Different Horizons-A Paw Patrol Story

Chapter Thirty-Six

*One hour earlier*

"Maybe your team could do better with you." Without another word, The Copycat tossed all the metal, with Chase in the center, out the hole in the side of the building.

Ryder looked at the hole in horror. He couldn't believe that The Copycat would toss Chase out the window hundreds of feet in the air. For the first time, Ryder felt like he just lost one of his pups. Even with the debris falling on Rubble, Ryder felt in his gut that Rubble was hurt but alive. Now, Ryder felt like his heart dropped to his feet. He felt powerless and devastated. His knees buckled, and Ryder fell to his feet.

The Copycat hovered over to the hole in the wall. He had his arms behind his back. "Well, that happened." He rubbed his lower jaw. "He had a mean swing. I'll give him that."

"You ... You killed him," Ryder muttered.

The Copycat turned around to face the cage. "What was that?"

"You killed Chase!" Ryder yelled at The Copycat as he stood up. Immediately, he felt a pain between his eyes and dizzy, like he got up too fast.

"Oh, please," The Copycat said. "You have other pups. For now, at least. Maybe now, you can work on being there more for the other pups and be the leader you're supposed to be."

"What are you talking about?" Ryder asked.

"Like you don't know," The Copycat replied. "Chase was your favorite pup. We already covered that. But the fact that you shifted the team's leadership over to Chase. You gave him more liberty on missions than the others, letting him go on missions alone. Even with the helmet, I didn't have to dive deep into your mind to see your feelings. Chase was a pup like the others and had your leadership skills. And he had powers. The only thing that you had above him was that you know how to build."

"I taught Chase what I had to," Ryder said. "He's meant to be my second-in-command. I trained him to be strong and confident."

"Well, that went wrong," The Copycat said. "One of Chase's biggest insecurities was that he couldn't live up to the expectation you made for him. He failed in saving you because you failed. The irony, huh?"

In the distance, they heard the sound of an engine roar. The Copycat flew towards the hole in the wall and saw Bruce's Camaro racing away from the tower and soldiers following. "I guess he made it. You and the Paw Patrol are like cockroaches. You keep coming back. Who knows? Maybe Chase could lead the team better than you did."

The Copycat turned back towards Ryder. "We can't let you slow us down any further. Harold, we're moving on Crystal Coast in seven days."

"Seven days?" Harold asked from Ryder's right. Ryder forgot that he was in the room. "Do you know how long it will take me to prepare everything? All the planning, simulations, and scheduling needed?"

"Just get it done," The Copycat blurted out. "I don't care how you do it, but do it."

Harold sighed. He glanced at Ryder as he recalled their conversation. "Alright," he muttered. Harold made his way towards the stairs and left the floor.

The Copycat sighed. "It's hard to get anything done here." He stood there, watching the sunset from the hole in the wall. "We have to get this fix. I'll get Harold to do it."

Ryder looked down. He took a shaky breath of relief after realizing Chase was alive. Ryder opened his eyes and looked at the cage door. The lock got bent to the point where it wouldn't close properly. Ryder figured it must've happened during the battle. Ryder turned to the left and found the culprit. It was a bent metal panel near the door.

Ryder began thinking of a plan to leave the building. If he could make it down the stairs, he could find an exit not surrounded by soldiers. But with The Copycat in the same room, Ryder had to make a run for it. Ryder looked over at The Copycat. He was still staring out the hole.

"Soon, Crystal Coast will be mine too," The Copycat said. "After we take over that, I will keep moving to other cities."

Ryder slowly opened the door. He crept his way towards the stairs. As he opened the door, the hinges creaked loudly. Ryder turned to The Copycat, who was still going on about his plan. He named the cities he would take over like they were options on a menu. Ryder walked into the staircase and made it downstairs as fast as possible. With every step, he felt like The Copycat would appear behind him. After going down about seven hundred and fifty stairs, Ryder made it to the first floor.

Ryder walked into the first floor and looked around. The lobby was full of soldiers. Ryder turned to his right and saw a bathroom sign. He quickly made his way into the bathroom before anyone could see him. He locked himself in the handicapped stall while he thought about the next part of his plan.

Ryder was figuring out a plan when he noticed a pile of clothes to his right. He realized it was a uniform. Ryder figured it was the same one Chase used to enter the building. Ryder mentally thanked Chase as he put on the uniform. Since they were about the same size, the clothes fit nicely. Ryder noticed a gun where the clothes were, so he grabbed it and exited the bathroom.

Ryder held the gun in his hands, but after seeing everyone else with their weapons strapped to their back, he did the same. Ryder slowly made his way to the front door. He knew he had to tread carefully, as one wrong move could give him away. Some soldiers glanced in his direction but didn't seem interested in him.

Ryder got to the front door when he heard a loud swoosh from behind him. He turned around to see The Copycat at the entrance of the stairs. The Copycat looked around. "Ryder!" The Copycat called out. "I know you're around here."

Ryder and some other soldiers exited the building as an alarm went off. Ryder didn't stop walking. Taking advantage of the chaos, Ryder slipped through the crowd, keeping his head down. He passed through confused soldiers and guards. Ryder turned around long enough to see The Copycat exit the tower. As The Copycat looked around, he grunted in frustration and flew upward, disappearing in the dark.

Ryder walked into a nearby alley. He inspected the alley and called it clear. Ryder found a town map. He remembered the general area of where the safe house was, thanks to Gabriel going over it. Ryder decided to keep the uniform just in case he saw another soldier on his way back. After Ryder ensured the coast was clear, he holstered his gun, grabbed the map, and made his way to his team.