Captain Canine: The First Avenger

Chapter 3

The next day...

Hunter is busy in his new office, overlooking blueprints he has fabricated since last night. The office furniture is standard for any office, with a table in the middle, filing cabinets to the corner of the room, a white board with some dry erase markers attached, and a rack full of tape, pencils, pens, and every other office supply needed for Hunter's plans. Hunter gazes at his latest fabricated idea, one many people would declare as science fiction: A jet pack. Since that one class in MIT about rocket engineering, Hunter has been captured by the thought of it. He believes he can be the one to pull off such a thing. As he continues to marvel at his work, The office door opens up behind him.

"Your team is here." Willow says, "Come out."

Hunter has been dreading this moment. What if he fails to make a great first impression? Will the team accept him as their manager? Hunter walks into the garage to see three dogs standing in a row. The middle dog is the largest dog Hunter has ever seen. The massive American Bulldog stands at around four and a half feet, with a nice shade of gray short fur. The dog on Hunter's left is wearing glasses with a strap, keeping the spectacles around the German Shepherd's eyes. He is black and gray, and shorter than Hunter by half a foot. The last dog is a dark brown boxer. The trio is wearing the same uniform as Hunter and all the other workers are wearing, a long sleeve shirt and orange vest with black pants and a white hard hat.

"Everyone, this is the new Lead Canine Engineer of the Factory. You three are his personal team." Willow tells the trio. She looks at Hunter, showing no emotion, as she gestures towards each dog, "This is Cross, Wrench, and Wires. Whatever project or repair you work on, they are here to assist you. I need to talk to another personal in the other room, so I will let you get acquainted with them. I will be back in five." Willow makes for the garage over, leaving Hunter alone with the team. After an awkward silence hangs in the air, Hunter begins, "Great to meet you guys. I would like to know your skill sets and what you are good in." Hunter is doing his best to stay calm and not show his nervousness to the group. He knows it will get easier as he continues to lead, but it doesn't help his feeling of uncomfort.

The Shepherd named Wires speaks first, in an accent so unique that Hunter can't tell if Wires is British or Australian, "As The Labrador said, I am Wires and I specialize in electrical components, wiring, and electric engineering. Your ingenious innovation with the dog pack has made my position as an electrical engineer all the more exhilarating, and I am wanting to offer you my thanks."

Hunter nods at Wires flattery, "Your welcome. I am glad dogs are benifiting from this." He turns to the American bulldog, "And what do you do around here?"

The massive dog looks down on Hunter and says, "I drive things."

"Wrench isn't the greatest at words." The Boxer, Cross steps in, "He drives the forklifts and helps test drives our vehicles, the ones he can fit in anyways." Wrench lets out a little chuckle.

"I am Cross. I work with metal, doing all kinds of tasks, from welding to bending to even some foraging." Cross's voice is warm and welcoming.

"What are you good at?" Wrench's voice booms deep.

Hunter thinks for a second, and then says, "I'm good at a lot of things. Most of which involves designing and manufacturing new canine vehicles and tools, like the dog packs you guys use."

"When do we begin?" Cross asks Hunter.

Hunter pauses. He is used to going with the flow and allowing others to take lead. He isn't used to others letting him lead. Before he says anything, Willow comes back into the room.

"I'm back. It is time for you all to begin your job."

"What do you want done, Miss?" Wrench asks.

Willow looks at everyone and sets her eyes on Hunter, making him feel exposed and singled out, "I don't know. It's up to Hunter to make the call."

Everyone looks at Hunter, making him feel worse. He knows they mean no harm by looking to him, but the nausea in his stomach threatens to worsen. He takes a deep breath and says, "I do have a project I have finished designing. I am ready to create it."

"Mind if we observe the blueprints?" Wires says. Hunter takes note of Wire's formal way of wording. He then leads everyone into the office.

Willow stays behind in the garage. When she is certain no one can hear her, she speaks into her collar, "Hunter is in position."

"Good work." A mysterious voice speaks from the collar tag, "Keep a close watch on him and your surroundings. This target is slick and I don't want him to escape again. Take out that assassin before he takes out Hunter."