in, turning on the lights and smirking cruelly. He locked the door behind him and walked over toward where Commander Baker was hand-cuffed. As he passed the dresser, he picked up his handgun and pulled the slide back, chambering the next round in his magazine and attaching a silencer to the end. Baker looked up at him with calm eyes, no fear on his facial features at all.

“So, Baker… It comes to this, huh?” Brad said coldly, chuckling as he circled the chair the Retriever was locked up to, “You know, Mr. Tachlinkov really doesn’t like Americans at all… That’s why he enlisted me when I joined the agency… He just wanted me to gain the American’s government’s trust so I could get my hands on you, and those top secret files you’ve been working on down here…”

“You know, it’s the dishonorable kind like yourself that make me sick… You have no sense of pride… Where’s your dignity?! Doesn’t betraying your country mean anything to you at all?!” Brad just laughed evilly and pulled the hammer back on his handgun.

“Dignity? Pride? Pride means nothing compared to the feel of hundreds of thousands of dollars! I sold my honor a long time ago…” Brad said, training his sights on Baker’s head, “You were a hard target to track down, but thanks to Balto, my mission is complete…”

“I don’t believe it, Brad…” came a voice filled with disbelief to Brad’s left. Brad glanced to his side in surprise, spotting Balto sitting casually in a chair in the corner of the room, a shocked and angry look on his face.

“Balto… T-this isn’t what it looks like…” Brad said, still pointing his pistol at Baker.

“How long…? Balto asked softly, his voice getting angrier now, “You’ve been plotting this the whole time, haven’t you?! You were planning this even before you took me as your apprentice! You just used me as a tool for your own gain!”

“Balto, listen to me… I trained you because I believe you have a purpose and a future as an agent… I did this with you so I could show you whose side I was truly on… You’re an excellent agent Balto, and I know Vladimir would simply die to have you on our team…” Brad said coolly, grinning at the young wolfdog, “What do you say, Balto?”

Time seemed to come to a halt as Balto thought for a long while. After minutes passed, he sighed heavily and gave Brad a cold stare. He’d made up his mind, and he knew his decision would change his life forever…

“No Brad… I won’t be like you… I’m going to stay loyal to the United States…” Balto said seriously, slowly standing up, “Now please, lower your gun… It’s over Brad… I’m taking you in…” Brad lost his grin, a dark scowl on his face.

“I’m disappointed in your decision, Balto…” Brad said, “And you’re right… It is over… You were a great apprentice to me…… Goodbye…” Brad pulled the trigger, his bullet boring through Baker’s head before his body twisted sideways and he shot at Balto, the wolfdog just managing to dive out of the way in time.

Balto kicked two legs out from underneath a table he was beneath, sending it to the floor and using it as a shield as two more of Brad’s shots splintered to wood where his body would have been. Balto pulled out his handgun and attached his suppressor, growling softly. Brad held his fire and quickly grabbed a briefcase from off of the bed and ran for the door. Balto got up and fired at Brad, hitting the background just inches away from his mentor’s legs.

Balto growled angrily and ran after Brad, watching as the brown wolf kicked the door down and ran out into the hall. Balto skidded out into the corridor and saw Brad running toward a dead-end. What is he up to? Balto thought to himself as he gave chase, realizing it wasn’t a dead-end. There was a window at the end of the hall. Brad grinned, staring at the window before diving forward and smashing through it, falling four floors down until he hit the grass below and rolled behind some bushes, lying low and using them as cover.

Brad peeked out above the bushes, watching as Balto stood in the window’s frame and searched for him. He slowly raised his handgun up, hidden by the dark night’s shadows. But just before he could pull the trigger, the streetlights on the path behind him went on and he was illuminated. Balto saw him and ducked as three bullets hit the ceiling where his head was moments ago. Growling with frustration, Brad ran down the path. Balto saw him and jumped out the window, hitting the grass and rolling like his mentor had before chasing after the wolf…

            Balto smiled as he felt Jenna lean her head against his chest. The two lay across the couch in the den, watching one of the late-night movies that were being shown. Jenna sighed softly, staring up at Balto with a sweet smile. Balto chuckled softly and kissed Jenna’s nose.

“Jenna… Whenever I feel down, you always seem to be the cure…” he said softly, “I love you Jenna… I’d gladly do anything for you… even give my life up to protect you and Kodi… I’d die for you two without a second thought…”

Jenna murred softly and kissed Balto back, cuddling up as close to him as possible. Everything seemed so peaceful… up until the ringing of the doorbell was heard. Balto’s and Jenna’s ears perked up and they both sat up quickly, the wolfdog looking to the clock. It was almost 2 AM. Something wasn’t right…

“Nobody comes to our door at two in the morning…” Balto said lowly, his golden eyes narrowing, “… And I have a feeling it’s not girl scouts selling cookies either…”

Balto stood up and headed for the front door. Along the way, he grabbed his Beretta from the table in the hallway and approached the front door. Leaning his back against the wall beside the doorframe, Balto pressed the button and turned on the small monitor beside the door, viewing through a micro-camera looking out at the front porch. About ten armed dogs dressed in black were seen, rifles pointed at the front door.

“Damn it… I knew they’d come, but I didn’t expect it to be so soon…” Balto whispered to himself, gripping his handgun tightly. He looked down the hall and saw Jenna approaching him.

“Who is it sweetheart?” she asked, stopping in her tracks when Balto held up his hand and pointed back down the hallway.

“Jenna, listen very carefully… Go into the Weapon Storage and grab as many guns as you can carry…” he instructed, “Then grab me an M-16 and a Remington 870, alright?”

Jenna nodded, confusion still in her eyes and on her face as she ran back down the corridor. Balto slowly walked backward down the hall after Jenna, eyes locked on the front door, just in case they decided to break in now. As he reached the open door to their small armory, he looked in time and caught the shotgun he’d requested as Jenna tossed it to him. He checked the rounds; six shots. He pumped it and then caught an M-16 as it flew toward him. Jenna emerged a moment later, her handgun clutched in her hands and a revolver tucked in her waistband.

“What’s going on Balto? Why are we aiming at the front door?” Jenna asked, looking at Balto briefly before turning her attention back toward the door. Balto took a deep breath and sighed softly.

“Jenna, a couple months ago when Kodi and I were out at Venezuela, I fought Niju Suarez in close-quarter combat… He grabbed Kodi, then went for me, but ended up taking my dog-tags instead… He must have had someone search me out…” Balto explained, “Because those armed dogs out there certainly aren’t with our army or police force… and I’m not about to let them harm you…”

“Alright Balto… We’ll fight them together…” Jenna said, taking one of Balto’s hands in hers, “… Just like old times, huh?” Balto smiled and Jenna.

“Yeah… Just like old times…” he whispered, turning back toward the door, “This is it… Give then hell, Jen…”

Just then, the front door flew open and two dogs tried to run inside. Balto and Jenna opened fire, cutting both soldiers down quickly while the others took cover, firing blanks into the house to try and force the two agents to retreat so they could get inside. However, Balto and Jenna held their ground, still shooting at the open door. As soon as their handguns ran dry, they reloaded hastily, but not fast enough to stop a couple of soldiers from rushing in and firing at them.

“C’mon, get back!” Balto shouted to Jenna, both agents running down the hall while firing back at the dogs, managing to hit one as he came through the front door. Balto and Jenna came out in the kitchen at the end of the hall and took cover on either side of the doorway, panting softly. The Spec-Ops Leader ran inside and took cover, motioning to a soldier to move forward. The dog nodded and silently crept forward.

Balto tilted his head out around the corner slightly to see what was going on when hw saw a soldier approaching them. He took aim, but the dog fired first and knocked his pistol from his hands. Jenna came out and fired, striking the soldier after a couple of misses. Another soldier saw Jenna and shot at her, grazing her shoulder slightly. She winced and pressed her back to the wall again, her hand clutching her bleeding shoulder.

Growling fiercely, Balto turned around the corner and emptied his magazine at no one, just trying to keep them at bay for the time being. He quickly shut the door to the kitchen and took Jenna’s hand, leading her behind the breakfast bar and used that as cover.

“Wait here for a moment… I have a plan…” Balto said in a hushed whisper, silently sneaking back to the closed door. After several minutes of nothing happening, the Spec-Ops Leader motioned to his remaining troops to proceed. One of them ran right up to the door and was about to kick t down until a thunderous gunshot was heard and a hole was tore through the door