter 2

            Balto came around a few hours later. As he slowly opened his eyes, he could barely make out anything distinct. Everything was a vague blur to him right now and his body was so sore. Steadily, everything came back to him and he sat up, rubbing his head and groaning softly. Balto suddenly realized that he was in a cell and reached for his gun- only to find that it was gone, along with the rest of his things. Fortunately, his communicator still remained, seeing as it was safely hidden within his shirt. Balto turned it on and lay back on his bed, staring up at the ceiling.

“This is Wolf… Does anybody read me?” Balto asked no one, his voice going into the small microphone.

“I read you, Wolf. It’s been five hours since our last transmission, what happened? What’s your current mission status?”

“Uhh, I’m a prisoner of war right now… Steele caught me and beat me up. I’m now locked up with nothing but my communicator and the clothes on my back… He’s a skilled fighter and a ruthless warrior… You weren’t kidding when you said he’d be a serious threat… Now I know why…”

“Yes, well, learn from experience, right? Just be careful from now on… Is there anyway you could escape right now?”

“No. None… There’s no ventilation shaft or anything… I guess they thought about that when they decided on which cell to lock me in…”

“Probably… This could be a serious problem, Wolf. If you can’t escape, then we have no hope. You’ll have to figure someway out. I’ll leave that to you. Over and out.”

Balto sighed and shut off his communicator. Slowly, he sat up and looked around his room again, finding no way out other than the door. He groaned with frustration and pounded the bed. He stood up and walked over to the door, leaning gently on it. Suddenly, the door pushed open and Balto fell to the cold, tiled flooring.

“What the- The door was unlocked?” Balto asked, climbing to his feet, “Why’d they leave it open? Are the guards really that stupid?”

Cautiously, Balto walked out and into the guard station the cells were in. He glanced around and saw absolutely no one. Just then, he heard someone walking up behind him.

“Don’t move,” came a female voice Balto recognized as Jenna’s. He felt the barrel of a gun press against his back and froze.

Before anything could happen, Balto spun around and kicked the handgun from her grasp. Jenna looked utterly surprised and when he went to grab her, she took his arm and flipped him to the ground. Balto hit the ground and kicked her legs out from underneath her, sending the crimson husky crashing on top of him. The two locked gazes for a moment before Jenna tried to get back up.

Balto grabbed her by her waist and pulled her back to the floor, holding her down. Jenna kicked him in his stomach and Balto groaned before collapsing to the floor. As Jenna got up, she pulled out another handgun and Balto grabbed the handgun he’d kicked away, both aiming at one another at the same time. Everything seemed to freeze for a moment, and then returned to normal.

“Who are you and why are you here?” Jenna asked, keeping her gun on his face, “This place is death. Who sent you here?”

“The US Government, but that’s none of your business,” Balto snapped back, “I’m going to stop Steele and you’re not gonna stop me. Even if it means killing you…”

“Wait, the US Government?” Jenna asked, confused, “I thought they’d given up…”

“Well, you guessed wrong!” Balto said, raising his voice slightly, his eyes narrowed, “Any last words?”

“No, you don’t understand!” Jenna said quickly, lowering her gun.

Bad move… Balto thought and shot to his feet, grabbing her wrist and twisting. Jenna cried out and dropped her handgun, Balto grabbing it and shoving it into his belt and pressing his gun to her forehead. Jenna gasped as she felt the cold steel of his gun press to her head, closing her eyes.

“You don’t understand…” Jenna started.

“I know you work for Steele and that’s all I need to know to kill you…” Balto replied.

“No, wait! Hear me out! If you don’t believe me, then you can shoot me…” Jenna said quickly, opening her eyes. Balto hesitated, then sighed softly.

“Fine. Start talking. But if you’re lying…” Balto replied and pulled the hammer back on the gun, showing her that he was serious about killing her.

“You’re a government agent, correct?” Jenna asked, “I know all about your mission…”

“How? You’re a spy, aren’t you?” Balto snapped back angrily.

“I thought you said you’d hear me out…” Jenna responded coolly, “I know all about your mission because it’s my mission as well… I’m the other agent; I’m your contact…”

Balto gasped slightly, his eyes widening. Then he realized this may be a trick and growled softly.

“How do I know you’re not lying to me?” Balto asked.

“Would I have left your cell unlocked then? Would I have given you your gun back?” Jenna asked irritated.

Balto glanced at the handgun in his paw. It was his, all right, suppressor and everything.

“Why’d you do that?”

“Because I’m your contact! I’m Husky!”

“Oh yeah? Then what’s my codename?” Balto asked Jenna.

“I don’t know… I wasn’t allowed any contact with Colonel McIntyre during this mission… I was supposed to get close to Steele and get his guard down for you… So I posed as a researcher and he kept me alive to be his girlfriend. He made my mission all too easy, but I’m still working on his trust…” Jenna explained.

“Hmm, fine… I suppose you filled everything I was told… However, if it turns out you were lying to me the whole time, I will kill you…” Balto told her, lowering his gun, “If you really are Husky, then where’s the rest of my stuff?”

“It’s in the Armory. I couldn’t get it all up to you, but I figured that your gun and knife would at least be better than nothing…” Jenna said, getting a nod from Balto.

“Alright, thanks…” Balto replied, taking his knife from her belt and stowing it in its sheath, “By the way, my codename’s Wolf…”

“Nice to meet you Wolf. I’m Husky,” Jenna said with a smile and a soft chuckle, “Well, seeing as you already know my real name, may I know yours?”

“Heh, nice try… I’ll tell you when I can fully trust you…” Balto said, grinning at her, “For now, let’s go get the rest of my stuff, then focus on Steele and his lackeys.”

“Sounds good to me, Wolf. Let’s go,” Jenna said and turned toward the door, only to find five guards standing there.

“Hands up!” one shouted, the rest raising their rifles to them.

Balto and Jenna exchanged a glance, then raised their handguns to the guards, pulling their triggers rapidly, felling three of the guards. The remaining two opened fire as Balto and Jenna took cover behind a desk, the bullets splintering, but not piercing the wood. Balto grinned and looked at Jenna.

“I