PAW Patrol: Lockdown

Chapter 22- Ring of Fire

"I don't have much time!" Liberty frantically said into her collar as she ran, pushing through sharp bushes and tripping over logs. "I need an extraction, get me out of here!"

"Do you have the assets?" The voice came through on the collar.

"N- no," she said apologetically. "The ACG intervened, they have all three of the dogs!" A grimace was forced from her breath as a low branch smacked against her, pelting her fur with leaves.

"So... you lost all of them."

"Yes, I know," Liberty heaved, jumping behind a tree and looking back, "I know, I lost them, I'm sorry! But I'm an asset too, right? Come get me, send a helicopter, send anything, please!" Panic filled her voice as a long duration of silence came from the other end, "Please! They're after me!"

"Liberty..." The voice began. "I don't think we can do that."

"What- no!" Alarm flared through the dachshund, and she crouched low under a bush in a desperate attempt to hide. "You... you can't do that to me!

"You know Dutch isn't happy with you, and we have other dogs here, one's that can actually do their job properly." The voice said coldly. "What about the infection in the basement? Did you get a sample?"

Liberty winced, already knowing the answer. "I... had some set up."

"And?"

"... Then Zuma set off an explosion, incinerating the entire basement and all the things I had, it was his fault!"

"Goodbye, Liberty."

The dachshund nearly cried out, "What?! Ryder, no! Wait, you can't just leave me here!" When cold, rejecting silence only met her, Liberty knew with a sinking heart that she had been abandoned. With a shaky breath, she prayed over and over for it to all be just a terrible dream, but every time she shut and opened her eyes the world around her just become even clearer. Panic filled her heart, and she cursed herself for ever trusting the Archline Foundation.

She took a step back when she suddenly heard Chase's voice. "Liberty!" Whipping around in fear, she locked eyes with a German shepherd racing over the forest floor.

"Liberty!" Chase panted, coming to a stop in a small pile of leaves. "Enough with the games! You need to come with me, with them!" He said, referring to the ACG. "Just stop running!"

Frozen in her step, Liberty frantically thought over her options. If she went with the ACG, her involvement with the research company would be exposed, leaving her vulnerable to being pinned for every death committed by the claws of the creature. Even if she didn't release Feroxmalis directly, she'd be thoroughly interrogated for any information possible. Terror rose within her as she imagined herself breaking, completely giving up all of Archline's secrets to the military faction. Perhaps she would walk free the next day, only for her body to turn up mysteriously dead mere hours later. Archline had a way of silencing those who talked too much. Gears turning in her head, she remembered several contacts she had in Adventure City, all she needed to do was escape.

"Never!" She snapped, baring her teeth. "I'm getting out of here, now leave me alone!!" Swiftly turning around, Liberty kicked her legs and charged through the forest, kicking up leaves and twigs as she ran.

"Wha- hey!" Chase blinked, growling as he sprang into action. On any other day, he would've instantly run her down and caught her, Chase was by far the fastest dog in the Paw Patrol. Unfortunately, his speed was severely hindered by the burns and damage all over his body from the explosion. He could still run, but only at a reduced pace that was barely enough to keep up with the Dachshund. Burned ears flattened, and he grimaced fighting through the pain.